Search — Theology Explorer

Cameron Bertuzzi argument from contingency necessary being

Closing the gap problem in cosmological arguments: a necessary being with limited properties would require an explanation for those limits, but there can be no deeper explanation — therefore the necessary being must be unlimited/infinite in value (i.e., God)

Q&A question for Cameron about the gap problem in cosmological arguments

monotheism empty tomb post-resurrection appearances

Q&A: If an atheist accepts that a creator God exists, why should that God be the Christian God? Answer: cosmological arguments narrow the field to monotheism; historical evidence for the resurrection identifies Christianity specifically

Q&A question from Emily Towler about identifying which God among creation stories

forgiveness sin free will

Q&A: Why would God create a world where things can exist that go against his nature? Answer: free will theodicy and soul-building theodicy

Q&A question from Skyler about the existence of sin in a world created by a holy God

apologetics methodology philosophical method questions vs. arguments

Questions are not arguments: unanswered questions do not constitute evidence against Christianity; they only reveal gaps in human knowledge

Cameron makes a methodological point after the theodicy discussion

omnipotence perfect being theology soul-building theodicy

Q&A on omnipotence: can a perfect God bring about states of affairs that are less than perfect? Cameron: yes — the question confuses God's perfection with the value of created states of affairs

Q&A question from "P or not P" about omnipotence and perfection

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 divine sovereignty human dominion

Q&A: Can God give humans dominion and then interfere with that dominion? Parents analogy: giving children authority does not prevent parental intervention when abused

Q&A question from "The Messenger Reveals" about divine interference with human dominion

Hebrews 11:1 Hebrews 11:1 Peter Boghossian Faith

The false definition of faith makes Christian claims appear unreasonable before dialogue even begins

Mike explains the downstream effect of Boghossian's redefinition

Circular reasoning A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian

Page 30: Boghossian's principal argument against faith is circular — it presupposes his false definition

Mike analyzes Boghossian's core argument structure

Apologetics A Manual for Creating Atheists Street Epistemology

Chapters 4+ of the book present the tactics: primary tactic is to avoid facts and simply ask questions to instill doubt

Mike transitions to Boghossian's tactical section

Peter Boghossian Street Epistemology Socratic method

The SE tactic in practice: be friendly, don't disclose your agenda, and ask "how do you know that?" repeatedly

Mike describes the practical method of Street Epistemology

Street Epistemology Psychological manipulation Socratic method

Guest John explains why the SE questioning tactic is effective but potentially manipulative: it exploits inability to articulate beliefs under surprise

Video clip from guest John (from "What Do You Mean?")

Apologetics Capturing Christianity Cameron Bertuzzi

Cameron Bertuzzi (Capturing Christianity): inability to answer a question doesn't mean Christianity is false; testimony is a legitimate epistemic basis

Video clip from Cameron Bertuzzi with pastoral/apologetic advice for Christians facing SE

Greg Koukl Stand to Reason A Manual for Creating Atheists

Greg Koukl contrasts his book "Tactics" with Boghossian's book: both use questions, but Koukl cares about truth and intellectual virtue while Boghossian cares only about instilling doubt

Video clip from Greg Koukl (Stand to Reason)

Street Epistemology Doubt Psychological manipulation

The distinction between asking questions and using questions: SE uses questions as tools for instilling doubt, not seeking answers

Mike synthesizes the previous clip and explains SE's fundamental problem

A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian Street Epistemology

The SE practitioner has also been manipulated: Boghossian's book brainwashes the practitioner before they go out to create doubt in others

Mike offers his final summary point

Josh McDowell Evidence That Demands a Verdict Sean McDowell

Mike takes one audience question: book recommendations for atheists — Josh McDowell's Evidence That Demands a Verdict and More Than a Carpenter

Q&A section, only one question received from non-believers

Hebrews 11 Hebrews 11:1 Hebrews 11 Hebrews 11:1 Amy Hall

Q&A: Hebrews 11:1 is a description of faith in action, not a definition of faith

Question from "search for truth" about Hebrews 11:1

Matt Dillahunty The Atheist Experience Morality

Q&A: Calling God a "moral thug" (Matt Dillahunty) is logically incoherent within theism because God is the grounding for morality

Question from Mariano Rogers about Matt Dillahunty's rhetoric

Salvation Age of accountability Mental illness and salvation

Q&A: What about those who cannot understand the gospel due to severe mental illness? God holds people accountable for what they can know

Audience question about severely mentally ill people and salvation

Salvation Age of accountability Children and salvation

Q&A: What to tell a toddler who asks if they are a child of God — children below the age of accountability are covered by Christ

Question from "wholesome home" about young children and salvation

Faith Faith and knowledge Faith as trust

Q&A: Does faith by nature seek understanding? Mike says faith is simply trust and the seeking of understanding is optional

Question from JMD Apologetics about faith and knowledge

resurrection apostle sincerity conspiracy hypothesis

Introduction: purpose of the video is to examine whether the original resurrection eyewitnesses genuinely believed their claims about Jesus rising from the dead

Opening segment; Mike establishes the core question for the livestream

eyewitness testimony apostle sincerity sincerity objection

Q&A: How to respond to the argument that members of non-Christian religions also die for their beliefs — eyewitness distinction restated

