Mama Bear Apologetics

In this episode of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast, Amy and Tricia Scribner continue their series on arguments for the existence of God by exploring the moral argument, also called the “right and wrong argument.” They explain that if objective moral laws exist, then there must be a moral lawgiver behind them. The conversation carefully distinguishes between descriptive statements (“what is”) and moral or prescriptive statements (“what ought to be”), arguing that morality cannot arise from impersonal forces or mere social convention.Amy and Tricia address several common objections to objective morality, including moral relativism, emotional subjectivism, and Darwinian evolutionary explanations for morality. Drawing from thinkers such as C.S. Lewis, Frank Turek, Norman Geisler, and Francis Schaeffer, they demonstrate how universal moral principles exist across cultures even when customs differ.The hosts also discuss the Euthyphro dilemma and explain the Christian understanding that goodness flows from God’s very nature rather than existing independently of Him. Throughout the episode, they provide practical ways parents can help children recognize objective morality through movies, discussions, discipline, and everyday experiences.Main Points CoveredThe Moral Argument for God’s ExistenceObjective Morality vs. Subjective MoralityCommon Challenges to Objective MoralityC.S. Lewis and the Nature of JusticeTeaching Children About Morality and TruthScriptures MentionedRomans 2:15 — The law written on human heartsGalatians 5:20–23 — Fruit of the Spirit and moral goodnessPsalm 34:8 — “Taste and see that the Lord is good”Romans 3 — Humanity missing the moral standardThanks to Our SponsorsAirDoctorAirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!Cozy EarthDiscover how Cozy Earth turns everyday routines into moments of softness and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use code MAMABEAR for an exclusive 30% off.More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

In this episode, Amy and Tricia Scribner explore how order and design in the universe point to an intelligent Creator. Building on prior discussions of truth and causation, they introduce the teleological argument—the idea that purposeful design requires a designer. From microscopic bacteria to the fine-tuning of the cosmos, the hosts demonstrate that both the smallest and largest aspects of reality exhibit complex, specified, and ordered patterns that cannot reasonably arise by chance. They connect science, logic, and everyday analogies (like puzzles and pickup sticks) to show that design implies intelligence, encouraging parents to help their children recognize God’s handiwork in creation.Main Points CoveredThe teleological argument (design implies a designer)Difference between deductive vs. inductive reasoningOrder and predictability in non-conscious entitiesThe anthropic principle / fine-tuning of the universePractical ways to teach kids about design in creationPeople and resources mentionedBooks & AuthorsLife-Giver Apologetics – Tricia ScribnerI Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist – Frank Turek & Norman GeislerThinkers & InfluencersJay Warner Wallace (CSI concept)Richard DawkinsFrancis CollinsWilliam DembskiC. S. LewisScripturePsalm 19:1Thanks to Our SponsorsAquaTruGo to AquaTru.com now for 20% off your purifier using promo code MBA. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee.Cozy EarthLet this Mother’s Day be a reminder that she deserves care, too — discover how Cozy Earth turns everyday routines into moments of softness and ease. Head to cozyearth.com and use code MAMABEAR for an exclusive 20% off.More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Amy sits down with Leslie Nunnery from Teach Them Diligently to re-center the conversation around discipleship as the true goal of parenting—not homeschooling itself. While many families consider homeschooling as a solution for raising faithful children, Leslie gently corrects this mindset: education is a tool, not the savior. The heart of the discussion is a shift from performance-based parenting (checking boxes, academic success) to relationship-driven discipleship (shaping hearts for Christ). Leslie introduces the idea of “heart schooling,” emphasizing that parents are called first to point their children to Jesus, not merely manage their education.The conversation also highlights the importance of community, spiritual growth in parents, and intentional daily rhythms that model faith naturally. Whether homeschooling, public schooling, or anything in between, the mission remains the same: raise children who know and love God through everyday life and authentic faith lived out at home.Main Points CoveredHomeschooling vs. discipleship: correcting misplaced prioritiesThe danger of idolizing homeschooling“Heart schooling” as discipleship-focused parentingPractical everyday discipleship (based on Deuteronomy 6)Shifting from box-checking to heart-shapingOvercoming feelings of inadequacy as parentsPeople and resources mentionedTeach Them Diligently ConferencesTeach Them Diligently book by Leslie NunneryFollow Teach Them DiligentlyListen to the Teach Them Diligently PodcastThanks to Our SponsorsAirDoctorAirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!Cozy EarthThis Mother's Day, give the gift that shows up every single night. Head to cozyearth.com and use code MAMABEARBOGO for an exclusive Buy One, Give One offer running from April 12th to April 18th on sheet sets and if you get a post-purchase survey, mention you heard about Cozy Earth here.More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

