Thinking Christianly

For those of us not currently connected to the academic world, the idea of furthering our education as Christians can be daunting. Where do you start? What should you consider before taking on this experience? Is it worth it even if it doesn’t increase your earning potential?  In this episode, JP and Stan share practical advice and wisdom for evaluating the costs and benefits of going beyond learn...

“The certainty problem has crept in and polluted the whole enterprise of knowing.” – J.P. Moreland. In this episode, J.P. and Stan have a practical discussion about how to engage with the cultural obsession with a narrow definition of certainty. In this podcast, we discuss: What is skepticism? How did it become a cultural “virtue”? Why doubting everything is more dangerous than you think Wha...

Most of us know Dallas Willard as a brilliant and pastoral writer on spiritual formation. In his writing, you can sense a man of great thought, but the depth of his knowledge can be hidden from the reader of his more popular works. In this episode, Stan and J.P. discuss the life, scholarship, and legacy of Dallas Willard. They also share thoughts on spiritual formation gleaned from Dallas. In this...

In this episode we conclude our case study of Edmund Husserl. We discuss other lessons we can learn from his life, and lessons to learn from the faithful men and women who risked everything to save his life’s work. We also discuss the challenging work of preserving ideas that matter in a culture that prefers to forget the past. In this podcast, we discuss: Why it is important to do work that doesn...

In this episode we do a case study of someone who wove together a number of the themes we have talked about in earlier episodes, including the importance of a commitment to truth and the life of the mind, being a part of a vibrant faith community, dealing with challenges, and being faithful to God’s call. These lessons from the life of philosopher Edmund Husserl, as well as some of his philosophic...

What is real? This has been a defining question in our modern era. How should a thinking Christian answer this question? J.P. and Stan describe the foundational beliefs and distinctions necessary for addressing this central issue in grace and truth.   In this podcast, we discuss: What is a property? What are some examples of properties? How is this question related to what truth is, the Incarnatio...

How do we “find quiet” in a noisy world? Using J.P.’s book Finding Quiet as a launch point J.P., Stan, and Jordan discuss mental health; specifically, anxiety and depression. What options are available to Christians who struggle with these diseases? How can a person seek treatment in a faith-informed way? The information in this podcast is not intended to diagnose or treat specific diseases. As we...

In this podcast we discuss why the Incarnation is so important, and how the ever-present idea of Gnosticism impacts our view of the incarnation of Christ. We discuss why Christians should reject the view that the material world is evil, and how to embrace the material world in a God-honoring way. In this podcast we discuss: Why does it matter that Jesus came to earth as a human person? How can a s...

In this episode, J.P. and Stan continue discussing a path toward ethical clarity through the complex conversations surrounding death and dying.   In this podcast we discuss: Is death a process or an event? What are the major distinctions and implications between the two views of how the body and soul are “connected”? What is the difference between having consciousness because of the soul and being...

In this episode, J.P. and Stan discuss a path for ethical clarity through the complex conversations surrounding death and dying.   In this podcast we discuss: The two ways to define a person: functional and ontological What is life? How to gain clarity by asking the most fundamental question How to avoid unhelpful definitions and category fallacies when discussing death and dying The uniquely mode...

In this episode, J.P. and Stan discuss a path for moral clarity through the complex conversations surrounding the abortion conversation.   In this podcast we discuss:  What does it mean to discuss something in the morally relevant sense? What is “it” at the center of the controversy? How to gain clarity by asking the most fundamental question. How to approach complex issues when values...

In this podcast we discuss: What does it mean that Christianity is “verifiable” and “falsifiable”? Minimal Facts Approach – What are the historical facts that are generally agreed upon by Christians and non-Christians alike? Are the accounts of those who saw the resurrected Jesus likely to be accurate? What are the discontinuities between the gospel accounts and mythological writing? What ar...

