Gods Perfection and Infinity Think for Christ 2025-09-18 | What does it really mean to say that God is perfect and infinite? Too often, modern theology treats perfection simply as a value title—God as “the greatest being we can imagine.” But in the classical Christian tradition, perfection is not just a label. It is a deep metaphysical truth about God’s very being.In this episode, Anthony Alberino explores:- The traditional meaning of perfection as excellence or completion of being.- Why perfection is rooted in existence itself, the “act of all acts and perfection of all perfections.”- The difference between relative perfection (as in creatures and angels) and - absolute perfection (found only in God).- How God’s infinity is not quantitative (endless size or extension) but qualitative—the unbounded act of existence itself.- Why divine perfection and infinity reveal God’s radical transcendence as the fullness of being, utterly beyond lack or limitation.Taken together, these attributes show why God is not simply the highest being among others, but Being Itself—the infinite, perfect source on which all creatures depend.👉 If you find this helpful, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share to support the channel.For other episodes on the divine attributes see:- youtu.be/tuUf7VCTGfM- youtu.be/pQelAOAx-A8
What does it mean to say that God is good? Think for Christ 2025-10-06 | In this episode Dr. Andrew Payne explains the meaning of divine goodness as understood by classical theism.For more episodes on the attributes of God see:- youtu.be/tuUf7VCTGfM- youtu.be/pQelAOAx-A8- youtu.be/Kc_JWZWasUs
Christian Philosophers Reflect on the Charlie Kirk Assassination Think for Christ 2025-09-26 | Christian philosophers Anthony Alberino, Andrew Payne, and J. T. Bridges share their thoughts on the Charlie Kirk assassination.
Gods Simplicity and Unity Think for Christ 2025-09-08 | For most of church history, Christians have confessed the doctrine of divine simplicity—the teaching that God is not composed of parts. But what does this mean, and why does it matter? In this episode, Anthony Alberino explores the profound connection between God’s simplicity and His unity.We’ll see why the classical tradition insists that God is not only without physical parts but also without metaphysical or even logical parts. Unlike creatures—composites of act and potency, essence and existence—God is utterly uncomposed. Because composed beings are dependent beings, only a God who is absolutely simple can be the uncaused, necessary, and independent source of all reality.From here, Anthony shows how divine simplicity grounds divine unity:- Simplicity means that God not composed of parts and that all that is in God is God. His attributes are not distinct “parts” but are identical with His essence—and thus with each other.- Unity follows because an absolutely simple being cannot, even in principle, be divided. God is not one member of a class called “deity,” but the one and only subsistent Being itself.Along the way, we’ll consider why the attributes of God—wisdom, love, justice, power—are distinct in our minds but perfectly identical in God’s essence, using the analogy of white light refracted through a prism. We’ll also see how divine simplicity marks the sharp metaphysical divide between Creator and creature, and why this doctrine has been central to Christian theology throughout the centuries.Finally, we touch on the connection between divine simplicity and the doctrine of the Trinity, and why classical theology maintains that distinction within God does not imply composition.If you’re seeking to understand why divine simplicity has been called “the bedrock of classical theism,” this episode is for you.📺 Watch next: - youtu.be/tuUf7VCTGfM- youtu.be/LeyRhQD7IWQ
Gods Aseity and Necessity Think for Christ 2025-08-29 | At the very heart of classical theism stands the doctrine of Divine Aseity—the truth that God exists a se, “from Himself.” Unlike all created beings who are contingent, dependent, and derived, God alone is self-existent, self-sufficient, and uncaused. He is the ultimate explanation of His own being, the First Cause, and the ground of all reality.In this video, Anthony Alberino explores the rich meaning of divine aseity—both its negative aspect (God’s ontological independence: uncreated, uncaused, underived) and its positive aspect (God as pure actuality, the ultimate reality upon which all else depends).We’ll examine:- Why divine aseity means God is a necessary being that cannot fail to exist.- The common misunderstanding behind the skeptic’s question, “What caused God?”- Why God is the explanation of His own existence (not His own cause).- Aquinas’ profound insight that God is not composed of act and potency but is Pure Act, whose very essence is existence—I AM WHO I AM.By unpacking this doctrine, we see why God is not just another being among beings, but Being Itself Subsisting—the transcendent source of all that is.If you want to go deeper into classical Christian theology and understand how divine aseity illuminates the uniqueness of God’s nature, this teaching is for you.
