In this episode, we continue our series by discussing Chapter 9 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.

In this episode, we discuss:

What problems arise when we reduce spiritual formation to just the physical
What problems arise when we reduce spiritual formation to just the immaterial
How we should understand the unity of the body and soul as it relates to spiritual formation
What it looks like to take a both/and approach to spiritual formation in our lives
How this topic has impacted our churches
How Dallas Willard’s model of growth in Christ differs from what neurotheologians offer
God’s role and our role in spiritual formation

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?
Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.
A printable group discussion guide to Stan’s book can be found here.

 

In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapters 7 and 8 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. In this episode, we discuss: What is the difference between valuing science and scientism?Was Dallas Willard a neurotheologian?Does neurotheology help people grow in Christlikeness?For the sake of simplicity, why not just understand persons as material beings?How can the body and soul interact if they are such different types of things?Wait, does this mean animals also have souls? Is that Biblical? Resources mentioned during our conversation:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide to Stan’s book can be found here.Thinking Christianly Episode #32: Having Better Conversations by Avoiding Logical FallaciesThinking Christianly Episode #40: “The Unity of the Soul and Body”: Chapter 6 of Have We Lost Our Minds?

In this episode we continue our series discussing Stan’s recent book Have We Lost Our Minds?, exploring the book’s themes with neuroscientist and apologist Sharon Dirckx, Ph.D. In this episode, we discuss: In what ways do we talk about the brain doing what persons do?How did Sharon’s experience in brain imaging research help her conclude that we are more than just our brains?What is the role of honest and open dialogue in finding truth in this and all other important areas?How does acknowledging the first-person perspective as a way of knowing change the conversation about mind-brain relations?Are there studies in neuroscience that suggest a soul?What are the most compelling objections to holistic dualism from the neuroscientific perspective?How could thinking Christians respond to these objections? Resources mentioned during our conversation:Sharon Dirckx, Am I Just My Brain?Find out more about Dr. Sharon Dirckx’s work on her website and through the Oxford Centre for Christian ApologeticsFind out more about Have We Lost Our Minds? Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website. A printable group discussion guide can be found here.Thinking Christianly Episode #21: A Case Study in Thinking Christianly and Making a Difference: Edmund HusserlThinking Christianly Episode #22: The Importance of Legacy: More Lessons from the Life of Edmund HusserlPremier Unbelievable?: Iain McGilchrist & Sharon Dirckx • Brain science, consciousness & GodMichael Egnor and Denyse O’Leary, The Immortal Mind: A Neurosurgeon’s Case for the Existence of the Soul

In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 6 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. In this episode, we discuss: What is the nature of the relationship between the body and soul?Do ears hear? How can we understand the way souls and bodies interact?What are the key differences between the various kinds of dualism?What is traducianism, and how is it different from creationism?What are some of the implications of holistic dualism in how we understand health?How should we understand the context of the conversations about the relationship of the body and the soul?What can Christian thinkers do to engage this topic well?Why do theologically trained scholars tend to have a difficult time with substance dualism? Resources mentioned during our conversation:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.Thinking Christianly Episode #7: What is the Soul, and Why Should We Care? (Part 1)Thinking Christianly Episode #8: What is the Soul, and Why Should We Care? (Part 2)P. Moreland, Finding Quiet: My Struggle of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought PeaceLesslie Newbigin, Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel in Western Culture

In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 5 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. We discuss:What is an “individuated human nature,” and why is each of these words important?Natures have capacities; the ability to manifest a capacity is a faculty. What kinds of faculties do humans have?What makes human consciousness unique?How can asking “What is it like?” questions help engage people in conversation about the soul?How do our human faculties interact?How do studies on near-death (or after-death!) experiences help us understand the nature of the soul?What does it mean to be a substance that has properties? Resources and Citations:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.The Lausanne Movement’sThe Seoul Statement, Preamble to Section IV: “The Human Person: The Image of God Created and Restored”Thinking Christianly Episode #7: What is a Soul and Why Should We Care? (Part 1)Thinking Christianly Episode #8: What is a Soul and Why Should We Care? (Part 2)John Burke, Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits YouGary Habermas & J.P. Moreland, Beyond Death: Exploring the Evidence for Immortality Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy

In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 4 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing. We discuss:Why neurotheologians are mistaken about our true nature.Why it isn’t possible to reduce mental properties to physical events.How we should understand our unity through time.How the modal argument helps us understand identity.Why non-reductive physicalism or “emergence” is of no help to the physicalist position.What a “brute fact” is.What did Dallas Willard meant when he talked about the nature of the body.Thoughts on human flourishing and why it matters. Resources and Citations:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.P. Moreland, “Substance Dualism and the Unity of Consciousness”: The Blackwell Companion to Substance DualismGary W. Moon, Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ FollowerThinking Christianly Episode #6: What is Human Flourishing and How Do We Achieve it?