In this first podcast of our second year, Jordan takes time to learn more about our sponsor Global Scholars. She gets the backstory of how the mission of this podcast and that of Global Scholars complement one another by interviewing Stan, who serves as President and CEO. Along the way are many great stories of how God is at work today in higher education globally. In this podcast we discuss: How...

As we watch the invasion of Ukraine in horror, we wonder what could possess Putin to use force so ruthlessly and indiscriminately. At least part of the answer lies in a philosophy of life that runs back through many other despots and finds it roots in the writings on Nietzsche. In this episode, Stan and JP discuss how pervasive the philosophy of Nihilism has come to be in shaping our daily lives,...

C.S. Lewis defined chronological snobbery as “…the uncritical acceptance of the intellectual climate of our age and the assumption that whatever has gone out of date is on that count discredited.” In this podcast, Stan and JP talk about this idea as a danger to Christians seeking to become mature in their faith, practical tips to wisely discern the value of old ideas, and how to rethink some...

Prayer is an important part of how we engage in relationship with God. It remains, however, a mysterious practice to many Christians. In this episode, Stan and JP discuss key beliefs about the role of prayer in the life of the believer. They investigate the purpose of prayer and why so many Christians feel frustration around the discipline of prayer. In this podcast we discuss: What prayer is The...

On this episode of the Thinking Christianly podcast, we have the privilege of discussing J.P.’s newly released book, A Simple Guide to Experience Miracles . Jordan, J.P., and Stan share stories from their lives and the lives of others and evaluate whether or not the experience is a miracle or merely a coincidence. You will be encouraged and challenged by this conversation about God’s work in our d...

JP and Stan continue their conversation on the nature of the soul, the many implications of us being a soul, and objections to substance dualism. In this podcast we discuss: Ethical decision making in light of substance dualism Why the soul is the only grounding for our intrinsic value The centrality of substance dualism to ethical issues at the beginning, during, and end of life Contemporary conv...

A famous hymn is titled “ It Is Well With My Soul .” What is this mysterious thing we refer to often, but have a hard time defining and an even harder time understanding? How is our soul different from our body and yet interact with our body? And why is it so important to have good answers to these questions? In this episode we tackle these tough issues, and draw out some of the practical implicat...

Understanding what we are answers many other questions, including the nature and means of flourishing as a human being. In this episode, J.P. and Stan describe human flourishing and endeavour to reclaim the idea of flourishing as an aim beyond pleasure or mere happiness. In this podcast we discuss: What it means to be made in the “Image of God” What types of capacities and powers we share, to a li...

In this episode we discuss what it means that the Christian Scriptures are “without error.” With appropriate nuance and caveats given, the concept of biblical inerrancy is supported with the use of reason and logical argumentation. JP and Stan also discuss some of the false and/or poorly reasoned arguments made both for and against inerrancy. In this podcast we discuss: What the position on Script...

As COVID restrictions are being lifted in the U.S., we are once again able to attend church in person. However, after twelve to eighteen months participating in church services online, many believers are wondering if they should return, or just continue attending online services. JP and Stan discuss some of the reasons many are asking this question, which leads them to discuss what the church is a...

In this episode, we’re defining what we mean when we say “thinking Christianly.” We discuss: What does the faculty of “thinking” entail? The difference between the mind and the brain and how they both relate to the soul How to integrate faith and learning Different kinds of knowledge and how to seek wisdom beyond the Christian worldview Making right distinctions and how to make sense of false dich...

In this episode, we’re making a Biblical case for the role of reason in Christianity. We discuss: How Scripture makes a clear case for the role of reason in our spiritual lives The way evidential reasoning is present in Scripture How to avoid confusing total knowledge with genuine knowledge The difference between the use and abuse of reason Why we can trust that God doesn’t use a different kind of...

Loving God with our whole person, including our minds, used to be true of most Christians. But this is no longer the case. This stunts our spiritual growth. It also severely limits our ability to influence our culture. How did this shift occur? In this inaugural episode, Stan, J.P., and Jordan discuss some of the factors that led to this shift, the ways we see this manifest in our lives and church...