Molinism: Can It Reconcile Divine Providence and Human Freedom? Think for Christ 2025-08-19 | In this episode, Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne critically interact with one of the most popular and philosophically sophisticated attempts to reconcile God’s sovereignty with human libertarian freedom: Molinism.We’ve already considered the Thomistic “Dual Sources” view with Dr. Matthews Grant, and in the last episode we examined Open Theism. Now, we look at Molinism — a view originating with the 16th-century Jesuit Luis de Molina and defended today by leading philosophers such as Alvin Plantinga, William Lane Craig, and Thomas Flint.Molinism hinges on the idea of middle knowledge: God’s knowledge of what any possible free creature would do in any possible circumstance. By appealing to middle knowledge, Molinists argue that God can sovereignly order the world while preserving genuine human freedom.In this discussion, we:- Explain Molina’s distinction between natural knowledge, middle knowledge, and free knowledge.- Show how middle knowledge is supposed to secure both meticulous providence and libertarian free will.- Explore why Molinism has been attractive to many theologians and philosophers, particularly within Arminian circles.- Critically engage key challenges to Molinism, including the grounding objection, the tension with libertarian freedom, and problems related to divine aseity, simplicity, and sovereignty.- Compare Molinism with both Open Theism and classical theism to see whether it truly resolves the tension between divine providence and human agency.Does Molinism succeed where other views fail? Or does it compromise God’s ultimacy and the very nature of freedom? Join us as we unpack and critically examine this influential theological model.
Open Theism: A Critical Evaluation of a Popular Evangelical View | Anthony Alberino & Andrew Payne Think for Christ 2025-08-11 | In this in-depth conversation, Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne tackle a theological proposal that has gained traction among some evangelicals: Open Theism. This view seeks to solve the long-debated tension between divine sovereignty and human freedom by rethinking the nature of God and especially his relationship to time and his knowledge of future free acts. Anthony and Andrew first explain the core claims of Open Theism, including its approach to divine foreknowledge and human choice. They then offer an extended critique, exploring its biblical, philosophical, and doctrinal implications—and why they believe it ultimately fails to provide a faithful solution to the sovereignty–freedom puzzle. Topics covered in this video:What is Open Theism?Why some evangelicals are attracted to itHow it addresses the tension between God’s sovereignty and human freedomKey philosophical, theological, and biblical objectionsWhy Anthony and Andrew believe a better solution existsIf you’ve ever wrestled with how God’s sovereignty works alongside genuine human choices, or if you’ve encountered Open Theism and want to understand it critically, this conversation is for you.
Divine Causation and Human Freedom with Dr. W. Matthews Grant Think for Christ 2025-08-04 | When it comes to the question of divine and human agency, the prevailing view among Christian theologians and philosophers (not to mention Christian laypeople) is that it is zero sum game. In other words, the more agency God exercises over the human will, the less agency the human has. It seems like we have to make a choice here. We have to either choose to uphold God’s universal causality and diminish human freedom or choose to uphold human freedom and diminish God’s causality. But, in his book Free Will and God’s Universal Causality, Dr. W. Matthews Grant denies that such a choice has to be made. Dr. Grant argues that by embracing a Dual Sources Account, we can resolve the conflict between human freedom divine causality without diminishing either. In this episode of Think for Christ, Dr. W. Matthews Grant joins Anthony Alberino to talk about divine causation and human freedom and the Dual Sources Account.Amazon link to Dr. Grant's book: amazon.com/Free-Will-Gods-Universal-Causality/dp/1350203653/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LU8U1F0F33LA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yPOEXNqMWQnSZ0anoQnRHA.9BVmBQGe7yInHlYeBwTy1HwtgZGKH8ZaTyRuBDJVxLE&dib_tag=se&keywords=free+will+and+god%27s+universal+causality&qid=1754063323&sprefix=free+will+and+God%27s+univeral%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1Link to the paper mentioned in the episode: link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11406-024-00790-w
Can Machines Really Think? The Basic Argument Against Machine Intelligence. Think for Christ 2025-07-28 | In this video, Anthony Alberino presents the basic argument against the idea that machines—no matter how advanced—can actually think or possess understanding. Drawing from philosopher Edward Feser's 2024 book Immortal Souls: A Treatise on Human Nature, Alberino examines why understanding the nature of a computer is the key to seeing why Artificial Intelligence can only ever simulate or mimic human intelligence.
