What was a god assumed to be, according to Hebrew scripture? How do our cultural contexts and philosophical assumptions impact the way we conceive of ancient religious concepts today? Can philosophy help us to understand how these issues have served to shape the very question of what a god is down through history? In this episode of the podcast, I speak with Jaco Gericke about these topics and others that raise important issues with much of our contemporary discourse about God. Dr. Gericke is Professor of Biblical Studies at North-West University, South Africa...

This is a critical review of a 2009 debate between Christian apologist Matt Slick and atheist lawyer Eddie Tabash. Having previously heard Slick debate Matt Dillahunty on The Atheist Experience, as well as Tabash’s 1999 debate with William Lane Craig, I found myself curious to see how these two would square off against one another. Matt Slick is President and Founder of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, an ordained minister, and has a BA in Social Science and a Masters of Divinity...

If a loving god exists, and wants to be known, why have so many people down through history not believed in a supreme being? Theologians such as Anselm of Canterbury and Martin Luther developed the idea that the Judeo-Christian god is a hidden god, or one that does not reveal itself to all persons. There is even scriptural support for this view. “Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself,” Isaiah 45:15 states, while Psalm 22:2 reads, “My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer”.

The 17th century French Catholic philosopher Blaise Pascal comments on the significance of this doctrine...

How should we understand the concept of religion? How does our understanding of it impact the way we see different traditions, communities, and practices? What are the ways religion has been understood in the past and in the academy? For this episode of the podcast, I speak with Kevin Schilbrack about his contribution to the long-running debate over defining religion. Dr...

The evidential argument from evil contends that the facts about evil provide us with a good defense for the conclusion that belief in God is unjustified or false. Some instances of evil appear so intense and unnecessary that they raise a challenge to the existence of an all-good, all-powerful, and all-knowing being, such as God is traditionally conceived to be. Unlike the logical argument from evil, this argument does not attempt to demonstrate a logical inconsistency on the part of theists, but instead pursues the more moderate aim of disputing the plausibility of theistic belief...

Is evolution just a theory? Why is creationism unscientific? In this episode of the podcast, we look at some of the common questions and problems in the creation-evolution debate. Ken Miller is the Professor of Biology and Royce Family Professor for Teaching Excellence at Brown University. He was the lead expert witness for the plaintiff in the Kitzmiller v. Dover case of 2005 that challenged the teaching of intelligent design in schools. Dr...

Say the word ‘terrorism’ today and the first image that will pop up in the minds of many is the Islamic extremist. This association is not baseless, of course, considering the numerous and tragic attacks that have been carried out by groups like ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and others. Their activities are sometimes widespread, frequently reported on in the media, and tend to dwarf the number of lives taken by a lot of other terrorist organizations...

Did Christ leave behind physical evidence of his existence? Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery is a television series that started airing on CNN in 2015, inspired by the book of the same name written by David Gibson. The show presents itself as an investigation of various artifacts allegedly connected with the historical Jesus, such as the Shroud of Turin, the Gospel of Judas, and the James Ossuary. Along the way, scholars, historians, experts, and ministers are interviewed about questions and ideas surrounding the figure of Jesus and the artifacts under study...

Leaving religion behind can have real life consequences for many people, some of them frustrating or even traumatic in nature. When one first walks away from a religious tradition, or stands up to the dominant tradition within their own community, a variety of challenges and questions may present themselves...