Apologetics 315 Podcast

In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview renowned apologist Greg Koukl. Koukl is the founder of Stand to Reason, an organization that equips Christians to defend their faith and engage in meaningful conversations.

The discussion centers around using questions to have better conversations about Christianity, drawing from Koukl's books Tactics and his latest work Street Smarts. Koukl explains how questions can guide conversations in a more constructive direction and help "put a stone in someone's shoe" to get them thinking about faith topics.

Koukl outlines his "gardener approach" to evangelism, focusing more on asking thoughtful questions to plant seeds rather than trying to lead someone to a moment of conversion. He demonstrates this questioning approach through a roleplay conversation about the problem of divine hiddenness. Koukl responds to the objection by asking clarifying questions, correcting underlying assumptions, and presenting evidence for God's existence. This models how to have a relaxed yet thoughtful dialogue.
Koukl emphasizes that the key is to gather information through questions, avoid preaching, and lead the person to put pieces on the table themselves. The goal is to get people thinking carefully about their beliefs and objections. Koukl's Tactics provide tools to engage skeptics without being confrontational.

Further resources…
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges - https://a315.co/StreetSmarts
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between - https://a315.co/3FpqFAl
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air - https://a315.co/3M4AMyr
• Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions - https://a315.co/46YCclW
• Street Smarts Study Guide: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges - https://a315.co/3tMmETZ



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We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview J. Steve Miller on the topic of deathbed experiences and near death experiences.

0:24 - Intro to Steve Miller and his books
4:50 - Welcome to Steve Miller
5:00 - How did he get into this area of research?
7:42 - What’s the difference between deathbed experiences and near-death experiences?
12:40 - Examples of these experiences
16:16 - The cumulative effect of many similar experiences
17:27 - What are the lines of evidence that are good when looking at these experiences?
22:20 - “Naturalism of the gaps” objections to NDEs
25:19 - The common experience of terminal lucidity
40:36 - What are deathbed experiences?
48:11 - Could these experiences be demonic in nature?
54:43 - Experiences contrary to theological expectations?
1:01:18 - The practical benefits of NDE and DBE research
1:07:18 - Suggested books for further study…

Further resources…
J Steve Miller online: www.jstevemiller.info

Steve’s books:
Deathbed Experiences as Evidence for the Afterlife - https://a315.co/3Fr5Xjx

Near-Death Experiences as Evidence for the Existence of God and Heaven: A Brief Introduction in Plain Language - https://a315.co/3FsJVgt

Is Christianity Compatible With Deathbed and Near-Death Experiences? : The Surprising Presence of Jesus, Scarcity of Anti-Christian Elements, And Compatibility with Historic Christian Teachings - https://a315.co/3FqsXiM

Faith That's Not Blind: A Brief Introduction to Contemporary Arguments For the Existence of God - https://a315.co/3QuFUyx

Why Brilliant People Believe Nonsense: A Practical Text For Critical and Creative Thinking - https://a315.co/3FqhQqf

================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross speak with Professor Nancy Pearcey about her book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes - https://a315.co/468rzNF

0:24 - Intro banter on hobbit food
2:15 - Intro to Nancy Pearcey and her book The Toxic War Against Masculinity
6:16 - Welcome to Nancy
6:46 - Nancy’s background and why she wrote the book
9:14 - Francis Schaeffer’s influence on Nancy Pearcey
15:41 - Why a toxic war against masculinity?
18:35 - The statistics among Christians and non-Christians
22:18 - The difference between nominal Christian men and committed Christian men
25:36 - What’s changed to bring about a resistance against masculinity?
30:07 - Why men are looked down on these days
33:00 - Two competing scripts for masculinity
37:03 - How secularism has changed the approach towards men
40:14 - How has the church responded?
47:50 - Abuse and how the church can respond

Further resources…
Nancy Pearcey online:
www.nancypearcey.com

Nancy Pearcey's latest book is The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes

Her earlier books include

Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality,

The Soul of Science

Saving Leonardo

Finding Truth

How Now Shall We Live

Total Truth

Her books have been translated into 19 languages. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. A former agnostic, Pearcey has spoken at universities such as Princeton, Stanford, USC, and Dartmouth. She has been quoted in *he New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross speak with Justin Brierley (www.justinbrierley.com) about his book The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again - https://a315.co/3PBmXZ7

0:24 - Brian and Chad discuss the book
5:27 - Intro to Justin, welcome back!
7:15 - How did the new atheism actually help Christianity?
9:12 - The change in the cultural landscape
13:30 - Atheists who are now no longer fighting Christianity
17:30 - Why the structure of the book?
24:56 - How has social media changed?
27:58 - Reasons why the Bible is being taken seriously by academics
33:21 - Arguments & evidence vs. experience
37:10 - The left and the right brain and spiritual experiences
39:34 - The meaning crisis that is left when you remove Christianity
42:30 - How can the church respond to the cultural climate?
47:21 - Further resources…

Justin’s new podcasts:
Re-Enchanting - https://a315.co/3thIFKj

MaybeGod Podcast - https://a315.co/3LGOh7f

Check out this previous episode with Justin Brierley here:
https://a315.co/3tlXXxt
================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Corey Miller and Ross Anderson, two former Mormons, on their book Responding to the Mormon Missionary Message: Confident Conversations with Mormon Missionaries (and Other Latter-day Saints) - https://a315.co/3PYWohY

Check out the website www.mormonmissionarymessage.com for more!