Was the Death of Christ a Ransom Paid to Satan? Think for Christ 2025-07-15 | In recent years, an old and largely discarded view of Christ’s atonement has been quietly resurfacing on the internet. Known historically as the Ransom Theory (or the Ransom from Satan Theory) this idea suggests that Jesus died as a payment to Satan in order to free humanity from his grasp. According to this view, as a result of Adam's sin, Satan was given legal and rightful authority over the lost souls of humans. Since Satan had rightful claim, God could not simply exercise his power over him and instead offered the soul of Christ in exchange for the those in captivity to Satan.In this video, Anthony Alberino traces the emergence of the Ransom Theory from its early roots in the Church Fathers to its imaginative retelling in modern times by C.S. Lewis in his The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Alberino then a biblical critique of the view and makes the case that the Ransom Theory should remain a relic of the past.What you'll learn:– What the Ransom Theory is and where it came from– Why it fails as a biblically faithful theory of the atonement– How Christ and the New Testament writers understood the atonement– The real meaning of the words ransom and redemption as deployed in the New Testament 🔔 Subscribe for more theological and philosophical analysis, biblical teaching, and cultural critique.
Divine Simplicity, Monotheism, and the Trinity with Dr. James Dolezal Think for Christ 2025-07-07 | In this compelling conversation, James Dolezal returns to Think for Christ with Anthony Alberino to explore the classical doctrine of the Trinity. For centuries, divine simplicity was considered essential to maintaining a truly monotheistic understanding of the Christian God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But in modern Protestant theology, the neglect of this doctrine has led to confusion and, in many cases, a drift toward tri-theism.Dr. Dolezal explains why recovering the classical view—especially as articulated by Thomas Aquinas—is critical for upholding both the unity of God and the real distinction of the Persons within the Trinity. Together, they unpack the errors of social trinitarianism and make the case for a return to principled, historic Christian theology.🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on Christian doctrine, philosophy, and theology.📖 Topics covered:What is divine simplicity and why is it so important to uphold?Why is divine simplicity necessary to maintain a principled monotheism?How has the doctrine of simplicity regulated formulations of the Trinity historically?Does social trinitarianism tend toward tri-theism?How does Aquinas formulate a doctrine of the Trinity that upholds divine simplicity and the real distinction among the Persons?#Trinity #DivineSimplicity #JamesDolezal #AnthonyAlberino #ThomasAquinas #ClassicalTheism #ChristianDoctrine #SystematicTheology #SocialTrinitarianism
On Cosmological Nihilism and the Quest to Regain Our Metaphysical Sanity with Dr. Brian Kemple Think for Christ 2025-06-30 | Is the universe bereft of meaning, goodness, and purpose? Has modern science revealed to us our ultimate cosmic insignificance? According to the intellectual vision of cosmological nihilism, the answer to these questions is yes. What is the nature of this view? What motivates it? And how has it come to form the background image of Western society? Philosopher Dr. Brian Kemple joins Anthony Alberino to talk about the bleak specter of cosmological nihilism and the need for a true philosophical turn to regain our metaphysical sanity and to reorient our intellectual vision so that we can once again behold the cosmic order and our place within it.Link to the Lyceum Institute: https://lyceum.instituteLink to REALITY Journal: realityjournal.orgLink to purchase Brian's book Introduction to Philosophical Principles: amazon.com/Introduction-Philosophical-Principles-Physics-Person/dp/B0B92H8ZWN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H927YZY69XRB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.L76oOvaRuff6LZl6gYpj_a2-1b4_KLTiGVv28Eii-z8.97IXMcaGQUycrDyQwcefez-gbTOnl8Pf7pGj_jRp4OQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=introduction+to+philosophical+principles%2C+kemple&qid=1751135840&sprefix=introduction+to+philosophical+principles%2C+kemple%2Caps%2C116&sr=8-1
Does God Have Emotions? | Dr. James Dolezal on Divine Impassibility Think for Christ 2025-06-23 | What does it mean to say that God is without passions? Why does it matter? In this thought-provoking episode of Think for Christ, Dr. James Dolezal joins Anthony Alberino to explore the vital doctrine of divine impassibility. Together, they dive deep into questions like: Does God feel emotions the way we do? Can He truly understand human suffering if He doesn’t experience it? Dr. Dolezal brings clear, biblical, and philosophical insight to these challenging topics. Don't miss this engaging conversation on why denying passions in God is essential to a proper understanding of His nature.
