Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon

By Alan Shlemon

What's Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon about?

STR speaker Alan Shlemon provides a monthly update while answering questions across a wide range of topics including criticisms of Christianity.

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Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon episodes:

04.25.2024
Eight Tips to Become a Professional Apologist
Alan offers eight tips to help someone who is interested in pursuing part-time or full-time apologetics ministry.
03.14.2024
The Problem with a Christian Attending a Same-Sex Wedding
Should a Christian attend a same-sex wedding? Alan has attended a same-sex wedding in the past, but believes he made the wrong decision. In this episode, he unpacks his past reasoning, explains why he was mistaken, and offers a practical...
02.13.2024
If Pro-Gay Theology Advocates Could Change the Past, Would that Change the Future Like They Want?
Alan explains what would happen if someone was to go back in time to 1946 and stop the RSV Bible translation team from using the word “homosexuals.” He unpacks whether this would change the Bible’s teaching on marriage, homosexuality, and...
01.12.2024
Problems with Creating Your Identity When You Reject God
When a person rejects God, they’re left to determine for themselves their own identity. Alan unpacks some problems with this approach.
12.15.2023
Why It’s Reasonable to Refuse to Use Preferred Pronouns
Alan addresses whether it’s reasonable to refuse to use a transgender person’s preferred pronouns.
11.10.2023
Should You Violate Your Conscience to Maintain Your Relationship with an LGBT Person?
People who identify as LGBT routinely ask their Christian friends and family to accommodate various requests. Are you justified in declining to go along even if it might damage your relationship with them? Alan unpacks his thoughts on this thorny...
10.27.2023
What Are My Concerns with Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference?
Alan attended Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference, an event intended to equip parents and ministry leaders how to reach out to LGBTQ youth. In this episode, Alan provides his assessment of the conference, including three major concerns.
09.10.2023
Is it Difficult to Define a Woman?
Why has it become so hard to define a woman? Alan looks at a few definitions that are offered, explains what’s wrong with them, and then offers his own definition.
08.10.2023
Do Christians Have an Ulterior Motive for Being Kind?
Alan addresses the objection that some people claim Christians are only kind to people so they can convert them.
07.11.2023
Should Abortion Remain Legal So Women Don’t Pursue Back-Alley Abortions?
Alan offers three steps to respond to the rhetorically powerful, yet flawed argument that women might get injured or killed through dangerous, back-alley abortions if abortion is made illegal.
06.13.2023
The Puzzling Inconsistency of Abortion and Homicide Laws
Alan describes the inconsistency in current laws surrounding abortion and homicide and offers a simple solution.
05.10.2023
Deconstructing Is Not Reforming Your Faith
Some Christians and many former Christians are promoting a trendy approach to doubting and questioning your faith called deconstruction. Is it the same as reforming your faith? Alan explains the one key element that distinguishes between the two.
04.12.2023
Dishonest Images of the Unborn
A recent article in The Guardian displayed some misleading images of what is removed in an abortion from a 9-week pregnancy. Alan explains the problems with the article and the images.
03.12.2023
Man or Maker: Who Has the Answers to Humanity’s Most Critical Questions?
When it comes to answering critical questions about how we humans should live, identify, and behave sexually, who should we listen to? Man or our Maker?
02.08.2023
Gay Idioms Don’t Time Travel
Alan addresses a progressive Christian who claims that Jesus wants LGBT people to “come out,” by explaining how he misuses a common literary device.
01.09.2023
Christ’s Crucifixion Isn’t Child Sacrifice
Some object to the idea that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins through his death on the cross, calling it ”child sacrifice.” Alan, however, offers three reasons why characterizing it that way is inappropriate.
12.08.2022
Why Pro-Choicers Insist Pro-Life Arguments Are Religious
Alan explains two reasons why abortion-choice advocates insist that pro-life arguments are religious.
09.18.2022
Humans Come in Only Two Sexes
Many biologists, doctors, and scientists tell us today that sex is on a spectrum or that there are more than two sexes. Alan addresses this claim by looking at the evidence from both Scripture and general principles of science.
06.04.2022
If God Became a Man, Can a Man Become a Woman?
A popular tweet claims that if someone can believe God became a man, then they can also believe that a man can become a woman. Alan unpacks this tweet, defines some key terms, and shows why the claim is misleading.
05.12.2022
God’s Preferred Pronouns
Alan responds to the claim by some gender theorists that God’s pronouns should be they/them.
03.21.2022
A Verse That Illustrates Three Interpretive Principles
Alan looks at passage of Scripture that skeptics like to use to challenge Jesus’ integrity. Then, he clarifies the meaning and application of the passage by using three key interpretive principles.
02.11.2022
Are Transgender People Fixing God’s Mistakes?
Alan responds to a tweet that suggests that transgender people are fixing God’s mistakes.
01.18.2022
Must You Remain Silent on Abortion Unless You Adopt a Baby?
If you’ve never adopted a child, does this disqualify you from speaking out against abortion? Alan offers five reasons why this challenge is mistaken.
11.07.2021
Abortion Is Unjust Discrimination
Do abortion-choice advocates hold a morally superior view or is their position discriminatory? Alan unpacks this question in this month’s episode.
10.09.2021
Biology’s Divorce from Teleology
Alan takes notice of a cultural trend to reject teleological language when describing human anatomy and shows how this explains modern thinking on sex and sexuality.
