Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis

Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith— Alexis de Tocqueville ,  Democracy in America . I. What is Christianity? A. Ultimate reality: an infinite-personal, triune, eternal God (Exodus 3:16) B. The universe is created by God out of nothing (Genesis 1; John 1) C. Humans made in God’s image, but fallen (Genesis 1-3)      Have unique and incomparable value in God’s...

Given the strike of Hollywood actors and writers, it is an apt time to reflect on our use of media and entertainment. A quote from Neil Postman’s class book, Amusing Ourselves to Death , can guide us. "Our politics, religion, news, athletics, education and commerce have been transformed into congenial adjuncts of show business, largely without protest or even much popular notice. The result is tha...

The evangelical world today suffers from apologetic anemia. Despite the fact that holy Scripture calls believers to give a reason for the hope we have in Christ ( 1 Peter 3:15 ; see also  Jude 3 ), we sadly lack a public voice for truth and reason in the marketplace of ideas. We do not have a strong intellectual presence in popular or academic culture (although some areas, such as philosophy, are...

The following is not meant as a nuanced treatment of the subject. Notice the title "Cheat Sheet." I originally wrote it for a friend who is just getting interested in politics. So, please don't howl in disgust that I misstated your liberal or conservative view. This charts the territory from a pretty high level of abstraction and in light of recent developments in liberal or leftist thinking. A. P...

So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. (Isaiah 59:14)   I am a sixty-six-year-old philosophy professor who has logged thousands of hours in the classroom and elsewhere discussing some of the great issues of the ages. Consider an approach to teaching and writing that I have practiced ever since I went to college an...

On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of death will not overcome it—Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:9). This is a manifesto to ignite the holy fire of apologetic passion and action. As did Jeremiah, we should have "fire in our bones" to communicate and commend Christian truth today (Jeremiah 20:9). This manifesto is not a sustained argument or a detailed development of themes. Rather, as a m...

1. On Phobias A phobia is an irrational fear such as the fear of heights, spiders, or water. However, we should fear that which poses real dangers to us. We should fear God, which is the beginning of wisdom. This is because God is our Maker and our Judge. He is totally good and we are not. We should also fear things like disease and crime. Because we fear disease, we consult physicians. Because we...

Matt Walsh, What is a Woman? One Man’s Search to Answer the Question of a Generation (Nashville, TN: DW Books, 2022) and the film, “What is a Woman?” produced by The Daily Wire (2022). How could a popular podcaster and author produce a feature film and write a book with the title “What is a Woman?” Does not everyone know the answer to that? After all, humanity is a dimorphic species, consisting of...

What comes to mind when you think of the word “maid?” You probably think of a paid helper, one who does dirty work you would rather not do. However, you do not think of your maid killing someone. If that happens, an unexpected homicide has occurred. Since 2016, over 30,000 homicides have occurred in Canada, at the hands of another MAID. Given secular trends, MAID (or something like it) may be comi...

Today I'm reading a collection of verses that my first wife, Rebecca, put together over many years. She went to be with the Lord in 2018. This collection of verses is online and has been used by many to find encouragement in their faith.  For more from Dr. Groothuis, visit  DouglasGroothuis.com . Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifea...

Systematic Theology and the Life of the Mind Few mistakes are more crippling to Christian witness within the Christian community than anti-intellectualism. Few theological errors violate more theological doctrines more radically. In his Pulitzer-Prize-winning work, Anti-Intellectualism and in American Life , historian Richard Hofstadter defined anti-intellectualism as a “resentment of the life of...

Apologetics is the practice of defending the Christian faith and responding to questions and objections raised by those who don't believe. Over many years of doing apologetics, I have had some remarkable apologetic encounters. Since converting in 1976 at age nineteen, I have labored to give the reasons for my hope in Christ to as many people as possible in as many formats as possible (1 Peter 3:15...

Many arguments are marshaled against Christian schools and Christian home-schooling K-12. Those, such as myself who categorically reject state (public) education as anti-Christian, inefficient, and inherently unfair are in for some lively debates. The objections raised must be met. Recommended Reading: Blumenfeld, Samuel. Is Public Education Necessary? (Old Greenwich: The Devin-Adair Company, 1981...

An Argument for Traditional, Biblical Gender Categories and Against Transgender Ideology: Twenty Points Douglas Groothuis, Ph. D., Professor of Philosophy Denver Seminary Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.  (Isaiah 8:20) The following is a step-by-step, logical argument for deriving a moral position o...

Jesus was many things, such as Lord and Messiah, but we may be hesitant to consider him a philosopher. I argue that given Jesus’ coherent worldview and skill at argumentation, it is wise to both consider him as a philosopher and to look to him for intellectual inspiration. I pay close attention to Jesus’ stellar reasoning abilities concerning two theological issues raised in Matthew 22. Resources...

In this episode, Dr. Groothuis presents a biblical and logical argument against abortion and for the value of unborn human life. He begins by discussing Reproductive Health Equity Act before the Colorado State Congress, which would forbid any restriction on abortion and deny any moral value to the unborn.  He argues that a fetus is a living being, not a potential life, and that it is a human being...

"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…" - Galatians 4:19. Apologetics is the discipline of defending the Christian faith as objectively true, rational, and applicable to life (1 Peter 3:15; Jude 3). This ministry requires a life attuned to the Spirit of God. Apologetics is a spiritual discipline of study that requires the fruit of the Holy...

I.    Truth and Religion  A.    Framing the great debate on religion and spirituality Taking objective truth seriously in a pluralistic, postmodern setting B.    The appeal of the oneness claim (all religions teach basically the same thing): religious strife is eliminated. But this must be logically tested. II.    What are Truth Claims in Religion? A.     Defining the nature of truth: that which c...

Full show notes at https://www.lifeaudio.com/truth-tribe-with-douglas-groothuis/episodes   Religious Founders The concern for truth and rationality Truth: what corresponds to reality. See Douglas Groothuis, Truth Decay . Rationality: testing truth-claims logically and by the evidence Categories of analysis: Sources of information, life, worldview, existential meaning Jesus (0-33 AD) Source of know...

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF JESUS     A. The Jesus question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:13-16) 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simo...

I am the resurrection and the life—Jesus Christ, John 11. I.    The Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus A.    Unique among religions of the world; one religion based on the resurrection of its divine founder B.    The resurrection in Jesus’ teaching: he promised it several times C.    Atonement requires resurrection Herein we see the organic connection between Christ’s incarnation, death, an...

He alone had to produce a great people, elect, holy and chosen, lead them, feed them, bring them into the place of rest and holiness, make them holy for God, make them the temple of God, reconcile them to God, save them from God’s anger, redeem them from the bondage of sin which visibly reigns in man, give laws to his people, write these laws in their hearts, offer himself to God for them, sacrifi...

I.    The Death of Christ  A.    Active work of Christ in obeying the law without sin through the Holy Spirit. Giving God the honor due him on our behalf B.    Passive work of Christ on the Cross, taking our punishment, paying our debt C.    Atonement: to cleanse, make right, and restore (Isaiah 53:4-6) Surely he took up our pain     and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,  ...

To learn more about Dr. Groothuis, visit: https://douglasgroothuis.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us .

Men are so inevitably mad that not to be mad would be to give a mad twist to madness—Blaise Pascal.[1] Topics covered: 1. Who are You? (The Who) 2. Roots of Identity Revolution and Gender Ideology 3. Who You Are 4. The Bible on Gender 5. A Christian Response (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5) [1] Pascal, Blaise. Pensées (Penguin Classics) (p. 120). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition. Resources 1...