Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

A Philosophical Reason to Think the Universe Had a Beginning

Greg talks about a philosophical reason to think the universe had a beginning and discusses the difference between the brain and the mind, then he answers a question about tactics one can use when talking to people about creation vs. evolution. 

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A philosophical reason to think the universe had a beginning; the difference between the brain and the mind (00:00)
2. Is there a specific tactic I should use when talking to people about creation vs. evolution? (33:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)
• Greg’s response to Genetically Modified Skeptic: Part 1 and Part 2

A Response to Genetically Modified Skeptic – Part 2

Greg and Jon continue responding to a YouTube video by Genetically Modified Skeptic (Drew McCoy) that critiques one of Greg’s STR U courses. 

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A Response to Genetically Modified Skeptic – Part 2 (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Genetically Modified Skeptic’s video responding to Greg’s STR U course
• STR U Online Training

A Response to Genetically Modified Skeptic – Part 1

Greg and Jon respond to a YouTube video by Genetically Modified Skeptic (Drew McCoy) that critiques one of Greg’s STR U courses. 

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A Response to Genetically Modified Skeptic – Part 1 (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Genetically Modified Skeptic’s video responding to Greg’s STR U course
• STR U Online Training

How to Respond to Criticism

Greg talks about the value of listening and responding to criticism and gives tips on how to do this well, then he answers questions about how to deal with doubts and why Christians don’t take the problem of junk food and obesity seriously.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: How to respond to criticism (00:00)
2. How can I deal with the doubts I’m struggling with? (27:00)
3. Why don’t Christians take the problem of junk food and obesity seriously? (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Genetically Modified Skeptic’s video critiquing Greg’s STR U course (Greg will respond to the video in next week’s episodes.)
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 24–25 in Orange County, CA; October 15–16 in Seattle, WA; November 12–13 in Minneapolis, MN; February 25–26, 2022 in Dallas, TX; March 25–26, 2022 in Philadelphia, PA; April 22–23, 2022 in Augusta, GA
• STR U Online Training

Related Links:

• The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God by Gary Habermas

Interview: Natasha Crain – Faithfully Different

Greg interviews Natasha Crain about her new book, Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Natasha Crain, author of Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture by Natasha Crain
• Natasha Crain’s website
• Natasha Crain’s books

Related Links:

• Natasha Crain Can Help You Be Faithfully Different – Review by Amy Hall

A Helpful Description of What’s Happening in Our Culture

Greg goes through Jordan Peterson’s recent article where he details what’s happening in our culture, discussing the relevance it has for us as Christians.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A helpful description of what’s happening in our culture (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• In but Not of: A Guide to Christian Ambition and the Desire to Influence the World by Hugh Hewitt
• Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher
• Jordan Peterson: Why I am no longer a tenured professor at the University of Toronto by Jordan Peterson

Does God Make up Morality on a Whim?

Greg follows up the last episode with a few more comments on prophets and false prophecies, then he answers questions about teaching older people tactics, Genesis 6:24 vs. 7:23, whether God “turned his back on Jesus” during the crucifixion, and whether the Euthyphro dilemma shows that God makes up morality on a whim. 

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Prophets and false prophecies (00:00)
2. Is there any special approach we can take as we teach tactics to older people who are interacting with younger people who have radically different worldviews? (03:00)
3. Does Genesis 6:24 say the Nephilim were on the earth before and after the flood, and does this contradict 7:23? (23:00)
4. Did God really “turn his back on Jesus” during the crucifixion? (27:00)
5. Does John 6:51–60 prove the Catholic view of the Eucharist? (38:00)
6. Does the Euthyphro dilemma show that God makes up morality on a whim? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser
• Euthyphro’s Dilemma by Greg Koukl

Did God Promise to Guide You into All Truth?

Greg talks about the meaning of John 16:13’s promise that the Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth” and discusses whether it applies to every Christian, then he answers questions about whether every Christian is a prophet and whether prophecy is fallible.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Did God promise to guide you into all truth? (00:00)
2. Is every Christian a prophet, and is prophecy fallible? (35:00)

Living with a Tactics Mentality

Greg reads a letter from a listener who’s living with a tactics mentality, talks about concerning trends in the top 100 Christian books, then answers questions about the place of Israel in the end times and preachers speaking in tongues from the pulpit.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Living with a tactics mentality (00:00)
2. Commentary: The top 100 Christian books aren’t a good sign. (17:00)
3. Does Israel have a special place in the end times? (24:00)
4. What do you think about a preacher speaking in tongues from the pulpit? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Bible: Fast Forward by Greg Koukl

Four Reasons Why People Reject Jesus

Greg talks about a conversation he had during a car ride with an atheist listener, then he describes four non-intellectual reasons why people reject Jesus, answers a question about God’s relationship to time, and hears a story about how tactics worked for a listener on the first try.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Four reasons why people reject Jesus (00:00)
2. If no time existed before God created, does it make sense to talk about “when” God created? (36:00)
3. A story about how tactics worked on the first try (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 24–25 in Orange County, CA; October 15–16 in Seattle, WA; November 12–13 in Minneapolis, MN; February 25–26, 2022 in Dallas, TX; March 25–26, 2022 in Philadelphia, PA; April 22–23, 2022 in Augusta, GA
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl