Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Dawkins Says He’s a Cultural Christian

Greg talks about how Dawkins’s objections to Islam don’t make sense within his own worldview, then he answers a question from a caller about how a person can say something is right or wrong if they don’t believe in God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Dawkins says he’s a cultural Christian. (00:00)
2. How can a person say something is right or wrong if they don't believe in God? (40:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Famous atheist says he identifies as a ‘cultural Christian’ and is ‘horrified’ by promotion of Islamic holiday by Hannah Grossman
• Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case by Frank Turek
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Greg’s interview with Justin Brierley
• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

You Can Challenge Mandatory DEI Trainings

Greg talks about how religious accommodations are possible when it comes to DEI trainings, then he answers questions about restoring a friendship that broke up over theology and whether John 3:13 indicates Jesus was in Heaven while he was on earth.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: You can challenge mandatory DEI trainings. (00:00)
2. What can I do to restore a relationship with a friend who ended our friendship because I disagree with his Calvinism? (21:00)
3. Does John 3:13 indicate Jesus was in Heaven during the time he was also on earth? (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Can Religious Employees Challenge Mandated DEI Trainings? by Jorge Gomez for First Liberty
• The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? by James White

Greg’s Conversation with a Catholic on a Plane

Greg recounts a conversation he had with a Catholic campus ministry director on a plane, then he answers a question about rebaptism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Greg’s conversation with a Catholic on a plane (00:00)
2. What do you think about rebaptism? (38:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

Why Is the Question of Significance so Important?

Greg answers questions about whether one must believe in eternal generation to be saved, why the question of significance is so important, reconciling Matthew 7:21–23 with grace, and justifying self-defense in light of Jesus telling us to turn the other cheek.

 

Topics:

1. Is my salvation at stake if I don’t believe in eternal generation, contrary to the Athanasian Creed? (01:00)
2. Why is the question of significance the most important question facing America today? (11:00)
3. How do you reconcile Matthew 7:21–23 (“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven”) with other verses, like Ephesians 2:8–9, that describe a gospel of grace? (23:00)
4. Taking into consideration Matthew 5:38–39, where Jesus says to turn the other cheek, how do we justify self-defense? (42:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders
• Retrieving Eternal Generation – Edited by Fred Sanders and Scott Swain
• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

The Sudden Finality of Death

Greg reflects on the sudden finality of death and what that means for how we should live, then he answers questions about whether the Apocrypha was in the Bible for 1,000 years before Protestants removed it and whether Jesus had a soul.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The sudden finality of death (00:00)
2. Was the Apocrypha in the Bible for 1,000 years before Protestants removed it? (30:00)
3. Why would Jesus need a soul, and did he have one? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible by John Meade and Peter Gurry

Related Links:

• Are Jesus’ Two Natures Compatible? by Melinda Penner

You Can’t Hope for Something You Know Won’t Happen

Greg discusses the Pope’s statement about hoping Hell is empty, then he talks to callers about how to have good conversations with a Jehovah’s Witness, Dallas Willard’s book on the spiritual disciplines, and a follow-up call about an atheist vs. Christian dialogue at a church.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: You can’t hope for something you know won’t happen. (00:00)
2. How can I stay on the same page with my brother when we’re discussing his Jehovah’s Witness beliefs? (08:00)
3. What’s your opinion on Dallas Willard’s book on the spiritual disciplines? (33:00)
4. A follow-up call on a dialogue between an atheist and a Christian that was held at a church. (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Being Tactical with Jehovah’s Witnesses by Tim Barnett
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• The previous call about the atheist vs. Christian dialogue

Related Links:

• Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl
• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl

Love Does Not Rejoice in the Unrighteousness of Same-Sex Weddings

Greg explains why not attending a same-sex wedding is not just a matter of conscience, answers challenges to his comments last week on original sin, and responds to arguments for Catholicism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Love does not rejoice in the unrighteousness of same-sex weddings. (00:00)
2. Were your answers to my questions about original sin contradictory? (27:00)
3. How would you respond to these arguments for Catholicism that are attracting my friend? (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• Questions about Original Sin – Last week’s episode referenced by first caller
• When a Baby Dies by Ronald Nash

Related Links:

• Should a Christian Attend a Same-Sex Wedding? by Alan Shlemon

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