Thinking to Believe

I answer several objections against the argument for the impossibility of an actual infinite that I offered in the last episode: 1.       Infinite set theory shows that infinities exist 2.       You can divide anything an infinite number of times 3.       God is said to be infinite 4.       God’s knowledge is infinite Then, I explain the last two philosophical arguments against an infinite past, n...

In this episode, I deal with a few objections to the scientific evidence for premise 2 of Kalam before proceeding on to provide the first of three philosophical evidences for premise 2 (the logical impossibility of an actual infinite). Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelie...

I address the concerns that cause many Christians to reject the Big Bang theory, show how the theory has come to be accepted as fact by the consensus of scientists, and why all of the new models being put forward by scientists hoping to escape a cosmic beginning fail in their attempt to do so.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve T...

While the Big Bang theory has become the standard model in science and accepted by the vast majority of scientists, that was not always the case. Initially, many scientists rejected the theory because of its theistic implications.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve P...

I continue my examination of the Big Bang theory. I look at what scientists think of the theory and why the theory is so important. Then, I look at the concept of the singularity in more detail, arguing that it was not a thing that existed, but a scientific description of nothingness. That morphed into a brief discussion of the meaning of "nothing." Finally, I offered four lines of empir...

I begin my examination of premise 2 of the Kalam (the universe began to exist). I present three scientific evidences in support of the premise: 1. Radioactive decay 2. Second Law of Thermodynamics 3. Big Bang The Big Bang theory takes a lot of unpacking, so I've only just begun the conversation in this episode by explaining the theory and its historical development.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.co...

I conclude my examination of objections to the first premise of the KCA that everything which begins to exist must be caused to exist. I focus on scientific objections related to quantum mechanics such as virtual particles, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, and the indeterminate nature of radioactive decay. I also address the objection that it is nonsensical to speak of efficient causation...

I continue my examination of objections to the first premise of the KCA that everything which begins to exist must be caused to exist. The objections I cover in this episode include: (1) The argument equivocates on the meaning of "begins to exist" (2) Science cannot support the first premise it only shows that the transformation of matter from one state to another requires a cause - not...

I address what I consider to be the best argument against premise 1, namely Stephen Hawking's objection that the universe cannot have a cause because causes must precede their effect in time, and there was no time prior to the universe. I spent the entire episode on this single objection. Other objections will be addressed next episode.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gma...

In this first episode of the detailed analysis of the Kalam cosmological argument, I provide four reasons for thinking that premise 1 is true ("Anything that begins to exist requires a cause").  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler: @thinkingtobelieve

My third argument for God’s existence is the Kalam cosmological argument. In this 1-N-Done episode, I summarize the argument. I will explore the argument in-depth starting next week.  The essence of the Kalam cosmological argument is that temporally finite things require a cause for their existence. Since the universe began to exist in the finite past, it also requires a cause. An examination of t...

My second argument for God's existence is the Argument from the Impossibility of Nothingness. This is a lesser-known argument for God's existence, but I think it is quite powerful. The essence of the argument: If there was ever a time when nothing existed, there would still be nothing now because nothing has no potential to become something. And yet something exists, so there could never...

My first argument for God's existence is the argument from personal experience. The essence of the argument is that if one has an experience of God, then God must exist. I argue that this experience is not aimed at convincing atheists of God's existence so much as it is demonstrating that theists who believe in God based on experience are rational for doing so. I end the episode by exami...

I begin the conversation on theism, looking specifically at the relationship between reason and belief in God. I discuss two kinds of reasons, explain why empirical evidence is not required for belief in God, discuss whether we can prove God's existence, discuss how best to argue for God’s existence, and why we need to make people want God to exist before we give them evidence that He exists....

I show the connection between moral rebellion and atheism (the third reason for atheism), develop a Biblical theology of atheism, and address the objection that atheists don’t exist and thus an apologetic for theism is pointless.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Pa...

I argue against the notion that atheism is the default position unless and until theists can provide sufficient evidence that God exists. I also look at two reasons people become atheists: rational reasons, emotional reasons.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking2believ Truth: @ThinkingToBelieve Parler...

This is the first episode in a new series on God's existence. I will provide evidence for the existence of God. This episode gives an overview of what I will cover. I begin by examining agnosticism and atheism. I address the recent attempt to redefine atheism.  Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelieve Twitter & Gettr: @thinking...

My second miscellany episode covering a range of topics: 1. There are stages in our relationship with God 2. Explaining why Christians have so many different beliefs 3. Why we should not use the term "cisgender" 4. Christians who are practical atheists 5. Be careful what you win people to Web: ThinkingtoBelieve.com Email: ThinkingToBelieve@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/thinkingtobelie...

We know Jesus taught that divorce and remarriage is justified in the case of sexual sin, but are there any other moral justifications? In this final episode of the series, I consider other possible justifications for divorce including abuse, criminal activity, abortion, financial mismanagement, pornography, and transgender identity. I provide a principle for evaluating any suggested justifications...

I continue my examination of how to apply the Biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage in the 14th episode of the series. I consider the possibility that repentance and/or conversion gives one moral permission to remarry following an unjust divorce and conclude that neither does so. Repentance for an unjust divorce does not give one moral permission to remarry because (1) forgiveness for the di...

I continue my practical application of the Biblical teaching on divorce and remarriage by considering the nature of the adultery Jesus charged people with: Is it a singular act or a perpetual sin? I argue that it is a perpetual sin. This leads to the next question: What is the proper form of repentance for those who have wrongly divorced/remarried? The answer depends on whether one interprets Jesu...

How do we apply the Biblical principles regarding divorce and remarriage to the various situations we face today? The practical application of the Biblical principles is not always easy. I begin this task by exploring what circumstances under which a divorced person can remarry. I conclude that the guilty party cannot remarry under any circumstance. As for the innocent spouse, Jesus gave him permi...

I finish my examination of Paul’s teaching on remarriage, and thereby conclude my examination of the NT teaching on remarriage. I examined more passages in 1 Corinthians 7 that some have used to justify remarriage. I rebutted the idea that Romans 7:1-3 means marriage can only be ended by death. Finally, I explored the meaning of Paul’s requirement for elders that they be the “husband of one wife”...

I start my examination of Paul’s teaching on remarriage, focusing first on 1 Corinthians 7. I show why Paul’s allowance for the “unmarried” to marry (vs. 8-9) does not include formerly-married people. When addressing Christians who wrongly divorced, Paul gave them two options, and neither option included remarriage. I devoted a bulk of the time examining Paul’s teaching in verses 12-16 regarding r...

I finish up my examination of Jesus’ teaching on remarriage in the Synoptic Gospels. The brief version in Luke 16 rehashes Jesus’ teaching found in Matthew and Mark, so I focused my attention on Mark 10. Mark’s version is unique in two ways: (1) It is the only account to address a woman who divorces her husband, and (2) it specifies that the man who unjustly divorces his wife and remarries commits...