J.P. rejoins the podcast! In this episode, he shares good news about his health and reflects on why he was eager to write the Foreword to Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.

We discuss:

J.P.’s health journey over the last few months
How Christians have contributed to the secularization of culture
The importance of the conversation about what it means to be human
Why the arguments in Stan’s book have personal meaning for J.P.
The importance of responsible scholarship, especially as Christians
The crucial difference between acknowledging a “soul” and acknowledging a “substantial soul”

 

Resources and Citations:

Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?
Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.
A printable group discussion guide can be found here.
Brandon Rickabaugh and J.P. Moreland, The Substance of Consciousness: A Comprehensive Defense of Contemporary Substance Dualism.
Stan Wallace, “Continuing the Conversation: Clarifying the Central Ideas of Have We Lost Our Minds?”
The Lausanne Movement’sThe Seoul Statement, Preamble to Section IV: “The Human Person: The Image of God Created and Restored”

In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 3 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.In this episode, we discuss:What do neurotheologians get wrong about identity?How can understanding identity help us understand neural events and mental events?What properties belong to the mind that do not belong to the brain?What are the key differences between reductive and non-reductive physicalism?Does the physicalist anthropology make a difference in how we view human persons?  Resources and Citations:Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.

In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 2 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.In this episode, we discuss:What are the key passages related to the topic of Biblical anthropology?What is the difference between an ontological unity and a functional unity of body and soul?What witness does church history give to this topic?Where did “neurotheology” go wrong in explaining the nature of the human person?What is our soul doing when it is no longer united with the body?Resources and Citations:John W. Cooper, Body, Soul, and Life Everlasting: Biblical Anthropology and the Monism-Dualism DebateJohn Burke, Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits YouFind out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.A printable group discussion guide can be found here.

In this episode, we continue our series by engaging Chapter 1 of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why is it critical that Christians acknowledge well-done science?
What are some implications of the assertion that the brain is fundamentally what we are?
The difference between Dallas Willard’s “VIM” model and Jim Wilder’s version.
Tips for listeners who want to be more aware of places where they have absorbed Physicalist assumptions.
What can we know about what we are? Where does that information come from?

 

Resources and Citations:

Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?
Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.
A printable group discussion guide can be found here.

In this episode, we kick off a new series by engaging the introduction of Stan’s new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why did Stan write this book?
What is “neurotheology”? Is it helpful for Christians?
How can we think well about the central question, “What are we?”
What motivated the departure from traditional Christian beliefs about the soul?
What experiences and relationships shaped Stan’s perspective on this topic?
How can listeners get involved in this conversation?

Resources and Citations:

Find out more about Have We Lost Our Minds?
Get the introduction to the book for free on the Global Scholars website.
A printable group discussion guide can be found here.

J.P, Stan, and Jordan discuss how to have better conversations. They discuss how three informal fallacies (the Red Herring Fallacy, the Genetic Fallacy, and the Ad Hominem Fallacy) can shut down healthy dialogue and how to develop habits that help us avoid using them.

In this episode, we discuss:

What is an informal logical fallacy?
What does the Red Herring Fallacy sound like in a conversation?
Practical ways to get a conversation back on track
What is the Genetic Fallacy? How can we avoid using it?
How do we evaluate ideas fairly, even if we don’t like the person?
What is the Ad Hominem Fallacy and how does it sabotage conversations?
How is the Ad Hominem Fallacy related to the Tu Quoque Fallacy?
Tips to encourage understanding in conversations and when to disengage
Making the distinction between “nice” and “kind” in best loving our neighbor

Resources and References:

Koh Ewe, “The Ultimate Election Year: All the Elections Around the World in 2024,” Time Magazine
A quick video explaining many informal fallacies
Stan Wallace, "Three Ways to Shut Down Healthy Conversations"
Wireless Philosophy, Lessons and quizzes on several informal fallacies via Khan Academy.
The Winsom Conviction Project Podcase

Stan, JP, and Jordan delved deeper into the concepts of libertarian free will, compatibilism, and determinism, extending their discussion beyond theological topics to many other important issues. In this episode, we discuss:Implications of our understanding of freedom related to law and politicsThe difference between freedom and determinism in the social sciencesUnderstanding counseling in light of our free willHow understanding the nature of free will helps us grow in ChristFree will as a reason to believe we have a soulThe theme of hope and redemption in Scripture, and why this should inform our views on freedom Resources and References:John Seale, The National Endowment for the HumanitiesMass Shootings: The Role of the Media in Promoting Generalized Imitation Peggy Noonan, "We're More Than Political Animals" - Wall Street JournalThinking Christianly #19: Finding Quiet When Experiencing Anxiety and DepressionDallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines

In a gracious spirit J.P., Stan, and Jordan discuss the points of agreement and disagreement between the Calvinist and Arminian views of salvation (summarized in Calvinist theology by the acronym TULIP). This good-faith conversation will help listeners consider the implications of these beliefs, especially as they relate to our understanding of God’s nature, our nature, and the gospel message.* 
In this podcast, we discuss:

The TULIP acronym: where did it come from and what it does it mean?
Total Depravity: what is the difference between the extensive and intensive effects of depravity?
Unconditional Election: what does it mean to say God loves us?
Limited Atonement: what is the difference between a four or five-point Calvinist? Is the doctrine of Limited Atonement logically consistent with the whole of Calvinism?
Irresistible Grace: Is there evidence to support this position in Scripture?
Perseverance of the Saints: What is the difference between this and eternal security?

Resources and references:

The Canons of Dort
Roger E. Olson, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities
Stan Wallace, “Predestination or Free Will?”
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (1960 ed)

*As always, the views expressed are those of the participants, and not necessarily those of the podcast’s sponsor Global Scholars. However, Global Scholars does encourage the study and discussion of important issues from the vantage points of theology, philosophy, and other related disciplines, as occurs in this podcast.

This is our first episode in a series about Free Will, Compatibilism, and Determinism. Stan, JP, and Jordan start by clearing up some of the major confusions that plague this conversation. They share how to have this discussion with clarity and keep the focus on the claims and avoid confusion. They also spot some ideas about Free Will, Compatibilism, and Determinism “in the wild.”  In this podcast, we discuss:What does it mean to be “free”?What are the major ideological camps in this conversation?Does the Compatibilist view of antinomy solve this logical problem?What are the most important distinctions in the Free Will and Determinism conversation?Where are the major pitfalls in this discussion? Where should we start the conversation if we want to gain understanding?What would evidence for Libertarian Free Will look like?A quiz and clues for JP and Stan on how to decipher what ideology an author or other content creator is communicating. Resources and references:William Lane Craig discusses his work on Systematic Philosophical TheologyP. Moreland, Finding Quiet: My Struggle of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought PeaceWilder Graves Penfield - A Brief BiographyJohn Steinbeck, East of Eden

J.P., Stan, and Jordan discuss engaging the Christmas story as thinking Christians and ways to live in light of the hope that the Incarnation brings.

In this podcast we discuss:

How does the humility of God bring wonder and awe to this season?
What does the quiet nature of Christ’s coming reveal about God’s character?
In what ways can we attempt to reclaim the season from consumer culture?
How should Christians handle “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas” conversations?
What is a “redemptive analogy” and how can looking for them help bridge cultural and relational divides?
What are the practical implications of the Christmas Story?

Resources and References:

Fun facts about “Hark the Harold Angels Sing”
Dallas Willard - God Wants to Be Seen
The Bible Project - Advent Season: What is it, and How is it Celebrated?
Movie - The Prince of Egypt
Don Richardson, Peace Child
Bobby Gross, Living the Christian Year: Time to Inhabit the Story of God
Stan Wallace, “Christmas - The Day Jesus Moved into the Neighborhood”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Christmas Bells

In this episode, JP and Stan talk about different views of time and how they integrate with a Christian way of thinking about God and His relationship to time, the relationship of time to salvation, and the overall understanding of time and the nature of reality. They tackle common pitfalls in conversations about time and make distinctions that clear up the broader discussion.