Bret Weinstein Should Believe in God Think for Christ 2025-06-16 | In an interview with Tucker Carlson, evolutionary biologist and podcaster Bret Weinstein explains why he does not believe in God. In the is episode, Anthony Alberino critically analyzes Weinstein's case for atheism. Alberino argues that given Weinstein's guiding principle for getting at the truth, he ought to embrace theism and not atheism.
A New Euthyphro Dilemma for Complex Theists with Daniel Vecchio and Pat Flynn Think for Christ 2025-06-09 | Philosophers Dr. Daniel Vecchio and Pat Flynn are back to chat with Anthony Alberino about another paper that they've collaborated on titled "Euthyphro 2.0: The Metaphysical Dilemma of (God's) Essence and Existence." Daniel and Pat argue that theists who reject the classical notion of divine simplicity face an ontological priority problem that is structurally similar to the Euthyphro Dilemma. Moreover, they contend that to reject divine simplicity is to give up the principles needed for divine ultimacy and ontological grounding.Pat's Philosophy for the People YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/PhilosophyforthePeoplePat's Journal of Absolute Truth Substack: journalofabsolutetruth.substack.comDaniel's Vexing Questions blog: vexingquestions.wordpress.com/about
The Logical Problem of Evil is Dead with Daniel Vecchio and Pat Flynn Think for Christ 2025-06-03 | The logical problem of evil is dead and cannot be resurrected as an argument against a philosophically robust understanding of God. Dr. Daniel Vecchio and Pat Flynn join Anthony Alberino to defend this claim and to discuss their paper, "There Can Be No Succesful Logical Argument from Evil." You can find a link to the paper here: cambridge.org/core/journals/new-blackfriars/article/abs/there-can-be-no-successful-logical-argument-from-evil/F15FE474998459B90C70849E58088385Pat's Philosophy for the People YouTube channel: youtube.com/c/PhilosophyforthePeoplePat's Journal of Absolute Truth Substack: journalofabsolutetruth.substack.comDaniel's Vexing Questions blog: vexingquestions.wordpress.com/about
Evaluating the Presuppositional Transcendental Argument Think for Christ 2025-05-27 | Join philosophers Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne as they dive deep into a thought-provoking critique of the presuppositional transcendental argument. In this engaging discussion, they explore the origins, nature, and limits of transcendental reasoning. They also seek to answer the question of whether a presuppositional transcendental argument for Christian Theism has ever actually been formulated in a philosophically rigorous way and in way that sufficiently distinguishes it from arguments in the classical method of apologetics.Find the article referenced in this video by Dr. James Anderson titled "If Knowledge Then God" here: proginosko.com/docs/If_Knowledge_Then_God.pdf
A Critique of Presuppositional Apologetics with Dr. Richard Howe Think for Christ 2025-05-19 | Join philosophers Richard Howe, Anthony Alberino, and Andrew Payne as they examine the foundations and challenges of presuppositional apologetics. While acknowledging its influence in contemporary Christian thought, the panel explores philosophical concerns, internal tensions, and practical limitations of the presuppositional method. The dialogue contrasts it with classical apologetics and probes whether presuppositionalism provides a coherent basis for defending the Christian faith.
On Special Revelation and the Primary Purpose of Scripture Think for Christ 2025-05-12 | In this episode, Andrew Payne reflects on the nature of special divine revelation and the ultimate purpose of Scripture from a classical Christian perspective.
Divine Revelation, Natural Theology, and Faith and Reason Think for Christ 2025-05-05 | In this episode Anthony Alberino explains the classical and traditional understanding of divine revelation as expressed in Scripture and in creation. The notions of supernatural theology and natural theology are explored as are the related ideas of faith and reason. The traditional view of philosophy as the handmaiden of theology and of the idea that grace perfects nature are also considered.
