Child reading Bible

Bedtime Theology

When my son William was three years old, he had a bedtime ritual. My wife and I tucked him in, we said our prayers, and then I had to lay next to him, holding his hand until he fell asleep. It was sweet and I loved that my boy enjoyed my company, but some nights … Continue reading Bedtime Theology

What Professor Asma Doesn’t Give Us About What Religion Gives Us

Abstract: In this paper, I critique Professor Asma’s article What Religion Gives Us (That Science Can’t). I raise a three-fold objection to his claim that religion is irrational, followed by three related points of assessment. In short, I argue that his claim that religion is irrational is unwarranted. Introduction In What Religion Gives Us (That Science … Continue reading What Professor Asma Doesn’t Give Us About What Religion Gives Us

Can God Create a Morally Perfect Creature?

Question Dear Tim, I am in a discussion with a skeptic and it has basically come down to “why couldn’t God create a free moral creature with a morally perfect nature?” Basically if God can have free will and not do evil what limits Him from creating humans who do as well? My contention was … Continue reading Can God Create a Morally Perfect Creature?

Human Freedom & the Self-Imposed Limits of God

One of the primary objections raised against Molinism is based on a misunderstanding of what it entails. The typical objection is that Molinism somehow entails that God is “dependent upon” or “limited” by the libertarian freedom of man.[1] This is simply not a view that a Molinist must affirm, and thus a bad (irrational) reason … Continue reading Human Freedom & the Self-Imposed Limits of God

The One Minute Apologist & Mere Molinism

Bobby Conway is a pastor, a PhD philosopher, and the founder/host of an online ministry known as The One-Minute Apologist. His short, clear, and concise YouTube videos have been a great resource over the past several years as they always provide quick and credible answers to many of the “big questions” that have kept me awake at … Continue reading The One Minute Apologist & Mere Molinism

Thinking Correctly About “Separation of Church & State”: A Hermeneutical Approach

Is “separation of church and state” in any U.S. founding documents? This is a popular claim among many in the U.S., but the answer is an emphatic “no!” The phrase “wall of separation between church and state” is not in any U.S. founding documents, but is found in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the … Continue reading Thinking Correctly About “Separation of Church & State”: A Hermeneutical Approach

“Don’t Mix Politics & Religion!”

Complaint: Dear Tim, I love you man but I don’t want my politics and my religion mixed. I look up to you for religious context and commentary because you are an expert in the field. Not politics. That’s just your opinions and I can get that from every Tom, Dick and Harry… but not Tim. … Continue reading “Don’t Mix Politics & Religion!”

Crowd of NPCs

We’re All NPCs

It has become trendy in some circles to refer to people with certain political views as NPCs. In video game lingo, an NPC is a “nonplayable character,” a character that is not controlled by any player. They can be extremely simple or intricate and complex, but they are still mindless characters who solely follow their … Continue reading We’re All NPCs

Deliberation Requires Liberation

The Freethinking Argument Against Naturalism is a staple at FreeThinking Ministries and a great way to show naturalists that we have good reason to think there is more to reality than just the stuff scientists can test and discover. The original 8-step argument is also a good conversation starter about free will. Several versions of … Continue reading Deliberation Requires Liberation

Ben Shapiro vs Rabbis on The Hebrew Messiah

If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that conservative author, attorney and commentator Ben Shapiro has rocketed to societal prominence recently. With his impressive debating skills, quick wit, and top-notch writing, the self-proclaimed “Orthodox Jewish” Shapiro’s defense of Constitutional conservatism and Judeo-Christian values have been a much-needed breath of fresh air … Continue reading Ben Shapiro vs Rabbis on The Hebrew Messiah

Scientism and Secularism

Book Review: Scientism and Secularism by J. P. Moreland

J. P. Moreland is one of the most prominent Christian thinkers of our time and I’ve been greatly impacted by his works, such as Love Your God With All Your Mind and Kingdom Triangle. In his latest popular-level work, Scientism and Secularism (Crossway, 2018), Moreland addresses one of the most dangerous ideologies facing our culture … Continue reading Book Review: Scientism and Secularism by J. P. Moreland

Ford, Kavanaugh, & Evidence: A Woman’s Claims vs Lady Justice

Question Dear Tim, My heart hurts with this whole Ford vs Kavanaugh deal. Something I can’t wrap my mind around is how 99% of people are 100% sure they know what happened. It’s a scary thing for me to consider either possibility and the precedent each sets: 1) an innocent man’s life/family/career is destroyed because of … Continue reading Ford, Kavanaugh, & Evidence: A Woman’s Claims vs Lady Justice

Marvel Comics, Star Wars, & the DCU: The Multiverse vs Compatibilism

It is amazing how movies and comics often shed light on philosophical and theological issues. One specific topic regularly addressed in pop culture is known as the “free will debate.” Some philosophers and theologians affirm a view called determinism and state that we never have genuine freedom (an ability) to choose between a range of … Continue reading Marvel Comics, Star Wars, & the DCU: The Multiverse vs Compatibilism

Limited Libertarian Freedom & Traditional Compatibilism: What’s the Difference?

Question Dear Tim, I’m curious. How would you differentiate your limited libertarian freedom that people are free but choose in line with their nature from historic Compatiblism that holds essentially the same thing? – Tyler Tim’s Response Thank you for question, Tyler. You are correct in that I affirm that our natures do determine things … Continue reading Limited Libertarian Freedom & Traditional Compatibilism: What’s the Difference?

Discussion

“How Would You Respond to This?”

Once people discover that you’re a Christian thinker, they often start coming to you with all of the objections they hear: “The Bible is hopelessly corrupt.” “Jesus never existed.” “Science disproves God.” Your friends will offer you the objections and ask, “How would you respond to this?” And here is what I always say: “I … Continue reading “How Would You Respond to This?”

Grounds to Object to the Grounding Objection

Perhaps the most common objection to Molinism is the so called Grounding Objection. Molinism, you may recall, asserts that God’s knowledge of the counterfactuals of creaturely freedom (CCFs) is explanatory prior to God’s creative decree. A CCF is a counterfactual that has the form: ‘If person P were in circumstances C, P would freely execute … Continue reading Grounds to Object to the Grounding Objection

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