Pros & Cons Of Presuppositionalism Reformed Apologetics We conclude our section on the third apologetic method by looking at the pros & cons of presuppositionalism Reformed Apologetics. But here's the real question, are the negatives stated really negatives? Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 02:24 - Strengths Of Reformed Apologetics 03:11 - Strength #1 - Linking Apologetics & Theology 08:20 - Strength #2 - Focuses On How We Know Things 16:07 - Strength #3 - Strong Rational Challenge To Unbelief 20:19 - Weaknesses Of Reformed Apologetics 20:47 - Clarification - Presuppositionalism Is NOT Just Believe Fideism 23:44 - Weakness #1 - Too Calvinistic 26:34 - Weakness #2 - Underestimates The Power Of Facts 30:11 - Weakness #3 - Too Restrictive Of Apologetics 32:25 - Summary 33:50 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Summary Of Presuppositional Reformed Apologetics We begin our wrap-up of this apologetic method with a summary of presuppositional Reformed Apologetics. We summarize the six meta-apologetics questions that build the method and then we look at the six apologetic questions all methods should have an answer for. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:24 - Summarizing Reformed Apologetics 02:54 - Summarizing Reformed Apologetics Meta-Apologetics 03:30 - Reformed Apologetics On Knowing Christianity Is True 09:08 - Reformed Apologetics On Relationship Between Apologetics & Theology 10:32 - Reformed Apologetics On Should Apologetics Use Philosophy In Apologetics 14:04 - Reformed Apologetics On Should Science Be Used In Apologetics 16:05 - Reformed Apologetics On Can Christianity Be Supported On Historical Inquiry 18:39 - Reformed Apologetics On If Universal Belief Should Be Pointed To As Proof 22:14 - Summarizing Reformed Apologetics Apologetics Positions 22:48 - Reformed Apologetics On Why Believe The Bible 24:04 - Reformed Apologetics On Religious Pluralism 27:27 - Reformed Apologetics On How To Know God Exists 29:44 - Reformed Apologetics On Why There Is Evil 34:22 - Reformed Apologetics On The Trustworthiness Of The Bible 36:30 - Reformed Apologetics On Who Is Jesus 39:17 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

The Centrality Of Scripture For Life's Big Questions With the final four apologetic questions for the presuppositional Reformed apologetic method we see these apologists keep going back to the centrality of Scripture for life's big questions. Is there a God? What about evil in the world? Are miracles possible? Who is this Jesus person in history? The Reformed apologetic method is going back to a limitless Source to limit its answers - which doesn't make everyone quite so happy. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:39 - God As Properly Basic Belief 03:47 - Criteria For Properly Basic Beliefs 07:10 - Defeaters For Basic Beliefs 08:56 - Clark & Van Til On Belief In God 13:16 - The Theological Problem Of Evil 23:01 - Miracles As A Revelation By God 30:20 - Jesus Is The Self-Attesting Christ Of Scripture 32:53 - Conclusion LINKS: 17:22 - The Bahnsen Project 19:36 - What About Free Will? Interview BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Scripture Is The Foundation For Everything Now we cover the apologetic questions that Reformed apologetics (presuppositionalism) would answer. Here we look at what presuppositionalists say about Scripture and religious pluralism. To Reformed apologists, Scripture is the foundation for everything. So, of course, we don't make it too far through all six questions. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 02:09 - Take Every Thought Captive - Science, Logic, And Ethics 06:46 - The Gospel Is Offensive, You Don't Have To Be Offending 08:58 - Scripture Is Foundational In Reformed Apologetics 11:21 - Clark's Axion Of Scripture 13:08 - Van Til's Transcendental Use Of Scripture 16:24 - Plantinga's Self-Authentication Of Scriptural Foundation 17:24 - Antithesis Between Christian & Non-Christian Religions 21:23 - Religious Pluralism Is Self-Defeating 26:49 - Plantinga's Critique Of Religious Pluralism 29:44 - Van Til's Response To Religious Pluralism 32:31 - Summary Of Religious Pluralism To The Reformed Apologist 33:34 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Biblical Standards For Science, History, & Experience Finishing up our chapter on the meta apologetics of Presuppositional Reformed Apologetics we look at their call for biblical standards for science, history, & experience. We see that Reformed apologetics want to push the antithesis between the Christian and the non-Christian. From this push, the Christian is able to engage in both offenseive and defensive apologetics as well as set up the ability to present the Gospel message throughout the conversation. Timeline: 01:51 - Christian Apologetics Against FALSE Science 09:02 - Reject Science Standards That Reject God In Presuppositions 13:44 - Revelation As Interpreting History 24:26 - Reformed Apologetics On The Problem With Experience 31:07 - Conflict In Thinking But Point Of Contact With Unbelievers 35:21 - Conclusion LINK: 20:06 - Jason Lisle On Why Christians Should Use Presuppositional Apologetics Over Other Methods BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Biblical Standards For Theology & Philosophy We start out looking at presuppositional Reformed apologetics meta-apologetics by covering probably two of the biggest areas of disagreement with the previously covered methods. For Reformed apologetics, there is the call for biblical standards for theology and philosophy and for them to enact themselves out in the exercise of apologetics. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:34 - Meta-Apologetics Of Reformed Theology Intro 04:17 - Biblical Standards For Defending Truth 09:53 - Reject Deductive & Inductive Arguments As Starting Points 15:30 - The Vindication Of Reformed Theology 19:50 - Presuppositionalists Point Christians Toward Christian Philosophy 26:31 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