Viewer question on comparative religious martyrdom

Revelation 6:11 eschatology martyrdom Revelation 6:11

Revelation 6:11 — question about whether the passage refers to martyrs specifically or all believers; Mike declines to give a definitive answer

Viewer Q&A on an eschatological passage

John 14:2-3 Revelation 21 eschatology new heaven and new earth intermediate state

Q&A on John 14:2-3 "I go to prepare a place for you" — Mike's understanding of the intermediate state and the new heaven and new earth

Viewer question on the afterlife and the meaning of Jesus preparing a place

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Three former Christians define faith negatively — Volker Dittmer calls faith the logical opposite of intelligence

Examining former Christians' definitions of faith

faith vs. reason faith as anti-intellectual former Christian atheists

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Street Epistemology question about ranking faith in pin-falling vs. resurrection — Mike argues it is designed to produce doubt, not seek truth

Q&A: Doug (Street Epistemology type) asks if faith in pin falling and faith in resurrection can be ranked

resurrection of Jesus Street Epistemology faith and doubt

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Shannon's question: if faith is trust with evidence, isn't it knowledge? Mike argues knowledge and faith can coexist

Q&A on the epistemology of faith

faith and knowledge epistemology of faith trust and allegiance

youth ministry Greg Koukl apologetics

The book is motivated by McDowell's own children and 20 years of ministry focus on the next generation

McDowell explains the need driving the book project

apologetics fact-checking trust

Gen Z fact-checks in real time — credibility and truth-telling are now more important than ever for teachers and pastors

McDowell describes speaking at Berkeley and observing real-time fact-checking

youth ministry apologetics Josh McDowell

Apologetic questions are being asked at younger and younger ages due to technology — Josh McDowell's observation about shifting ages of questioning

McDowell references his father Josh McDowell's observation from 55 years of ministry

parenting discipleship worldview

Practical parenting principle: integrate discipleship into activities you are already doing rather than adding new programs

McDowell addresses practical application for parents

truth Generation Z worldview

Gen Z's underlying worldview challenge: a consumer culture that conditions them to expect reality to conform to their desires rather than conform to external reality

McDowell identifies the deeper worldview issue beneath Gen Z's post-truth tendencies

evangelism Jesus sexuality

Strategy for LGBTQ conversations with non-Christians: start with listening, ask about their story, do not lead with the biblical sexual ethic

McDowell describes how he approaches LGBTQ questions with non-Christians

marriage discipleship LGBTQ

Strategy for LGBTQ conversations with Christians: still lead with questions, then move to Scripture on God's design for marriage and sexuality

McDowell addresses the same topic from the angle of a Christian asking

evangelism Jesus apologetics methodology

The habit of assuming you know the question and answering it before truly listening — a common apologetics failure

McDowell reflects honestly on his own failures in apologetic conversations

evangelism love cultural engagement

Love communicates more than correct answers: valuing the person by taking their question seriously matters independent of whether the answer lands

Mike reflects on the principle of person-first engagement

parenting discipleship worldview

Practical idea: worldview movie nights — watch culturally relevant films with kids and discuss them

McDowell shares a practical tip while waiting for Q&A questions to come in

sexuality nature vs. nurture LGBTQ

Q&A: Has McDowell's strategy on LGBTQ issues changed since "A New Kind of Apologist" (2016)?

Audience question about McDowell's evolution on LGBTQ apologetics

apologetics Sam Harris parenting

Q&A: Advice for a homeschool mom — expose kids to real-world ideas rather than sheltering them; the principle of strategic exposure

Audience question from a homeschooling mother

Southern Baptist Convention Barna Research The Myth of the Dying Church

Q&A: Why is church attendance dropping? Glenn Stanton's "The Myth of the Dying Church" — mainline churches are dying, not Bible-believing churches

Audience question about church decline, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z

marriage gospel Millennials

Millennial and Gen Z church return: life-stage markers like marriage and children are happening later or not at all, making the expected return uncertain

McDowell addresses the question of whether lapsed young people will return

church culture worship community

Q&A: Traditional vs. contemporary worship music — worship is not primarily about personal enjoyment; cross-generational blending is ideal

Audience question about worship style preferences

Romans Paul youth ministry Romans

Q&A: Rooting youth in the person and work of Christ — requires both good theology (who Jesus is) and practical application (how to live it out)

Audience question about how churches can help youth be rooted in Christ

Romans 7 biblical interpretation apologetics methodology fact-checking

Q&A: Handling unreliable sources and fact-checking in a Wikipedia age — do your diligence, own mistakes, and nuance statements to match the strength of evidence

Final audience question about fact-checking and epistemic responsibility

Apologetics Resurrection of Jesus Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Introduction: The slogan "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" as a reason people reject the resurrection

Mike opens by framing the entire talk around evaluating this popular skeptical slogan, which he says is the primary reason many people reject the resurrection of Christ.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence Definition of extraordinary

Mike Twitter-polled atheists to understand how they define the terms in the slogan

Rather than strawmanning skeptics, Mike sought direct input from atheists on his Twitter following to understand how they define "extraordinary."

Apologetics Resurrection of Jesus Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Mike asks Twitter: what specific historical evidence for the resurrection would count as "extraordinary"?

Mike probes the practical application of the slogan to the resurrection specifically.