In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview comedian Michael J. Nelson about his work in comedy, his apologetics podcast, sharing the faith and what he’s learned from watching the worst movies of all time.0:56 - Intro to a unique interview with Michael J. Nelson2:30 - Who is Mike Nelson and what is Mystery Science Theater 3000?4:05 - How did MST3K come about?5:00 - How Mike became a Christian and what inspired him to make an apologetics podcast? (Like Trees Walking)7:20 - Did apologetics play a big role in Mike’s life?9:30 - The role of apologetics with interactions with friends and family relationships12:19 - Biggest apologetic influences13:34 - What does “Like Trees Walking” mean as a podcast title?16:13 - How to be a Christian in the entertainment industry18:12 - Rifftrax - and does making that kind of content get old?20:34 - Navigating the ins and outs of humor and Hollywood content23:38 - Profound wisdom learned from watching culture’s garbage24:52 - Mike’s take on “Christian movies” and entertainment27:15 - The worst movie of all time28:10 - The most over-rated movie franchise of all time30:20 - Favorite argument for the existence of God31:45 - Mike’s worst stand-up comedy bomb ever35:05 - Trapped in an elevator with Richard Dawkins36:44 - “Do you like movies about gladiators?”38:05 - What persuades you most the Christianity is true?42:16 - What is the most quotable movie?45:10 - Mike’s sound rig setup, and a story of 8 billion pennies46:50 - Where to find all Mike’s stuffLike Trees Walking (Apologetics podcast)liketreeswalkingpod.comRifftrax.comCommentaries for B-movie oddities and Hollywood blockbusters.372 Pages We’ll Never Get Backhttp://372pages.com/If you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

027 - Michael J Nelson Interview

Apologetics 315 discusses the topics of Apologetics, Evangelism and the Christian worldview, and interviews a variety of Christian apologists.

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SummaryIn this episode, Brian and Chad interview Travis Dickinson about the argument from reason. They discuss the different options for explaining the existence of logical principles, focusing on naturalism and Platonism. Travis argues that if God does not exist, logical principles either do not exist or exist as brute abstract objects. He explains that naturalism, which denies the existence of anything outside the natural world, cannot account for the existence of logical principles. Platonism, on the other hand, posits the existence of abstract objects in a separate realm, but this explanation is ad hoc and lacks independent reasons. Travis concludes that the most plausible explanation for logical principles is the existence of God. In this part of the conversation, Brian and Travis discuss the argument from reason and its connection to the existence of God. They explore the idea that our ability to reason and use logic points to the existence of a higher mind, which they identify as God. They also discuss how the argument from reason can be used in practical apologetics to engage with skeptics and point them towards Christ.TakeawaysThe argument from reason posits that if God does not exist, logical principles either do not exist or exist as brute abstract objects.Naturalism, which denies the existence of anything outside the natural world, cannot account for the existence of logical principles.Platonism, which posits the existence of abstract objects in a separate realm, is an ad hoc explanation without independent reasons.The most plausible explanation for logical principles is the existence of God. Our ability to reason and use logic suggests the existence of a higher mind, which can be identified as God.The argument from reason can be used in practical apologetics to engage with skeptics and challenge their worldview.The moral argument may be more effective in hitting people in the gut, but the argument from reason provides a strong intellectual foundation for belief in God.Studying logic and critical thinking can be seen as a way of studying God and living in a way that reflects the mind of Christ.The argument from reason points to the idea that God is the greatest conceivable being, worthy of worship and the normative standard for reasoning.Chapters00:00 Introduction01:17 Guest Introduction03:33 The Incompatibility of Naturalism and Logical Principles05:01 Reason as the Observable Phenomenon06:29 The Plausibility of God as the Ground of Logical Principles16:21 The Ad Hoc Nature of Platonism24:23 The Limitations of Platonism26:14 The Need for a Ground of Logical Principles27:13 The Argument from Reason and the Existence of God30:07 The Platonic View vs. the Theistic View35:17 Jesus as the Originating Logical Principle39:38 Jesus as the Ground of Being and Logic51:03 The End of Every Philosophical Question is God================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If 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 podcast@apologetics315.com

141 - Argument from Reason with Travis Dickinson

In this episode, Brian Auten & Chad Gross engage with philosopher Paul Gould to discuss the profound connection between beauty, love, theism. They delve into why beauty is more likely on theism than naturalism and explore various philosophical perspectives on love and the recognition of beauty.Topics Covered:1. Introduction to the Topic of Beauty:   - Beauty in Theism vs. Naturalism:     - Gould explains why beauty is more likely on theism than naturalism.     - Discussion on the analogy between human artistic creativity and the universe's beauty.     - The improbability of a universe saturated with beauty under naturalism's unguided, blind forces.2. Philosophical Arguments and Analogies:   - Human Artistic Creativity:     - Creating beautiful art requires skill and intention, paralleling the idea of a divine artist behind the universe.   - Entropy and Beauty:     - Examination of why beauty persists despite the laws of entropy and randomness under naturalism.3. Exploring the Nature of Love:   - Defining Love:     - Gould outlines five features of love:       1. Multi-directed       2. Complex       3. Deep and Enduring       4. Active and Passive       5. Valuable     - Discussion on how contemporary philosophical views often fail to capture these features fully.     - Aquinas's wisdom on love as a comprehensive framework.4. Beauty as a Properly Basic Belief:   - Plantinga's Concept of Properly Basic Beliefs:     - Inquiry into whether the recognition of beauty can be considered a properly basic belief, not needing argumentation to be justified.   - Experiences of Beauty:     - Distinctions between judgments of beauty, experiences of beauty, beautiful things, and beauty itself.     - The Christian story's integration of beauty, truth, and goodness, particularly through the narrative of the cross.5. Listener Questions and Practical Insights:   - Interacting with Listener Inquiries:     - Addressing questions about the recognition and judgment of beauty.     - Discussion on the practical implications of philosophical views on love and beauty.Key Quotes:- Paul Gould on Beauty and Naturalism:  "If naturalism is true, and the universe is just the result of unguided, blind forces, you would not expect beauty to saturate the world. By analogy, just as beauty is very hard for human artists, it's surprising for it to saturate the world without a divine artist."- **Brian Auten on the Christian Story:**  "The cross being the God of the universe, sacrificing himself for sinners to save them, even when they hate him, is the most beautiful story there is. It brings tears to your eyes because it's beautiful."- Paul Gould on Love:  "Love is multi-directed, complex, deep and enduring, active and passive, and valuable. We need an account of love that captures all these features."================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If 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 podcast@apologetics315.com

