The Freethinking Podcasts

Is William Lane Craig of @ReasonableFaithOrg a heretic for questioning the doctrine of eternal generation? And does his view actually put him outside the boundaries of Nicene Christianity? In this episode, Josh Klein and Dr. Tim Stratton are joined by Tyson James to respond to the recent controversy surrounding Craig's understanding of the Trinity. Rather than reacting to an isolated soundbite, we dig into what Craig actually argues, why he questions certain formulations of the eternal generation of the Son, and whether those disagreements amount to a rejection of the Trinity—or something far less dramatic. We discuss the Nicene Creed, eternal generation, the economic and ontological Trinity, divine simplicity, Craig's Cerberus model, and the question of what ultimately carries theological authority: Scripture, reason, tradition, or an allegedly infallible Church. Read William Lane Craig's paper on the subject for yourself: https://ojs.uclouvain.be/index.php/theologica/article/view/16583/15603 Tyson works closely with Reasonable Faith. Learn more about Dr. Craig's work and resources here: https://reasonablefaith.org And if you'd like to hear Craig in person, check out 20 Years of Reasonable Faith, celebrating two decades of Reasonable Faith's ministry: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/20-years-of-reasonable-faith-tickets-1993542894462 Have a question, disagreement, or something you think we missed? Join the conversation: https://freethinkingministries.com/contact If you value careful conversations at the intersection of logic, philosophy, theology, and apologetics, consider partnering with FreeThinking Ministries: https://freethinkingministries.com/donate As we always say here at FTM — Stay Reasonable. ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 Is William Lane Craig a Heretic? 06:26 What William Lane Craig Actually Believes 16:20 Did Nicaea 'Settle' Eternal Generation? 22:40 Is Craig Appealing to the Majority? 32:34 Does Getting Theology Wrong Mean You Don't Love God? 41:18 Begotten vs. Created: What's the Difference? 48:37 Does Craig Make the Holy Spirit the Father? 54:00 What Distinguishes the Persons of the Trinity? 58:44 Eternal Generation, Causation, and Contingency 1:02:45 Divine Simplicity: Is God Composed of Parts? 1:05:51 Craig's Cerberus Thought Experiment 1:08:45 20 Years of Reasonable Faith 1:11:26 Does Christianity Need an Infallible Interpreter? 1:16:45 Would an Infallible Church Be Better? 1:21:35 Does Craig Contradict Himself With the Kalam? 1:24:40 Final Thoughts: Is Craig a Heretic? ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #williamlanecraig #Trinity #NiceneCreed #ChristianTheology #Apologetics #EternalGeneration #SolaScriptura #ReasonableFaith #FreeThinkingMinistries #Christianity

What difference would it make if you really are more than your physical body? Dr. Joshua Ryan Farris of @soulsciencemin joins us to discuss his new book, Why Souls? A Mirror to the Universe, and why the existence of the soul changes how we understand reality, human identity, consciousness, freedom, equality, and even life after death. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of imitating human thought, an old question has become increasingly urgent: What actually makes us human? In this episode, we explore whether AI can truly think or know anything, why consciousness seems to require a conscious subject, how the soul relates to libertarian free will and rational agency, what grounds fundamental human equality, and whether near-death experiences provide evidence that we are more than our bodies. Check out Dr. Farris's work here: https://soulscienceministries.com/ Check out Why Souls? A Mirror to the Universe: https://a.co/d/0eJLygrn Got a question? Join the conversation: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/contact Like this episode? Consider supporting FTM so we can continue producing conversations like this one: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 What Are You? The Soul in the Age of AI 04:10 Why Write Why Souls? 06:56 Why the Soul Changes Everything 10:35 Are People Becoming More Spiritual? 15:22 Can Belief in the Soul Point People Toward Christianity? 16:59 What Exactly Is a Soul? 20:39 Can AI Become Actual Intelligence? 26:26 Does ChatGPT Actually Know Anything? 30:13 Consciousness Requires a Someone 37:34 Does the Soul Ground Free Will and Rational Agency? 45:44 What Makes All Human Beings Equal? 50:50 What Makes Tim and LeBron James Equal? 54:18 Do Near-Death Experiences Provide Evidence for the Soul? 56:52 Can Materialism Explain Near-Death Experiences? 1:04:00 Can You Be a Christian Materialist? 1:07:42 Why Are Near-Death Experiences Dismissed So Quickly? 1:12:36 Why Should Ordinary People Care About the Soul? 1:14:45 Closing Thoughts with Dr. Farris ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #Souls

