Shows
Thinking to Believe099: Does God Exist?, pt 31: Moral Argument pt 6 - The Theistic ExplanationI provide six aspects of our moral experience that are best explained by a theistic God. This is the heart of the moral argument for God's existence. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2024-01-2844 minThinking to Believe098: Does God Exist?, pt 30: Moral Argument pt 5 - Non-theistic Explanations pt 3I round out my critique of non-theistic explanations for morality, including the view that morality is a brute fact, the view that logic can ground morality, the view that science can explain morality, and the best of all non-theistic explanations: moral Platonism.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2024-01-2037 minThinking to Believe097: Does God Exist?, pt 29: Moral Argument pt 4 - Non-theistic Explanations pt 2 - Evolutionary MoralitySpent the entire episode offering 11 critiques against the most popular non-theistic account of morality: Evolutionary Ethics.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2024-01-1337 minThinking to Believe096: Does God Exist?, pt 28: Moral Argument pt 3 - Grounding Problem, Non-theistic Explanations pt 1Accounting for the existence of real morality (the grounding problem) is the biggest challenge facing any moral theory. I talk about this problem in some detail before beginning my critique of non-theistic explanations for morality, starting with the social constructionism and social contract theory.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2024-01-0625 minThinking to Believe095: Does God Exist?, pt 27: Moral Argument - Objective Morality, What Needs to be ExplainedThe moral argument argues from the reality of morality to the morality of God, so it's important that we establish the objectivity of morality. I provide a number of reasons to reject moral subjectivism in favor of moral objectivism/realism. Then, I describe the nature of our moral experience. This will provide the basis for future episodes where I explore competing hypotheses that purport to explain our moral experience. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-12-2942 minThinking to Believe094: Does God Exist?, pt 26: Moral Argument pt 1 - Intro, Objective of Argument, Key ConceptsIn episode 1 of my mini-series on the moral argument, I discuss the concept of moral arguments, provide the objective of the argument, and key concepts to understanding the argument. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-12-2231 minThinking to Believe093: Does God Exist?, pt 25: Moral Argument 1-N-DoneI begin my fifth argument for God's existence: the moral argument. In this 1-N-Done episode, I explain why God is the only adequate explanation for our moral experience. I explore our moral experience, then compare theistic and non-theistic explanations and conclude that only Theism can explain our moral experience. I conclude with the two most common objections against the moral argument. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-12-161h 16Thinking to Believe092: Does God Exist?, pt 24: Contingency pt 3 - Objections, Pet PeeveIn my final installment for the contingency argument, I address various objections that are raised against the argument and rebut them. I also included a "Pet the Peeve" segment focused on "prayer preaching." Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-12-0933 minThinking to Believe091: Does God Exist?, pt 23: Contingency pt 2 - Main Argument and TacticsI explain the contingency argument, and explain why the universe cannot be a metaphysically necessary being or brute fact. I also provide a few tactical ways you can explain the contingency argument to others using illustrations.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-12-0234 minThinking to Believe090: Does God Exist?, pt 22: Contingency pt 1 - Intro, Key Concepts, Brief FormulationsThe contingency argument for God's existence is a cosmological argument, but unlike the kalam argument, it does not require a temporally finite universe. The contingency argument holds that even an eternal universe requires a cause, and that cause is God. The essence of the argument is that things which don’t have to exist, but do, can only be explained by something that does have to exist, namely God. In this episode, I cover the objective of the argument, the keys to the argument, key concepts to understand, and offer three brief formulations of the argument. Web: Thi...2023-11-1824 minThinking to Believe089: Does God Exist?, pt 21: Kalam pt 14 - Objections pt 2In this last episode in the kalam series, I address more objections to the conclusion of the argument. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-11-1138 minThinking to Believe088: Does God Exist?, pt 20: Kalam pt 13 - Theistic Option pt 2, Objections pt 1I show how we can get from the generic concept of a "god" creating the universe to the God of Christian theism, and then move on to objections against the conclusion of the Kalam, starting with the most common of all objections: Who caused God?Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-11-0841 minThinking to Believe087: Does God Exist?, pt 19: Kalam pt 12 - Theistic Option pt 1In addition to having the properties of immateriality, spacelessness, eternality, and power, I argue that the First Cause must also possess the properties of intelligence and volition. Since intelligence and volition are features of personal agents, the First Cause must be a personal agent. Only the God of theism fits the bill. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-11-0427 minThinking to Believe086: Does God Exist?, pt 18: Kalam pt 11 - Logical Inferences Regarding the First Cause, Non-Theistic OptionsNow that we have established that the Kalam successfully demonstrates that the universe has a cause, we need to determine what or who that cause is. Using a logical analysis, I explain the necessary properties of such a cause. I examine each one to determine whether they exhibit the necessary properties of the First Cause and find each one wanting.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-11-0134 minThinking to Believe085: Does God Exist?, pt 17: Kalam pt 10 - Philosophical Evidence pt 2 - Objections to 1st Philosophical Argument, Infinities not Made by Successive Addition, Cannot Traverse InfiniteI answer several objections against the argument for the impossibility of an actual infinite that I offered in the last episode:1. Infinite set theory shows that infinities exist2. You can divide anything an infinite number of times3. God is said to be infinite4. God’s knowledge is infiniteThen, I explain the last two philosophical arguments against an infinite past, namely (1) that an infinite cannot be formed by successive addition and (2) it is impossible to traverse an actual infinite.