Apologetics Profile

Even if one might be convinced that reason can lead us to God, there remains the very real difficulty of the problem of evil. How can evil exist if an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God exists? There are finally no easy answers to this question. Our guest again this week, author and philosopher Dr. Josh Rasmussen, shares with us his personal and philosophical perspectives on how he has negotiated this difficult issue, both through analytical arguments and through his own personal suffering. Philosophy, as it turns out, isn't just a dry academic exercise, but part of what constitutes the grand narrative of the very Gospel itself, a love of wisdom. 

Joshua Rasmussen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Azusa Pacific University. His area of expertise is analytic metaphysics, with a focus on basic categories of reality, such as objects, ideas, and necessary existence. He is author of several books, including Defending the Correspondence Theory of Truth (Cambridge University Press, 2014), Necessary Existence (with Pruss; Oxford University Press, 2015), How Reason Can Lead to God (IVP Academic, 2019), and Is God the Best Explanation of Things (with Felipe Leon, Palgrave 2019). He is also the founder of the Worldview Design YouTube channel, which helps people use reason to address the big questions of life.

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

What is reason? How might it lead us to God? In Acts chapter 17, the Apostle Paul attempted to reason with the Athenian philosophers about the resurrection of Jesus. Some scoffed, but some listened. How does reason inform our understanding of God? Can a person come to know that God exists through means of reasonable arguments? And how does reason fit in with what we know about God?  

On the next two episodes of the Profile we talk with author and philosopher Dr. Josh Rasmussen, about his 2019 book How Reason Can Lead to God. We hope you will discover how reason and even philosophy are integral parts of the greatest story ever told.

Joshua Rasmussen, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Azusa Pacific University. His area of expertise is analytic metaphysics, with a focus on basic categories of reality, such as objects, ideas, and necessary existence. He is author of several books, including Defending the Correspondence Theory of Truth (Cambridge University Press, 2014), Necessary Existence (with Pruss; Oxford University Press, 2015), How Reason Can Lead to God (IVP Academic, 2019), and Is God the Best Explanation of Things (with Felipe Leon, Palgrave 2019). He is also the founder of the Worldview Design YouTube channel, which helps people use reason to address the big questions of life.

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.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.

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.

182 JW Escape! [Part 2] Former Jehovah's Witness Elaine Bales shares her story with James Walker

Jehovah's Witnesses are presently experiencing a tremendous institutional and public relations crisis as never before in the history of their organization. Many members have grown tired of the fear, intimidation, and unceasing, impossible demands of trying to earn favor with the wrathful and implacable god in whom they profess to believe. 

Here on Part Two of James Walker's conversation with former Jehovah's Witness Elaine Bales, you will hear of the crisis facing the organization and what you can do to be a compassionate ambassador for Christ if ever you had the opportunity to engage them about what they believe. Most of all, Elaine reminds us that members of Jehovah's Witnesses are not the enemy. They know little or nothing about the love of Christ and the person to whom God brings to your doorstep might be just in a similar position as Elaine was decades ago. Your seed of kindness to them could go a long way.

Elaine Bales was born a JW kid, Elaine came to believe she could never do enough. She finally escaped Jehovah's Witnesses after 23 years and struggled for nearly 20 years to find her way. She finally found the truth in Christ and the Scriptures and now lives to shout it from the rooftops. Resources from Elaine Bales include: JW Escape YouTube channel: Youtube.com/@JWEscape, JW Escape Facebook Page: Facebook.com/groups/2771104329797580 and Elaine's website: JWEscape.com.

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This week and next, President of Watchman Fellowship James K. Walker sits down with Elaine Bales, a former Jehovah's Witness, to discuss her experiences as being a member since childhood, and her difficult escape from it to embrace the real Jesus and His gospel of grace. 

Our very own Daniel Ray had a recent encounter with two Jehovah's Witnesses at the Dallas/Love Field Airport. On his phone, he pulled up Watchman Fellowship's digital four-page profile on the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society just before approaching their information table. And as Daniel attests, it was an incredibly helpful reminder. And it's something you can do too, should you ever encounter Jehovah's Witnesses in public or at your front door. Instead of walking past a table or slamming the door on them, be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you. We hope the next two episodes of the Profile will help you do just that.

Elaine Bales was born a JW kid, Elaine came to believe she could never do enough. She finally escaped Jehovah's Witnesses after 23 years and struggled for nearly 20 years to find her way. She finally found the truth in Christ and the Scriptures and now lives to shout it from the rooftops. Resources from Elaine Bales include: JW Escape YouTube channel: Youtube.com/@JWEscape, JW Escape Facebook Page: Facebook.com/groups/2771104329797580 and Elaine's website: JWEscape.com.

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On this episode of Apologetics Profile, Watchman senior apologist Brady Blevins talks with Christian author and apologist Dr. Richard Howe about what Satanism is today and how we as Christians can prayerfully and thoughtfully engage those whom we may know who self-identify as Satanists.

Dr. Richard Howe is a writer as well as a public speaker and debater in churches, conferences, and university campuses on issues concerning Christian apologetics and philosophy. He is Provost, Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics, and Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Howe is Past President of the International Society of Christian Apologetics. In their free time, Richard and his wife Rebekah enjoy international travel.

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

Pantheism comes from the Greek Pan meaning “all or everything” and Theos meaning “God.” In Pantheism, everything that exists is One (Monism) and that one substance is God. God, however, is not personal but impersonal – an “It” rather than a “He.” This worldview has significant implications. If everything is "God" then humans must also be a manifestation of God. This is reminiscent of the Serpent's temptation in Genesis 3, "You shall be like God." 

