Search — Theology Explorer

faith trust belief without evidence

Twitter poll on the definition of faith: Christian vs. non-Christian results

Opening segment introducing the topic

faith evidence for Christianity belief without evidence

Non-Christians define faith as "belief without evidence" because they assume Christians have no evidence

Analyzing the poll divide

faith belief without evidence biblical definition of faith

Some Christians erroneously voted for "belief without evidence" — Mike argues this view is unbiblical

Accounting for anomalies in poll results

poll methodology atheist activism

Poll manipulation: atheists voted fraudulently as Christians to skew results; example of Jen admitting it

Discussing poll integrity

Billy Graham faith evidence

Randall Haynes: a Christian confused by poll wording who voted "belief without evidence" but actually agrees faith involves evidence

Examining individual poll respondents

faith belief without evidence double standard in faith definitions

Non-believer "Snoopit" acknowledges double standard: uses "trust" for human faith but "belief without evidence" for Christian faith

Examining skeptic responses to the poll

belief without evidence Richard Dawkins atheist rhetoric on faith

Mike attributes the pejorative definition of faith among atheists to a deliberate campaign, specifically naming Richard Dawkins

Analyzing origin of atheist definition of faith

Street Epistemology The Elephant in the Brain faith as loyalty signal

Reed (Street Epistemology YouTuber) argues that "belief without evidence" functions as a costly loyalty signal within religious in-groups

Examining another atheist's social-psychological theory of faith

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

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

Examining former Christians' definitions of faith

former Christian atheists faith as denial of evidence

Charles Moss (former Christian) defines faith as active denial of observation to preserve belief

Examining former Christians' definitions of faith

Matt Dillahunty evidence for the resurrection God of the gaps

JD Flier defines faith as "belief in an ever-receding pocket of scientific ignorance" — the God-of-the-gaps argument

Examining another atheist definition of faith

Matt Dillahunty resurrection of Jesus inference to the best explanation

Upcoming debate with Matt Dillahunty on whether belief in the resurrection is reasonable; science is not the only method of knowing

Announcing the Dillahunty debate and defending historical methodology

A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian Street Epistemology

Peter Boghossian's "A Manual for Creating Atheists" teaches that "I believe in God" secretly means "I pretend to know things I don't know"

Critique of Boghossian's framing of religious belief

Matt Dillahunty definition of faith faith as excuse

Matt Dillahunty's shifting definitions of faith: "excuse without good reason," "believing things you know aren't true," and "belief with evidence"

Critique of Dillahunty's inconsistency on faith

early church persecution destroying the temple accusation dialogue between Christians and atheists

Historical parallel: early church marginalized by accusation that Jesus wanted to destroy the temple — same dynamic as "faith is irrational" accusation today

Historical analogy for communication breakdown

evangelism faith evidence for Christianity

The definitional divide on faith is a communication barrier to evangelism — Christians must clarify they have evidence

Practical application of the poll findings

Matt Dillahunty evidential apologetics resurrection of Jesus

Debate with Matt Dillahunty on the reasonableness of believing in the resurrection — hosted on Capturing Christianity

Final announcement about the upcoming debate

Resurrection of Jesus Eyewitness testimony Historical evidence

Twitter response 1: Jesus appearing across the globe with stories from all nations as required evidence

First Twitter respondent's example of what extraordinary evidence for the resurrection would look like.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence Existence of God Epistemology

Problem 3: The slogan results in rejecting any claim you want — confirmation bias

Third of five critiques of the slogan.

Resurrection of Jesus Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence Special pleading

Problem 4: The slogan results in ignoring good evidence via double standards and special pleading

Fourth of five critiques.

Evangelism Apologetics and spiritual condition Conversion

Former atheists: some came to faith through argumentation, others through experiential transformation first

Part of the answer about heart condition and evidence.

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Apostles were willing to die repeatedly for the resurrection—this demonstrates sincerity without needing proof they were offered a final recantation option

Brief apologetics note on the resurrection and martyrdom argument

resurrection apologetics apostolic martyrdom

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Unlikely origin of the disciples' belief in the deity of Jesus — fifth argument

McLatchie introduces the argument that the disciples' belief in Jesus's deity is historically inexplicable without the resurrection, given the Jewish context.

Numbers 23:19 Deuteronomy 21:23 resurrection deity of Christ Justin Martyr

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Martyrdom of Peter and Paul as evidence for the sincerity of resurrection belief

McLatchie cites the willingness of the apostles to die for their testimony as evidence they genuinely believed in the resurrection.