What is Classical Theism? Think for Christ 2025-04-18 | What is classical theism? In its broadest characterization, classical theism is a theological and philosophical tradition committed to a certain way of understanding the nature of God and his relationship to the world. Classical theists are united in their commitment to a single, fundamental, controlling idea: divine ultimacy. For the classical theist, God is to be conceived of first and foremost as the ultimate reality in the order of being, and the ultimate explanation of things in the order of discovery.
Jordan Peterson on Jonah and the Whale Think for Christ 2025-04-07 | In this concluding episode of the series, We Who Wrestle with Jordan Peterson, Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne review the final chapter of We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine in which Jordan Peterson treats of the biblical story of Jonah. Anthony and Andrew then provide their final summary analysis of the book.
Jordan Peterson on the Golden Calf and Wilderness Wandering Think for Christ 2025-03-31 | The critical review of Jordan Peterson's book, We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of Divine continues as Anthony and Andrew consider chapter 8 of the work in which Peterson treats of the golden calf incident and the subsequent forty years of wilderness wandering by Moses, Aaron, and the Children of Israel.
Jordan Peterson on Moses, Pharaoh, and the Exodus Think for Christ 2025-03-24 | Anthony and Andrew continue their critical analysis of Jordan Peterson's best selling book, We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine. In this episode, they review and analyze chapter seven of the book in which Peterson considers the biblical story of Moses and the Exodus.
Is Christianity making a comeback in America and the Western world? Think for Christ 2025-03-17 | In his book, The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God, former UK broadcaster Justin Brierley offers a bold proposition: That the "withdrawing Sea of Faith is beginning to reach its farthest limit and that we may yet see the tide of faith come rushing back in again within our lifetimes.” Brierley argues that the first two decades of the 21st century represent the low tide of Christian belief in the West, a period that coincides with the rise and triumph of the New Atheism in popular culture. But recently things have begun to change. The New Atheism has suddenly become old and the intellectual climate in the Anglo-American world is shifting. Brierley's bold proposition may have just received some empirical support from the findings of the Religious Landscape Study conducted by the Pew Research Center and released in February of this year (2025). The study shows that the decline of Christianity in U.S. has stabilized over the last 4 or 5 years and may have reached something of a plateau. Is this a sign of a rebirth of Christianity in the Western World? If Brierely's own experience and assessment is on target, it just may be.
Jordan Peterson on Abraham and the spirited call to adventure Think for Christ 2025-03-10 | In Chapter Six of We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine Jordan Peterson takes up the story of Abraham and Jacob to draw from them characteristics of the divine as well as deep universal lessons for life. Peterson sees in Abraham the divine call to live a life of adventure, a life of risk, a life of courage, a life of sacrifice, a life of upward striving. The story of Jacob is understood by Peterson as one of transformative identity that comes from the unavoidable struggle with the divine that each of us must engage in. This chapter represents the heart of the book as it reveals in the clearest way what Peterson means when he insists that we are all of us fated to wrestle with God.
Jordan Peterson on the Tower of Babel Think for Christ 2025-03-03 | The next biblical story up for consideration in Chapter Five of Jordan Peterson's book, We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine, is the Tower of Babel as found in Genesis 11:1-9. What is the spirit that led mankind to pridefully and presumptuously build a tower as a monument to human ingenuity and greatness in direct opposition to the command of God? How is that sprit manifested today? What are the consequences of following a spirit that worships technology and seeks to usurp the divine order, both for individuals and for society. Peterson is at his very best when he turns his formidable intellect to contemplate the tragic reward of a godless culture. He is a prophetic voice of our times echoing amplifying the grave biblical warning: Pride goes before the fall.
Postmodernism, meta-narratives, and the liberalization of Christianity Think for Christ 2025-02-24 | In this lecture Dr. Andrew Payne considers the central importance of meta-narrative as a framework for meaning and the dire consequences of the postmodern dissolution of meta-narratives for the Western world in general and for Christianity in particular. Using some critical texts as his guide, Andrew surveys the downward spiral of the postmodern dissolution from the relativistic postwar consensus, to the therapeutic atomization of the individual, to the politicization and moralization of Christianity.
