In part 2 of my series on Simplifying God's Will, I examine the Biblical data on God's will. I argue that the Bible teaches God's will for our lives is more general in nature, primarily related to our moral growth; not who we marry, what career we choose, etc. While God can have a specific will regarding some aspects of our lives, it is rare, and G…

I'm starting a 6-part series on finding the will of God. In episode 1, I compare and contrast the two models of God's will, and argue that only one is based in Scripture. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve…

In this miscellany episode, I exegete two passages in 1 Corinthians 3. I argue that when Paul warns people about the way they are building (with gold, silver, and precious stones vs. wood, hay, and straw), he is not talking about individual Christians' spiritual development. He is talking about the way in which ministers in Corinth were ministering…

I finish up the existential argument by showing how atheism cannot, but theism can satisfy our deep longing for objective morality, free will, immortality, and love. I end the podcast by providing a real life example of how an atheist came to Christianity, in part, because she realized that only Christianity could satisfy her existential needs. Web…

My final argument for God's existence is a version of the existential argument. I argue that our existential longings can only be explained by and fulfilled by a theistic God: the desire for meaning and purpose in life, objective morality, immortality, free will, and love. People must either (1) believe there is a God who can fulfill our deepest lo…

I wrap up my discussion of Aquinas' Five Ways by examining both his Fourth and Fifth Ways. The Fourth Way demonstrate that the grades of perfection we observe in the world can only be explained by the existence of a maximally perfect being. The Fifth Way demonstrates the existence of an intelligent being who guides everything towards their natural …

For his Third Way, Thomas Aquinas argues that the existence of contingent beings can only be explained by the existence of a necessary being whose essence is identical to His existence. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve…

For his Second Way, Thomas Aquinas argues that a causal series can only be explained by a first, uncaused cause who is the source of all causation. In a related argument - the existential proof - Aquinas argues that things whose essence is distinct from their existence can only be explained by a being whose essence and existence are identical; i.e.…

I started my exploration of Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways, beginning with his First Way - the argument from motion. Aquinas argues that only God can explain why things change. Change can only be explained by a First, Unmoved Mover; i.e. a Being who is the ultimate source of all change, but is itself not changed by anything. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com E…

The current legal situation regarding abortion law in Arizona has revealed a strategic divide among pro-lifers. All pro-lifers want to make abortion unthinkable in this country, but disagree as to the best way of achieving that end. Abolitionists take an all-or-nothing approach, while incrementalists attempt to end abortion in a series of multiple …

I offer four more arguments for God's existence from human equality, free will, miracles, and the resurrection. I argue that the notion of human equality has no place in a materialistic worldview, but can only be grounded by a transcendent source like God who. I argue that there can be no free will in a materialistic universe. Freedom of the will r…

I offer three more arguments for God's existence: the origin of life, the argument from human rights, and the argument from human value. I argue that only a transcendent, intelligent mind like God could create the biological information and order required for living things. I argue that the notion of human rights can only be grounded in a transcend…

I am continuing my series on the evidence for God's existence with a host of additional arguments. I will not go into the same depth for each argument that I have for the previous arguments. In this episode, I spend the bulk of the time explaining the ontological argument. This is an oft-neglected argument that should be discussed more often. It is…

A 1-N-Done episode on the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieveBy Jason Dulle

In this final episode on the teleological argument, I look at a number of objections that have been raised against the argument and demonstrate why none of them successfully undermine it. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve…

Having previously established four levels of fine-tuning in the universe, I set out to explain the cause of that fine-tuning. I explore chance and physical necessity and conclude that both are inadequate. The only adequate explanation also happens to be the best explanation: design. Who or what is the source of that design? I conclude that it must …

I provide a number of examples for the last two levels of fine-tuning: the physical constants and our local solar system. Both exhibit jaw-dropping levels of fine-tuning that beg for an explanation. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @Thinki…

I begin my mini-series on the teleological argument by defining what scientists mean when they describe a feature of our universe as "fine-tuned," give examples to show that most scientists affirm the reality of fine-tuning, and then explore two levels of fine tuning (the initial conditions of our universe, natural laws). Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com…

The teleological argument - or design argument - for God's existence hold that that there is evidence of design in the universe, and this design is best explained by theism. I summarize the argument and respond to a couple of common objections in this 1-N-Done episode. Next week, I'll begin a mini-series on the argument that goes into more detail. …

I examine eight more objections to the moral argument and provide a response. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieveBy Jason Dulle

I offer five tactics for presenting the moral argument. Then, I respond to three objections against the moral argument: (1) One doesn’t have to believe in God to be moral (2) If you would still be good if God didn’t exist, then God is irrelevant to morality (3) Is something good because God wills it, or does God will it because it is good (Euthyphr…

I 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve…

I 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com…

Spent the entire episode offering 11 critiques against the most popular non-theistic account of morality: Evolutionary Ethics. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve

Accounting 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.com Email: ThinkingToBeli…

The 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…

In 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve…

I 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 com…

In 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Trut…

I 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: …

The 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 expl…

In this last episode in the kalam series, I address more objections to the conclusion of the argument. Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieveBy Jason Dulle

I 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Tw…

In 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: ThinkingtoBelie…

Now 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.…

I 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 exist 2. You can divide anything an infinite number of times 3. God is said to be infinite 4. God’s knowledge is infinite Then, I explain the last two philosophical arguments a…

In 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & G…

I 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gma…

While 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr:…

I 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.…

I 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 decay 2. Second Law of Thermodynamics 3. Big Bang The 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 histo…

I 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…

I 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 …

I 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: Thinki…

In 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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToB…

My 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 pa…

My 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 ye…

My 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 …

I 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…

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.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: …