Search — Theology Explorer

Hermeneutics Eschatology Preterism

Preterism: all/most Bible prophecy fulfilled by 70 AD — initially appealing but breaks down under scrutiny.

Lindy Z asks about preterism.

Second Coming Eschatology Full preterism

Full preterism vs. partial preterism: full preterism claims the second coming already happened and leads to heresy.

Distinguishing varieties of preterism.

1 Corinthians 11 1 Corinthians 11 Head coverings Women in worship

Head coverings for women: Mike holds tentatively that they are not necessary today, but acknowledges he wants to study the passage more.

Riatoon asks whether Christian head coverings are biblical.

Matt Dillahunty Resurrection of Jesus Apologetics debates

Upcoming debate with Matt Dillahunty on April 11 on the resurrection of Jesus.

Mike announces the upcoming debate as a prayer request.

John McCrae Capturing Christianity Cameron Bertuzzi John McCrae

Collaboration project: 20 videos with Cameron Bertuzzi (Capturing Christianity) and John McCrae (What Do You Meme) releasing daily.

Mike announces a collaborative YouTube project.

Galatians 1:18 historeo Galatians 1:18 Eyewitness testimony

Greek term 'historeo' - Paul's formal eyewitness inquiry in Jerusalem

Galatians 1:18 - Paul's investigative visit to Peter

Q&A: Shroud of Turin and evidence issues

Discussion of physical evidence claims

Shroud of Turin

Stolen body theory Hallucination theory

Stolen body theory problems - requires all disciples to unanimously fabricate

Addressing 'hallucination' and conspiracy objections

Historicity Comparative religion

Christianity's historical uniqueness in resurrection claims

Comparative religion - why Christianity's claims stand out

Christian unity essentials vs non-essentials in doctrine ecumenical cooperation

Principle of Christian unity: partnering across doctrinal differences on non-essentials while agreeing on essentials

Mike articulates the philosophy behind the collaboration

Cameron Bertuzzi argument from contingency necessary being

Argument from contingency explained: every contingent thing has an explanation; the collection of all contingent things requires a non-contingent (necessary) being as explanation

Cameron explains his favored philosophical argument for God's existence

apologetics theism philosophy and theism

Mike's claim: philosophy rightly done points toward God and ultimately toward Christ

Mike's reflection on the relationship between philosophy and theism

John McCrae John McCrae J.P. Moreland argument from consciousness

Argument from consciousness: mind and matter are ontologically distinct; consciousness is irreducible to physical processes (the hard problem of consciousness)

John explains the argument from consciousness more fully

problem of evil moral argument for God Cameron Bertuzzi

Argument from morality as a compelling Christian argument: moral facts (e.g., torturing children for fun is wrong) require a grounding explanation

Cameron presents the moral argument as interesting for its emotional grip, parallel to the problem of evil

atheism epistemology burden of proof

Definition of atheism debate: classical (affirming God does not exist) vs. modern redefinition as "lack of belief" to avoid burden of proof

Q&A question from Isaiah Armstrong about the definition of atheism

miracles divine intervention Scripture as sufficient revelation

Q&A: Why doesn't God interact visibly today as in Bible times? Mike's answer: miracles were always rare; God interacts spiritually now; the Bible establishes the foundation

Q&A question from "I'm Zen"

burden of proof intellectual honesty skepticism

Q&A: Most atheist arguments are refutations rather than positive cases for atheism — is that a problem?

Q&A question from Benjamin Rush about the asymmetry of atheist argumentation

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

Cosmic Skeptic Steve Krei Non Sequitur Show

Favorite atheist YouTubers: Cosmic Skeptic, Steve Krei (Non Sequitur); least favorite: emotional, illogical ranters

Q&A about favorite/least-favorite atheist YouTube channels

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

resurrection of Jesus Non Sequitur Show Paulogia

Apologist/counter-apologist "Paulogia": Cameron had a debate with him on the resurrection on the Non Sequitur Show

Q&A from Nick J about Paulogia's series on the resurrection

A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian Faith

Page 15 quote: Boghossian's stated goal is to create a generation of Street Epistemologists who help people abandon faith and embrace reason

Mike reads page 15 of the book at length

Hebrews 11:1 Hebrews 11:1 A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian

Boghossian redefines "faith" as "pretending to know things you don't know"

Mike quotes Boghossian's definition of faith directly

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

Mark 2 William Lane Craig Stand to Reason Tim Barnett

Tim Barnett (Stand to Reason): faith is not an epistemology but a way of trusting; knowledge and trust are distinct categories

Video clip from Tim Barnett responding to Boghossian

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

A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian Faith

Chapter 3: doxastic closure — Boghossian continues the assault on faith while romanticizing Street Epistemology

Mike transitions to chapter 3 of the book

A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian Faith

Page 43-44: Boghossian claims faith removes wonder and curiosity; Mike counters that faith enhances his intellectual engagement

Mike quotes and rebuts pages 43-44

A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian Street Epistemology

Pages 44-45: Boghossian romanticizes the Street Epistemologist as a hero rescuing people from the faith "virus"

Mike reads from pages 44-45

David Hume A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian

Boghossian self-contradicts by quoting David Hume approvingly: "A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence"

Mike identifies a self-contradiction on page 45

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