In this podcast, we discuss:

Does this discussion matter?
Is tense real or not?
What is the difference between an A-Theory and a B-Theory understanding of time?
How do time and space relate to each other in different views of time?
What kinds of theological issues arise with the different views of time?
What is divine middle knowledge?
Will there be time in heaven?
“Is the world a bucket of sand or a bowl of molasses?”
Is time the same as its measurement? How can we understand the Theory of Relativity?
Do we have good reason to trust our experience of time?

Resources and citations:

William Lane Craig, God, Time, and Eternity
William Lane Craig, The Kalam Cosmological Argument
JP Moreland and William Lane Craig, “Philosophy of Time and Space” in Philosophical Foundations(Chapter 20 in the second edition).

In this episode, J.P. and Stan discuss worldview and life-view and why evaluating the contents of these thoughts deserves our attention and reflection. How do we go about that process? They discuss the ways we can notice what we attend to and examine how our attention can shape our worldview. This episode is for anyone who needs resources and strategies to help with developing and sustaining a Christian worldview. In this podcast, we discuss:What is a worldview?Why should we give serious thought to the idea of worldview?What kind of questions should we ask as we evaluate our worldview?What is the “worldview-as-glasses” metaphor and why is it unhelpful?How does a constructivist view fail to account for the different ways of knowing?What is the value of articulating our worldview?How does what we notice shape our worldview?What does it look like to train what we attend to and notice on purpose?What is the role of suffering in shaping our worldview?What are some clues that our worldview has veered into unchristian territory?How can we cultivate curiosity around worldview? Resources and citations:James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview CatalogJ.P. Moreland, Why it is Harmful to Depict a Worldview as GlassesPaul C. Vitz, Faith of the Fatherless: The Psychology of AtheismWalter Brueggemann, The Prophetic ImaginationCollege Faith Podcast - Episode #23 - How to Watch a MovieRonald Nash, Worldviews in Conflict: Choosing Christianity in a World of IdeasJames W. Sire, Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept

For those of us not currently connected to the academic world, the idea of furthering our education as Christians can be daunting. Where do you start? What should you consider before taking on this experience? Is it worth it even if it doesn’t increase your earning potential?  In this episode, JP and Stan share practical advice and wisdom for evaluating the costs and benefits of going beyond learning in an informal setting; specifically as it relates to masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy and ministry.

In this podcast, we discuss:

How do you know whether or not further formal education is a good fit for you and your season of life?
What are the differences between Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) and Masters of Arts? On the doctoral level, what is the difference between a Ph.D. and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)?
What is the discernment process for deciding which program might be the best fit?
What is the difference between studying under mentors who are masters at their craft and learning on your own?
How can different types of cohorts shape graduate education?
How to evaluate a program when considering graduate studies and where to find more information.
What is the lasting value of furthering education as a Christian?

Resources and citations:

Agnieszka Tennant, “Masters of Philosophy” in Christianity Today
Talbot School of Theology at Biola University
College Faith, 6: How to Choose a College – Dr. David Wunder
Intervarsity Press, Academic Catalog
Master of Arts, Philosophy of Religion | Palm Beach Atlantic University

“The certainty problem has crept in and polluted the whole enterprise of knowing.” - J.P. Moreland. In this episode, J.P. and Stan have a practical discussion about how to engage with the cultural obsession with a narrow definition of certainty.

In this podcast, we discuss:

What is skepticism? How did it become a cultural “virtue”?
Why doubting everything is more dangerous than you think
What are the different forms of skepticism?
How should we engage with different kinds of skeptics?
How can a broad understanding of the history of ideas benefit us when addressing skepticism?
Is there a legitimate place for skepticism?
What is the Problem of the Criterion?
What is the difference between the methodist approach and the particularist approach to the Problem of the Criterion?
Why should we reflect on the way we engage with knowledge claims?
The big three categories in philosophical thought: What is real? What can we know? What should we do?

Resources and Citations:

P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview - Chapter 4, The Problem of Skepticism
Dallas Willard, Hearing God