Apologetics Profile

The world often appears to us as though it is spinning out of control. Words don't mean what they used to mean. We live amidst a great deal of moral and societal confusion. Statistics are cited that seem to show an increasing number of people who no longer believe in God. The central message of the Christian faith, the deity, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, no longer seems to be credible to our postmodern world.

The good news is that the Gospel is as relevant and powerful today as it was when it was first proclaimed centuries ago. On this episode, we talk with professor of philosophy and apologetics at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary about his 2021 book Why Believe? Christian Apologetics for a Skeptical Age (B&H Academic, 336-pages bit.ly/WhyBelieve2). Tawa's work provides Christians and non-believers alike timely and insightful reminders about why Christianity remains defensible and credible, even in a world that seems to be spiraling out of control. 

Dr. Tawa Anderson was raised in a non-Christian home and came to faith in high school. He was called to ministry and served as English Pastor at Edmonton Chinese Baptist Church from 2001-2008. After completing his PhD, Dr. Anderson taught at Oklahoma Baptist University from 2011-2022 before joining the faculty at NOBTS. Tawa is the author of Why Believe? Christian Apologetics for a Skeptical Age (B&H Academic, 2021) and co-author of An Introduction to Christian Worldview: Pursuing God’s Perspective in a Pluralistic World, (IVP Academic, 2017). 

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Effective evangelism and apologetics includes understanding what your non-Christian neighbor truly believes. On part two of our conversation with evangelist and apologist Eric Hernandez, author of The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers, we will glean more insight into Eric's experiences and engagement with non-Christians and learn how we too can be more effective in our own personal defenses of our faith in Christ.

Eric Hernandez is an apologist, evangelist, and the Apologetics Lead and Millennial Specialist for The Baptist General Convention of Texas (www.TexasBaptists.org). He has spoken and debated the merits of Christianity on university college campuses throughout the U.S. and is the author of The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers. Eric holds an associate degree in social science, a bachelor’s degree in theology, and a certificate in apologetics from Biola University.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

What comes to mind when you hear the terms "apologetics" and "evangelism"? On the next two episodes of the Profile, we talk with apologist and evangelist Eric Hernandez about his latest book The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers. Eric helps us simplify gospel conversations, dispel some stereotypes of evangelism and apologetics, and shows us how he believes they really go hand-in-hand.  

Eric Hernandez is an apologist, evangelist, and the Apologetics Lead and Millennial Specialist for The Baptist General Convention of Texas (www.TexasBaptists.org). He has spoken and debated the merits of Christianity on university college campuses throughout the U.S. and is the author of The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Nonbelievers. Eric holds an associate degree in social science, a bachelor’s degree in theology, and a certificate in apologetics from Biola University.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

FREE BOOK: Courtesy of IVP Academic, we are giving away two brand-new copies of the third edition of Win Corduan's landmark book, Neighboring Faiths - A Christian Introduction to World Religions. Just drop host Apologetics Profile host Daniel Ray an email with a current mailing address to [email protected]. We will select at random two listeners and notify you by email if you have been selected.

What is the best way to share the Gospel with someone from another religious tradition? There is no one right way, no simple formula for how to do it. But it is necessary to keep in mind the concept of contextualization. How cognizant are we of the biblical cultures and times? The cultures and beliefs of those with whom we are sharing the Gospel? Or, the assumptions and biases of our own culture and beliefs? Here on part two of our conversation with author, scholar, and world-religions expert Dr. Win Courduan, we examine some basic premises about contextualization and how Jesus "fits into" other faith traditions. 

Winfried Courduan (PhD, Rice University) is professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana. He has led many undergraduate tours focusing on the lived religious traditions of various parts of the world. He is the author of several books, including Handmaid to Theology, Reasonable Faith: Basic Christian Apologetics, Neighboring Faiths (3rd Edition), and A Tapestry of Faiths.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

FREE BOOK: Courtesy of IVP Academic, we are giving away two brand-new copies of the third edition of Win Courduan's landmark book, Neighboring Faiths - A Christian Introduction to World Religions. Just drop host Apologetics Profile host Daniel Ray an email with a current mailing address to [email protected]. We will select at random two listeners and notify you by email if you have been selected.

