A Response to the Grounding Objection: Adams, Zambrano, and Cowen—the Contemporary Debate on Molinism

Abstract: The grounding objection (GO) looms large as the principal objection against Molinism. Among the two main types of GOs lie the truthmaker-style GO that seeks to repudiate the Molinist claim of the truths of counterfactuals of creaturely freedom (CCF) by virtue of the lack of metaphysical groundings of those CCFs. As will be demonstrated … Continue reading A Response to the Grounding Objection: Adams, Zambrano, and Cowen—the Contemporary Debate on Molinism

Concerning the Prophet Muhammad’s View of the Gospels from (an Interpretation of) the Earliest Arabic Sources

In this writing we will be quoting from the Qur’an and Sahih-Bukhari, the most trusted collection of Muhammad’s (pbuh)[1] doings and sayings (known as hadith) in existence today. These are primary source materials from the very earliest moments in Islamic history. However, we recognize that the original, and authoritative, Qur’an and hadith, were written in … Continue reading Concerning the Prophet Muhammad’s View of the Gospels from (an Interpretation of) the Earliest Arabic Sources

Paul, the Apostle: Eyewitness or Epileptic?

Surprise! Welcome to an article founded on a false dilemma! It’s obvious that even if Saul of Tarsus (Paul hereafter) just so happened to be an epileptic, he could also have been an eye-witness, right? There is no logical malady between being both an eyewitness and an epileptic. It’s a false dilemma. However, this is the argument leveled against the veracity … Continue reading Paul, the Apostle: Eyewitness or Epileptic?

Bradley Bowen on the Improbability of the Resurrection

Bradley Bowen has recently argued that it is highly improbable that God raised Jesus from the dead (See Why I Reject the Resurrection – Part 3: Improbability of the Resurrection). According to Bowen, the improbability of the resurrection is one of the reasons why he rejects the resurrection. Let H denote the hypothesis that God raised Jesus … Continue reading Bradley Bowen on the Improbability of the Resurrection

Freethinking Needs the PAP

The ability to do otherwise is often referred to as the principle of alternative possibilities (PAP). Although it is often argued that the ability to do otherwise is not necessary for libertarian free will (LFW) to obtain, most affirm that the PAP is sufficient for LFW. That is to say, if the PAP is true, … Continue reading Freethinking Needs the PAP

Molinism and Creaturely Essences: A Response to James White (Part 2)

Summary: Although the apologist James White has argued against Molinism by accusing it of denigrating the sovereignty of God, failing to countenance the card-dealer objection, and being unbiblical, this essay will demonstrate that White’s arguments seem to be poorly elaborated and are invalid. Moreover, White fails to provide any meaningful alternative that makes sense of … Continue reading Molinism and Creaturely Essences: A Response to James White (Part 2)

Molina’s 4 Proofs for Middle Knowledge

Middle knowledge is a concept that describes how God sovereignly operates in time with free agents. These days, many individuals attempt to claim what innovative theologians say about the theological concepts they espouse with little interaction with the actual theologian. I think it is imperative that individuals engage with primary sources as much as it … Continue reading Molina’s 4 Proofs for Middle Knowledge

Is God’s Knowledge Like a Box of Chocolates?

Question: Dear Tim, I just finished reading your “Dangerous Grounds” article and I could use a little clarification. Can you please further explain why it is that if God does not possess knowledge of creaturely freedom logically prior to his creative decree, then the only two options we are left with are open theism or “exhaustive … Continue reading Is God’s Knowledge Like a Box of Chocolates?

Was Quine Naturalizing Epistemology?

Abstract: Naturalized Epistemology is usually seen as Quine’s attempt to move epistemology away from philosophy to science. Some ill-advised Naturalists make use of Quine’s response to Carnap to justify the “end of Philosophy” (or at least Epistemology), and to affirm the primacy of Naturalistic Scientism over other disciplines. Nevertheless, I suggest that such readings of … Continue reading Was Quine Naturalizing Epistemology?

Excusing Sinners, Blaming God, Compatibilism, & the Consequence Argument

I recently had the pleasure of meeting the former atheist and French Calvinistic philosopher named, Guillaume Bignon (Click here to read his amazing story). I attended the EPS/ETS conference in Rhode Island and was invited to lunch with a few philosophers, theologians, and apologists. I happened to sit right next to Bignon as I was sipping … Continue reading Excusing Sinners, Blaming God, Compatibilism, & the Consequence Argument