The Reluctant Theologian Podcast

I was somehow convinced to join the dumpster fire that is TikTok. In today's episode, I offer some reflections on my experience on TikTok, the problem of evil, and why a good theological education is so important. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews; Dr. Habil. University of Helsinki) is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne, and a visiting professor of p...

If you saw my recent debate with the one and only Gavin Ortlund on divine simplicity, you might have some remaining questions. In today's episode, I sit down with Andrew Hollingsworth and Chad McIntosh to discuss various topics that came up in the debate related to simplicity, history, metaphysical dependency, the Trinity, and more. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is...

Are you of two minds about which model of the incarnation to adopt? Perhaps you are looking for someone who can offer an account of the incarnation that will fix it, not mix it. You might be in luck. Today my Palm Beach interns and I interview Dr. Tim Pawl on the metaphysics of the incarnation. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the Universit...

In October, I released an episode called “Deconstructing Hell.” I presented a way of critiquing different theories of Hell in light of God’s love and ultimate defeat of evil. I received a lot of feedback from listeners trying to figure out how to escape the argument. Today, I have with me David Anzalone to discuss how he thinks we should respond to the argument. We also have Constantine weighing i...

In today’s episode, I want to give you a version of my presentation at the Evangelical Philosophical Society meeting in Georgia. “Why Would God Create Anything at All? A Question that Classical Theism Cannot Answer.” Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne, and a visiting professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic Uni...

Do you have doubts about classical theism? Are you one of those people who finds yourself uncertain if classical theism is true? If you have answered yes, you might be suffering from a multitude of pathologies. At least, that is what Carl Trueman says in a recent podcast lecture. Buckle up for a wild ride today. I will be giving you a sarcastic examination of Credo Magazine’s recent podcast episod...

Today we sit down with Trenton Merricks to discuss personal identity over time and life after death. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne, and a visiting professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Guest: Trenton Merricks  (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is a professor of philosophy the University of Vir...

I have quite the episode for you today. I will talk about how the internet Thomists lost their minds over the previous episode. I will explain why the doctrine of divine simplicity is not merely unbiblical, but rather anti-biblical. Also, I will read you a newly translated letter from Aquinas where he doubts immutability. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and...

A lot of people loved my episode covering the YouTube Channel, Clearly Reformed, and their video on divine infinity. I had several requests to do an episode on their video on divine simplicity. I realized that there is still a lot of propaganda online surrounding this doctrine. So you know what, let’s do it! Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at...

I want to offer you a reading of Luke 2, followed by a short Christmas meditation and prayer. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the University of Lucerne, and a visiting professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Music by Rockandmetal_domination – Raising-questions. ⁠⁠⁠rtmullins.com⁠⁠⁠ Support the Show: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon...

I’ve got a lot for you today. Jared Michelson tells me that I do not understand Aquinas. Ben Page tells me that I need to reimagine creation ex nihilo. And Tom Oord tells me that I need to completely reject creation out of nothing. I also have an exciting announcement about a summer school in Spain! All this and more on today’s episode. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is...

My Palm Beach summer interns and I recorded a bunch of interviews that we are still editing. Today, I have our interview with Adam Johnson. We are talking about his book on Divine Love where he lays out his approach to God and morality. A bit of moral philosophy and metaethics for you today! Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a lecturer and researcher at the University o...

Today I give you a sneak peek into the exciting debates we are having at the University of Lucerne . Here is one hot topic. Does God create the universe out of nothing or does He eternally create an eternal universe? Listen to Peter Adamson and I debate this question. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews; Dr. Habil, University of Helsinki) is a lecturer and researcher at the U...

It is common place to hear people say that God is infinite. But what on earth does that mean? The YouTube Channel, Clearly Reformed, just put out a video on the topic. In the video, Pastor Kevin DeYoung offers his reflections on the topic of divine infinity. Are his musings clearly Reformed, or clearly confused? Let’s find out! Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews; Dr. Habil,...

With Halloween coming up, I wanted to create an episode of scary stories that are spectacularly spooky. Tales that will chill your spine, and freeze your soul. I have a mixture of scary stories from my own life. Stories from family and friends. And stories that listeners have directed my attention to. Fact or fiction, fantasy or reality, I will let you decide. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, Univ...

Do you trust your leaders? What does a trustworthy leader even look like? Do you feel confident that you can ask your leaders critical questions? These are important questions to consider. In today’s episode, I want to consider questions like this as they pertain to an alleged scandal surrounding a church planting organization called Acts 29. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andre...

With Halloween coming up, I thought it would be good to do an episode on the doctrine of Hell. I have published two papers on this topic, one of which is in a new book called Deconstructing Hell . In today’s episode, I want to talk about what exactly deconstruction is. Next, I will discuss the love and justice of God. Then I will consider different theories on Hell and see if they are consistent w...

Everything that is born is destined to die. Human existence is filled with tragedy. Should we continue having children? Should we bring life into existence knowing full well that it will come to an end? Today I have Dr. Lari Launonen on to discuss his personal experience with having a child with a disability, the grief of losing that child, and his reflections on anti-natalism. Credits Host: R.T....

Did God create the number 2? Is the number 2 the sort of thing that could be created? Perhaps numbers and other abstracta are necessarily existent entities. If numbers necessarily exist, does that somehow undermine God’s sovereignty? These are difficult questions, but don’t worry. I have Dr. Paul Gould on to explain everything to us. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St Andrews) is a...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Dr. Kevin Vallier to discuss his new book, All the Kingdoms of the World . This is a full-scale investigation into a theological and political movement called Catholic Integralism. At the moment, you can order the book through Kevin’s website at a discount. The website is www.kevinvallier.com . I’ll have a link in the show notes. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD,...

Today I open up the mailbag to address some listener questions and comments. Many of you send messages through the website. I read all of them. I don’t always know what to say. But every now and then I feel a bit of inspiration to respond sincerely or sarcastically. It could go either way. So today I have some listener questions about Barbie, the abuse of power in Churches, Catholic theology, and...

I have quite the episode for you. We have the closing of more Christian universities in the US. What does that say about American education and politics? We also have some chit chat on Barbie and Oppenheimer. Are these movies woke garbage, or is there more to the story? This episode contains spoilers by the way. Then, finally, I offer some reflections on turning 40. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD...

I recently went on Idol Killer’s YouTube channel to have a dialogue with my friend Thomas Jay Oord. We were discussing his new book, The Death of Omnipotence and the Birth of Amipotence. Since I think this book is interesting and worth considering, I decided it would be good to have an episode dedicated to analysing some of the arguments in Tom’s book. Is omnipotence really dead? Stick around and...

Have you ever wondered what happens after you die? Are you a soul that departs from your body to be with the Lord? Do you cease to exist until Resurrection Day? In Today’s episode, I bring back Dr. Joshua Farris to talk about human nature, the soul, and life after death. In particular, we discuss the traditional doctrine of the intermediate state. Credits Host: R.T. Mullins (PhD, University of St...

How can an immaterial God interact with the physical world? This is a question that contemporary atheists and agnostics often ask, but developing a precise objection here is often difficult. To answer this issue, Professor Gregory Ganssle has a new edited volume called Philosophical Essays on Divine Causation. In today’s episode, Greg and I chat about his essay on the pairing problem. Credits Host...