09.05.2021
Does the Bible Limit Gender to Just Male and Female?
Alan responds to a trendy new argument that claims that a non-binary interpretation can be imposed on the Genesis account of creation.
07.20.2021
Three Big Bangs
You've heard of the Big Bang, but are you aware of the other two big bangs, each of which represents the beginning of a fundamentally new thing that didn't exist before? Alan explains what they are and their theistic implications.
06.22.2021
Christianity Is the Best Explanation for Reality
If someone asked you how you know Christianity is true, how would you answer them? In this episode, Alan offers his response to that question by appealing to some powerful truths that people live by.
05.16.2021
The Claim about Homosexuality in the Film 1946 Is Irrelevant
An upcoming film claims that Christian opposition to homosexuality is based on a 1946 mistranslation of a Greek word in the RSV Bible. Alan explains why their argument doesn’t change the Christian understanding of sexuality.
04.18.2021
How to Receive Critical Feedback
Alan received some harsh feedback from a recent event. He explains three steps he takes when he gets these kinds of critical comments.
03.20.2021
Live According to a Plumb Line, Not a Pendulum
When you realize your theology is in error, do you overcorrect by swinging wildly to the opposite position? Alan offers a biblical approach to correcting your view, one that looks more like using a plumb line than a pendulum.
02.21.2021
The Fear of “Phobic”
Have you ever been called a "phobic" term like homophobic, Islamophobic, transphobic, or xenophobic? Alan discusses three reasons why you don’t have to fear the “phobic” label.
01.12.2021
Will Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed Save You?
Does God require a certain amount of faith before he accepts it? Alan addresses this question by clarifying the nature of faith.
12.08.2020
Atheism’s Empty Soul
A worldview that denies God and embraces naturalism has serious repercussions, the most egregious being a logical slide to nihilism. Alan unpacks three reasons why nihilism flows logically from naturalism.
11.17.2020
Coffee Cup Christianity
Alan sounds the alarm on a pop Christian culture habit called Coffee Cup Christianity. He unpacks three of its harms and explains how they are fueling biblical illiteracy.
10.18.2020
How to Prepare for the Next Cultural Revolution
Alan talks about how Christians were caught off guard by the current cultural revolution sweeping society today. He offers a two-step strategy to prepare for the next revolution and to protect believers from succumbing to its ideas.
09.06.2020
Why the Problem of Evil Is Still a Problem
Skeptics and atheists find the problem of evil so repugnant and our solutions so hollow because they refuse to accept a fundamental reality that every Christian believes. Alan explains what that reality is in this episode, thereby demonstrating why the...
08.15.2020
How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul
Alan explains why you’re likely feeling fatigued and frustrated with 2020. He quotes what he believes is the comment of the year because it provides valuable insight into how God made us and what we’re created to handle. This episode...
06.15.2020
Christians Can’t Play Mortal Kombat
Believe it or not, there’s a valuable lesson that Christians can learn from the violent video game Mortal Kombat. Alan explains the lesson and how it should affect your conversations with people who don’t share your convictions.
04.28.2020
Diagnose before You Treat
What should you say to your non-Christian friend who rejects Christianity? In this episode, Alan explains an important principle to help him navigate this situation.
03.03.2020
Should We Divide over Homosexuality?
The culture has been pressuring Christians to pick a side: celebrate homosexuality and same-sex unions or continue to consider them sinful. Alan discusses whether Christians should divide over this question or can we agree to disagree? Download the mp3...
01.27.2020
Is Abortion before Implantation Biblically Permissible?
While speaking on embryonic stem cell research at a church recently, Alan was challenged by an attendee. She made an argument that, based on Leviticus 17:11, killing a developing human being before implantation could be morally permissible. Alan responds to...
12.20.2019
Upgrade Your Tactics with Knowledge
The Columbo Tactic – asking question – is powerful. But what if you could amplify the impact you make with it? In this episode, Alan explains how to upgrade your approach to create even more powerful questions. Download the mp3...
12.08.2019
What’s the Best Explanation?
Alan explains how to use a common yet powerful question to help point people to God. Download the mp3...
10.14.2019
Should We Downplay the “Clobber Passages” on Homosexuality?
Alan talks about the six verses in Scripture that address homosexuality and how pro-gay theology advocates love to call them “clobber passages.” Download the mp3...
09.03.2019
The Miracles of Materialism
Alan explains how the atheist’s materialistic worldview makes several miracle claims to explain reality. Download the mp3...
08.10.2019
Why Study False Ideas?
While it’s true that Christians should prioritize their understanding of Scripture and Christian theology, Alan offers four reasons why Christians should add the study of false ideas to their to-do list. Download the mp3...
06.30.2019
How the Smallest Born Baby Proves Abortion Is Wrong
Alan explains how the birth and survival of the smallest baby challenges four tenets of abortion-choice advocacy. Download the mp3...
06.15.2019
Answer Like Jesus
Alan points out that Jesus didn’t always answer questions directly. Sometimes He took a different approach. Perhaps we can take a cue from Jesus since He’s the smartest person in history. Alan explains three ways we can answer tough questions...
06.11.2019
Interview: Christopher Yuan – Holy Sexuality and the Gospel
Guest Host: Alan Shlemon Alan interviews Christopher Yuan about his new book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God’s Grand Story. Download the mp3...