Pantheism isn't just a superstition of the ancient past, it is very much still with us today in a variety of different world views, and many ascribe to some kind of Pantheism without even knowing it. On part two of our conversation with Christian philosopher Dr. Doug Groothuis, we discuss some of the failures and contradictory tenets of Pantheism, including its insufficient responses to the problems of evil and suffering. 

Dr. Douglas Groothuis holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (University of Oregon, 1993) and is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary where he heads the Christian Apologetics Master’s degree program. He is the author of sixteen books, beginning with the best-selling Unmasking the New Age (InterVarsity Press, 1986) and including the popular and voluminous textbook, Christian Apologetics, 2nd ed. (IVP Academic, 2022), as well as a memoir, Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—a Philosopher’s Lament (InterVarsity Press, 2017), an introduction to philosophy, Philosophy in Seven Sentences (InterVarsity, 2016), and a book on the controversial topic of Critical Race Theory, Fire in the Streets (Salem Books, 2022).

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

Pantheism is one of four foundational “world views” held by millions of people around the world. It is the common theme of many of the world’s eastern religions including Hinduism, Buddhism and Taoism. In the West, it underlies the basis of Transcendentalism, Wicca (witchcraft) and much of New Age spirituality. How do we recognize Pantheism today? How should we respond? On the next two episodes of the profile, we sit down with Christian philosopher Dr. Doug Groothius (pronounced GROW-tice) to talk with him about what Pantheism is, how to recognize it, and how to respond compassionately with the Gospel.

Dr. Douglas Groothuis holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy (University of Oregon, 1993) and is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary where he heads the Christian Apologetics Master’s degree program. He is the author of sixteen books, beginning with the best-selling Unmasking the New Age (InterVarsity Press, 1986) and including the popular and voluminous textbook, Christian Apologetics, 2nd ed. (IVP Academic, 2022), as well as a memoir, Walking Through Twilight: A Wife’s Illness—a Philosopher’s Lament (InterVarsity Press, 2017), an introduction to philosophy, Philosophy in Seven Sentences (InterVarsity, 2016), and a book on the controversial topic of Critical Race Theory, Fire in the Streets (Salem Books, 2022).

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.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: watchman.org/notebook.

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

TWO FREE BOOKS - Take advantage of the special offer mentioned at the end of this episode: Watchman.org/Waco

Thirty years ago this week, a small army of federal agents stormed the compound of the Branch Davidian cult led by David Koresh with armored vehicles, knocking down walls and launching tear gas. That deadly assault outside of Waco, Texas was the culmination of a 51-day standoff between government agents, four of whom were killed in the line of duty, and the Davidians. The assault ended horrifically when a tragic fire quickly consumed the compound and claimed the lives of over 80 Davidians, including 26 children.

This week, for the first time ever in podcast format, we are releasing James Walker's 2018 interview with Robert Scott, a Branch Davidian we helped break free from David Koresh's influence just months before the gruesome fire. Robert, author of the book Branch on Fire, tells why he gave his life to David Koresh, what it was like to live at the Waco compound and how he broke free to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ as his messiah.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship
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TWO FREE BOOKS - Take advantage of the special offer mentioned at the end of this episode: Watchman.org/Waco

Thirty years ago this week, a small army of federal agents stormed the compound of the Branch Davidian cult led by David Koresh with armored vehicles, knocking down walls and launching tear gas. That deadly assault outside of Waco, Texas was the culmination of a 51-day standoff between government agents, four of whom were killed in the line of duty, and the Davidians. The assault ended horrifically when a tragic fire quickly consumed the compound and claimed the lives of over 80 Davidians, including 26 children.

This week, for the first time ever in podcast format, we are releasing James Walker's 2018 interview with Clive Doyle, one of the few remaining Branch Davidian who survived the fire badly burned. Clive, who passed away last year at the age of 81, still believed that David Koresh was his messiah. He was one of a small remnant of original sect members who were still awaiting the second coming of David Koresh. He believed Koresh would soon return to earth with the others who died in the flames.

Next week we broadcast our interview with Robert Scott, a Branch Davidian we helped break free from David Koresh's influence just months before the gruesome fire. Robert, author of the book Branch on Fire, tells why he gave his life to David Koresh, what it was like to live at the Waco compound and how he broke free to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ as his messiah.

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

TWO FREE BOOKS - Take advantage of the special offer mentioned at the end of this episode: Watchman.org/Waco

Thirty years ago this month, a small army of federal agents stormed the compound of the Branch Davidian cult led by David Koresh with armored vehicles, knocking down walls and launching tear gas. That deadly assault outside of Waco, Texas was the culmination of a 51-day standoff between government agents, four of whom were killed in the line of duty, and the Davidians. The assault ended horrifically when a tragic fire quickly consumed the compound and claimed the lives of over 80 Davidians, including 26 children.

On this episode of the Profile Watchman senior apologist Brady Blevins sits down with president of Watchman Fellowship James Walker and discusses not only what it was like for Watchman Fellowship during the Waco siege, but also the history and development of this sect of Seventh Day Adventism, what went wrong and the circumstances which contributed to the tragedy. Most importantly, remembering Waco helps us to never forget the tragic consequences that may result from pursuing false Christs and counterfeit Christianity.

Next week we are releasing for the first time in podcast format our 2018 interview with the late Clive Doyle. Clive was one of the few surviving Branch Davidians who was badly burned but escaped the 1993 fire with his life. Clive shared that all these years later he continued to believed in Koresh and he tells us why he was still awaiting the second coming of David Koresh.

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