“The Ring of Truth”

What religion or worldview possesses the “Ring of Truth?” It is definitely not Islam or atheism! To be sure, this is not a deductive argument like the Kalam, Freethinking, or Ontological Arguments. I am simply encouraging readers to pay attention to their intuition. Although we cannot always trust our intuition, I contend that it is … Continue reading “The Ring of Truth”

The Failure of Frankfurt?

Scientists are valuable friends. As a philosophically inclined theologian I appreciate my colleagues who have immediate access to important scientific data in physics, chemistry, biology, and more. Mad scientists, on the other hand, I typically try to avoid! Be that as it may, these mad scientists, while scary, are often quite helpful when conducting important thought … Continue reading The Failure of Frankfurt?

An Unjustified Punt to Mystery

C. Michael Patton, in a recent blog, claimed to do some “math” and concluded that there are five great mysteries in Christian theology. While I am fine with an occasional appeal to mystery regarding a few topics, Christians often punt to mystery far too quickly. If we “punt to mystery” too quickly, we can sometimes … Continue reading An Unjustified Punt to Mystery

Avengers: Endgame, Middle Knowledge, & the Destruction of the Problem of Evil

Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!! Spoiler Alert!!! Seriously, if you have not yet seen the movie Avengers: Endgame, stop reading this and go to the movie theater and buy a ticket! Then come back and read this article. Consider yourself warned! One year ago, immediately after watching Avengers: Infinity War on opening night, I came home … Continue reading Avengers: Endgame, Middle Knowledge, & the Destruction of the Problem of Evil

A “God Problem” in The New York Times

Recently, Peter Atterton, a professor of philosophy at San Diego State University, published an article in The New York Times entitled “A God Problem: Perfect. All-powerful. All-knowing. The idea of the deity most Westerners accept is actually not coherent.” Given the title, I was excited to read what this philosopher was sharing with the masses since … Continue reading A “God Problem” in The New York Times

A Defense of Perfect Being Theology: Middle Knowledge (Scientia Media) Approach to Natural Theology

By Limanto, John A. and Stratton, Timothy A. Originally presented at the SW Evangelical Philosophical Society (March, 2019) Abstract: Given the works of philosophers such as Plantinga,[1] Wierenga,[2] Leftow,[3] and Nagasawa,[4] the perfect being (PBT) concept of theism has received renewed attention within the philosophical-theological literature. Despite this ambitious revival, Nagasawa admits that the argument … Continue reading A Defense of Perfect Being Theology: Middle Knowledge (Scientia Media) Approach to Natural Theology

Professors, Psychotherapy, & the Emotional Crutch of Determinism

I have had the privilege and honor to have studied under many brilliant professors over the past several years. This includes learning from professors in an official capacity in the classroom at Biola University, or learning in an unofficial capacity from many more professors (locally and from around the world) who have befriended me and … Continue reading Professors, Psychotherapy, & the Emotional Crutch of Determinism

What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus?

Question Dear Tim, I posted this quote as my status on Facebook last week by Mark Driscoll, “Not only did Jesus die, He came back from death to give us confidence that He alone can be trusted upon death. Therefore, the worst thing is not to die, but rather to die without knowing Jesus.” With … Continue reading What About Those Who Have Never Heard About Jesus?

3 Circles & ALL the Problems of Evil

Why would God allow moral evil? For example, why would God allow Hitler to torture and murder millions of Jews in the horrors of Nazi concentration camps? Why would God allow natural evil? For example, why would God allow hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis that kill and cause so much suffering? Why would God allow what … Continue reading 3 Circles & ALL the Problems of Evil

Can God Create a Morally Perfect Creature? (Part Two)

Question: Got a question for you guys after reading a recent article from Tim Stratton. It’s titled Can God Create a Morally Perfect Creature. Here goes… If God is free in the libertarian sense, and he cannot sin, why could he not create us to be free and yet unable to sin as well? I’m asking because the … Continue reading Can God Create a Morally Perfect Creature? (Part Two)

Maximal Greatness & Middle Knowledge

Why think that Mere Molinism is true? If this view corresponds to reality, then two other propositions must also be true: (i) Logically prior to God’s decision to create the world, God knew everything that would happen in any possible scenario He could create (entails God’s middle knowledge). (ii) As beings created in God’s image, humans, like God, possess the categorical … Continue reading Maximal Greatness & Middle Knowledge

A Three-Punch Combo for Freedom

Question Dear Tim, I recently watched a short interview where you were asked for the “main indicator” of libertarian free will. You mentioned that you had several reasons to think humans possess this kind of freedom but you only elaborated on one of them. Can you please describe exactly what libertarian freedom is, provide more reasons … Continue reading A Three-Punch Combo for Freedom

Christians: Persons of Faith or Knowledge?

We expect people in positions of authority to have training and experience in their respective fields. For example, I want my pilot to have knowledge of the helicopter in which I am a passenger, just as I want my surgeon to be proficient, and to know what he/she is doing before I go “under the knife!” Guessing, flipping a coin, … Continue reading Christians: Persons of Faith or Knowledge?

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

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