Stan, JP, and Jordan delved deeper into the concepts of libertarian free will, compatibilism, and determinism, extending their discussion beyond theological topics to many other important issues. In this episode, we discuss:Implications of our understanding of freedom related to law and politicsThe difference between freedom and determinism in the social sciencesUnderstanding counseling in light of our free willHow understanding the nature of free will helps us grow in ChristFree will as a reason to believe we have a soulThe theme of hope and redemption in Scripture, and why this should inform our views on freedom Resources and References:John Seale, The National Endowment for the HumanitiesMass Shootings: The Role of the Media in Promoting Generalized Imitation Peggy Noonan, "We're More Than Political Animals" - Wall Street JournalThinking Christianly #19: Finding Quiet When Experiencing Anxiety and DepressionDallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines

In a gracious spirit J.P., Stan, and Jordan discuss the points of agreement and disagreement between the Calvinist and Arminian views of salvation (summarized in Calvinist theology by the acronym TULIP). This good-faith conversation will help listeners consider the implications of these beliefs, especially as they relate to our understanding of God’s nature, our nature, and the gospel message.* 

In this podcast, we discuss:

The TULIP acronym: where did it come from and what it does it mean?

Total Depravity: what is the difference between the extensive and intensive effects of depravity?

Unconditional Election: what does it mean to say God loves us?

Limited Atonement: what is the difference between a four or five-point Calvinist? Is the doctrine of Limited Atonement logically consistent with the whole of Calvinism?

Irresistible Grace: Is there evidence to support this position in Scripture?

Perseverance of the Saints: What is the difference between this and eternal security?

Resources and references:

The Canons of Dort

Roger E. Olson, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities

Stan Wallace, “Predestination or Free Will?”

John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (1960 ed)

*As always, the views expressed are those of the participants, and not necessarily those of the podcast’s sponsor Global Scholars. However, Global Scholars does encourage the study and discussion of important issues from the vantage points of theology, philosophy, and other related disciplines, as occurs in this podcast.

This is our first episode in a series about Free Will, Compatibilism, and Determinism. Stan, JP, and Jordan start by clearing up some of the major confusions that plague this conversation. They share how to have this discussion with clarity and keep the focus on the claims and avoid confusion. They also spot some ideas about Free Will, Compatibilism, and Determinism “in the wild.”  In this podcast, we discuss:What does it mean to be “free”?What are the major ideological camps in this conversation?Does the Compatibilist view of antinomy solve this logical problem?What are the most important distinctions in the Free Will and Determinism conversation?Where are the major pitfalls in this discussion? Where should we start the conversation if we want to gain understanding?What would evidence for Libertarian Free Will look like?A quiz and clues for JP and Stan on how to decipher what ideology an author or other content creator is communicating. Resources and references:William Lane Craig discusses his work on Systematic Philosophical TheologyP. Moreland, Finding Quiet: My Struggle of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought PeaceWilder Graves Penfield - A Brief BiographyJohn Steinbeck, East of Eden

J.P., Stan, and Jordan discuss engaging the Christmas story as thinking Christians and ways to live in light of the hope that the Incarnation brings.

In this podcast we discuss:

How does the humility of God bring wonder and awe to this season?

What does the quiet nature of Christ’s coming reveal about God’s character?

In what ways can we attempt to reclaim the season from consumer culture?

How should Christians handle “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas” conversations?

What is a “redemptive analogy” and how can looking for them help bridge cultural and relational divides?

What are the practical implications of the Christmas Story?

Resources and References:

Fun facts about “Hark the Harold Angels Sing”

Dallas Willard - God Wants to Be Seen

The Bible Project - Advent Season: What is it, and How is it Celebrated?

Movie - The Prince of Egypt

Don Richardson, Peace Child

Bobby Gross, Living the Christian Year: Time to Inhabit the Story of God

Stan Wallace, “Christmas - The Day Jesus Moved into the Neighborhood”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Christmas Bells

In this episode, JP and Stan talk about different views of time and how they integrate with a Christian way of thinking about God and His relationship to time, the relationship of time to salvation, and the overall understanding of time and the nature of reality. They tackle common pitfalls in conversations about time and make distinctions that clear up the broader discussion.

In this podcast, we discuss:

Does this discussion matter?

Is tense real or not?

What is the difference between an A-Theory and a B-Theory understanding of time?

How do time and space relate to each other in different views of time?

What kinds of theological issues arise with the different views of time?

What is divine middle knowledge?

Will there be time in heaven?

“Is the world a bucket of sand or a bowl of molasses?”

Is time the same as its measurement? How can we understand the Theory of Relativity?

Do we have good reason to trust our experience of time?

Resources and citations:

William Lane Craig, God, Time, and Eternity

William Lane Craig, The Kalam Cosmological Argument

JP Moreland and William Lane Craig, “Philosophy of Time and Space” in Philosophical Foundations(Chapter 20 in the second edition).