140 - Beauty & Love with Paul Gould

Introduction- Chad and Brian discuss their favorite and most memorable debates between Christian apologists/philosophers and atheists/skepticsChad's Debate Picks1. James Crossley vs. William Lane Craig - Was Jesus Raised from the Dead? (2012)   - Highlights Craig's case for the resurrection based on postmortem appearances    - Contrasting styles of young Crossley vs distinguished Craig2. Jeffrey Lowder vs. Frank Turek - What Better Explains Reality: Naturalism or Theism? (2016)     - Appreciates Lowder's formal case for naturalism reminiscent of Craig   - Admires the cordiality and clash of Lowder's logic vs Turek's rhetoric  3. Christopher Hitchens vs. William Lane Craig   - The "prizefight" lead-up and spectacle surrounding this legendary debate   - Contrasts Craig's arguments vs Hitchens' emotional appeals4. Braxton Hunter vs. Matt Dillahunty (2019)   - Hunter exposes issues in Dillahunty's epistemology    - Effectively argues for Kalam cosmological argument and argument from free will5. Craig vs Francisco Ayala - Is Intelligent Design Viable? (2013)   - Craig debates an award-winning evolutionary scientist   - Craig has to think on his feet against unfamiliar arguments from Ayala6. Chris Date vs. Dale Tuggy - Is Jesus Human and Not Divine?     - High-level, rich, respectful debate between able defenders of their positions   - Highlights Date's ancient bird imagery argument for Christ's deity7. Paul Draper vs. William Lane Craig   - Craig debates a formidable philosophical adversary   - Interesting to see Craig on his heels against some unfamiliar argumentsBrian's Debate Picks  1. William Lane Craig vs. Peter Atkins   - The famous "put that in your pipe" moment where Craig lists what science can't explain2. Norm Geisler vs. Paul Kurtz on John Ankerberg Show     - Admires Geisler's rapid-fire responses to a breadth of objectionsBonus: Worst Debate - Jeff Durbin & James White vs Dr. Clark & Dan Ellis (2020)  - Dr. Clark engaged in bizarre antics like throwing books, demanding miracles  - One of the most cringeworthy debates they've seenFind links here: https://truthbomb.blogspot.com/2024/02/some-of-my-favorite-debates.html================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If 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 podcast@apologetics315.com

139 - Our Favorite Debates

In this episode, Brian and Chad discuss the importance of listening to debates. This is a kind of PART 1, and part 2 will discuss specific debates.Brian's seven reasons for listening to debates were: 1) Hearing the best defenders of each view, 2) Hearing actual arguments without interruptions, 3) Finding the cutting edge of the current debate, 4) Getting used to hearing opposing views without anxiety, 5) Seeing that Christianity can hold its own intellectually, 6) Observing how a cumulative case is made and critics' counters, and 7) Realizing the debate is just an entry point to a much deeper topic. Throughout explaining his seven reasons, Brian and Chad discussed the value of debates utilizing good logic (logos), credibility (ethos), and emotional appeals (pathos). They noted how the best debates are well-moderated with clear time limits. Listening to debates can boost confidence in the Christian faith by seeing it withstand scrutiny. However, the debate is just the start in grasping the full depth of a topic which opens up avenues for further study.================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If 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 podcast@apologetics315.com

138 - Why Listen to Debates?

In this episode, Brian and Chad interview Chris Date about his view on conditional immortality, which is the idea that the final punishment of the wicked is death and total destruction rather than eternal conscious torment. Chris provides an overview of the two contrasting views and shares his journey of how he became convinced of annihilationism after originally believing in eternal conscious torment.He then dives into key biblical texts that are often used to argue for eternal torment, such as Mark 9:48, Matthew 25:46, Revelation 14:9-11, and Jude 7, demonstrating how these passages can actually better support conditionalism. Chris also makes a concise case for his view by looking at biblical evidence on immortality, the vision of eternity, substitutionary atonement, and the fate of the wicked described as death and destruction.For more resources from Chris on this topic, check out the Rethinking Hell website www.rethinkinghell.com and YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingHellas well as Chris' personal website at https://chrisdate.info While Chris hopes listeners will consider his perspective, his ultimate desire is for unity in the body of Christ despite differences on this non-essential doctrine.================================We appreciate your feedback.If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics.You can follow Brian @TheBrianAutenAnd of course, you can follow @Apologetics315If 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 podcast@apologetics315.com

027 - Michael J Nelson Interview

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