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobeli...2023-10-2823 minThinking to Believe084: Does God Exist?, pt 16: Kalam pt 9 - Objections to Scientific Evidence for Beginning, Philosophical Evidence pt 1 - The Infinite is Logically ImpossibleIn this episode, I deal with a few objections to the scientific evidence for premise 2 of Kalam before proceeding on to provide the first of three philosophical evidences for premise 2 (the logical impossibility of an actual infinite).Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-10-2537 minThinking to Believe083: Does God Exist?, pt 15: Kalam pt 8 - Big Bang pt 4 - Christian Response to BB, Scientists Accept BB, Why New Challenger Models FailI address the concerns that cause many Christians to reject the Big Bang theory, show how the theory has come to be accepted as fact by the consensus of scientists, and why all of the new models being put forward by scientists hoping to escape a cosmic beginning fail in their attempt to do so. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-10-2128 minThinking to Believe082: Does God Exist?, pt 14: Kalam pt 7 - Big Bang pt 3 - Why Scientists Initially Rejected Big BangWhile the Big Bang theory has become the standard model in science and accepted by the vast majority of scientists, that was not always the case. Initially, many scientists rejected the theory because of its theistic implications. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-10-1421 minThinking to Believe081: Does God Exist?, pt 13: Kalam pt 6 - Big Bang pt 2 - Scientific consensus, singularity, nothingness, 4 evidences for Big BangI continue my examination of the Big Bang theory. I look at what scientists think of the theory and why the theory is so important. Then, I look at the concept of the singularity in more detail, arguing that it was not a thing that existed, but a scientific description of nothingness. That morphed into a brief discussion of the meaning of "nothing." Finally, I offered four lines of empirical evidence in favor of the Big Bang theory. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believT...2023-10-0733 minThinking to Believe080: Does God Exist?, pt 12: Kalam pt 5 - Big Bang pt 1 - History, TheoryI begin my examination of premise 2 of the Kalam (the universe began to exist). I present three scientific evidences in support of the premise:1. Radioactive decay2. Second Law of Thermodynamics3. Big BangThe Big Bang theory takes a lot of unpacking, so I've only just begun the conversation in this episode by explaining the theory and its historical development. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-10-0433 minThinking to Believe079: Does God Exist?, pt 11: Kalam pt 4 - Objections to Premise 1 pt 3I conclude my examination of objections to the first premise of the KCA that everything which begins to exist must be caused to exist. I focus on scientific objections related to quantum mechanics such as virtual particles, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, and the indeterminate nature of radioactive decay. I also address the objection that it is nonsensical to speak of efficient causation in the absence of material causation. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-09-3039 minThinking to Believe078: Does God Exist?, pt 10: Kalam pt 3 - Objections to Premise 1 pt 2I continue my examination of objections to the first premise of the KCA that everything which begins to exist must be caused to exist. The objections I cover in this episode include:(1) The argument equivocates on the meaning of "begins to exist"(2) Science cannot support the first premise it only shows that the transformation of matter from one state to another requires a cause - not that the origin of matter itself requires a cause. (3) We have no experience of things coming into being from nothing to know that they require a cause2023-09-2729 minThinking to Believe077: Does God Exist?, pt 9: Kalam pt 2 - Objections to Premise 1 pt 1I address what I consider to be the best argument against premise 1, namely Stephen Hawking's objection that the universe cannot have a cause because causes must precede their effect in time, and there was no time prior to the universe. I spent the entire episode on this single objection. Other objections will be addressed next episode. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-09-2333 minThinking to Believe076: Does God Exist?, pt 8: Kalam pt 1 - Support for First PremiseIn this first episode of the detailed analysis of the Kalam cosmological argument, I provide four reasons for thinking that premise 1 is true ("Anything that begins to exist requires a cause"). Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-09-2033 minThinking to Believe075: Does God Exist?, pt 7: The Kalam Cosmological Argument, 1-N-DoneMy third argument for God’s existence is the Kalam cosmological argument. In this 1-N-Done episode, I summarize the argument. I will explore the argument in-depth starting next week. The essence of the Kalam cosmological argument is that temporally finite things require a cause for their existence. Since the universe began to exist in the finite past, it also requires a cause. An examination of the properties required of such a cause match the properties of the theistic God.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thi...2023-09-1643 minThinking to Believe074: Does God Exist?, pt 6: The Argument from the Impossibility of NothingnessMy second argument for God's existence is the Argument from the Impossibility of Nothingness. This is a lesser-known argument for God's existence, but I think it is quite powerful.The essence of the argument: If there was ever a time when nothing existed, there would still be nothing now because nothing has no potential to become something. And yet something exists, so there could never be a time in the past when nothing existed. Something must have always existed. The universe is not that something since physical reality came into existence at the Big Bang, so the...2023-09-0928 minThinking to Believe073: Does God Exist?, pt 5: The Argument from Personal ExperienceMy first argument for God's existence is the argument from personal experience. The essence of the argument is that if one has an experience of God, then God must exist. I argue that this experience is not aimed at convincing atheists of God's existence so much as it is demonstrating that theists who believe in God based on experience are rational for doing so. I end the episode by examining a few common objections raised against the argument, including the "well, then, why haven't I experienced God?" objection.