In this episode, J.P. and Stan discuss worldview and life-view and why evaluating the contents of these thoughts deserves our attention and reflection. How do we go about that process? They discuss the ways we can notice what we attend to and examine how our attention can shape our worldview. This episode is for anyone who needs resources and strategies to help with developing and sustaining a Christian worldview. In this podcast, we discuss:What is a worldview?Why should we give serious thought to the idea of worldview?What kind of questions should we ask as we evaluate our worldview?What is the “worldview-as-glasses” metaphor and why is it unhelpful?How does a constructivist view fail to account for the different ways of knowing?What is the value of articulating our worldview?How does what we notice shape our worldview?What does it look like to train what we attend to and notice on purpose?What is the role of suffering in shaping our worldview?What are some clues that our worldview has veered into unchristian territory?How can we cultivate curiosity around worldview? Resources and citations:James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview CatalogJ.P. Moreland, Why it is Harmful to Depict a Worldview as GlassesPaul C. Vitz, Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of AtheismWalter Brueggemann, The Prophetic ImaginationCollege Faith Podcast - Episode #23 - How to Watch a MovieRonald Nash, Worldviews in Conflict: Choosing Christianity in a World of IdeasJames W. Sire, Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept

For those of us not currently connected to the academic world, the idea of furthering our education as Christians can be daunting. Where do you start? What should you consider before taking on this experience? Is it worth it even if it doesn’t increase your earning potential?  In this episode, JP and Stan share practical advice and wisdom for evaluating the costs and benefits of going beyond learning in an informal setting; specifically as it relates to masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy and ministry.

In this podcast, we discuss:

How do you know whether or not further formal education is a good fit for you and your season of life?

What are the differences between Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) and Masters of Arts? On the doctoral level, what is the difference between a Ph.D. and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)?

What is the discernment process for deciding which program might be the best fit?

What is the difference between studying under mentors who are masters at their craft and learning on your own?

How can different types of cohorts shape graduate education?

How to evaluate a program when considering graduate studies and where to find more information.

What is the lasting value of furthering education as a Christian?

Resources and citations:

Agnieszka Tennant, “Masters of Philosophy” in Christianity Today

Talbot School of Theology at Biola University

College Faith, 6: How to Choose a College – Dr. David Wunder

Intervarsity Press, Academic Catalog

Master of Arts, Philosophy of Religion | Palm Beach Atlantic University

“The certainty problem has crept in and polluted the whole enterprise of knowing.” - J.P. Moreland. In this episode, J.P. and Stan have a practical discussion about how to engage with the cultural obsession with a narrow definition of certainty.

In this podcast, we discuss:

What is skepticism? How did it become a cultural “virtue”?

Why doubting everything is more dangerous than you think

What are the different forms of skepticism?

How should we engage with different kinds of skeptics?

How can a broad understanding of the history of ideas benefit us when addressing skepticism?

Is there a legitimate place for skepticism?

What is the Problem of the Criterion?

What is the difference between the methodist approach and the particularist approach to the Problem of the Criterion?

Why should we reflect on the way we engage with knowledge claims?

The big three categories in philosophical thought: What is real? What can we know? What should we do?

Resources and Citations:

P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview - Chapter 4, The Problem of Skepticism

Dallas Willard, Hearing God

Most of us know Dallas Willard as a brilliant and pastoral writer on spiritual formation. In his writing, you can sense a man of great thought, but the depth of his knowledge can be hidden from the reader of his more popular works. In this episode, Stan and J.P. discuss the life, scholarship, and legacy of Dallas Willard. They also share thoughts on spiritual formation gleaned from Dallas.

In this podcast, we discuss:

The work of Dallas Willard in his academic vocation as a philosopher

Why metaphysics and epistemology are essential to the messages of Dr. Willard

Why Dallas Willard’s study and translation of Edmund Husserl is so important

The legacy of Dr. Willard--how J.P. and Stan have been inspired to continue promoting his ideas

Willard’s hopes for future scholarship and predictions for challenges ahead

Insights from Dallas on spiritual disciplines leading to spiritual formation

How to avoid being satisfied with “Church-ianity”

Thoughts on being faithful to your calling when tempted to be discouraged

Resources and Citations:

Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart

Dallas Willard, Hearing God

Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines

Dallas Willard, Early Writings in the Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics

Claire Oritz Hill, Review of Edmund Husserl: Early Writings in the Philosophy of Logic and Mathematics

J.P. Moreland, Dallas Willard | JP Moreland

In this episode we conclude our case study of Edmund Husserl. We discuss other lessons we can learn from his life, and lessons to learn from the faithful men and women who risked everything to save his life’s work. We also discuss the challenging work of preserving ideas that matter in a culture that prefers to forget the past.

In this podcast, we discuss:

Why it is important to do work that doesn’t specifically address the cultural moment

How to faithfully push back against false cultural assumptions

The story of saving the works of Husserl and other Jewish scholars from Nazi tyranny

Why we should honor, preserve, and build on ideas passed down from others

The role of the next generation in taking up the mantle of Christian thought

The art of seeking long term objectives and why it’s critical that we do

Resources and Citations:

Hebrews 12:1-2

Toon Horsten, The Father and the Philosopher: Saving the Husserl Archives

S. Lewis, “On the Reading of Old Books,” in God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics

Dermot Moran, Edmund Husserl: Founder of Phenomenology

Thomas C. Oden, editor, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture

Herbert Spiegelberg, The Phenomenological Movement

Talbot School of Theology, Biola University