What makes human life valuable—and can a purely naturalistic worldview adequately explain human dignity? Jacob Vazquez of @TruthfulHope joins Dr. Tim Stratton and Josh Klein to discuss his new book, Sacred or Secular: The Pro-Life Case for Grounding Human Value in the Image of God. Rather than focusing only on whether the unborn is biologically human, Jacob takes the abortion debate one level deeper: What actually grounds the value of human beings in the first place? We discuss consciousness, rationality, human dignity, the challenges these realities pose for naturalism, and why Jacob argues they make far more sense if human beings are created in the Image of God. We also explore the biblical case for the value and personhood of the unborn, difficult cases surrounding abortion, and why Christianity does more than simply identify abortion as a moral problem—it provides a foundation for understanding why every human life matters. If you enjoy conversations at the intersection of apologetics, philosophy, theology, and cultural issues, be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE the podcast! ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 Introduction 04:36 Why Write Sacred or Secular? 13:27 Why the Abortion Debate Has Moved Beyond Biology 17:48 What Comes After Biology? Is Secular Pro-Life Incoherent? 27:05 "Don't Force Your Religion on Me" 35:21 The Positive Christian Case for Pro-Life 45:14 What About the Hardest Cases? 51:30 Is the Bible Really Silent on Abortion? 1:02:17 What About the Supposed Pro-Abortion Bible Passages? 1:15:40 Where to Get Sacred or Secular 1:19:00 Closing Thoughts ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity

Can Traditionalism, Annihilationism, and Universalism all be right in some sense? In this episode, Josh Klein and Dr. Tim Stratton sit down with Chad McIntosh to discuss his provocative proposal concerning the nature of hell, the fate of the damned, and what it means to bear (and potentially lose) the image of God. Chad argues for a unique view in which the damned ultimately cease to be human, conscious suffering is not necessarily everlasting, and those who remain are preserved as eternal "monuments" to God's justice and the significance of salvation history. Along the way, we discuss the imago Dei, personal identity, the Second Death, annihilationism, universalism, eternal conscious punishment, libertarian freedom, and whether a person could continue to exist after ceasing to be human. Whether you agree with Chad's proposal or not, this is a fascinating attempt to reason carefully through some of the most difficult questions surrounding the doctrine of hell. ➡️ LEARN MORE ABOUT CHAD ⬅️ https://www.camcintosh.com/about/ ➡️ CONNECT WITH FTM ⬅️ https://www.freethinkingministries.com/contact ➡️ SUPPORT FTM ⬅️ Help us continue producing conversations, articles, and resources designed to help people reason together: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 Introducing Chad McIntosh & a New View of Hell 05:08 The Traditionalist Defense: Can All Three Views Be Right? 14:09 Can the Damned Cease to Be Human? 16:58 The Spectrum View of the Imago Dei 20:57 Does This View Make Some People Less Valuable? 34:40 C.S. Lewis and the "Remains" View of Hell 40:00 The Second Death, Rabies & the "Monster" View 48:38 Can Hell Be Eternal Without Eternal Suffering? 55:30 Why Preserve the Damned as "Monuments"? 1:03:32 Will We Interact With These Eternal Monuments? 1:09:09 Free Will in Heaven & the Purpose of the Monuments 1:13:30 Is This View Actually Plausible? 1:17:30 Why This View Matters & Where to Find Chad 1:20:13 Final Thoughts ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #Hell #Theology #Philosophy #Annihilationism #Universalism #ImagoDei