Jordan Peterson on believing in God Think for Christ 2025-02-20 | How does Jordan Peterson understand belief in God? Does Peterson have faith in God? In this episode, Anthony Alberino considers Peterson's peculiar notion of faith or belief in God as it is presented in his bestseller, We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine.Watch the full episode here:youtu.be/HXky0HyJNqw
Jordan Peterson on Cain and Abel and Noah and the Great Flood. Think for Christ 2025-02-16 | In this episode Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne critical review chapters 3 and 4 of Jordan Peterson's We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine. In these chapters, Peterson takes on the biblical accounts of Cain and Abel and Noah and the Great Flood.
Jordan Peterson on Creation, Adam and Eve, the Garden, and the Fall Think for Christ 2025-02-04 | In this episode Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne critically review the first two chapters of Jordan Peterson's book, We Who Wrestle with God. Peterson begins the first chapter of his work with a consideration of the creation account at the opening of the biblical book of Genesis and then moves to an interpretation of the divine likeness within man and woman. Along the way Peterson draws insights from the text related to the nature of the Garden of Eden, the Serpent, and the Fall.
A Critical Summary of what Jordan Peterson is up to in We Who Wrestle with God. Think for Christ 2025-01-31 | In this clip, Anthony Alberino explains the Jungian project that Jordan Peterson is engaged in his book, We Who Wrestle with God.See the link below to watch the full episode.
Alternative Explanations for the Evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Think for Christ 2025-01-27 | In Part 29 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we conclude our look at the historical case for the resurrection of Jesus by considering some of the most prominent and promising of alternative naturalistic explanations that have been offered over the centuries. Examined here are the Conspiracy/Fraud Theory, the Apparent Death (or Swoon) Theory, the Wrong Tomb Theory, the Hallucination Theory, and Combination Theories.
We Who Wrestle with Jordan Peterson Think for Christ 2025-01-20 | Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne launch a new series of episodes dedicated to a critical evaluation of Jordan Peterson's 2024 book, We Who Wrestle with God: Perceptions of the Divine.In this introductory episode we discuss Jordan Peterson and his influence on western culture in general and on western Christianity in particular. We then seek to identify and unpack the ideological framework that control's Peterson's interpretation of biblical texts throughout his work. Finally, we take a look at the introductory chapter of the book which Peterson titles, "Foreshadowing: The Still, Small Voice."
Evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus. Part Two. Think for Christ 2025-01-13 | In Part 28 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we continue our review of six well-attested facts that provide evidence for the historical case for the resurrection of Jesus and from which the resurrection can be inferred. Last time we looked at the first three, in this episode we review the final three, which are:4. The origin of the Christian faith depends on the belief of the earliest disciples that God had raised Jesus from the dead.5. The church persecutor Paul was suddenly changed. 6. The skeptic James, brother of Jesus, was suddenly changed.
Evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus. Part One. Think for Christ 2025-01-06 | In Part 27 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we continue our review of the historical case for resurrection of Jesus by considering six well attested historical facts that will serve as our evidence for the resurrection. In this episode we look at the first three, which are:1. Jesus died by crucifixion.2. The tomb of Jesus was found empty by a group of women followers on the first day of the week following his crucifixion.3. On separate occasions different individuals and groups had experiences of seeing Jesus alive from the dead.
The top-down vs. bottom-up approach to arguing for the resurrection of Jesus Think for Christ 2024-12-27 | In Part 26 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we set the stage for making a historical case for resurrection of Jesus by comparing the top-down method with a bottom-up method. That is we can arrive to the truth of the Resurrection by first establishing the historical credibility of the New Testament sources which testify to the Resurrection (top-down) or by starting from some well-attested historical facts and arguing that the Resurrection is the best explanation for those facts.
The religious life and the absolute duty to a transcendent God Think for Christ 2024-12-17 | In this episode of Think for Christ Andrew continues to walk us through Soren Kierkegaard's highly influential work Fear and Trembling. Andrew reviews the structure of the work and explains some of Kierkegaard's big ideas. Among the central themes of the book is the "Knight of Faith" which is Kierkegaard's name for the heroic believer who recognizes his absolute duty to God above all else. Kierkegaard illustrates the radical nature of faith through the story of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac at God's command.
