Faith Informed

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Although the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) might be unfamiliar to many, names like Bethel and IHOP likely ring a bell. Bethel, a major NAR proponent, is known for more than just popular worship songs. It's important for Christians to understand the teachings and practices associated with this movement, characterized by self-proclaimed prophets and apostles and terms like “activate” and “miracle worker.”

Join me as I discuss the NAR movement with Doug Geivett and Holly Pivec, co-authors of Counterfeit Kingdom. They have extensively studied the movement and will guide us through NAR’s beliefs, practices, and teachings.

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In this episode, we will continue our conversation with Dr. JP Moreland on the relationship between science and religion, particularly focusing on whether scientific discoveries point towards the existence of a divine creator. From the Big Bang theory to evolutionary biology, each scientific discovery has provided insights into the intricate workings of the cosmos. However, as our understanding of the natural world has expanded, so too have the questions surrounding the existence of God. The "God of the gaps" argument suggests that as scientific knowledge fills gaps in our understanding, the necessity for a divine explanation diminishes. Has science shown that God does not exist or does science point us to God?

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Is there a conflict between belief in God and science? Has science rendered belief in God implausible? The prevailing idea that science has indeed made belief in God untenable is largely due to the immense cultural authority attributed to science today. When figures like Richard Dawkins assert that science has demonstrated the nonexistence or highly improbable existence of God, many accept this perspective without much contemplation. Another prevailing notion in contemporary culture is that science alone provides knowledge. Phrases like "follow the science" or "science tells us” underscore the perceived authority of science in culture today. Science is often regarded as the ultimate or sole source of knowledge. However, is it accurate to believe that science exclusively grants us knowledge?

Furthermore, an idea deeply ingrained in contemporary culture is that, unlike religion, science is free from assumptions, grounded solely in hard evidence and facts. Religion, by contrast, is often characterized as irrational, dogmatic, faith-based, superstitious, subjective, and even anti-scientific. Some argue that religion hinders the progress of science. Does the belief in God impede scientific progress? Are science and faith fundamentally at odds or incompatible?

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In our culture today, it is increasingly difficult to have honest conversations on faith and God without being labeled as bigoted or intolerant. How do we have meaningful conversations with our non-Christian friends and family? In this episode we will continue our conversation with Greg Koukl on how to effectively engage in conversations about God and how to winsomely respond to questions and objections. In Part 1 we looked at the importance of asking questions when engaging with non-Christians and how Jesus so masterfully models this in the gospels. In this episode, we will look at a few tactics to help identify flaws in the claims and arguments people make.

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In this episode of Faith Informed, well known apologist Greg Koukl gives some tried and tested tactics to engage non-believers. If you want to have spiritual conversations with others but lack a game plan, this discussion will give you a place to start. 

We will learn how to winsomely engage in conversations on God and how asking questions in an intentional, non-confrontational way helps to break down barriers and reach the heart.

Greg is the Founder of Stand to Reason and has written several books including Tactics and Street Smarts.

Watch the Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbFeA0_nvZU&t=158s

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In this talk we will listen to Sam Raju give a talk at the Thinkwell Conference titled “A Winsome Apologetic.” As disciples, we are called to live exemplary, Godly lives in this fallen world that those who watch will be provoked to ask us for the reason for the hope within. Sam argues that the most powerful and persuasive apologetic is a life well lived, a life lived in faithfulness to Christ in conformity to his word. 

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Many have raised moral and theological objections on the justness, theological coherence and compatibility of the atonement. 

In this episode of Faith Informed, Dr. William Lane Craig joins me to discuss the crucial doctrine of the atonement and more specifically, penal substitution. 

How does Christ’s atoning death reconcile us to God? Why did Jesus have to die? Was His death necessary? How have Christians historically understood the doctrine of the atonement? How does Christ’s atoning death serve to expiate sin and propitiate God? Is penal substitution incompatible with God’s love? How is it just for God to punish Christ, an innocent party in place of us, the truly guilty ones? We will examine these questions and more. 

Dr. Craig has written extensively on the subject in his book, Atonement and the Death of Christ, looking at the atonement from an exegetical, historical and philosophical perspective.

Watch the Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E52_D2HX75s

Subscribe to the Podcast:

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-informed/id1682894387

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For more resources visit: www.engagein.org

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If an all powerful, perfectly good God exists then how come there is so much evil in the world. Is it possible to reconcile the existence of evil and suffering with an all powerful and perfectly good God? This is a question that has been debated by theologians, philosophers, and scholars for centuries. In this episode, Sam Raju speaks on this very pertinent topic, if God, Why Evil? 

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In today’s episode, Dr. Paul Copan joins us to help make sense of some troubling passages in the Old Testament. Paul is a theologian and an analytic philosopher who has written/edited over 40 books including “Is God a Moral Monster” and “Is God a Vindictive Bully.” He is a professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University and travels extensively, speaking and teaching around the world. 

Paul brings his expertise and thoughtful responses to some very difficult questions raised in response to passages in the Old Testament.

-  Does the OT condone slavery? 
- How could a truly holy and loving God command the slaughter of an entire people? 
-  Is the God of the Old Testament a misogynistic, vindictive bully?
- What are we to make of imprecatory Psalms?

Watch the Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuUn7bETslA

Subscribe to the Podcast:

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faith-informed/id1682894387

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In today’s podcast we are joined by apologist and philosopher, Dr. Paul Gould, author of “A Good and True Story: Eleven Clues to Understanding Our Universe and Your Place in it.” We will look at 11 features of the universe that point us to the true story of the world. We will examine if the Christian story offers the best explanation for the origin of the universe and of life, and if it provides the most satisfying answers to existential questions on meaning, beauty, identity, love and happiness. 

We will explore questions such as:

Is the Universe fine tuned by a fine tuner?
Is there an uncaused first cause behind the universe?
How do we ground our intuition that human life is valuable? 
Are there objective moral values and duties? If so, what grounds them? 
What is true happiness? Can we make sense of our yearning for happiness on an atheistic/naturalistic story?
What is love? What explains our deep longing for love? 
Are there aesthetic facts? Is beauty an objective feature of the world?
What is the meaning of life?

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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cwP64Y6SwPeXxkSiweM9q?si=1804e483e14a48b3

For more resources please visit www.engagein.org
Donate to future episodes: www.engagein.org/donate