As the student questions series continues, the next episodes will be based around a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine--Called to Believe by Steven Mueller.  Chapter one of this book is entitled, "The Task of Theology."  Discussions I have with my students based on this chapter include:

• What is truth?
• What is religion?
• What is faith?

In this episode, I discuss how to navigate conversations around these questions.

As we continue from the previous episode on origins and evolutionarianism, in this episode, I have suggestions for what to do in conversation when a person isn't open to hearing anything.  What if someone is so adamant about their beliefs that they won't consider alternatives?  How can we ask questions and find a way to open up the conversation to reach that person?

In this episode, we start thinking about leading conversations around origins, or as I call it, "evolutionarianism".  Let's consider our attitude toward science.  Is religion contrary to science?  How can we come together and have positive conversations about objective reality?  How can we lead a classroom conversation about this, especially in a way that is collaborative, not combative?

As we continue thinking about free will and how best to engage people in conversation to challenge assumptions, this episode focuses on how we tend to think of maturing.  Is the modern-day notion of what it means to reach maturity an accurate one?  What are some big concerns regarding this in our current culture?  What are important, eternal truths to recognize as we work through this issue?  

We continue thinking about free will by considering if we can test for free will.  Some example questions include:

• Have you ever done anything you regret?
• What don't we have the ability to change, even if we wanted to?
• What does our DNA consist of?
• What is the most effective way to keep a person in bondage?
• Are decisions and choices cause or effect?  How does free will effect our choices?
• Is the essence of life decisions ... or discovery?

No free will??  This is an important topic, because how you think about free will affects how you read the Bible.  So, how do I approach this in my classes to get students to reconsider widely-held notions?  What are tests for free will?  What are some key words in the Bible to shed light on the idea of "will"?

We're aware the criticism from the world around us regarding the Bible.  How can we look at the arguments people have, and address them in a helpful way?  In this episode I share statements I typically make to my students to get them thinking and talking.  

I mention Lee Strobel's book, The Case for Christ, which you can find here.

In this series about questions we can ask to spur conversation, we've talked about worldviews and collaboration versus competition.  Now we consider some illustrations that can further explain worldviews, including:

• The coast guard
• A drowning person
• Physican/hospital
• Fasting at Panera
• Ambassadors and stewards

This episode references my new book, The Parabolic Universe, which you can find here.  

As we continue thinking about questions to ask students, and prompts to get them engaged in the classroom, this episode considers the ideas of collaboration versus competition.  Different avenues of converation can include:

• Consider various models where collaboration is used, versus those where competition is the driver.
• What are strategies we can use to resolve contentiousness?
• Think about worldviews--are we just a body, or a body and soul?  Consider Jesus' illustrations of old and new wineskins in Matthew 9. 

In this episode, I mention the green arc model.  You can find a visual and more information about that here.  

This episode focuses on different prompts I introduce in my classes regarding worldview, including talking about where to start conversations and how to find common ground, as well as when to step back.  

I refer to the Red Pyramid and Green Arc worldviews in this episode.  Here are the links  a visual of each model.  You can also learn more about these models by listening here.