The Present-Day Saint

0013 - In this episode I look at the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead. I use the work of Gary Habermas and Mike Licona from their book, "The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus," to make the case that Jesus did rise from the dead. I look at five of the facts that almost all scholars agree on and how the best explanation of those five facts is that Jesus rose from the dead. I also look at some of the evidence that Jesus existed and that he claimed to be God. If all these facts are true then Christianity is true. Please take a listen and get a copy of Habermas and Licona's book!

0012 - In this episode I review a book by Peter Boghossian called, "A Manual for Creating Atheists." Dr. Boghossian is a Professor at Portland State University and teaches a class on Atheism. In this book he tries to build up an army of "Street Epistemologists" who will engage with those who have "faith" and ultimately disabuse them of their false beliefs. He believes that the proper way to engage with those of "faith" is to attack faith as a way of knowing. In my review I talk about the things that we agree on and about how I think the things I learned in reading his book will be very effective in talking to LDS and most evangelical Christians who have "faith in faith." I talk about why I think that Dr. Boghossian's understanding of faith is fatally flawed and what faith really is. I also talk about how this false view of "faith in faith" is infecting evangelicals, churches and campus ministries all across the world.  

0011 - In this episode I do a book review on the recently published Ratio Christi booklet, "Engaging Critical Theory and the Social Justice Movement," by Dr. Neil Shenvi and Dr. Pat Sawyer. In this short booklet the authors examine the history of contemporary critical theory and how this worldview is wreaking havoc at the university. In this episode I review the book and the far reaching implications in the university and the church if this worldview isn't stopped. I define and discuss terms like "social justice," "white-privilege," "intersectionality," and more buzz words within the movement, and how they don't mean what many of us think they mean.  If you would like a free copy of the booklet you can download from the Ratio Christi website here - https://ratiochristi.org/engaging-critical-theory-and-the-social-justice-movement/

0010 - In this episode I interview Corey Miller, President of Ratio Christi, in advance of his upcoming discussion with atheist Professor Peter Boghossian here in Utah. On February 6 and 7, Dr. Miller and Dr. Boghossian will engage in four dialogues on four Utah campuses. The title of their dialogue is, "A Christian and an Atheist Unite Against the Death of Intellectual Diversity at the University: How Social Justice and Identity Politics are Negatively Impacting Culture and the University." In our interview Dr. Miller discusses how this discussion came about and why this topic is so important. He defines and gives the history of the "social justice" movement and contemporary critical theory and how these ideas are destroying the campus and the church.  For more info about the upcoming events in Utah go here - https://www.facebook.com/ratiochristi.utah. 

0009 - In this episode I talk about a dialogue that I am having with a Latter-Day Saint. I discuss some of the points he makes in our discussion and I show how it is hard to have productive conversations with the LDS because of their very different epistemology. I discuss his claims that we worship the same Jesus and that the way to figure out what religion is true is to pray about it. I also talk about an event that we have coming up here in Utah on Feb. 6 and 7.  I hope you will listen.

0008 - In this episode I review the book "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler. This has been one of the most important books in my life due to the content of the book. It was the Classical Apologetics argument outlined in the book that caused me to come to the realization that Christianity was true for all people, at all times and in all places. Turek and Geisler walk through a twelve point argument that starts with the nature of truth and ends with the fact that the Bible is the Divine and Inerrant word of God. This is such an important book and I couldn't recommend it more highly. 

0007 - In this episode I review the book "Talking to Strangers" by Malcolm Gladwell. I talk about how some of the ideas in the book can help me think through the discussions I have with Latter-Day Saints. Gladwell talks about some of the misconceptions we have regarding strangers and how some of our natural tendencies can actually undermine our ability to seek the truth when dealing with other people. Overall it was an enjoyable, and easy, read and I would recommend it for the reasons outlined in the podcast.  

0006 - In this episode I review Scott Klusendorf's book "The Case for Life." In this book Klusendorf makes an airtight argument for the humanity of the unborn. He helps people make better arguments for the Pro-Life position. In the podcast I help people to see that abortion ultimately comes down to one issue - what is the unborn? Then I show how science and philosophy points us to the position that abortion is murder. I also talk about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ covers all sins even this and that is why it is so important. On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision I discuss why that case was so bad and what we need to do to change people's hearts and minds on this important issue. Please check out the Life Training Institute website at www.prolifetraining.com for more info and to get the book.

0005 - In this Episode I talk about some of the plans for the podcast this year and then get into decision making and the will of God. I make the case that God does not have some hidden personal plan for each of us and that our job is too look for clues to figure out God's personal plan for our life. Instead, I argue that God has a sovereign and moral will for our lives and then the rest is where Christian freedom comes in. Let me know what you think.

0004 - In this episode I interview David Halevy from the Jew and Gentile podcast. In this episode he discusses his ministry, moving his family to Israel, why evangelizing the Jewish people is so important, the relationship of the church and Israel and so much more.  This is a long interview but I hope you will enjoy it.