Can we really know that Jesus rose from the dead—or are Christians limited to saying the resurrection is merely the best explanation of the evidence? ⁨ @philbair joins us to discuss his new book, The Knowable Resurrection: The Epistemic Case for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Phil argues that the resurrection can be defended with a specific kind of rational certainty through a trilogy of epistemic arguments—an approach that differs from both traditional historical cumulative cases and the Minimal Facts approach. In this episode, we unpack what it actually means to know something, why the disciples being convinced that Jesus rose matters only if they were in a position to know whether He rose from the dead, and whether skeptical appeals to some undiscovered alternative explanation should carry any real weight. We also discuss skeptical methodology, naturalistic assumptions about miracles, whether Phil's argument requires libertarian free will, whether his approach ultimately reduces to probability, and whether the same methodology could be used to defend competing religious claims. Join the FTM team: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate Buy the book: https://a.co/d/02yT1lIV Stay tuned for Phil's appearance on the @atheistchristianbookclub2386 on August 27th: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7RCOeJuva2WDPZF1btr9Mg ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 Introduction 04:00 What Makes The Knowable Resurrection Different? 11:00 Can We KNOW the Resurrection Happened? 26:50 "We Just Haven't Found the Real Explanation Yet" 35:22 Does Phil Engage Skeptical Scholarship? 46:04 Does the Argument Require Libertarian Free Will? 50:35 Is This Really Different from a Probability Argument? 1:01:30 Does This Argument Prove Too Much? LDS & Other Faiths 1:06:36 Phil's Trilogy of Resurrection Arguments 1:12:11 Final Thoughts ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #Christianity #Resurrection #ChristianApologetics #JesusChrist

Leighton Flowers of @Soteriology101 joined us live to discuss what stood out to him in the second edition of Human Freedom, Divine Knowledge, and Mere Molinism—and one idea he believes the Soteriology 101 audience should seriously consider. Bring your questions, join the live chat, and be part of the conversation! 📘 Purchase the book: https://a.co/01ZiwIUO 🌐 Visit our website and connect: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/contact 🤝 Join our team: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate

Recently, Dr. Tim Stratton joined @TheWaywithBrianDavila alongside fellow Protestants Micah and Marcus to debate three members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormon). Afterward, the LDS channel @RESTORED_TRUTH published a reaction video that repeatedly targeted Tim personally rather than substantively. In this video, Tim and Josh respond point by point, clarify what actually happened in the debate, and address the claims made in that reaction. See the full debate: https://youtu.be/XPjnHJIeROM?si=paveJJAQzK8sif-_ See the full reaction video: https://www.youtube.com/live/oNwB5fotz-M?si=UO1bvkHb5aeMtKAO Join our team: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate Connect with us: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/contact For more information on Mormonism: https://mormoninfo.org ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 Introduction 02:05 They Hated Tim... But Why? 06:48 What Did They Get Right? 09:17 Ad Hominem Attacks Against Tim 10:45 Was Tim Special Pleading? 13:35 How the Debate Was Actually Structured 15:18 The Book of Abraham 21:00 The Truth About Manuscripts and Textual Criticism 32:47 Was Tim Offended by the Cross Necklace? 34:05 Tim Doesn't Build Bridges? 36:41 The "Cheatiest Cheat Sheet" Controversy 42:24 Explaining the Different "GOSPEL" Acronym 47:44 Different Kinds of Prophecy 59:30 "Utterly Destroy" or "Strike"? The Hebrew Matters 1:11:39 Micah 3 & Jeremiah 26 Examined 1:14:40 The Matthew 21 & Zechariah 9 Issue 1:18:19 Why Conditional Prophecy Makes Sense on Molinism 1:21:23 Asking Jesus Questions? How Dare He! 1:28:55 Is Tim's Faith Contingent on Mosaic Authorship? 1:34:34 Protestants Don't Believe in Prophets? 1:40:00 Does 2 Peter Teach There's No Need for Daily Repentance? 1:44:46 Did Paul Claim Perfection in Philippians 3:6? 1:49:55 Do Christians and LDS Make Good Neighbors? 1:59:17 Tim's Fancy New Words 2:03:15 Do They Ever Address Tim's Argument? 2:24:15 Debunking a Faulty Reading of Hebrews 2:27:23 Why We Won't Have a Discussion with Them 2:31:00 Concluding Thoughts ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #Apologetics #Christianity #LDS #Mormon #Theology #FreeThinkingMinistries

