Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Separation of Church and State Doesn’t Mean This

Greg talks about people misusing the idea of “separation of church and state” to punish ideological disagreement, then he answers questions about responding to “anyone who doesn’t believe just like you goes to Hell,” using preferred names, and hypnotism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Separation of church and state doesn’t mean this. (00:00)
2. Is there a quick way to answer someone who asks if we think anyone who doesn’t believe just like us will go to Hell? (23:00)
3. When a student wants to use a name other than their given name, where’s the line between using the name of a different gender and just taking on a nickname? (42:00)
4. Would it be okay for Christians to make use of hypnotism to overcome addictions? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• Iron Curtain Diary
• Indiana parents warn nation after child is removed from home for improper pronoun usage: ‘Can happen anywhere’by Kendall Tietz

Related Links:

• Why Agree to Use Preferred Names but Not Preferred Pronouns? by Amy Hall
• Why Pronouns Matter…a Lot by Greg Koukl

Questions about Original Sin

Greg answers Open Mic questions about whether embryonic human beings are unsaved, innocent, or saved, how Jesus could have been tempted to sin if the inclination to sin comes from a corrupt human nature, how Christ could have not had a corrupt human nature, and whether clones are fallen.

 

Topics:

1. Is the two-celled human being unsaved and condemned to Hell, innocent, or saved with eternal life? If you think infants are saved, but you believe in original sin and guilt, then by what means is that infant saved? (00:00)
2. If the inclination to sin comes from a corrupt human nature, then how could Jesus have been tempted to sin? (39:00)
3. If true humanity involves having a corrupt human nature, then how could Christ not have a corrupt human nature? And if it’s because Jesus didn’t have a human father, do clones not have a corrupt human nature because they don’t have a biological father? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• When a Baby Dies by Ronald Nash
• Hell Interrupted Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

Critical Theory’s Oppression by Ideology

Greg answers a question about critical theory and relativism, comments on the idea of oppression by ideology, and answers questions about whether it’s okay for a Christian to own a gun and how a husband should navigate having a wife who thinks he’s unintelligent.

 

Topics:

1. Is critical theory related to relativism? (02:00)
2. Commentary: Critical theory’s oppression by ideology (22:00)
3. Is there a biblical reason for a Christian to own a gun, and would it be okay for him to use it? (28:00)
4. How should I navigate fulfilling my biblical role as a husband when my wife thinks I’m unintelligent? (37:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology―Implications for the Church and Society by Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer
• Neil Shenvi: Are Social Justice, Critical Theory, and Christianity Compatible? – Video

Related Links:

• Interview: Neil Shenvi on Critical Theory – On the STR podcast

How Today’s Parenting Is Hurting Kids

Greg talks about how today’s parenting is hurting kids, then he answers questions from callers about whether it’s okay for a church to host a debate with an atheist and what to say to someone who rejects God because of things the church has done.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: How today’s parenting is hurting kids (00:00)
2. Is it wrong for a church to host a debate between an apologist and an atheist since a Christian might be swayed by the atheist’s arguments? (39:00)
3. What can I say to someone who rejects God because of things the church has done? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• How touchy-feely parenting and therapy have created the loneliest, most helpless, depressed, and fearful young people ever by Abigail Shrier
• Temple Grandin film
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• Order the Reality live stream
• Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels by J. Warner Wallace

Interview: J.P. Moreland – The Substance of Consciousness

Greg talks to J.P. Moreland, author of The Substance of Consciousness, about the significance of the topic of our souls, developing our soul, reasons to think we have a soul, whether we could be in a simulation, machines becoming conscious, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: J.P. Moreland, author of The Substance of Consciousness: A Comprehensive Defense of Contemporary Substance Dualism (00:00)
2. What’s the significance of this discussion for Christians? (14:00)
3. What is a soul, and what does having a soul mean for developing virtue in that soul? (22:00)
4. Why think we have a soul? (34:00)
5. Do you think souls are gendered? (50:00)
6. Are we in a simulation? (51:00)
7. If machines ever become conscious, would that prove we don’t have a soul? (53:00)
8. Quick thoughts on near death experiences (56:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• J.P. Moreland’s Website
• The Substance of Consciousness: A Comprehensive Defense of Contemporary Substance Dualism by J.P. Moreland
• The Soul: How We Know It's Real and Why It Matters by J.P. Moreland (This is the one to read if you’re starting out on this topic.)
• Body & Soul: Human Nature the Crisis in Ethics by J.P. Moreland and Scott Rae
• Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality by J.P. Moreland and Gary Habermas