The Founders Of Reformed Apologetics We complete our journey of the giants of presuppositionalism and the roots by looking at the biggest founders of Reformed apologetics that are known today. Abraham Kyper establishes the possibility of certainty of faith. Herman Dooyeweerd develops transcendental apologetics. Cornelius Van Til cements presuppositionalism. Gordon Clark takes the strand away from VanTil with deductive presuppositionalism. Finally, we get to a living person with Alvin Plantinga and his warrant for Christian belief. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Abraham Kuyper - Dutch Presuppositionalism & Certainty Of Faith 10:00 - Kuyper On Unbelievers' Beliefs 13:43 - Herman Dooyeweerd Developed Transcendental Apologetics 19:31 - Cornelius Van Til - Father Of Presuppositionalism 22:31 - Van Til's Apologetic Approach 24:20 - Gordon Clark - Deductive Presuppositionalism 27:49 - Alvin Plantinga - Showing Christianity Is Ok To Believe In 35:47 - Warranted Christian Belief & Defeating The Defeaters 41:48 - Presuppositionalists Giants Standing On Their Shoulders 45:03 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Apologists Who Emphasize Revelation After covering a couple of apologetic methods that are very similar, are there any that are really that different? Well, entering into the ring is Reformed Apologetics aka Presuppositionalism. Over the next four episodes, we'll cover this one pretty extensively. First of all, well because we like it and are proponents of it. Second, because of how often misunderstood it is and the need to clarify is still needed. Those covered today are John Calvin, Thomas Reed, and Charles Hodge. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 03:04 - Clarification On The Book & Video Content 05:24 - Overview Of Reformed Apologetics Presuppositionalism 07:47 - John Calvin's Apologetic 12:27 - The Noetic Effects Of Sin In Apologetics 15:19 - Humanity Is Without Excuse For Unbelief 20:20 - Theistic Proofs Are Of Marginal Value 22:07 - Two Uses Of Theistic Arguments For Calvin 24:19 - Modern Roots Of The Reformed Apologetics Movement 24:54 - Thomas Reed & Common Sense Reformed Apologetics 33:30 - Charles Hodge & Presupposing Fact Finders 40:45 - Proper Role Of Reason For Hodge 41:56 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Strengths & Weakness Of Evidentialism We conclude our look at the second model of apologetics by looking at the strengths & weaknesses of evidentialism. And like good trinitarians, there are three of each. Some of the weaknesses, also, seem to add credibility to one of our upcoming methods. Hmmmm. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:39 - 3 Strengths Of The Evidentialist Model 01:59 - Strength 1 - Probability Is Unavoidable 04:40 - Strength 2 - Appeals To Inquiry Strengths 07:13 - Strength 3 - Emphasizes Facts 09:48 - 3 Weakness Of The Evidentialist Model 10:26 - Weakness 1 - Assumes The Theistic Worldview 14:24 - Weakness 2 - Uses Hidden Presuppositions 17:54 - Weakness 3 - Underestimates The Human Factor 20:32 - Minimizes The Noetic Effect Of Sin 22:17 - What's Next? 26:10 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