A new version of an old argument for God with Pat Flynn Think for Christ 2024-12-09 | Pat Flynn joins Anthony Alberino to discuss a new version of Thomas Aquinas's cosmological Argument for God. Following on the work of philosopher Barry Miller, Pat makes the case for the existence of God without appealing to the Principle of Sufficient Reason (PSR) allowing him to bypass two of the most recurrent objections to cosmological reasoning: (a) the possibility of brute facts (i.e., that not everything needs an adequate explanation of its existence) and (b) the accusation of the composition fallacy. Pat argues that any contingent entity, upon metaphysical analysis, is either a contradictory structure and therefore an impossible existent or else points towards an extrinsic cause for the unity of its really distinct metaphysical parts (namely, its essence and its existence). This conclusion enables the inference that only an uncaused cause with no really distinct metaphysical parts can ultimately produce anything with really distinct metaphysical parts.Amazon link to Pat's book The Best Argument for God: amazon.com/Best-Argument-God-Patrick-Flynn-ebook/dp/B0CL2P973T/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39U9H0C3ZKFMV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4DuJewgSkxzUqIp6I3W5KRUu-dGXgSvnsffyJoixPZ8roBd45LQeT4R0jnc78HimJsKNZyzw8pK0bGBk1T7x7iNhxF4_XcdSz2cOwfAKuo_6S_ZXdjCRV0XhnxghWCGBVTEv0n6vQ0snDvvKq0QK4j5PDm37wy6yg9OFl5m68AVSeSm4zpE1cMXIp8PbkTsQDdBJ9CTyMSu1huSdAV-aw4sYle4BpAzjJ8ng2dvpjgM.UoTCL7dQ3UV7bOl-YQviW3rb59dCVGSXDksaWh0qV0w&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+best+argument+for+god&qid=1733768828&sprefix=the+best+argument+for+god%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1Link to Pat's Substack The Journal of Absolute Truth: journalofabsolutetruth.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=emailLink to Pat's YouTube channel Philosophy for the People: youtube.com/@PhilosophyforthePeople
Does Scripture intend to order us to an ethical system or to a transcendent God? Think for Christ 2024-11-29 | Anthony and Andrew discuss the main theme of Soren Kierkegaard's famous short work, Fear and Trembling. We consider the main theme and aim of the book and how Kierkegaard intends us to see that the intent of Scripture is to order us to God rather than to order us to a system of ethics or morality. True faith, as seen in the story of Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac as sacrifice, requires a radical alignment of one's life to God as to the ultimate authority, an authority which transcends all our ethical rationalizations and culturally conditioned expectations.
Did the New Testament authors actually provide a reliable account about Jesus? Think for Christ 2024-11-22 | In Part 25 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we continue our consideration of the historical reliability of the New Testament by reviewing some reasons that can be given in support of the claim that the New Testament authors actually did provide a reliable account about Jesus. Three general categories of evidence for New Testament reliability are considered. First there is what sometimes goes by the name "signs of credibility" (or sometimes also "marks of authenticity"). Here we see that much of what the New Testament reports about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus meets the criteria historians use when evaluating the historical reliability of a source. Then we consider confirmation of the New Testament from non-canonical sources. Here we look at ancient sources, Christian and non-Christian, that corroborate some of the central claims of the New Testament. Finally, we have a brief look at how archaeology has added support to the general historical reliability of the New Testament. Here we consider ways in which archaeological discoveries have contributed to the credibility of some New Testament reports.
Democracy and the Cult of Freedom Think for Christ 2024-11-15 | In his Republic, and through the mouth of Socrates, Plato warns of the exaltation of the freedom of choice over and above all other goods in a democratic society and how the very notion of freedom becomes distorted in the process. This distortion ultimate leads to anarchy in the soul and to a kind of tyranny of the passions. Anthony explains the classical and biblical understand of freedom and then contrasts it with the modern notion of freedom that has replaced it in modern liberal democracies.This is a clip from a longer discussion that can be watched in its entirely here: youtu.be/qgZUZm7ORqY
The Dangers of Democracy: A Warning from Platos Republic Think for Christ 2024-11-11 | In his dialogue the Republic the ancient Greek philosopher Plato famously warned us about the perils of democracy and the moral degradation of what he calls the "democratic man". In this episode, and on the heels of the historic election of Donald Trump to a second term as President of the United States, Anthony Alberino and Andrew Payne discuss what Plato has to say about democracy and its relevance to modern political society.
Major Themes in Kierkegaards Work Think for Christ 2024-10-27 | In this episode on the life and thought of Soren Kierkegaard, Dr. Andrew Payne reviews four major themes that emerge across his works.