This episode walks listeners through one of the most foundational and powerful arguments for God’s existence—the cosmological (cause-and-effect) argument. Amy and Tricia build on earlier discussions about truth, logic, and worldview, showing that belief in God isn’t a leap in the dark but a conclusion supported by both reason and scientific evidence. They explain that everything that begins to exist must have a cause—and since the universe began to exist, it must also have a cause. Through accessible examples (like hot coffee cooling or balloons expanding), they demonstrate how scientific observations align with this logic.The conversation emphasizes that this cause must be outside space, time, and matter, and must be personal, intelligent, and necessary—not just a force. While this doesn’t fully prove Christianity specifically, it provides a foundation for understanding how a theistic Creator is logical. Throughout the episode, they encourage parents to teach these ideas to kids in simple, engaging ways—showing that even young children can grasp deep truths about reality and God.Main Points CoveredLaw of causalityNature of “nothing” and equivocationScientific evidence for the universe’s beginning (SURGE):Second Law of Thermodynamics (entropy)Expanding universe (Hubble redshift)General relativityNature of God as:Personal vs. impersonalNecessary vs. contingentOutside space, time, and matterTeaching apologetics to childrenPeople and resources mentionedBooks & AuthorsGod’s Crime Scene – J. Warner WallaceLet’s Get Real: Examining the Evidence for God (CrossExamined Press)Yes, God Is Real (CrossExamined Press)The Case for a Creator (kids version) – Lee Strobel, Rob Suggs, Robert ElmerScriptureRomans 1 – Knowledge of God through creationRomans 2 – Knowledge of God through conscienceExodus 3:14 – “I AM” (God as necessary being) Thanks to Our SponsorsAirDoctorAirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!Cozy EarthThis Mother's Day, give the gift that shows up every single night. Head to cozyearth.com and use code MAMABEARBOGO for an exclusive Buy One, Give One offer running from April 12th to April 18th on sheet sets and if you get a post-purchase survey, mention you heard about Cozy Earth here.More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

This episode lovingly equips parents to navigate the tension between fun Easter traditions and the truth of the resurrection. The hosts affirm that while eggs, bunnies, and cultural practices can be enjoyed, they should never overshadow the central claim of Christianity: Jesus truly lived, died, and rose again. Lindsey and Robin address common internet claims about Easter’s supposed pagan origins, showing that much of the argument rests on weak historical evidence and linguistic confusion. The conversation then shifts to the heart of apologetics—can we trust the resurrection? Through historical references, medical analysis of crucifixion, and eyewitness testimony, the hosts build a compelling case that the resurrection is not just symbolic—it is reality.Ultimately, the message is clear: parents can confidently teach their children both the joy of traditions and the truth of the gospel, without fear that one cancels out the other.Main Points CoveredBalancing Easter traditions with biblical truthClaims about pagan origins of EasterLinguistic origins of the word “Easter”Historical reliability of the crucifixionRefuting alternative theories (swoon, hallucination, body theft)Teaching apologetics to childrenPeople and resources mentionedThe Case for Christ - Lee StrobelThe Case for Easter - Lee StrobelRisen (film)Children’s ResourcesMelissa Cain Travis – How Do We Know Jesus Is Alive?Scripture ReferencesMatthew 27 – Crucifixion and resurrection narrative1 Corinthians 15:3–7 – Early creed and eyewitnessesMore from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Tricia Scribner, a classical apologist and resident Nana Bear, outlines six key questions that every worldview must answer. She compares theism, atheism, and pantheism and shows how these questions reveal assumptions behind culture. Practical, kid-friendly tools and warnings about mixing belief systems are also highlighted.