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com...2023-09-0228 minThinking to Believe072: Does God Exist?, pt 4: The Role of Reason and Evidence in Belief in GodI begin the conversation on theism, looking specifically at the relationship between reason and belief in God. I discuss two kinds of reasons, explain why empirical evidence is not required for belief in God, discuss whether we can prove God's existence, discuss how best to argue for God’s existence, and why we need to make people want God to exist before we give them evidence that He exists. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-08-2644 minThinking to Believe071: Does God Exist?, pt 3: Atheism pt 3 - Moral Rebellion | A Biblical Theology of Atheism | Do Atheists Exist?I show the connection between moral rebellion and atheism (the third reason for atheism), develop a Biblical theology of atheism, and address the objection that atheists don’t exist and thus an apologetic for theism is pointless. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-08-1942 minThinking to Believe070: Does God Exist?, pt 2: Atheism pt 2 - No presumption of atheism | Reasons for AtheismI argue against the notion that atheism is the default position unless and until theists can provide sufficient evidence that God exists. I also look at two reasons people become atheists: rational reasons, emotional reasons. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-08-1344 minThinking to Believe069: Does God Exist?, pt 1: Intro, Agnosticism, Atheism pt 1This is the first episode in a new series on God's existence. I will provide evidence for the existence of God. This episode gives an overview of what I will cover. I begin by examining agnosticism and atheism. I address the recent attempt to redefine atheism. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-08-0537 minThinking to Believe068: Miscellany - Stages of our relationship with God, Why different beliefs, Citing religion, Cisgender, Practical atheists, What we win people toMy second miscellany episode covering a range of topics:1. There are stages in our relationship with God2. Explaining why Christians have so many different beliefs3. Why we should not use the term "cisgender"4. Christians who are practical atheists5. Be careful what you win people toWeb: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-07-2938 minThinking to Believe067: Divorce & Remarriage pt 15: Application pt 4 - Other justifications for divorce?We know Jesus taught that divorce and remarriage is justified in the case of sexual sin, but are there any other moral justifications? In this final episode of the series, I consider other possible justifications for divorce including abuse, criminal activity, abortion, financial mismanagement, pornography, and transgender identity. I provide a principle for evaluating any suggested justifications, and conclude that it’s reasonable to think there are at least some additional moral justifications for divorce and remarriage – albeit limited in scope. The most common reasons for seeking divorce (incompatible, incessant arguing, grew apart, no longer in love) do not qual...2023-07-151h 10Thinking to Believe066: Divorce & Remarriage pt 14: Application pt 3 - Does repentance or conversion change the applicability of Jesus' teaching?I continue my examination of how to apply the Biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage in the 14th episode of the series. I consider the possibility that repentance and/or conversion gives one moral permission to remarry following an unjust divorce and conclude that neither does so. Repentance for an unjust divorce does not give one moral permission to remarry because (1) forgiveness for the divorce does not nullify one’s moral obligation to that marriage covenant, (2) forgiveness does not nullify the consequences for the sin of divorce, and (3) the notion that repentance following an unjust divorce gives one moral pe...2023-07-0839 minThinking to Believe065: Divorce & Remarriage pt 13: Application pt 2 - Perpetual adultery? Proper repentance?I continue my practical application of the Biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage by considering the nature of the adultery Jesus charged people with: Is it a singular act or a perpetual sin? I argue that it is a perpetual sin. This leads to the next question: What is the proper form of repentance for those who have wrongly divorced/remarried? The answer depends on whether one interprets Jesus’ charge of adultery in a literal or hyperbolic manner. I go through four possible levels of repentance. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com...2023-06-2932 minThinking to Believe064: Divorce & Remarriage pt 12: Application pt 1 - When can the divorced remarry?How do we apply the Biblical principles regarding divorce and remarriage to the various situations we face today? The practical application of the Biblical principles is not always easy. I begin this task by exploring what circumstances under which a divorced person can remarry. I conclude that the guilty party cannot remarry under any circumstance. As for the innocent spouse, Jesus gave him permission to remarry if his spouse committed sexual sin prior to the divorce. In the case of an unjust divorce, however, Jesus does not give the innocent spouse permission to remarry. He must remain single in...2023-06-2436 minThinking to Believe063: Divorce & Remarriage pt 11: The NT Teaching on Remarriage pt 5 - 1 Cor 7 pt 2 and the rest of the Pauline teachingI finish my examination of Paul’s teaching on remarriage, and thereby conclude my examination of the NT teaching on remarriage. I examined more passages in 1 Corinthians 7 that some have used to justify remarriage. I rebutted the idea that Romans 7:1-3 means marriage can only be ended by death. Finally, I explored the meaning of Paul’s requirement for elders that they be the “husband of one wife” and concluded that it’s best to understand Paul to mean a pastor must be faithful to his wife. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.co...2023-06-1734 minThinking to Believe062: Divorce & Remarriage pt 10: The NT Teaching on Remarriage pt 4 - 1 Cor 7 pt 1I start my examination of Paul’s teaching on remarriage, focusing first on 1 Corinthians 7. I show why Paul’s allowance for the “unmarried” to marry (vs. 8-9) does not include formerly-married people. When addressing Christians who wrongly divorced, Paul gave them two options, and neither option included remarriage. I devoted a bulk of the time examining Paul’s teaching in verses 12-16 regarding religiously mixed marriages. Most theologians think Paul gave Christians moral permission to remarry following a divorce. I argue that this is a misreading of the text.