Jesus was asked, "Who is my neighbor?" The answer to the question for us today is no different than it was in the culture of Jesus' day. Our neighbors today include a broad range of people from many different countries who hold to a wide variety of different beliefs and religious traditions. How can we as Christians intelligently engage our non-Christian neighbors of so many different faiths? There is no one simple formula, but there is wisdom and experience of those who have engaged with people of other faith traditions. Our guest this week and next on the Profile is author, scholar, and world-religions expert Dr. Win Corduan, who took the time to share with us some of his invaluable wisdom and insight from decades of traveling the world and engaging people of other religions.

Winfried Courduan (PhD, Rice University) is professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at Taylor University, Upland, Indiana. He has led many undergraduate tours focusing on the lived religious traditions of various parts of the world. He is the author of several books, including Handmaid to Theology, Reasonable Faith: Basic Christian Apologetics, Neighboring Faiths (3rd Edition), and A Tapestry of Faiths.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

NOTE: Parts 1 and 2 of this podcast are also available in video format on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4T56TJA0aOY. If you would like to know more about having Bill and James present a similar debate for your church or university ministry, contact Dr. Brady Blevins at [email protected].

On this final installment of A Christian and Atheist Discuss God, atheist Bill Cluck and Christian James Walker answer questions sent in by you our listeners and those questions they did not get to in the live debate:

Come and hear what Bill and James have to say.

Bill Kluck is the co-founder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club, former evangelical Christian, and avid pickle ball player. Bill sells professional sports memorabilia in the DFW Metroplex. Bill holds a BA in history from Virginia Tech. 

James Walker is a former fourth-generation Mormon, Christian co-founder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club and president of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. James holds a BA in Biblical Studies and an MA in theology from Criswell College. He is the author of What the Qur'an Really Teaches about Jesus (uhop.me/Quran) and The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality (uhop.me/Religions). He speaks in churches through the country on a Christian perspective on world religions, cults, the occult counterfeit Christianity, the occult, controversial doctrines and practices.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

NOTE: This podcast is also available in video format on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4T56TJA0aOY. The complete Q&A for this discussion will air on Monday, April 8, 2024. If you have a question for Bill or James please TEXT the word Ask to 817-204-5066 NO LATER THAN APRIL 2nd. Bill and James will answer the remaining questions from the live event (Parts 1 and 2) as well as the new questions from our podcast audience at that time.

Is belief in God just a matter of evidence? What kind of evidence counts for God's existence? The cosmos? the Bible? What about the problem of evil? This week and next on the Profile, we feature president of Watchman Fellowship James K. Walker's live conversation with his friend, Bill Kluck, who is a member of Metroplex Atheists. Bill and James discuss the fine tuning of the cosmos, the problem of evil, and the Resurrection of Jesus in front of a full house at Pleasantview Baptist Church here in Arlington, Texas. We hope the discussion will inspire both skeptic and believer alike to have civil and meaningful conversations about the big questions pertaining to God.

Bill Kluck is the co-founder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club, former evangelical Christian, and avid pickle ball player. Bill sells professional sports memorabilia in the DFW Metroplex. Bill holds a BA in history from Virginia Tech. 

James Walker is a former fourth-generation Mormon, Christian co-founder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club and president of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. James holds a BA in Biblical Studies and an MA in theology from Criswell College. He is the author of What the Qur'an Really Teaches about Jesus (uhop.me/Quran) and The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality (uhop.me/Religions). He speaks in churches through the country on a Christian perspective on world religions, cults, the occult counterfeit Christianity, the occult, controversial doctrines and practices.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

NOTE: This podcast is also available in video format on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/4T56TJA0aOY. The complete Q&A for this discussion will air on Monday, April 8, 2024. If you have a question for Bill or James please TEXT the word Ask to 817-204-5066 NO LATER THAN APRIL 2nd. Bill and James will answer the remaining questions from the live event (Parts 1 and 2) as well as the new questions from our podcast audience at that time.

