Book Review: The Story of Reality by Gregory Koukl
I’ve waited for this book for a long time. I’ve been listening to Greg Koukl – one of my personal apologetics heroes – on the Stand to Reason podcast for years and he would occasionally mention this book he was working on, The Story of Reality (originally entitled Credo). I had been (not so) patiently waiting for it … Continue reading Book Review: The Story of Reality by Gregory Koukl
My Rookie Year of Apologetics
A Note from Tim Stratton I just completed my rookie year of apologetics. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started, but one year ago FreeThinking Ministries was officially launched. FreeThinking Ministries is devoted to helping all people see God for who He truly is so that they can fall in love with Him – … Continue reading My Rookie Year of Apologetics
Rogue One Reflections: Death and Hope
This article contains spoilers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. You’ve been warned. The obvious theme of Rogue One is hope. Many characters repeated the phrase “Rebellions are built on hope.” Hope is the last word uttered in the film. The events in this movie directly lead into the original Star Wars film (1977), which … Continue reading Rogue One Reflections: Death and Hope
Rogue One: A Lesson About Free Will & Responsibility
SPOILER ALERT!!! I absolutely love the Star Wars saga! I have been a Star Wars fanatic since I was a little boy when the first movie (Episode IV) was released in 1977. Not much has changed as far as this is concerned over the past forty years — I even still purchase Star Wars action figures to … Continue reading Rogue One: A Lesson About Free Will & Responsibility
A Logical Christmas Message
John 1:1-14 states “In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and … Continue reading A Logical Christmas Message
Harley Quinn + The Joker = True Love?
Does Harley Quinn really love the Joker? As many of you know, I love comic books and although I do not purchase them any longer (at least on a regular basis), I still try to keep up with many of the story lines and hit most of the movies in which my favorite childhood heroes … Continue reading Harley Quinn + The Joker = True Love?
Inerrancy Debate
One of the best professors I have ever had is Dr. Michael R. Licona. The two of us have become good friends since my time in his classroom and he continues to sharpen my thinking today. Recently I shared his written debate with skeptical scholar Bart Ehrman on social media. The debate was regarding the reliability of the Gospels (I … Continue reading Inerrancy Debate
Counter Intuitive Truths: Easing the Pain When Loved Ones Die
“Pain,” or “evil” is a tough part of life, but the reason no prominent philosopher defends the logical “problem of pain” any more (ie: that pain proves God doesn’t exist) is that we can’t prove that God couldn’t have purposes for it. Chaos Theory shows how incredibly subtle things can have dramatic and far-reaching ripple … Continue reading Counter Intuitive Truths: Easing the Pain When Loved Ones Die
What About Babies Who Die?
As a theologian with a bent for philosophy and apologetics, I do not merely possess theological views, but rather, I strive for systematic theology. That means that my Christian worldview is not only logically coherent on its own, but I also endeavor to make logical sense of all the relevant data in all fields — from what … Continue reading What About Babies Who Die?
Incoherent Questions
It has been said that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Consider the following: How much does the color purple weigh? Can God create something that is not contingent upon Him? Is the fourth corner of the triangle an obtuse, acute, or right angle? Where do the vast majority of married bachelors live? … Continue reading Incoherent Questions
How Much Wood WOULD a Woodchuck Chuck IF a Woodchuck COULD Chuck Wood?
As a philosophically inclined theologian, I strive to deal with “big questions” in life, and many of the “smaller” questions as well. Occasionally, one of these questions keeps me up at night until I find a good answer. One of these sleep steelers is: “How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could … Continue reading How Much Wood WOULD a Woodchuck Chuck IF a Woodchuck COULD Chuck Wood?
My Favorite Bible Verse
Many times I am asked the question: “Tim, what is your favorite Bible verse?” This is a hard question for me to answer because there are many verses contending for this top spot. Off the top of my head, some of my favorites include (in no particular order): Romans 12:2; Matthew 22:37-39; Romans 1:20; 1 … Continue reading My Favorite Bible Verse
A Pastor’s Toolkit: Apologetics as Discipleship
Maybe I’m the only one, but I find myself swinging back and forth between panic and complacency whenever I hear this: upwards of 70% of young people leave the faith in their 20s. Maybe even more. At this point, this isn’t news. “70%” has become the harsh reality hanging over pastor’s heads. We convince ourselves … Continue reading A Pastor’s Toolkit: Apologetics as Discipleship
Should Christians Oppose Evolution?
One of my passions is to equip the church to engage the culture. There is one cultural issue in particular that keeps many from even considering the thoughts of evangelical Christians. What is this stumbling block? Evolution. When I first began dipping my toes into the apologetic waters, my primary concern and focus was arguing … Continue reading Should Christians Oppose Evolution?
Gratuitous Evil & Animal Suffering
A common complaint is that unlike science, philosophy does not make any progress. This is completely false. Philosophers stand on the shoulders of giants and often improve arguments made by great thinkers of the past. Moreover, academics are often sparked by philosophers of yesteryear to craft related, but different, arguments demonstrating the way things are (ultimate reality). Alvin … Continue reading Gratuitous Evil & Animal Suffering
Can One Be Both a Calvinist and a Molinist?
Can one be both a Calvinist and a Molinist? Many Reformed Christians have deemed this an impossibility, while some prominent Reformed philosophers like Alvin Plantinga and Del Ratzsch profess to be simultaneously Calvinists and Molinists. The answer to the question likely depends on what one means by Molinism. If by Molinism one means agreement with … Continue reading Can One Be Both a Calvinist and a Molinist?