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebo...2023-06-1037 minThinking to Believe061: Divorce & Remarriage pt 9: The NT Teaching on Remarriage pt 3 - Mk 10 & Lk 16I finish up my examination of Jesus’ teaching on remarriage in the Synoptic Gospels. The brief version in Luke 16 rehashes Jesus’ teaching found in Matthew and Mark, so I focused my attention on Mark 10. Mark’s version is unique in two ways: (1) It is the only account to address a woman who divorces her husband, and (2) it specifies that the man who unjustly divorces his wife and remarries commits adultery against his ex-wife. This is important because it invalidates one interpretive approach to Jesus’ teaching, namely understanding it in light of the OT teaching on adultery. I demonstrate that Jesus’ d...2023-06-0330 minThinking to Believe060: Divorce & Remarriage pt 8: The NT Teaching on Remarriage pt 2 - Mt 19 & the Exception ClauseI examine Jesus’ teaching on remarriage in Mt 19, focusing on His exception clause. Should we understand Jesus’ exception to be applicable to both divorce and remarriage, or only divorce? I argue that Jesus’ exception gives moral permission to the innocent spouse to both divorce and remarry. I also address why it is that the innocent spouse who was victimized by sexual immorality is free to remarry following a divorce, but the innocent spouse who was victimized by an unjust divorce is not. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr...2023-05-2731 minThinking to Believe059: Divorce & Remarriage pt 7: The NT Teaching on Remarriage pt 1 - Mt 5 and how to interpret "adultery"I have moved on to the NT teaching concerning remarriage. I begin with an examination of teaching in Matthew 5:31-32. The entire episode focuses on the critical question of how we should understand Jesus’ teaching that those who remarry following an unjust divorce are guilty of “adultery.” Was He speaking literally or hyperbolically? In isolation, the literal interpretation is to be favored, but based on the context of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, I argue that Jesus clearly meant for us to understand “adultery” as hyperbole. Those who remarry after an unjust divorce are no more guilty of actual adul...2023-05-2044 minThinking to Believe058: Divorce & Remarriage pt 6: The OT Teaching on Remarriage & the Relationship of Jesus' Teaching to the OTI examine the OT teaching regarding remarriage and conclude that the OT seems to have allowed remarriage more generally, only prohibiting it in very limited circumstances. I also address the relationship between Jesus’ teaching on remarriage and the OT teaching, and conclude that Jesus’ teaching elucidated rather than abrogated the Mosaic teaching, with at least one new element to His teaching that is not found in the OT.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-05-1332 minThinking to Believe057: Divorce & Remarriage pt 5: The NT Teaching on Divorce pt 2I finish up my examination of the NT teaching on divorce, this time focusing on Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7. I argue that Paul, like Jesus, is opposed to divorce. He commanded Christian couples not to divorce, but shockingly, allowed them to remain divorced if they had disobeyed Jesus’ teaching. He also commanded Christians in religiously mixed marriages to remain in their marriage, but absolved them of any moral responsibility if the unbelieving spouse initiates a divorce.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @Thin...2023-05-0641 minThinking to Believe056: Divorce & Remarriage pt 4: The NT Teaching on Divorce pt 1Having completed the OT data last week, I start my examination of the NT data concerning divorce. I cover all four of Jesus’ teachings on the subject as found in the Synoptic Gospels. I concluded that Jesus prohibited all divorce, except in cases involving sexual sin. I also address the meaning of porneia in Jesus’ exception clause, and why the exception clause is only found in Matthew’s Gospel. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-04-2945 minThinking to Believe055: Divorce & Remarriage pt 3: The OT Teaching on Divorce pt 2I cover the remaining OT passages pertaining to divorce: Ezra 9-10, Hosea 2, Jeremiah 3, Isaiah 50, and Mal 2. Ezra 9 demanded divorce for immoral marriages. Since this was a form of repentance, this divorce is not just morally justified, but morally good.Hosea 2 and Jeremiah 3 make it clear that God not only allows others to divorce, but He Himself participated in divorce when He divorced Israel. In Jer 50, God denies having divorced Judah as He did Israel, and finally, in Mal 2 God expresses his anger at those who divorce without just cause. Web...2023-04-2542 minThinking to Believe054: Divorce & Remarriage pt 2: The OT Teaching on Divorce pt 1This is part 1 of 2 parts addressing the OT teaching regarding divorce. I cover Gen 21:9-12, Ex 21:7-11, Dt 22:13-19,28-29, and Dt 24:1-4. Most of my time is dedicated to an examination of Dt 24 given the central role this passage played in Jewish debates regarding divorce, including the debate Jesus had with the Pharisees.In Gen 21, God commanded Abraham to divorce Hagar. Since God can't command evil, clearly not all divorce is morally wrong. In Ex 21, divorce was required when a polygamous husband deprived his first wife of her basic necessities.Dt 22 prohibits d...2023-04-1535 minThinking to Believe053: Divorce & Remarriage pt 1: What is marriage?What better place to begin my extended series on divorce and remarriage than by examining the nature of marriage itself. Whether divorce and remarriage is ever permissible depends, in part, on one's view of the nature of the marital union itself. There are two competing views of marriage: (1) Marriage is a permanent spiritual union; (2) Marriage is a covenant. The PSU view holds that marriage is a mystical and permanent union of two human spirits. This union can only be ended by death (and some would add sexual immorality). In contrast, the covenant view of marriage ho...2023-04-0844 minThinking to Believe052: Divorce & Remarriage - 1-N-DoneIn this 1-N-Done episode, I summarize my research on the Biblical teaching regarding divorce and remarriage. I’ve structured the episode around four principles:1. Marriage was intended to be a life-long union between one man and one woman.2. Divorce is always due to human sinfulness, but is morally permissible in certain circumstances3. The death of a spouse justifies remarriage4. A justified divorce justifies remarriage (for the innocent spouse). An unjustified divorce prevents remarriage (for both spouses). Here is my condensed summary of the position I articulate: The OT tea...2023-04-011h 27Thinking to Believe051: How to test religious claims pt 2In part 2 of how to test religious claims, I start by offering some ad hoc thoughts on the intellectual life. Then, I finish up the test of observation, specifically looking at whether religious claims fit our moral experience and whether they can make sense of our deepest longings for the future. Christianity passes all of the tests whereas other religions fail. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-03-2528 min