Did the New Testament authors intend to provide a reliable account about Jesus? Think for Christ 2024-10-18 | In Part 24 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we consider the question: Did the New Testament authors intend to provide a reliable account about Jesus? Sometimes it is claimed that the NT authors, especially the Gospel authors, never actually intended to give us a factual account of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Instead, what we have are mostly fabricated stories full of embellishments and non-historical material. The gospels are thus said to belong to a genre that is more akin to folk lore, legend, or myth rather than to the genre of historical memoir or biography. Of course, if this is the case, then even if the NT was written at the right time and by the right people, it won’t be a historically trustworthy source of information about Jesus since it was never intended to be one in the first place.However, despite the claims of some radically skeptical scholars and internet atheists, we do in fact have very good reasons to believe that the NT writers intended to provide us with historically factual accounts of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Kierkegaard the father of existentialism? Think for Christ 2024-10-08 | In this episode we continue our look at the life and thought of Soren Kierkegaard by considering whether he can rightly be characterized as an existentialist.
Were the New Testament authors able to write a reliable account about Jesus? Think for Christ 2024-09-30 | In Part 23 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we begin our review of the case for the historical reliability of the New Testament. To make this case, we first argue that the writers of the New Testament were well able to write a reliable account by focusing on the dating and authorship of the New Testaments documents. We show that the authors of the New Testament were the right people writing from the right place and writing at the right time. In other words, the New Testament documents were written close enough to the events they describe and by people who were in a position to know whether the events described actually happened.
The Life and Thought of Soren Kierkegaard Think for Christ 2024-09-23 | In this episode we begin a new series on the hugely influential nineteenth century Danish theologian, philosopher, and literary master Soren Kierkegaard. Dr. Andrew Payne kicks off the series with a biographical sketch of some of the important events in Kierkegaard's life. Andrew also explains the relevance of Kierkegaard's thought for Christians today.
Beyond Origin: A Post-Darwinian Design Theory with Dr. J. T. Bridges Think for Christ 2024-09-10 | In this episode of Think for Christ, we welcome back philosopher J.T. Bridges to talk about his new book Beyond ‘Origin’: A Post-Darwinian Design Theory. In this book Dr. Bridges provides a much-needed critique of the somewhat stalled debate between Neo-Darwinist and Intelligent Design proponents.The book is full of valuable and probing insights for the ID movement, but, by way of disclaimer, it is not by any means an “easy read” or a “beginner-level” work. Dr. Bridges is presenting a philosophical critique of the of the current debate and in doing so he surveys ideas from several academic fields of inquiry including epistemology, the philosophy of science, and, of course, from both neo-Darwinian and Intelligent Design theory. Likewise, and again by way of disclaimer, this interview with Dr. Bridges will at times get us into some technical material and complex ideas. If you are someone familiar with or interested in the ongoing debate between Darwinism and Intelligent Design, both this book and this interview will be well-worth your considered attention.Buy the book on Amazon here: amazon.com/Beyond-Origin-Post-Darwinian-Design-Theory-ebook/dp/B0DF4NHFDV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VIQ0EDXJV5ZR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jdm4wjSd-a-DrhB3FViQxrJoa7OkGoPi6l33bRSmiFzAMX4BZTNNsJSN3SHe49WGDTysg_pTjtBJsqn1MCkEHlp5ukxMGCsF0PU_lnBvDdE-v2SinAUyT5T0wNKb4g2t_oV759uNK-LuLkauZmFLGUtMYYRCFRKRWXSsjv8zhiRAxD0WZSN0G-wI5zXnGIQyEzKMV1Yn3khJsesJg2VBlqn3gh8Ayjd9zkXIgIpDDtU.3kqJiGP13DF6_a3_z6WXRZSYMkZU6kPcY1eqSlJzWTM&dib_tag=se&keywords=beyond+origin&qid=1725901507&sprefix=beyond+origin%2Caps%2C264&sr=8-1
Do We Have Accurate Copies of the New Testament? Think for Christ 2024-09-03 | In Part 22 of this Introduction to Apologetics series we consider the question: Do we have accurate copies of the New Testament? How can we have confidence that our copies of the NT are faithful reflections of the originals? How can we be sure that they haven’t been corrupted and distorted? How trustworthy has the transmission process been?