The Meta & The Apologetics Of Evidentialism Today we fly through the meta & the apologetics of evidentialism as it shares a number of qualities with classical apologetics we've discussed before. Here we tend to highlight the differences between the two or where the evidentialist tends to focus more of their arguments. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 02:04 - The Interpretation Of Facts 07:02 - Relationship Between Evidence & Theology 08:39 - Evidentialists & Philosophical Defense 11:49 - Evidentialists Using Science But Not Uncritically 13:04 - Evidentialists Using History Positively 15:20 - Evidentialists Use Rarely Use Experience Claims 16:56 - The 6 Questions All Evidentialists Must Answer 17:37 - Evidentialists On Why Believe The Bible 19:06 - The Evidenitalist Response To Pluralism 19:58 - The Evidentialists Talk About How To Know God Exists 22:31 - Evidentialists Answer To The Problem Of Evil 24:37 - Evidentialists Point To Miracles 26:20 - Evidentialists Point To Who Jesus Is 28:21 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Evil, Miracles, & Jesus As Evidence The final portion of the positive case for evidentialism is on evil, miracles, & Jesus as evidence. Evidentialists have developed 2 theodicies and also a 3 fold test for miracles. They've responded to Hume's critique of miracles. They've also developed the minimal facts approach to the Resurrection. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:09 - 2 Explanation To The Problem Of Evil For The Evidentialists 07:41 - Evidentialists On Miracles As Evidence For God 08:39 - The Beckwith 3 Fold Test For Miracles 11:38 - Against Hume's Critique Of Miracles 14:01 - Who Do Evidentialists Say That Jesus Is? 15:46 - The Minimal Facts Case For The Resurrection 26:13 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Scripture, Miracles, Prophecies, & Uniqueness Of Christianity Today, we look at four big evidences that evidentialists look at. Scripture, miracles, prophecies, & uniqueness of Christianity are big factors they point to for people to consider. These areas are just thrown at the wall like jello, evidentialists back up their claims with agreed upon criteria that they claim anyone should be able to look at and be convinced that there is evidence that demands a verdict. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:54 - Evidentialism Differs From Classical Apologetics 06:16 - Evidentialism Offers Scripture As A Source Of Reliable Evidence 08:59 - The 3 Fold Unbiased Test Of Reliable Scripture Testimony 09:35 - The Bibliographic Test 16:01 - The Internal Test 19:04 - The External Test 21:31 - 4 Tests For Fulfilled Prophecy As Reliable Scripture Testimony 24:50 - 3 Areas Of Scripture To Show Fulfilled Prophecies 29:24 - The Evidentialist Responses To Pluralism 33:28 - Christianity Has The Only Evidence For God 34:13 - Evidentialists Want To Bring Evidence To Unbelievers On Neutral Ground 35:30 - Evidentialists Using Scientific Approaches For Evidence 37:14 - Evidentialists Point To God Acting In History With His Church 39:08 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

6 Evidences Of Evidentialists Like what we did for the classical apologetic method, here are 6 evidences of evidentialists and their outlook. Not every category is where an evidentialist wants to hang his hat but a good number of them are similar to the classical method with a few that show why the distinction between the two types should be made and considered. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Recap Of 3 Aspects Of Evidentialists 02:17 - Objection - No Agreed Upon Level Of Sufficient Evidence 05:17 - Post-Modern Has No Truth Standard, Christians Have Revelation 09:58 - The Importance Of Theology To The Evidentialist 10:32 - The Bible Is A Historical Object 11:38 - The Bible Makes Evidentialist Arguments 14:24 - Absolute Faith Proof Is Only Through The Holy Spirit 15:31 - A Critical Use Of Philosophy 20:09 - The Embrace OF Science By Evidentialists 22:26 - The Embrace Of History By Evidentialists 27:54 - Experience Plays A Role But Per Person 31:09 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Faith Founded On Fact What distinguishes classical apologists from evidentialists is that the latter wants to show faith founded on facts. There are three main distinctions between the two camps that show just how different they are and where they're starting from - and going towards. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 01:59 - Using Facts To Show The Truth Of Christianity 03:26 - Definitions Of Evidentialism 07:33 - Induction - The Priority Of Facts Over Arguments 10:16 - Probability - Conclusions Are Probable Rather Than Certainty 14:44 - Certainty Comes Through Faith 16:29 - Neutrality - Standards Acceptable To Non-Christians 21:18 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos       Faith Founded On Fact By John Warwick Montgomery Kindle Paperback