Strategic Advisor BoardEpisode 463 "Energy Of Business Moments": Bringing Veterans and Investors Together with Technology to Create a Powerful Team with Jake DulleFact: Veterans receive less overall financing from conventional lenders than their civilian peers, despite filing more applications to more lenders. Private investor outreach can take up to a year to complete, on top of being expensive and time-consuming. Without capital, Veteran businesses close and take their jobs, leadership, and impact with them.LOCALVEST CEO Jake Dulle is here to fix that for veterans and investors with their SaaS for veterans and investors. Also, learn his real-life leadership sea story of empowering your team even when billion-dollar assets are on the line.For...2023-03-2126 minThinking to Believe050: How to test religious claims pt 1In the prior series I argued that religious truth can be known and religious claims are testable. In this first installment of a two-part series, I explain how we can test religious claims to find religious truth. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-03-1838 minThinking to Believe049: Truth Decay pt 10 - Religious Relativism pt 3 - Critique of religious relativism and metaphorsI complete my critique of religious relativism and deconstruct two popular metaphors of religious relativism: all roads lead to Rome, the blind men and the elephant. This concludes not only my sub-series on religious relativism, but my series on relativism. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-03-1131 minThinking to Believe048: Truth Decay pt 9 - Religious Relativism pt 2 - Why people subscribe to pluralism pt 2, Critique of religious relativismI finish my discussion of why people subscribe to religious relativism, pointing to pragmatic concerns and the desire to be inclusivistic. Then I begin my critique of religious relativism, detailing a number of reasons it is an incorrect analysis of religion and religious truth. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-03-0341 minThinking to Believe047: Truth Decay pt 8 - Religious Relativism pt 1 - Defining pluralism, the impacts of pluralism, and why people subscribe to pluralism pt 1This episode begins our final sub-series in the relativism series, focusing in on religious relativism; a.k.a. religious pluralism. I lay out the three main forms of religious relativism and discuss the impact religious relativism has in the debate over religion. I started discussing the reasons why people are led to believe religious pluralism is true. Epistemology is a big factor. Pluralists reason that the best explanation for the vast differences in religious belief and the fact that religious beliefs tend to be geographically isolated is that religion is a human invention. Either there is no spiritual realm...2023-02-2537 minThinking to Believe046: Truth Decay pt 7 - Moral Relativism pt 5 - JudgingIs it wrong to judge? That depends on what you mean by judging. Given most people's (false) understanding of judging, it is absolutely right to judge people. In fact, it is both imperative that we do and inescapable. We must distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil. We must also engage in moral correction of those who engage in morally wrong behavior. We are simply forbidden from hypocritical judgment and from having a false sense of moral superiority. In this episode, I examine and critique both secular and religious justifications for the "don't judge" position. Web: Th...2023-02-1850 minThinking to Believe045: Truth Decay pt 6 - Moral Relativism pt 4 - Tactics, Objections, and ToleranceIn this episode, I discuss tactics for talking with moral relativists, respond to several objections and catchphrases, and expose what's wrong with the modern concept of tolerance. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-02-0438 minThinking to Believe044: Truth Decay pt 5 - Moral Relativism pt 3 - 3 Forms of Moral Relativism CritiquedI deconstruct three forms of moral relativism: Society Does, Society Says, and I Say. This is the heart of the series, both explaining the various forms moral relativism takes, as well as what is wrong with them. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-01-2835 minThinking to Believe043: Truth Decay pt 4 - Moral Relativism pt 2 - The rationale for moral relativismThe existence of moral truth seems so obvious that it may be difficult to comprehend why anyone would deny it in favor of moral relativism. I argue that there are at least four reasons people subscribe to moral relativism: (1) It seems to follow from atheism; (2) To justify one's sin; (3) The desire for moral neutrality and non-judgmentalism; (4) They think moral disagreements means there is no moral truth. I critique each of these reasons, and then explain why it is that humans disagree on moral matters. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve2023-01-2136 minThinking to Believe042: Truth Decay pt 3 - Moral Relativism pt 1 - Intro, Defining Moral RelativismThere are only two options when it comes to morality: some form of moral realism or some form of moral relativism. I explain the differences between these views, clarify the difference between moral relativism and moral skepticism, how to spot moral relativism, why moral relativism matters, and the extent of the problem. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2023-01-1435 minThinking to Believe041: Miscellany - Culture changing theology, thin theology, a case for labels, phone slavery, forgiveness, and the true meaning of hypocritesIn this miscellany episode, I cover a wide variety of unrelated topics. I start by arguing that many segments of the church are being influenced by the culture to change their theology rather than remaining faithful to Biblical teaching. I make the case that the reason some people do not change their theological persuasions is because they don't know how to evaluate the debate - not because they don't love the truth. Then I make the case for the use of labels. I make a plea to change the way we relate to our phones. We should not be...2022-12-2343 minThinking to Believe040: Truth Decay - Recovering Truth in an Age of Skepticism pt 2Skepticism is the fuel of relativism, so I tackle this issue by exposing why hyper skepticism regarding truth and reality is not justified. I also address the idea that it is arrogant to claim you know the truth, and respond to the "everyone thinks they are right" retort which is intended to relativize all truth claims. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-12-1730 minThinking to Believe039: Truth Decay - Recovering Truth in an Age of Skepticism pt 1Relativism is a popular notion in our culture – the idea that truth can’t be known. “THE truth” has been replaced with “my truth” and “your truth.” I detail four problems with relativism: (1) Self-refuting; (2) Non-sequitur; (3) Closes the Mind; (4) Impractical. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-12-1041 minThinking to Believe038: Understanding the Atonement: 1-N-Done EpisodeIn this 1-N-Done episode, I explain the meaning of the atonement in a concise, simple manner, devoid of all the details provided in the 4-part series. It's easy to get lost in the details of the series, so this episode will help you put the pieces of the doctrine together in a simple manner and get a bird's eye view of the atonement. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-12-0349 minThinking to Believe037: Understanding the Atonement pt 4 - How the Benefits of Atonement Accrue to Us | The Resurrection and Atonement | Implications of Atonement | ObjectionsWe know the benefits of the atonement, but how exactly did Jesus' death accomplish those benefits and how do they accrue to us? It was because Jesus was both our substitute and our representative. I show how the resurrection of Jesus is also included in the atonement, talk about some important implications of the doctrine, and address a few objections.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-11-2253 minThinking to Believe036: Understanding the Atonement pt 3 - What the atonement does for usThis episode focuses on the benefits/results of the atonement. The atonement results in the cleansing of sin, the satisfaction of God's wrath, a new covenant, redemption/ransom, and justification/reconciliation. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-11-1934 minThinking to Believe035: Understanding the Atonement pt 2 - Isaiah 53 | Jesus' death as sacrificeI plumb the depths of Isaiah 53 to show how it predicted the various facets of Jesus’ work on the cross: unjust penalty, substitution, representation, and justification. In the process, I address the notion that healing is provided for in the atonement. Then, I deal with the Jewish interpretation that the Servant of Isaiah 53 is the nation of Israel rather than the Messiah. I conclude by arguing that the NT authors understood Jesus' death primarily in terms of sacrifice. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTru...2022-11-1248 minThinking to Believe034: Understanding the Atonement pt 1 - Jesus' mission, animal sacrifices, and the necessity of the incarnationMy new series on the atonement seeks to understand the meaning of Jesus' death. In this first episode I explore the nature of Jesus' mission, the OT sacrificial system as a means of atonement, and the necessity of the incarnation for God to fully and finally satisfy both His desire for justice and His desire for mercy. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-11-0438 minThinking to Believe033: Abortion Postscript - Abortion is an evil even greater than slavery, new tactic, 3 new objections, Pet the Peeve of worship musicIn this abortion postscript episode, I argue that abortion is an even greater evil than slavery because abortion is a violation of the most fundamental of all rights: the right to life. I also offer a new tactic for helping pro-abortionists think about what it is that gives humans their value and right to life, and offer answers to three additional objections to the prolife POV: (1) Women need abortion to have equality with men; (2) Christians should support abortion because it increases the number of people going to heaven; (3) Christians should not oppose abortion because abortion is a lesser evil...2022-10-2836 minThinking to Believe032: The Case for Apologetics, pt 4 - The Value of Apologetics for Believers & Objections to ApologeticsIn this final episode in the series, I explain the value of apologetics for believers: It strengthens our faith, gives us the confidence to evangelize, allows us to duplicate our faith in others, and avoids subjectivity. I also respond to common objections against apologetics including: (1) Apologetic arguments don't work; (2) You can't argue someone into the kingdom; (3) People care about your love, not your arguments; (4) God doesn't need us to be His lawyer, and more. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @t...2022-10-2232 minThinking to Believe031: The Case for Apologetics, pt 3 - Objections & The Value of Apologetics for Non-believersI address three "anti-apologetics" passages in Scripture, demonstrating how none of them are opposed to the apologetic enterprise: (1) Jn 20:29; (2) 1 Cor 2:1-5; (3) Col 2:8. Then I begin talking about the value of apologetics, specifically for unbelievers. I argue that value of apologetics for non-believers is that it removes intellectual barriers to faith and provides unbelievers with good reasons to put their trust in Christ. In that context, I speak about the role of reason vs. the role of the Holy Spirit. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ2022-10-1543 minThinking to Believe030: The Case for Apologetics, pt 2 - Biblical DataIn this episode, I demonstrate how the apostles, Jesus, and God Himself all used apologetics in an attempt to show that apologetics is a thoroughly Biblical enterprise. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-10-0842 minThinking to Believe029: The Case for Apologetics, pt 1In part one of my series on the need for apologetics, I define what apologetics is and why it is so desperately needed in our day. Some object that apologetics is opposed to faith, so I explain the true nature of Biblical faith and show how apologetics is related to faith. Finally, I begin to lay out the Biblical basis for apologetics, citing a number of Scriptures that command Christians to engage in the apologetic enterprise. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieve2022-09-3029 minThinking to Believe028: The Case for Apologetics (1-&-Done episode)In this "1 & Done" episode, I make the case for apologetics. I define what apologetics is, the Biblical basis for apologetics, and the value it brings to both believers and unbelievers alike. I also discuss the relationship between faith and evidence and answer a couple of common objections. This episode will be followed by a 4-part, in-depth series on the same topic. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-09-2232 minThinking to Believe027: Doctrine dividesShould doctrine ever divide the church? Is it wrong to call someone out for their false theology, or does doing so threaten the unity of the church? Should we just pray for such people instead? I tackle these questions from a Biblical and practical perspective on this week's Thinking to Believe podcast episode. Give it a listen. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-09-2241 minThinking to Believe026: The Case for Theology, pt 2In this second and final installment on the case for theology, I argue that theology preserves the Christian experience over time, is the basis for missions, plays the primary role in mental conversion, increases our faith, produces spiritual stability, and determines the depth of our relationship with God. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-09-1032 minThinking to Believe025: The Case for Theology, pt 1Why study theology? Why does it matter? Isn't theology just for preachers and smart guys? Isn't theology divisive and difficult? I argue that while theology can be difficult and divisive, it's unavoidable. All of us are theologians. The question is simply whether we will be a good or bad theologian. In this two-part series, I'm going to show why theology matters and how it benefits every believer. In this episode, I argue that theology (1) defines what we are to believe; (2) reveals to us what the spiritual realm is like; and (3) it is a prerequisite for salvation.Web...2022-09-0331 minThinking to Believe024: Abortion pt 17 - Objections and Responses, pt 4Objections addressed in this episode: Are prolifers who are also pro-capital punishment being hypocritical? Is abortion justified in cases where the mother's life is in danger? If aborted babies go to heaven, shouldn't prolifers support abortion? Prolifers only care about the unborn, and do nothing to help the born. Outlawing abortion won't stop abortion. We should focus on eliminating the underlying causes of abortion rather than outlawing abortion. I also talk about what people can do to advance the prolife cause and introduce the next podcast topic. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com2022-08-2747 minThinking to Believe023: Abortion pt 16 - Objections and Responses, pt 3Is abortion justified in cases of rape and incest? Are embryos just a clump of cells? If Mother Nature is responsible for killing 40% of embryos, why think abortion is wrong? If an embryo is considered a person, then we should consider every cell in our body a person. Is abortion justified in cases of deformities and severe disease? Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-08-2045 minThinking to Believe022: Abortion pt 15 - Objections and Responses, pt 2I tackle five objections to the pro-life POV, including (1) the right to choose and bodily autonomy objection, (2) the "abortion is a woman's issue" objection, (3) the "forced into back alley abortions" objection, (4) the "poor women can't afford children" objection, and (5) the "what are we going to do with all these unwanted children" objection.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-08-1044 minThinking to Believe021: Abortion pt 14 - Ministering to Women & Objections and Responses, pt 1I provide some helpful tips for ministering to women who are contemplating an abortion, as well as those who have already had an abortion. I also kick off our objections and responses segment, noting six problems with the "nobody knows when life begins" objection. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-08-0638 minThinking to Believe020: Abortion pt 13 - IVF and Contraceptives, pt 2Does “the Pill” have both a contraceptive and abortifacient function? I explore the evidence for and against the “hostile endometrium” theory. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-07-3036 minThinking to Believe019: Abortion pt 12 - IVF and Contraceptives, pt 1There are a number of moral concerns with IVF that Christians should be aware of. In some cases, doctors recommend aborting one or more babies if too many babies implanted in the uterus. There are also concerns with freezing unused embroys. As for contraception, some forms of contraception are clearly acceptable while others are questionable. In this episode, I explore whether or not IUDs and emergency contraceptives can have an abortifacient effect. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-07-2329 minThinking to Believe018: Abortion pt 11 - Tactics and the Use of ImageryIt's one thing to know the truth about abortion, but another thing to present our case to others. We need more than knowledge. We need tactics. I discuss seven tactics for dialoguing with pro-abortion advocates and making the case for life. I also discuss the use of graphic imagery in making our case. I argue that the use of images of both fetal development and aborted babies is an important supplement to the pro-life argument and can be very effective at persuading pro-abortion advocates and those on the fence that abortion is morally evil.Web: T...2022-07-1643 minThinking to Believe017: Abortion pt 10 - Personhood Theory pt2I continued my critique of personhood theory/functionalism, offering three more reasons to reject this philosophy of human value: (1) It involves circular reasoning; (2) It cannot be consistently applied; (3) It cannot ground equal rights and equal value. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-07-0928 minThinking to Believe016: Abortion pt 9 - Personhood Theory pt1I explore personhood theory, which holds that there is a distinction between being human and being a person - and only personhood has moral value. I provided three reasons to reject this theory: (1) The Law of Identity; (2) It is subjective and arbitrary; (3) It values the exemplification of certain functions rather than the being who has the capacity for such functions. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-07-0731 minThinking to Believe015: Abortion pt 8 - Human ValueHaving determined what the unborn is, we turn to the question of value. Do the unborn have moral value? What gives humans value? Is value objective and intrinsic, or subjective and intrinsic. Theists argue for the former, whereas non-theists the latter. Theists believe value is inherent to being human, whereas non-theists argue that it is based on humans' ability to exhibit certain functions. Virtually everyone agrees that born have value. If you are going to maintain that the unborn lack that same value, you must demonstrate some morally significant difference between the born and the unborn. There a...2022-07-0231 minThinking to Believe014: Abortion pt 7 - The Philosophical EvidenceIn philosophy, the Law of Identity holds that something is what it is. It's identity remains the same over time despite changing properties. I show how this argues for the humanity of the unborn. I also explore the liability of defining humans in terms of their properties rather than their kind, and correct a misunderstanding of human development that sees humans as being constructed rather than built. Humans are not the kinds of things that emerge only after a number of pieces are assembled together, but are present from conception. Humans build themselves from the inside out toward maturity. 