About our guests: https://a315.co/45c79Su

0:24 - Intro to the book and our guests
2:47 - Welcome to Corey and Ross
4:23 - How did the book come together?
7:20 - What was it like growing up in the Mormon culture?
11:18 - What led Corey and Ross to start doubting Mormonism?
17:40 - What does doubting Mormonism usually lead to?
22:45 - What are the primary authorities for Mormons?
26:10 - Questioning the testimony of Mormons
31:40 - What sows doubt into Mormons’ experiences?
37:45 - The life of a Mormon missionary
40:30 - What do you say to the Mormon at your door?
45:00 - What to avoid saying?
48:25 - The usefulness of the book and where to find more resources

Check out the website www.mormonmissionarymessage.com for more!

Corey Miller & Ratio Christi:
https://ratiochristi.org/people/corey-miller/

Ross Anderson:
www.faithaftermormonism.org

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We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Christian Philosopher Peter S. Williams about his book An Informed Cosmos: Essays on Intelligent Design Theory.

Find his resources at www.peterswilliams.com

0:24 - Intro to our guest
2:15 - About the book An Informed Cosmos
9:25 - Getting clarity on what intelligent design is
14:10 - Is I.D. science? And defining “science”
19:39 - Truth as the most important approach
21:56 - Imposing worldviews on the data?
25:01 - Is evolution the means by which God created?
29:21 - What role does a Darwinian process play?
35:00 - How did Peter go from being a theistic evolutionist to an ID proponent?
40:45 - What tipped the balance for Peter?
46:52 - What role does information play in design detection?
53:21 - Can we recognize non-intelligent design?
54:57 - Theistic interpretations?
56:22 - Paley’s “watchmaker” shows that we can detect design?
1:00:13 - Prevailing errors when thinking about design
1:05:00 - Is intelligent design “creationism”?
1:06:25 - How has intelligent design changed Peter’s thinking?
1:13:30 - Peter’s music - www.peterswilliams.com/composing

Check out a past episode with Peter S. Williams:
006 - Outgrowing God? with Peter S. Williams - https://a315.co/4615IYj

Books by Peter S. Williams:
An Informed Cosmos: Essays on Intelligent Design Theory - https://a315.co/48ugxUc

A Universe From Someone: Essays on Natural Theology - https://a315.co/46GLUtl

Apologetics in 3D: Essays on Apologetics and Spirituality - https://a315.co/3PtMqUu

Outgrowing God? A Beginner’s Guide to Richard Dawkins and the God Debate - https://a315.co/3Pww9xP

Getting at Jesus: A Comprehensive Critique of Neo-Atheist Nonsense About the Jesus of History - https://a315.co/46pUFri

A Faithful Guide to Philosophy: A Christian Introduction to the Love of Wisdom - https://a315.co/3Ptm0C3

C.S. Lewis vs the New Atheists - https://a315.co/48ugxUc
================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Lydia McGrew about her book Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels.

0:24 - Intro to Lydia McGrew
1:51 - Welcome Lydia, and intro to the book
3:43 - How does a philosopher approach the Gospels?
6:39 - Is an “outside perspective” welcomed?
9:28 - Old and new approaches to the Gospels
12:03 - Current approach of scholars to the New Testament
15:44 - How have Christians historically defended the Gospels?
16:50 - Why a cumulative case approach?
19:55 - Inference to the best explanation of multiple hypotheses
23:25 - Best explanation of hard little unnecessary details
26:23 - The reportage model and the burden of proof
31:14 - Unnecessary details, a sign of fiction?
37:25 - What are unexplained allusions?
42:34 - The aspects of Jesus’ life that point to its reality
46:45 - “I love Jesus’ style…”
49:48 - Pointing people to the book and resources…

Further Resources:
• Lydia McGrew website: www.lydiamcgrew.com

• Lydia McGrew’s Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/LydiaMcGrewChannel

• Podcast version of Youtube content:
https://anchor.fm/lydiamcgrew

Books:
Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels
https://a315.co/3Pb2oUj
The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage
https://a315.co/3E8Fuac
The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices
https://a315.co/3XzVKI8
Hidden In Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts
https://a315.co/411fsj2