Is belief in God just a matter of evidence? What kind of evidence counts for God's existence? The cosmos? the Bible? What about the problem of evil? This week and next on the Profile, we feature president of Watchman Fellowship James K. Walker's live conversation with his friend, Bill Kluck, who is a member of Metroplex Atheists. Bill and James discuss the fine tuning of the cosmos, the problem of evil, and the Resurrection of Jesus in front of a full house at Pleasantview Baptist Church here in Arlington, Texas. We hope the discussion will inspire both skeptic and believer alike to have civil and meaningful conversations about the big questions pertaining to God.

Bill Kluck is the co-founder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club, former evangelical Christian, and avid pickle ball player. Bill sells professional sports memorabilia in the DFW Metroplex. Bill holds a BA in history from Virginia Tech. 

James Walker is a former fourth-generation Mormon, Christian co-founder of the Atheist & Christian Book Club and president of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. James holds a BA in Biblical Studies and an MA in theology from Criswell College. He is the author of What the Qur'an Really Teaches about Jesus (uhop.me/Quran) and The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality (uhop.me/Religions). He speaks in churches through the country on a Christian perspective on world religions, cults, the occult counterfeit Christianity, the occult, controversial doctrines and practices.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE -- This is the 2024 Solar Eclipse bonus episode of Apologetics Profile also featured on our sister podcast, Good Heavens! 

Total eclipses are a spectacular and breathtaking wonder to behold. And a total eclipse is coming over the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex as well as parts of the eastern United States on April 8th, 2024. Totality in the DFW area will last a little over four minutes. 

If you are in the vicinity of DFW, come join Wayne Spencer and Daniel Ray in Waxahachie, Texas on April 8th, 2024 for a special Discovery Institute event. Learn more and find tickets information here: www.discovery.org/e/eclipse.

Waxahachie will be nearly in the center of the moon's shadow as it passes over. There will not be another total eclipse over the continental United States for another twenty years. So if you can, get yourself to a spot where you can see this once-in-a-lifetime wonder of the heavens on April 8th. 

You can check out this comprehensive eclipse event website, complete with easy-to-read maps of where you can view it. https://nationaleclipse.com/index.html

On this episode of Good Heavens! and Apologetics Profile we had the privilege of talking with Discovery Institute astronomer Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez about his experiences in seeing total eclipses, a little bit about the science behind them and how he thinks they reveal the glory of God. 

Guillermo's article on Salvo. https://salvomag.com/article/salvo68/signs-in-the-sky

Guillermo and Jay W. Richard's 2004 book, The Privileged Planet: Discovery.org/store/product/privileged-planet/

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

During his examination of Jesus, the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, asked Jesus, "What is truth?" Earlier in John's account, however, Jesus proclaims that He is "the way, the truth and the life." Yet what if someone rejects Jesus and what He says of Himself? What is truth for them? To whom or to what do they turn? This week we pick up our conversation with philosopher and president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Dr. Jamie Dew and examine some postmodern concepts of truth. We are also giving away a copy of Jamie's 2017 book Understanding Postmodernism: a Christian Perspective. Just drop Daniel Ray a line at [email protected] with a current mailing address (US residents only). Daniel will select one listener at random. Offer valid only for the original week this podcast airs.

Dr. Jamie Dew is the president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds two Ph.D. —a Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy from the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. Dew's Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry is from SEBTS and his Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies is from Toccoa Falls College, Toccoa, Ga.

Dew's publications include Philosophy: A Christian Introduction, with Paul M. Gould (Baker, 2019); God and the Problem of Evil: Five Views, with Chad Meister (IVP Academic, 2017), How Do We Know? An Introduction to Epistemology, with Mark W. Foreman (IVP Academic, 2014), God and Evil: The Case for God in a World filled with Pain, with Chad Meister (IVP Books, 2013), and Science and Theology: An Assessment of Alister McGrath's Critical Realist Perspective (Wipf & Stock, 2014). For more info., visit: nobts.edu/President.

Related Links: Free access to some related Watchman Profiles:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.