Apologetics Profile

Knowing what you believe, why you believe it and how to compassionately share your faith in Christ are invaluable hallmarks of being ambassadors for Christ and His kingdom. On part two of our conversation with apologist and author Greg Koukl, we explore the problems with truth and morality in a naturalistic worldview and how we as believers can and should take time to understand these problems in giving a defense of our faith. Hear how Greg encourages us to put "pebbles of truth" in the shoes of those who do not believe.

Greg Koukl founded Stand to Reason (str.org) in 1993 and currently serves as president of the organization. He has spoken on more than 70 college and university campuses both in the U.S. and abroad and has hosted his own call-in radio show for 27 years, advocating for “Christianity worth thinking about.” He has debated atheist Michael Shermer on national radio and Deepak Chopra on national television. An award-winning writer and best-selling author, Greg has written seven books, including The Story of Reality — How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between (amzn.to/3AtHtnR); Tactics — A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions (amzn.to/3hXCLYW) and Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air (amzn.to/3X9nu7A).

Greg received his Masters in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot School of Theology, graduating with high honors, and his Masters in Christian Apologetics with honors from Simon Greenleaf University. He is an adjunct professor in Christian apologetics at Biola University.

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Christian apologist Greg Koukl's best-selling book, Tactics, has had remarkable success since it was first published in 2000. Greg's counsel and advice for how to formulate "a Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions" continues to be an encouragement for many. On this two-part conversation, Watchman's staff apologist Daniel Ray talks "tactics" with Greg, as he shares more invaluable insights from his own personal experience in engaging unbelievers with the gospel.

Greg Koukl founded Stand to Reason (str.org) in 1993 and currently serves as president of the organization. He has spoken on more than 70 college and university campuses both in the U.S. and abroad and has hosted his own call-in radio show for 27 years, advocating for “Christianity worth thinking about.” He has debated atheist Michael Shermer on national radio and Deepak Chopra on national television. An award-winning writer and best-selling author, Greg has written seven books, including The Story of Reality — How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between (amzn.to/3AtHtnR); Tactics — A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions (amzn.to/3hXCLYW) and Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air (amzn.to/3X9nu7A). Greg has been featured on Focus on the Family radio and has been interviewed for CBN and the BBC. He's been quoted in Christianity Today, the U.S. News & World Report, and the L.A. Times.

Greg received his Masters in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics at Talbot School of Theology, graduating with high honors, and his Masters in Christian Apologetics with honors from Simon Greenleaf University. He is an adjunct professor in Christian apologetics at Biola University.

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Mike Rinder, former senior executive of Scientology, continues his discussion with James Walker about his new book A Billion Years. Scientology sued James and Watchman Fellowship for $9.5 million then infiltrated Watchman's offices with spies. For legal reasons, Watchman has spoken very little about this publicly until this podcast. Mike Rinder, who headed up Scientology's Office of Special Affairs, supervised much of the litigation, harassment, intimidation and other "Fair Game" tactics developed by church founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Rinder left Scientology and now exposes some of the incredibly ruthless abuses allegedly perpetrated by Scientology's current leader, David Miscavige. 

Mike Rinder is a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology. From 1982 to 2007, Rinder served on the church's board of directors was executive director of its international Office of Special Affairs directing the legal and public relations matters of Scientology. After escaping Scientology, Rinder has exposed the physical and mental abuse inflicted upon staff members by the current head of Scientology, David Miscavige. He co-hosted the Emmy award winning A&E documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. In 2022 Simon & Schuster published his memoir, A Billion Years.

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Mike Rinder, former senior executive of the Church of Scientology, sits down with James Walker, Watchman Fellowship president, to talk about his new book A Billion Years. Scientology sued James and Watchman Fellowship for $9.5 million then infiltrated Watchman offices in Texas and Alabama with spies. For legal reasons, Watchman has spoken very little about this publicly until this podcast. Mike Rinder, who headed up Scientology's "feared and dreaded" Office of Special Affairs, supervised much of the litigation, harassment, intimidation and other "Fair Game" tactics developed by church founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Rinder left Scientology and now exposes some of the incredibly ruthless abuses allegedly perpetrated by Scientology's current leader, David Miscavige. 

Mike Rinder is an Australian-American former senior executive of the Church of Scientology. From 1982 to 2007, Rinder served on the church's board of directors was executive director of its international Office of Special Affairs directing the legal and public relations matters of Scientology at the international level. After escaping Scientology in 2007, Rinder has vocally exposed the physical and mental abuse inflicted upon staff members by the current head of Scientology, David Miscavige. From 2016 to 2019, he co-hosted the Emmy award winning  A&E documentary series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. In 2022 Simon & Schuster published his memoir, A Billion Years.

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FREE AUTOGRAPHED BOOK -- For a chance to receive a free signed copy of Travis Dickinson’s new book, email Daniel Ray with your name and a physical mailing address at [email protected]. One recipient will be selected at random (USA only).

If doubt is a virtue, then would it not be virtuous  to doubt our doubts? Doubting your doubts about your faith in Christ is what our guest this week, Professor of Philosophy at Dallas Baptist University Dr. Travis Dickinson, suggests we do. 

His latest book, Wandering Toward God - Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions (uhop.me/Wandering), is a helpful companion to have as you navigate your way through questions and doubts about your faith. Neither a celebration nor a denigration of doubt, Wandering Toward God offers a biblical perspective about how to navigate the darkness of doubt. Travis shares from his own personal struggles wisdom for how to negotiate the wandering path of doubt and uncertainty

Dr. Travis Dickinson (TravisDickinson.com) holds a Bible Certificate from the Wisconsin Campus of Cairn University, a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education from Alaska Bible College, a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics and Master of Arts in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Biola University. He later received his Master of Arts in Philosophy along with a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Iowa. Dr. Dickinson is the author of four books. His two most recent titles are Logic and the Way of Jesus: Thinking Critically and Christianly (B & H) (see our podcast interview on that book here and here), and Wandering Towards God: Finding Faith in Doubts and Big Questions (IVP, October 2022) which we discuss in this episode.