What's Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Thinking Out Loud with Alan Shlemon episodes:

Eight Tips to Become a Professional Apologist

The Problem with a Christian Attending a Same-Sex Wedding

If Pro-Gay Theology Advocates Could Change the Past, Would that Change the Future Like They Want?

Problems with Creating Your Identity When You Reject God

Why It’s Reasonable to Refuse to Use Preferred Pronouns

Should You Violate Your Conscience to Maintain Your Relationship with an LGBT Person?

What Are My Concerns with Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference?

Is it Difficult to Define a Woman?

Do Christians Have an Ulterior Motive for Being Kind?

Should Abortion Remain Legal So Women Don’t Pursue Back-Alley Abortions?

The Puzzling Inconsistency of Abortion and Homicide Laws

Deconstructing Is Not Reforming Your Faith

Dishonest Images of the Unborn

Man or Maker: Who Has the Answers to Humanity’s Most Critical Questions?

Gay Idioms Don’t Time Travel

Christ’s Crucifixion Isn’t Child Sacrifice

Why Pro-Choicers Insist Pro-Life Arguments Are Religious

Humans Come in Only Two Sexes

If God Became a Man, Can a Man Become a Woman?

God’s Preferred Pronouns

A Verse That Illustrates Three Interpretive Principles

Are Transgender People Fixing God’s Mistakes?

Must You Remain Silent on Abortion Unless You Adopt a Baby?

Abortion Is Unjust Discrimination

Biology’s Divorce from Teleology

Does the Bible Limit Gender to Just Male and Female?

Three Big Bangs

Christianity Is the Best Explanation for Reality

The Claim about Homosexuality in the Film 1946 Is Irrelevant

How to Receive Critical Feedback

Live According to a Plumb Line, Not a Pendulum

The Fear of “Phobic”

Will Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed Save You?

Atheism’s Empty Soul

Coffee Cup Christianity

How to Prepare for the Next Cultural Revolution

Why the Problem of Evil Is Still a Problem

How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul

Christians Can’t Play Mortal Kombat

Diagnose before You Treat

Should We Divide over Homosexuality?

Is Abortion before Implantation Biblically Permissible?

Upgrade Your Tactics with Knowledge

What’s the Best Explanation?

Should We Downplay the “Clobber Passages” on Homosexuality?

The Miracles of Materialism

Why Study False Ideas?

How the Smallest Born Baby Proves Abortion Is Wrong

Answer Like Jesus

Interview: Christopher Yuan – Holy Sexuality and the Gospel