Sci-Fi, Theology, & Indies 2023 Returning for the final set of book reviews 2023 continues the sci-fi, theology, & indies books that I liked, didn't like, and the really bad ones to stay away from. And I wanted to tell you about them. TIMELINE: 00:00 - Introduction 00:15 - 8 Great Smarts & How Am I Smart? by Kathy Koch 05:11 - There Will Be Time by Poul Anderson 09:18 - Reading With Purpose by Nancy Wilson 12:07 - Dan the Destructor (Barbarians Of The Storm - Book 1) by Rob Rimes 16:16 - The Shadow of the Torturer (The Book of the New Sun #1) by Gene Wolfe 20:51 - The Green Ember by S. D. Smith 26:26 - On Getting Out of Bed - The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble 29:22 - Apologetics - A Justification of Christian Belief by John M. Frame 32:14 - Slewfoot by Brom 35:29 - Earth Abides by George R. Stewart 28:46 - We Are Legion (We Are Bob - Bobiverse #1) by Dennis E. Taylor 41:12 - The Long Moonlight by RazörFist 43:48 - A Change Of Plans by Dennis E. Taylor 44:23 - Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund 46:33 - For We Are Many (Bobiverse #2) by Dennis E. Taylor 48:21 - The Lord Bless You and Keep You - The Promise of the Gospel in the Aaronic Blessing by Michael Glodo 50:20 - Robopocalypse by Daniel H. Wilson 54:31 - Signs and Secrets of the Messiah - A Fresh Look at the Miracles of Jesus by Jason Sobel 56:17 - Death Date by B. Y. Simpson 1:00:16 - Hydra's Wake by Daniel Jones 01:01:31 - Roadkill by Dennis E. Taylor 01:05:13 - The Fear of Moncroix by Bryan Asher 01:06:55 - Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield 01:09:55 - The Hand of God by Yuval Kordov 01:12:07 - A Knight's Quest For The Holy Grail by C. S. Johnson 01:12:56 - Faraway and Forever by Nancy Joie Wilkie 01:16:45 - The Mark of A Christian by Francis Shaeffer 01:19:07 - A Meeting With Medusa by Arthur C. Clarke 01:20:59 - Art And The Bible by Francis Shaeffer 01:24:08 - Personal Finance for Teens Simplified by J. Lykins 01:25:12 - Periapsis Christmas by Katie Roome 01:28:59 - Periapsis Christmas 2 by Katie Roome 01:32:45 - Conclusion LINKS: Links to the books and the text reviews will be updated and hyperlinked above as the individual books.

Theology, Sci-Fi, & Indies 2023 Here are the book reviews 2023 that I (Patrick) read and reviewed. Running the whole genre gauntlet for theology, sci-fi, & indies; 2023 was a good reading year. Here are my thoughts. Completely understandable if you skip this episode and the next one. Why 19 books in this episode? Because I was called in from playing for dinner and needed to wash up. TIMELINE: 00:00 - Introduction 02:37 - The Revenant And The Tomb by Herman P. Hunter 06:03 - The Star Dwellers by James Blish 11:55 - Penance by Paula Richey 16:18 - The Biggest Story by Kevin DeYoung 19:56 - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien 25:49 - The White Mountains (The Tripods #1) by John Christopher 30:53 - The Lost Art Of Dying by L.S. Dugdale 36:13 - The Thing In The Attic by James Blish 37:35 - The City Of Gold And Lead (The Tripods #2) by John Christopher 40:54 - Did Jesus Rise From The Dead? by William Lane Craig 41:51 - Did The Resurrection Happen...Really? by Josh McDowell & Dave Sterrett 42:38 - Classical Me, Classical Thee by Rebekah Merkle 44:08 - The Threshold - Leading In The Age Of AI by Nick Chatrath 46:04 - Biblical Theology - A Canonical, Thematic, & Ethical Approach by Andreas Kostenberger & Gregory Goswell 48:13 - Social Conservatism For The Common Good by Andrew T. Walker 52:43 - The Wizard's Stone by Herman P. Hunter 56:53 - Ilium by Dan Simmons 58:49 - The Garden, The Curtain, And The Cross by Carl Laferton 01:00:25 - Personality & Worldview by J. H. Bavinck 01:03:08 - Continued Next Week LINKS: Links to the books and the text reviews will be updated and hyperlinked above as the individual books.