2022-06-2520 minThinking to Believe013: Abortion pt 6 - The Scientific Data pt 2I continued quoting various medical experts that human beings come into existence at fertilization, followed by exploring the reasons the scientific community makes this claim. The Law of Biogenesis as well as genetics make it clear that the unborn are human beings. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-06-1524 minThinking to Believe012: Abortion pt 5 - Simplifying the Issue & The Scientific Data pt 1Abortion is emotionally complex, but morally simple. The abortion debate can be simplified if we break it down into four distinct questions, the most important of which concerns the identify of the unborn. What is it? Since the act of abortion is targeted toward the living entity growing in the woman's womb, the morality of abortion depends on what that living entity is. I offer a syllogistic argument for the pro-life view, followed by an examination of what biologists know about embryonic development. I demonstrate that from a scientific point of view, it is an incontrovertible fact that t...2022-06-1129 minThinking to Believe011: Abortion pt 4 - The Biblical TeachingWhile the morality of abortion does not depend on religious presuppositions, as Christians, the Biblical perspective on abortion should be determinative. While the Bible does not directly address the issue of abortion, it does so indirectly in that it prohibits the murder of human beings, and considers the unborn to be human beings.Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-06-0935 minThinking to Believe010: Abortion pt 3 - Intro and StatisticsIn my intro, I talk about the objectives I hope to accomplish through this series and share the topics to be covered. I begin with an examination of abortion statistics: Who gets abortions? When are they performed? How many abortions are there? What do Americans believe about abortion? Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-06-0424 minThinking to Believe009: 2000 Mules movie reviewMy take on Dinesh D'Souza's new documentary film, 2000 Mules, regarding new evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-05-281h 01Thinking to Believe008: Abortion pt 2 - The Pro-Life Case in a Nutshell (One and Done)In this one-and-done episode, I lay out a high-level argument for the pro-life point of view, showing how both science and philosophy demonstrate that the unborn are valuable human beings from conception. I finish the episode by addressing five major objections to the pro-life view. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-05-2153 minThinking to Believe007: Abortion pt 1 - RIP Roe, Personally Opposed to Abortion but...SCOTUS appears poised to overturn Roe. I talk about the legal and practical ramifications of this decision, and how the fight against abortion is just beginning. I also address the "personally opposed, but" view, which holds that while abortion is morally wrong, it should nevertheless be legal. I show that such a view either misunderstands the relationship between church and state, misunderstands the purpose of law, or misunderstands the logic of the pro-life view. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @t...2022-05-1442 minThinking to Believe006: Freedom of Speech & the Power of BoycottsFreedom of speech is on the decline in America. Fewer Americans value free speech, while more are calling for government and corporate censorship. In light of this trend, I talk about a 2021 Pew Research poll, the government's new Disinformation Governance Board, and Twitter. Freedom of speech is central to a free democracy, so we must fight for it in every generation. I also talk about the power of boycotting et al. If we want to see change, we must make our voices heard. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwi...2022-05-0635 minThinking to Believe005 - Forgiveness: The Misunderstood Virtue, pt 3In this final episode in the series, I address various objections that are (or could be) raised against the view of forgiveness I outlined in parts one and two. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-04-1332 minThinking to Believe004 - Fox Hires Jenner, Preferred Pronouns, and Theological AngerFox News jumps the shark by hiring Bruce Jenner as a contributor. They are on the journey toward the Left and away from conservatism. This also raised the issue of preferred pronouns. I make the case that while conservatives can use someone's preferred name, we must not capitulate to using their preferred pronouns. Pronouns are gendered and ought to match one's sex. Finally, I talk about the phenomenon of theological anger. Why do we get angry at those we disagree with theologically? There is a place for anger, but not merely because of disagreement. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com2022-04-0932 minThinking to Believe003 - Forgiveness: The Misunderstood Virtue, pt 2Forgiveness is a misunderstood virtue. This episode covers the third and final misunderstanding of forgiveness: (3) Forgiveness is unconditional. I argue that the Biblical data as well as God's example demonstrate that we are only obligated to forgive those who have repented, and that forgiveness without repentance is morally wrong. Visit the TTB blog at thinkingtobelieve.comWeb: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-03-2425 minThinking to Believe001: What to expect from the TTB podcastThis inaugural episode explains what this podcast is all about, who should listen, what to expect, and a little bit about me. Visit the TTB blog at thinkingtobelieve.com. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-03-2407 minThinking to Believe002 - Forgiveness: The Misunderstood Virtue, pt 1Forgiveness is a misunderstood virtue. This episode covers two misunderstandings: (1) Forgiveness is a matter of personal psychological health and requires an emotional change; (2) Forgiveness can be achieved wholly by ourselves through prayer. Visit the TTB blog at thinkingtobelieve.comWeb: ThinkingtoBelieve.comEmail: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.comFacebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieveTwitter & Gettr: @thinking2believTruth: @ThinkingToBelieveParler: @thinkingtobelieve2022-03-2430 min