Articles
Book Review: Justification Without Awareness
I recently finished Michael Bergmann’s Justification Without Awareness. It was very dense and I will certainly have to read it again since some discussions were above my current level of understanding. But I’ll offer some thoughts on the parts that I did understand. The topic is epistemic justification. The book is divided into two parts. … Continue reading Book Review: Justification Without Awareness
Marginal Credibility as a Scholar
Objection: Tim, in your paper, Bignon’s Review of Mere Molinism: A Rejoinder, you wrote the following: “I wrote a 300-page book surveying biblical data, historical theology, metaphysics, epistemology, perfect being theology, and apologetics. I only had one chapter to devote to a philosophical defense of libertarian freedom. Thus, I did not have the time or … Continue reading Marginal Credibility as a Scholar
Bignon’s Review of Mere Molinism: A Rejoinder
My recently published book, Human Freedom, Divine Knowledge, and Mere Molinism, has, for the most part, received positive reviews. But I had anticipated a negative response from one particular philosopher, Guillaume Bignon, a Calvinist, whom I critiqued in the book. Bignon provided a 50-page “extremely negative assessment” criticizing almost everything in the book — from my … Continue reading Bignon’s Review of Mere Molinism: A Rejoinder
Apologetics and Imagination
Whenever I’m asked what I’m reading, my answer is always the same: TLC on repeat. At any given time, I will be reading something by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, or G.K. Chesterton. Or, I’m reading something about them or their works. Recently, I completed The Good News of the Return of the King: The Gospel … Continue reading Apologetics and Imagination
Debating Christian Religious Epistemology: A Book Review
The book, Debating Christian Religious Epistemology, was a brilliant idea. It is educational, cordial, up-to-date with current scholarship, and quite enjoyable. For my friends (especially my Christian friends) who often ask me for good introductions to epistemology, this is among the best at least with respect to religious epistemology. The book begins with a helpful … Continue reading Debating Christian Religious Epistemology: A Book Review
Jesus: Santa Claus for Adults?
It’s common for atheists to be a “Grinch” over the Holidays and exclaim that Jesus is just a “Santa Claus for adults!” When I hear that claim, I immediately respond with a question: “What do you mean by that?” If one means that children often believe in fictional fairy tales and adults believe in fact-based evidence, … Continue reading Jesus: Santa Claus for Adults?
Miracles, the Historical Method, and a Merry Christmas
This year, I have the privilege of studying abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland. While Scotland is now considered one of the more secular places on earth, it has a rich history of Christianity dating back to perhaps the early third century. So naturally, I made sure to enroll in Edinburgh University’s History of Christianity as a … Continue reading Miracles, the Historical Method, and a Merry Christmas
An Evidentialist Review of Jason Lisle’s The Ultimate Proof of Creation
A number of years ago, Christian astrophysicist and young earth creationist Dr. Jason Lisle wrote a book entitled The Ultimate Proof of Creation (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2009). The book is a creative introduction to presuppositional apologetics (hereafter PA) but from the perspective of the debate over origins. The aim of the book is … Continue reading An Evidentialist Review of Jason Lisle’s The Ultimate Proof of Creation
Reaching Reliable Beliefs
Question: Dr. Stratton, in your book you point out that if our thoughts and beliefs are causally determined by physics and chemistry, then they are not reliable. I agree since physics and chemistry are not intentionally aimed at true beliefs. However, related to that, you also say that even if God casually determines all of … Continue reading Reaching Reliable Beliefs
The Avengers and the Importance of Family
The Marvel movies are so good because they all have a common theme, family. The movies raise questions about family and answers those same questions, not merely with words, but with demonstrations and examples. Movies visually capture what we feel. Their power resides in the way that they bypass our thoughts and lay bare the … Continue reading The Avengers and the Importance of Family
The FreeThinking Theist VS a Free Will Skeptic
I recently made a video for the FreeThinking Ministries YouTube channel entitled Divine Determinism and the GOD OF MISCHIEF. In this video I point out that if naturalistic determinism is true, then all human thoughts and beliefs are causally determined by the forces of nature, the initial conditions of the big bang, past events, perhaps … Continue reading The FreeThinking Theist VS a Free Will Skeptic
The Parable of the MMA Fighter and His Neighbor
A parable, according to Merriam Webster, is “a short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle.” Jesus was famous for teaching morality through the use of these tools. With that in mind, consider a thought experiment, a modern-day “parable,” if you will: A trained MMA fighter notices a suspected rapist/murderer was … Continue reading The Parable of the MMA Fighter and His Neighbor
Stop Praying, Read Your Bible, and VOTE!
Don’t merely pray about voting — read your Bible! I’ve talked to a few Christians who are still undecided as to how they will vote in the 2020 election. They have expressed to me that they need to spend “more time in prayer.” While I encourage “praying without ceasing” (1 Thes 5:17), if one merely … Continue reading Stop Praying, Read Your Bible, and VOTE!
A Snowflake Wandering Into a Cloward-Piven Inferno
“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.” — Lord Of The Rings For the first time in my life, I’m concerned that our freedom to share The Good News with the lost is being significantly damaged by people calling … Continue reading A Snowflake Wandering Into a Cloward-Piven Inferno
The Imperfect Vote
I have serious concerns about Andy Crouch’s article in Christianity Today from several years ago entitled Speak Truth to Trump excoriating Trump as though he was the anti-christ, not the least of which is the fallacy that all government officials must by their very nature be guilty of idolatry. Since Crouch is bringing this point … Continue reading The Imperfect Vote
John Piper’s Flawed View of God and Politics
John Piper was once my “theological hero.” In fact, if it were not for his book, Don’t Waste Your Life, I might not be married today. Indeed, it was after reading the chapter “Risk Is Right,” that I drummed up the courage to ask a beautiful girl — way outta my league — out on … Continue reading John Piper’s Flawed View of God and Politics