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

"Wandering Toward God Finding Faith Among Doubts and Big Questions" with Travis Dickinson [Part 1]

When it comes to doubting your faith, there are two extremes. One is to embrace and celebrate doubt as a virtuous and infallible foundation for epistemological bliss. The other extreme is that any form of doubt is sin and should not ever be entertained in the mind of a believer. But what does the Bible say? What about the doubts of John the Baptist, Thomas, and the disciples?

Our guest this week and next, Professor of Philosophy at Dallas Baptist University Dr. Travis Dickinson, shares with us his insights and experiences with doubt in his new book Wandering Toward God - Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions (uhop.me/Wandering). Travis helps doubters negotiate a wandering (but entirely biblical) path between the two extreme notions of doubt.

Dr. Travis Dickinson (TravisDickinson.com) holds a Bible Certificate from the Wisconsin Campus of Cairn University, a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education from Alaska Bible College, a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics and Master of Arts in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Biola University. He later received his Master of Arts in Philosophy along with a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Iowa. Dr. Dickinson is the author of four books. His two most recent titles are Logic and the Way of Jesus: Thinking Critically and Christianly (B & H) (see our podcast interview on that book here and here), and Wandering Towards God: Finding Faith in Doubts and Big Questions (IVP, October 2022) which we discuss in this episode.

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Apologetics, Christianity, doubt, faith, atheism, agnosticism, skeptic, Watchman Fellowship, apologetics profile, Daniel Ray, Travis Dickinson, philosophy

Many aberrant religious movements which identify as Christian will twist the Gospel of grace making their followers partially responsible for saving themselves through legalistic, works-righteous doctrines and practices. If Jesus is not enough for salvation, if our salvation depends even in the slightest degree upon something we must do it is not finally the true Christian doctrine of justification by grace alone. As we will see again this week, such a concept of saving ourselves, even in part, is heretical. Our guest this week, theologian Dr. Edward Dalcour, shares with us more about the errors of modalism and works-righteousness doctrines and reminds us of the power of the Gospel in reaching the lost for Christ and His kingdom. 

Dr. Edward Dalcour is the president and director of Department of Christian Defense (Christiandefense.org), an educational and apologetic ministry based in Los Angeles, CA. He is Mentor of Theology at Greenwich School of Theology (London). He serves as Vice President of Grace Bible University based in Bagdad, FL. Dr. Dalcour holds a Master in Apologetics from Columbia Evangelical Seminary and a Ph.D. in Theology from North-West University (Potchefstroom, SA). He is a published author of several apologetic and theological books including A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology (https://uhop.me/Oneness). He is a prolific speaker, evangelist, apologist, and contributor to various theological journals. 

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

On the next two episodes of Apologetics Profile, Watchman senior apologist Brady Blevins sits down with apologist, author, and theologian Edward Dalcour to talk about one particular trinitarian heresy known as modalism and its prevalence throughout the movement known as the United Pentecostal Church International. Edward identifies and unpacks the errors of modalism within the UPCI and gives us a basic overview of the sound, biblical doctrine of God in three Persons.

Dr. Edward Dalcour is the president and director of Department of Christian Defense (Christiandefense.org), an educational and apologetic ministry based in Los Angeles, CA. He is Mentor of Theology at Greenwich School of Theology (London). He serves as Vice President of Grace Bible University based in Bagdad, FL. Dr. Dalcour holds a Master in Apologetics from Columbia Evangelical Seminary and a Ph.D. in Theology from North-West University (Potchefstroom, SA). He is a published author of several apologetic and theological books including A Definitive Look at Oneness Theology (https://uhop.me/Oneness). He is a prolific speaker, evangelist, apologist, and contributor to various theological journals. 

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

Our guest again this week is author, apologist, and missionary to Latter-Day Saints Eric Johnson who shares with us insights and helpful advice from his new book Introducing Christianity to Mormons. Eric gives a comprehensive overview of the basics of Christian doctrine and outlines how we can best engage Mormons with the truth of the Gospel.  

Eric Johnson has been a student of Mormonism since 1987 when he first served as a summer missionary to Utah. Eric graduated from San Diego State University as well as at Bethel Seminary San Diego. Eric cohosts the daily radio program Viewpoint on Mormonism and writes for MRM’s Mormonism Researched newsletter.  He is the co-author of Answering Mormons’ Questions: Ready Responses for Inquiring Latter-day Saints (Kregel, 2013) and  Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Baker Book, 2015).

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This week and next on Apologetics Profile, President of Watchman Fellowship and former fourth-generation Latter-Day Saint James Walker sits down with Eric Johnson to discuss his new book, Introducing Christianity to Mormons, and give you some sound doctrinal and practical insights in to how best to engage current and former Mormons with the truth of the Gospel.

Eric Johnson has been a student of Mormonism since 1987 when he first served as a summer missionary to Utah. Eric graduated from San Diego State University as well as at Bethel Seminary San Diego. Eric cohosts the daily radio program Viewpoint on Mormonism and writes for MRM’s Mormonism Researched newsletter.  He is the co-author of Answering Mormons’ Questions: Ready Responses for Inquiring Latter-day Saints (Kregel, 2013) and  Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Baker Book, 2015).

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

Related Apologetics Profile Podcasts on Mormonism

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