In this episode, the Mama Bears continue laying the groundwork for raising children who can stand firm in a culture that often sounds persuasive but isn’t logically sound. The focus is on self-refuting (or self-defeating) statements — claims that collapse under their own weight because they contradict themselves in the very act of being spoken. Our kids are growing up in a world saturated with emotionally charged slogans and viral soundbites. They are told things like “truth is relative,” “we can’t know truth,” or “science is the only source of truth.” These statements are often presented as intellectual or compassionate, but when examined carefully, they fail to meet their own standards. They saw off the very branch they’re sitting on. If our children are not trained to recognize these inconsistencies, they can be carried along by ideas that feel right but are logically incoherent. As the episode highlights, kids spend hours a day absorbing messages through social media and classroom conversations. Without discernment, emotion becomes the driver and truth becomes negotiable.The Mama Bears remind us that truth corresponds to reality, truth is objective, and truth is knowable — even though we, as finite humans, are not omniscient. There is a crucial difference between saying truth is knowable and claiming we can know everything. That humility matters. We don’t need exhaustive knowledge to make reasonable, evidence-based conclusions about reality or about God. The goal is not to embarrass, but to clarify. Not to win arguments, but to help our children think clearly and stand confidently.When we teach our kids to identify self-defeating claims, we are equipping them with intellectual armor. We are raising children who can be empathetic without being manipulated, thoughtful without being timid, and bold without being brash. In a culture that rewards outrage and discourages logic, that kind of training is both countercultural and deeply necessary.Main Points CoveredWhat self-refuting statements are and how they functionWhy recognizing them strengthens your child’s faithCommon modern examples rooted in relativism and scientismHow to correct faulty logic with both confidence and gracePeople and resources mentionedThe Pig and the Accidental OinkCrows and the Missing PieceThe Fallacy DetectiveThe Tuttle Twins Guide to Logical FallaciesTactics by Greg KouklEphesians 6:10–18 (The Armor of God)Genesis 1:27 (Made in the image of God)Thanks to Our SponsorsThe Every Woman’s Bible is a study Bible created for both the heart and the mind—because loving God well means engaging truth deeply. Learn more at EveryWomansBible.com, and discover God’s heart for you through deeper study and reflection.AquaTru: Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off your purifier using promo code MBA. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee.More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Tricia Scribner, apologetics educator who teaches classical reasoning, joins to unpack discursive thinking. She contrasts deductive and inductive reasoning. They explore hidden assumptions, logical fallacies, the cosmological argument, and practical ways to train kids to think critically. The conversation frames good thinking as spiritual formation and gives everyday examples to spot faulty reasoning.

Tricia Scribner, PhD-trained philosopher and Nana Bear who teaches apologetics and faith formation for kids. She breaks down what truth is and critiques relativism and subjectivism. Short, clear takes on perception versus reality, defending exclusivity without bigotry, and practical tips for helping children grasp objective truth.

Amy and Tricia, two of our Mama Bears, define logic and explain why it’s essential for critical thinking, biblical reasoning, and defending the Christian faith. They stress that logic isn’t made by humans—it’s discovered—and reflects an objective reality that testifies to the existence of God. The conversation explores the three foundational laws of logic (identity, excluded middle, non‑contradiction), shows how logic applies in everyday life and worldview discussions (including gender, truth claims, language, and worldview differences), and gives practical guidance for parents on how to help children recognize sound reasoning vs. faulty logic. They also tackle common challenges, including the relationship between logic and God, and how logic relates to knowing God, faith, and evangelism. Ultimately, logic is presented as both defensible and indispensable for meaningful Christian engagement in a culture that increasingly rejects objective truth.Main Points CoveredWhat Logic Is and Why It MattersThe Three Foundational Laws of LogicLogic vs. Emotionalism in CultureLogic’s Role in Knowing God and Defending FaithPractical Tools for Teaching Logic to KidsPeople and resources mentionedHow Has God Revealed Himself EpisodeThanks to Our SponsorsAirDoctor: AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co