John 21 Paul Peter Origen

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

The cumulative case — power and robustness of multiple converging arguments

McLatchie explains the logic and strength of the cumulative case approach as the seventh and final major point.

apologetics cumulative case apologetics Jonathan McLatchie

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Hebrew Roots movement defined: diverse group united by belief that all believers must obey Mosaic Law including dietary restrictions, Sabbath, and feast days

Series introduction and definition of the Hebrew Roots movement

Torah observance Hebrew Roots movement progressive revelation

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

John 7 records Jesus's brothers not believing in him during his ministry, then Acts records them as believers after resurrection — this disbelief/conversion arc supports biological relationship

The conversion of Jesus's brothers as evidence for their biological relationship

Acts James (brother of Jesus) John 7 Acts James (brother of Jesus) resurrection appearances

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Summary: Paul taught physical/bodily resurrection; hallucination theory fails; Paul was not grieving Jesus's death — he was glad Jesus was dead before his conversion

Concluding the section on Paul's resurrection belief

Paul bodily resurrection resurrection appearances

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Warning against seeking comfort in progressive or unorthodox theology as a false catharsis; such teachers typically demonize biblical Christianity to wedge in their reinterpretations.

Q&A response about walking with a friend questioning traditional beliefs, specifically mentioning Greg Boyd.

biblical authority apologetics discernment

John Owen universalism limited atonement John Owen

Objection 4 stated: John Owen's trilemma

Classic Calvinist logical argument from John Owen's Death of Death in the Death of Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 2:11-13 Ephesians 2:8-9 faith atonement

Ephesians 2:11-13 reinforces: benefits of Christ's blood applied at the moment of belief, not at the cross

Further use of Ephesians 2 to argue for the extent/application distinction.

John Owen faith universalism unlimited atonement

John Owen's trilemma answered: extent and application are distinct; the trilemma conflates them

Mike's direct rebuttal to John Owen's trilemma / false dilemma.

faith imputation unlimited atonement

Christ's work is not applied until belief; payment and application are two distinct moments

Positive resolution to the double payment problem.

religious pluralism tolerance cultural Christianity

The emotional appeal of pluralist slogans: kindness, avoiding anger, hope, tolerance

Winger demonstrates empathy with why people hold pluralist views before critiquing them

Hebrews 9:27 universalism final judgment religious pluralism

Logical analysis of "all roads lead to God": three possible meanings, two incoherent

Winger begins systematic dismantling of the primary slogan

reductio ad absurdum Islam religious pluralism

9/11 terrorists and suicide bombers: sincerity and sacrifice do not validate a belief system

Continued reductio ad absurdum against "all religions work"

evidence for Christianity universalism religious pluralism

Second meaning of pluralism: no religion works, but everyone ends up with God anyway — hidden personal religion

Winger dismantles the second interpretation of "all roads lead to God"

Matthew 28:18-20 Great Commission discipleship baptism

Matthew 28:18-20 — baptism follows discipleship/belief, not precedes it

Winger examines the Great Commission to establish the pattern for baptism in the NT.

John 4:53 Acts 18:8 Philippians 4:22 faith infant baptism John 4:53

Three additional passages show "household" belief language does not imply infants: John 4:53, Acts 18:8, Philippians 4:22

Winger broadens the argument to show that household believing/greeting language consistently excludes passive infants.

Circumcision-baptism parallel breaks down on multiple fronts: faith requirement, compulsion, and gender exclusivity

Winger extends the critique of the circumcision-baptism parallel by pressing its internal inconsistencies.

Lydia faith baptism

faith baptism believers baptism

Q&A: Minimum age for baptism is not fixed — the NT criterion is belief, which varies by individual

A viewer asks what minimum age Winger would set for baptism.

Holy Spirit epistemology faith and reason

Christians have confident, warranted belief in Christianity apart from evidence through the Holy Spirit

Core thesis introduced: knowledge of Christianity's truth comes primarily through the Holy Spirit, not evidence

Romans 8 Romans 8 assurance of salvation epistemology

The witness of the Holy Spirit is the primary means by which Christians know Christianity is true

Application of the knowing/showing framework to Christian epistemology

epistemology faith and reason warrant

The inner witness of the Holy Spirit gives Christians warrant regardless of external evidence

Explaining how the witness of the Spirit functions as epistemic justification independent of external arguments

1 John 5:9-10 epistemology witness of the Holy Spirit 1 John 5:9-10

God's witness is categorically greater than human testimony because God has all knowledge and cannot lie

Logical grounding for why the Spirit's witness has epistemic priority

atheism epistemology faith and reason

It is epistemically wrong to require Christians to answer every argument or question before their faith is valid

Critique of the epistemic standard often imposed by internet atheism

John the Baptist John the Baptist faith miracles as evidence

John the Baptist's doubt from prison: Jesus responded with fresh evidence rather than rebuke

NT case study: how Jesus handled the doubt of a believer who already had abundant witness