Thinking Christianly

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 Dualism Gary W. Moon, Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ Follower Thinking 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 Debate John Burke, Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God’s Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You 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 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 politics The difference between freedom and determinism in the social sciences Understanding counseling in light of our free will How understanding the nature of free will helps us grow in Christ Free will as a reason to believe we have a soul The 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 Humanities Mass Shootings: The Role of the Media in Promoting Generalized Imitation Peggy Noonan, “We’re More Than Political Animals” – Wall Street Journal Thinking Christianly #19: Finding Quiet When Experiencing Anxiety and Depression Dallas 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 Theology P. Moreland, Finding Quiet: My Struggle of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace Wilder Graves Penfield – A Brief Biography John Steinbeck, East of Eden