Interview: Natasha Crain on the “He Gets Us” Campaign

Greg talks to Natasha Crain about her insightful article on the “He Gets Us” campaign, examining the view of Jesus promoted by the campaign, the message of the foot washing Super Bowl commercial, and the four questions Natasha used to evaluate the campaign.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Natasha Crain on the “He Gets Us” campaign (00:00)
2. What view of Jesus are they promoting? (14:00)
3. What’s the message of the foot washing commercial? (20:00)
4. The four questions Natasha used to evaluate the campaign (29:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Natasha Crain’s website
• “He Gets Us” campaign
• Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem by Natasha Crain
• 7 Problems with the He Gets Us Campaign by Natasha Crain
• Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture by Natasha Crain
• The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl
• Sean McDowell’s interview with Ed Stetzer on “He Gets Us”
• The Christian Super Bowl Ad They Should Have Made by Jamie Bambrick (“He Saves Us”)

Is God in Hell?

Greg answers questions about whether God is in Hell, whether a prayer request is more likely to be answered if a lot of people are praying, whether any physical component to the UFO phenomenon would be a physical manifestation of a demon, and how to respond to arguments for relative morality.

 

Topics:

1. If God is everywhere, wouldn’t he also be in Hell, but wouldn’t that negate the idea that Hell is separation from God? (00:00)
2. Is a prayer request more likely to be answered if a lot of people are praying for it? (14:00)
3. Could there be a physical component to the UFO phenomenon, and could this be explained as a physical manifestation of a demon? (31:00)
4. How should I respond to someone who is arguing for relative morality? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Record an Open Mic question

A Marriage License Isn’t Just a Piece of Paper

Greg responds to the idea that a marriage license is “just a piece of paper” and talks about why we need public vows to be married, then he answers questions about attending a wedding of two non-believers, what to say to an atheist who says his life is meaningful, and helping a pastor see the value of apologetics.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A marriage license isn’t just a piece of paper. (00:00)
2. Can you clarify the difference between a same-sex marriage and a marriage of two non-believers that would explain why it’s okay to attend one but not the other? (31:00)
3. What would you say to someone who says he doesn’t believe in God but his life is meaningful? (47:00)
4. How can I get started as an apologist in my church and get my pastor on board with it? (55:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem by Natasha Crain
• 7 Problems with the He Gets Us Campaign by Natasha Crain

Related Links:

• So You Want to Be an Apologist? by Alan Shlemon
• For the Student Who Wants to Be a Christian Apologist by Amy Hall
• Why Apologetics? by Tim Barnett

Interview: Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers – The Deconstruction of Christianity

Guest Host: Tim Barnett

 

Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers, authors of The Deconstruction of Christianity, talk about what “deconstruction” means, why we shouldn’t embrace the term, problems with the deconstruction process, how we should go about evaluating our beliefs, what to say to someone going through deconstruction, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers, authors of The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond (00:00)
2. What is deconstruction? (10:00)
3. What are the problems with deconstruction? (24:00)
4. What triggers people to question their faith, and why do some end up leaving but others don’t? (41:00)
5. What should I say to someone who is going through deconstruction? (53:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers
• Why I Changed My Mind about Deconstruction by Tim Barnett

Related Links:

• A Tale of Two Paintings: Reformation vs. Deconstruction by Tim Barnett

Why Won’t We Sin in Heaven?

Greg answers questions about whether God’s moral perfection is a communicable property we will have after the resurrection or there’s some other reason we won’t sin, whether the proverbs about not arguing are anti-apologetics, and a biblical defense of apologetics.

 

Topics:

1. Why do you think God’s moral perfection is a communicable property we will have in Heaven? If it were, wouldn’t he have given it to us from the beginning? (08:00)
2. What should I say to Christians who are anti-apologetics because Proverbs says we’re not supposed to argue (20:3, 19:11, 17:14, 15:18)? What’s a biblical defense of apologetics? (42:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Why Apologetics? by Tim Barnett