Articles
Book Review: A Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle
As a Christian father with young children, I’m always looking for resources to help me prepare my little ones for a post-Christian culture. Our society is filled with unbiblical – and even anti-Christian – ideas, and the thought of raising a child in such an environment is very daunting. That’s why I am thankful for … Continue reading Book Review: A Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle
Ephesians 1:4: How Calvinistic Exegesis is Logically Impossible
In another article found on FreeThinkingMinistries.com, Tim Stratton has argued why “Calvinism is Impossible.” By “impossible” Stratton means logically impossible when held alongside other essential Christian doctrines. I would like to continue in that line of thought and examine a common Calvinistic proof text. Consider Ephesians 1:4 (KJV): According as he hath chosen us in him before … Continue reading Ephesians 1:4: How Calvinistic Exegesis is Logically Impossible
Lebronogetics: Who is the GOAT?
Over the last few years a storm has been brewing. This storm that rumbles throughout public forums of debate, social media, gymnasiums, church parking lots, school lunchrooms, and barber shops across the globe comes in the form of a question. One question has captivated the hearts and minds of the people—Who is the Greatest of … Continue reading Lebronogetics: Who is the GOAT?
The Stratton Myth
How well do you know Tim Stratton, founder and president of FreeThinking Ministries? Let me list some facts about Tim: Christian apologist who blogs at FreeThinking Ministries Enrolled in the Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics program at Biola University from 2012 – 2014 Graduated with Highest Honors on December 19, 2014 Heavily influenced by … Continue reading The Stratton Myth
Molinism Is Biblical
Question Dear Tim, I’ve really enjoyed reading your articles on Molinism. I think Molinism is a great theological philosophy, but it seems to be nothing but a philosophy. I don’t see how Molinism could be called a biblical view at all; where are the scriptures supporting Molinism? I simply don’t see any. Because Calvinism seems to own the … Continue reading Molinism Is Biblical
The Price of Denying Free Will
Every time I turn around I find someone else denying that humans have free will. From scientists to philosophers to theologians, it’s the cool new trend. We aren’t actually making free choices. We have been programmed either by God or our DNA to act in a certain way and have no choice but to follow … Continue reading The Price of Denying Free Will
Neil deGrasse Tyson: Stick to Your Day Job
Neil deGrasse Tyson is a world renowned astrophysicist and, in my opinion, the leading science popularizer in the world today. I greatly respect Tyson as a scientist, but he is not a good philosopher and a much worse theologian! In fact, Tyson’s philosophy is that philosophy is “useless” and that it “can really mess you up.” Be … Continue reading Neil deGrasse Tyson: Stick to Your Day Job
USA’s Founders Had Christianity in Mind (Part V: Adams)
Continuing with the final subject in my series on the most influential of America’s founders (see Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Madison), consider some quotes from John Adams either from our founding period (1776-1789) or referring back to it. Here is a letter from Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 28 June, 1813: The general principles on which the fathers … Continue reading USA’s Founders Had Christianity in Mind (Part V: Adams)
USA’s Founders Had Christianity in Mind (Part IV: Madison)
James Madison, like several other founding fathers, wrote some things that didn’t sound very Christian later in his life, but during the founding was solidly Christian. As any good judge will tell you, the meaning of civil agreements like constitutions depends on what the writers intended at the time they wrote it; not on what … Continue reading USA’s Founders Had Christianity in Mind (Part IV: Madison)
God’s Love & the Euthyphro Dilemma
Question Dear Tim, In your article The Omnibenevolence of God you pointed out that on the Islamic view, Allah is quite similar to some Calvinistic views of God. Regarding this view, you said: “God is not all-loving, and whatever Allah does is simply called “good,” even if it is really hateful.” I agree with you, but … Continue reading God’s Love & the Euthyphro Dilemma
Stuff Atheists Say: Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence
Welcome to another installment of Stuff Atheists Say, a series dedicated to combatting slogans and sayings that skeptics raise to stop conversations in their tracks. You can catch up on the previous articles here: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4. Today’s slogan is a common skeptic phrase, made famous by the late Christopher Hitchens. … Continue reading Stuff Atheists Say: Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence
A Choice Apart From Time
Question Dear Tim, I recently ran across a blog post by an atheist who is a physics major with a philosophy minor. In response to the Kalam Cosmological Argument, he contends that God could not have created the universe. His argument proceeds as follows: 1. The word “choice” must imply a progression from a state of multiple … Continue reading A Choice Apart From Time
Dear Dr. Welty,
Dear Dr. Welty, Tim Stratton recently wrote an article critiquing your essay in Calvinism and the Problem of Evil. Since that time, you wrote a response to Stratton on your website and Stratton responded with a well-written counter-rebuttal to your response entitled “Gunslingers & Guilty Minds.” As a lawyer who deals with “guilty minds” on a … Continue reading Dear Dr. Welty,
Gunslingers & Guilty Minds: A Response to Greg Welty
Thursday the 27th of April, I published an article responding to Greg Welty’s chapter in the book Calvinism and the problem of Evil. I specifically argued against a view of Calvinism that is wedded to exhaustive divine determinism (a view that God causally determines all things: actions, behaviors, beliefs, and thoughts). I was shocked — and … Continue reading Gunslingers & Guilty Minds: A Response to Greg Welty
Homophobia, Islamaphobia, & Phobiaphobia
It seems commonplace today for entire groups of people to be painted with a broad brushstroke and labeled as being afraid or fearful. The word “phobia” or “phobic” is often attached to the end of another word which is supposed to represent a group who is scared of other people. So, what does it mean to … Continue reading Homophobia, Islamaphobia, & Phobiaphobia
Does Ockham’s Razor Preclude a Libertarian Interpretation of 1 Peter 1:3?
Summary: In my essay “How Should a Molinist Understand 1 Peter 1:3?” I defended the idea that 1 Peter 1:3 underdetermines whether libertarian free will (LFW) or divine causal determinism (DCD) obtains. One way one could attempt to adjudicate between these competing theories is to appeal to Ockham’s razor. Specifically, one could argue that a … Continue reading Does Ockham’s Razor Preclude a Libertarian Interpretation of 1 Peter 1:3?