Articles
Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Christian Nationalism?
Whenever a well known atheist departs from his or her disciplined stance against the existence of God to an openness to Him cultural waves are made. Larger waves are made if said person claims to have converted to Christianity. In fact, the waves are so large that very few prominent atheists have ever made the … Continue reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Christian Nationalism?
Responding to Ben Shapiro and Alex O’Connor
Recently, on an episode of The Big Conversation from Premier Unbelievable?, the well-known Daily Wire host and political thinker extraordinaire Ben Shapiro debated against Oxford graduate of philosophy and theology, Alex O’Connor. The resolution of the debate was the question: “Is religion good or bad for society?” Ben Shapiro is a monotheist who believes that … Continue reading Responding to Ben Shapiro and Alex O’Connor
Panpsychism: Conscious Rocks and Socks
I recently read Galileo’s Error: Foundation for a New Science of Consciousness by Philip Goff. I actually listened to it on Audible over the course of four days (mostly while walking my dog or working out). After listening to the first few chapters I decided to purchase the hard copy in order to read it … Continue reading Panpsychism: Conscious Rocks and Socks
What Is Christian Nationalism?
Clarifying Terms If you’ve paid attention to the religious discussions about politics, then you have seen two developments. One of the developments is a grassroots solidifying of good ole’ conservatism—what some will call patriotism or nationalism. Recent history shows a close relationship between the emboldening of good ole’ conservatism and Trump’s administration—something that depending on … Continue reading What Is Christian Nationalism?
Why Are We Obligated to Follow God’s Commands?
“Why are we obligated to follow God’s commands?” To respond by saying, “we are obligated to follow God’s commands because God has commanded that we ought to follow His commands” is circular and does not work. It seems to me that the best way to answer this question is by noting that God’s commands correspond … Continue reading Why Are We Obligated to Follow God’s Commands?
Libertarian Free-Thinking and the Sapolsky Paradox
“I’ve decided that Sapolsky embodies a paradox: when you decide free will does not exist because you have weighed arguments for and against it, you prove free will exists.” – John Horgan (the science writer) Horgan is exactly right. These words are in response to neurobiologist Robert Sapolsky, who argues against free will in his … Continue reading Libertarian Free-Thinking and the Sapolsky Paradox
The Curious Case of Andy Stanley
The year was 2006 and I was in my first preaching class in college. I attended Grace University, a small undergraduate Christian school on Omaha, Nebraska. My first class on preaching was taught using a book titled Communicating for a Change: 7 Keys to Irresistible Communication by Andy Stanley. In the book Andy makes a … Continue reading The Curious Case of Andy Stanley
Is This the End in Israel?
Evil was on full display on your screens, X feed, Facebook and Instagram. We could either look away and pretend it does not exist or we could stare it in the face and grieve. In the past week we have been inundated with harrowing news and details concerning the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on … Continue reading Is This the End in Israel?
Because of Free Will
I wrote a poem about free will. Now, the odd thing about it, is that if you read it, you were determined to read it; and if you don’t, you were determined not to. Of course, free will exists, and those who claim otherwise are simply pulling our legs for the fun of it; but … Continue reading Because of Free Will
Objective Morality VS David Pallmann
Challenge For those who like the moral argument, here are my five challenges (framed as questions) for you. 1. Why think that moral realism is true? 2. Why think that moral facts/obligations need an explanation? 3. Why think that God would be able to explain the existence of moral facts/obligations? 4. What about non-theistic accounts … Continue reading Objective Morality VS David Pallmann
Post-Christianity… What’s That?
There has been a new term floating around the Evangelisphere (if that’s a word, if it’s not, let’s coin it) in the last few years: “post-Christian.” FreeThinking Ministries recently changed some verbiage on the website to indicate that the mission of the ministry is to equip the church to engage with the post-Christian culture. Some … Continue reading Post-Christianity… What’s That?
Reason and the Necessity of Libertarian Freedom: A Response to David Pallmann
Challenge Here’s a challenge for those who think that libertarian free will is necessary for rationality and/or knowledge (I am defining rationality as believing some proposition justifiably and I am defining knowledge as justified true belief). Imagine two worlds: world A and world B. In both worlds, John believes the same proposition on the basis … Continue reading Reason and the Necessity of Libertarian Freedom: A Response to David Pallmann
What Makes a Deity Deceptive?
The following is a recent conversation I had with a Calvinist. I enjoyed it because it was not emotionally charged even though he was asking questions in an effort to refute my arguments against Calvinistic determinism. His questions were thoughtful and allowed for clarification from which all can benefit. Please enjoy the following exchange (for … Continue reading What Makes a Deity Deceptive?
Epistemic Meltdown
Objection Dear Dr. Stratton, I saw the video An Epistemological Case Against Calvinism right when it came out. And I was surprised that the whole video you assumed that a determinist has to argue for general reliability. I can simply reject this premise and argue that God is absolutely reliable. Seems to me that you have … Continue reading Epistemic Meltdown
Sound of Freedom: The Ballard of Truth
This article has been updated with notes on recent events that lend further credence its thesis. Edits are marked within the article. Recently, I wrote a movie review about Sound of Freedom (See Here: Sound of Freedom). The review received praise and push back. Which I welcomed. The problem, as far as I can tell, … Continue reading Sound of Freedom: The Ballard of Truth
What If Aliens Exist?
Question: Dear Dr. Tim, I’m interested to know if you have any biblical thought on the alien thing?!? Do you think there might have been sightings, contact, etc.? I was wondering if there is anything biblical in regards to that? With the recent government hearings on this and the conspiracy theories going around for some … Continue reading What If Aliens Exist?