PREVIOUS EPISODES WITH LYDIA MCGREW:
106 - The Reliability of John with Lydia McGrew - https://a315.co/45JAxA9
084 - Maximal Data Case for the Resurrection with Lydia McGrew - https://a315.co/3qC6lbu
================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Christian philosophy Paul K. Moser. They discuss the themes in Moser’s book The Severity of God: Religion and Philosophy Reconceived - https://a315.co/3sOD6mx

0:24 - Intro to Paul Moser
3:33 - Welcome to Paul Moser
4:00 - What do you mean by “God’s severity”?
9:06 - We’ve lost the message of suffering and hardship
11:25 - The moral perfection of God and his intentions
18:20 - Why is this theme lacking?
22:42 - The experience of Gethsemane and submission
29:09 - Skeptical expectations and “not my will”
33:09 - Meeting God on his terms
34:00 - Reorienting our Christian epistemology with a willing heart
41:24 - The challenge of the obstinate will (turning to Christ)
45:30 - The flux and despair of life, pushing us to God
49:45 - Changing our approach to philosophy
55:30 - The God who vindicates Himself

Further Resources:
Paul Moser’s website: http://pmoser.sites.luc.edu/
Paul Moser’s faculty page at Loyola - https://a315.co/44McpvG
Paul Moser’s books on Amazon - https://a315.co/PaulMoserBooks

================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Chris Date on the topic of Eschatology, or the End Times. They explore the ins and outs of various views of the end times, before discussing more deeply the view that Chris holds on the subject. A very helpful and informative conversation!

www.chrisdate.info

0:24 - Intro to Chris Date
2:43 - An update on Chris and his wife’s treatment
5:07 - What is eschatology?
6:47 - Chris’ work and engagement on the subject
9:44 - Why should anyone care about end times study?
15:00 - Encouragement for those overwhelmed by the topic
17:57 - Advice for people having discussions on end times
24:23 - An overview of end times views
29:45 - What is the most popular view historically?
37:01 - The history of dispensational millennialism
43:06 - Is “the rapture” biblical?
50:40 - The preterist view
52:06 - Partial or full preterism?
1:11:15 - How does one properly think about their view of end times?
1:16:08 - What’s up with 666?
1:23:10 - Resources recommended for further study

Resources:
Premillennial vs Amillennial on Christ's Return: Daniel Goepfrich & Chris Date on Unbelievable with Justin Brierley - https://a315.co/3Pn5vZy

Overview of End Times Views - by Gregg Steve - https://a315.co/45SdzXv

Four Views Of Revelation - https://a315.co/3R54YNe

The Last Days according to Jesus: When Did Jesus Say He Would Return? By RC Sproul - https://a315.co/3R1dA7x

It's Not the End of the World! By DeeDee Warren - https://a315.co/47VihFV

Before Jerusalem Fell: Dating the Book of Revelation by Kenneth Gentry - https://a315.co/45zPN30

Four Views on the Book of Revelation by C. Marvin Pate, General Editor - https://a315.co/3qVPSii

Books by Chris Date:
Is Jesus Human and Not Divine? A Debate by Chris Date and Dale Tuggy - https://a315.co/45zNoFs

Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism edited by Chris Date, Gregory Stump and Joshua Anderson - https://a315.co/3P4kKoK

A Consuming Passion edited by Chris Date and Ron Highfield - https://a315.co/3o3lL7d

Does God Predetermine the Eternal Destiny of Every Individual Human Being? A Debate by Chris Date and Gil VanOrder, Jr. - https://a315.co/3W9Xc5e

================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Holly Ordway about her new book, Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography. A wonderful book and a fascinating interview that will be a real treat for Tolkien fans.

www.hollyordway.com

0:24 - Intro to Holly Ordway
4:45 - Welcoming Holly
5:35 - The 50th Anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s death, Sept 2023
6:45 - The goal in writing a spiritual biography of Tolkien
11:23 - How central was Tolkien’s faith to his life and work?
14:26 - Why is this the first biography to focus on Tolkien’s faith?
18:50 - Hidden allusions to faith in Tolkien’s writings
21:14 - The significance of Tolkien’s name(s)
25:51 - The elucidation of truth by presenting it in different embodiments
29:04 - What did Tolkien really think about allegory?
31:56 - Receiving stories in answer to prayer
33:30 - Rough patches in Tolkien’s faith
36:53 - The mutual influence of his friendship with C.S. Lewis
40:00 - What role did arguments and evidence play in Tolkien’s life?
44:25 - Bible translation
46:44 - What influence did this project have on Holly’s faith?

Resources:
Tolkien’s Faith: A Spiritual Biography


Holly Ordway’s Website: www.hollyordway.com

Holly’s other books include:

Tolkien's Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages

Tales of Faith

Not God's Type


================================
We appreciate your feedback.
If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.
You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten
And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315
If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]