Scott Christensen Interview Redux In this redux episode, we talked with Scott Christensen and interviewed him about the book we spent almost a year on, What About Evil? This book does an excellent job of laying out the issue, giving the definitions, the different answers, the issues with other theories, and the answer Christensen has is found on page 8 & 9! This was an amazing book and has been big impact on me (Patrick) in my walk since reading it. It was good to talk to Scott again. TIMELINE: 00:00 - Introduction 01:33 - A Quick Overview Of What About Evil 03:17 - What Is A Theodicy? 06:52 - Issues With The Free Will Defense 11:53 - Free Will Of Man Limits God 13:59 - The Trinity Speaks Of Love Without Force Or Libertarian Free Will 16:27 - Being Fair With The Other Side's Arguments 20:05 - Scriptural Case Against Libertarian Free Will 24:36 - God's Foreknowledge Issue If Libertarian Free Will Is True 28:11 - The Best Of All Possible Worlds Issue 33:14 - The Greater-Glory Theodicy 36:37 - God As The Meta-Storyteller 46:47 - The Purpose For God Allowing Evil 523:20 - Why Did Evil Happen To Me? 01:04:55 - Why Did Evil Happen To Jesus? 01:06:35 - A Dangerous Book & Maybe More 01:10:31 - Conclusion LINKS: 01:00 - Ep. 17 - Scott Christensen Interview - What About Free Will? 01:55 - A Quick Review Of "What About Evil?" By Scott Christensen 47:06 - Anarchist Bible Study Guest Appearance 59:29 - Scott Christensen's Sermon on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 All Our Episodes on What About Evil Website Link YouTube Link All Our Short Clips on What About Evil Website Link YouTube Link SCOTT CHRISTENSEN LINKS: Twitter Facebook Books mentioned in this episode: What about Evil? A Defense of God's Sovereign Glory by Scott Christensen Kindle Hardcover Logos Link ChristianBook Link           What About Free Will? Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty by Scott Christensen Kindle - https://amzn.to/37SNE6i Paperback - https://amzn.to/37ZLyl7 Originals were episode 180 & episode 181 from June 2020.

Lydia McGrew Interview Redux In this redux episode, we talked with Lydia McGrew (@LydiaMcGrewChannel) and interviewed her about two of her books. One dealt with proof of the Gospel accounts using undesigned coincidences and the other about how Gospels are actually historical accounts and not literary devices that many in "the academy" are going towards. In our book Faith Has Its Reasons we talked about Lydia McGrew and William Paley that she was inspired to do research into his work. Here are some outcomes of the evidentialist method of apologetics. BOOKS MENTIONED Hidden in Plain View Kindle Paperback The Mirror or the Mask Kindle Paperback The Eye of the Beholder Kindle Paperback Testimonies to the Truth Paperback Originals were episode 77 & episode 78 from June 2020.

Showing Christianity Is Probably True In more recent times, there have been continued advancements by evidentialists in showing Christianity is probably true. People like Clark Pinnock, John Warwick Montgomery, and Richard Swinburne have continued the traditions of the evidentialists by engaging in apologetics who emphasize fact. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 00:15 - Clark H. Pinnock - History Of The Bible & The Resurrection 04:20 - John Warwick Montgomery - Evidentialist Apologetics As Evangelism 06:02 - Montgomery's 4 Fold Test Of Prejury Of The Biblical Text 09:46 - The New Testament Witnesses Pass The Prejury Test 12:31 - Montgomery's Hinge Argument - Jesus' Missing Body 17:30 - Jesus' Missing Body Also Establishes The Existence Of God 19:21 - Richard Swinburne - God Is The Best Explanation 25:22 - Summary 28:14 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos       Set Forth Your Case By Clark H. Pinnock Paperback         Is There A God? By Richard Swinburne Paperback

The Rise Of The Evidentialists Our next apologetic method was both a step away from classical apologetics and a response to deism. During the modern period, the rise of the evidentialists came forth. Led by men like Joseph Butler and William Paley, they used apologetics who empasize facts and the use of empiricism. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 03:29 - The Evidentialist Approach Approaches 06:58 - A Response To Deism 09:52 - Joseph Butler's Analogy Of Religion 10:43 - Willam Paley's Natural Theology 12:19 - Theologians Using Lockean Empiricism 14:49 - Sherlock Taking The Resurrection To Trial 16:26 - Simon Greenleaf's Eyewitnesses 17:05 - Joseph Butler's Radically Shifting Apologetics 21:54 - 4 Points About Butler's Method 25:04 - Conclusion LINKS: 12:12 - Lydia McGrew Interview BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos       Analogy of Religion By Joseph Butler Kindle Paperback Logos       Natural Theology By William Paley Kindle Paperback  Logos       The Trial Of The Witnesses Of The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ By Thomas Sherlock Kindle Paperback         The Testimony Of The Evangelists By Simon Greenleaf Kindle Paperback Logos