Can an atheist and a Christian debate God's existence... and become genuine friends? In this conversation, Dr. Adam Lloyd Johnson and Andrew Drinkard join Dr. Tim Stratton and Josh Klein to discuss Debating God's Existence, a unique book born out of Adam's 2022 public debate with atheist Dan Barker. The discussion didn't end on stage—instead, it sparked a collaborative volume featuring leading Christian philosophers and theologians that continues the conversation about God's existence. This is the only book endorsed by both William Lane Craig and Alex O'Connor! A remarkable testament to its thoughtful and charitable approach to one of life's biggest questions. Check out more of Adam's work at https://convincingproof.org/ Watch the debate the book is based on: https://youtu.be/H32WynQMke0?si=xOjxTQVCQHmdI3Oe Purchase the book here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802885586/debating-gods-existence/ (Use code debate40 at checkout to get 40% off!) ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 The Debate That Started It All 03:43 How FreeThinking Ministries Got Involved 06:40 Debating at an Atheist Convention 11:35 How the Barker Debate Began 15:41 What Adam Would Change About the Debate 18:48 How the Debate Became a Book 22:58 Andrew Drinkard's Role in the Project 26:30 Responding to So Many Different Arguments 30:10 Can Divine Hiddenness Be Solved? 40:03 Who Should Read This Book? 46:35 Where Should an Honest Skeptic Start? 52:22 How to Have Better God Debates 59:10 The Best Argument for God's Existence? 1:03:24 Final Thoughts ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #Apologetics #Christianity #God #GodsExistence #Atheism #DanBarker #Debate #ChristianApologetics #Philosophy #Reason #FreeThinking

Sports can teach us things that apologetics can't. Nebraska baseball stars Dylan Carey (1st Team All-American and Brooks Wallace Award Winner for best College SS in 2026) and Joshua Overbeek join FTM to discuss faith in athletics, their stories, and how faith helps relieve the pressure of performance when they keep the main thing the main thing. Dylan's Career page at Huskers.com: https://huskers.com/sports/baseball/roster/player/dylan-carey Joshua's Career page at Huskers.com: https://huskers.com/sports/baseball/roster/player/joshua-overbeek More Husker faith talk? Check out Josh's interview with long time coach Ron Brown: https://youtu.be/v1UnlUbECOo Want more interviews like this? Become part of the team: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate New here? Check out our website: https://freethinkingministries.com ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 Introducing Joshua and Dylan 05:33 How Faith Came Out After Losing On the Biggest Stage 09:03 Dylan's Faith Journey 15:03 Joshua's Faith Journey 24:35 The Importance of Questions in Faith 27:58 The Balance of Competition and Faith in the Locker Room 32:20 Expecting Pushback Even from Teammates and Coaches 37:20 Praising God in "Failure" 41:12 Praising God in "Success" 46:03 The Pressure of Being Above Reproach 49:00 Advice to Young Christian Athletes 51:10 Rapid Fire Questions 58:02 Dogpiling After Winning the B1G Tourney 1:02:51 Concluding Thoughts ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #athletics

You don't have freedom of religion in America... you never did... and that's a GOOD THING. Happy 250th birthday USA! Check out Tim's article here: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/post/you-don-t-have-the-freedom-of-religion-in-america Want to bring us in to speak about this or any other topic? Contact us! - https://www.freethinkingministries.com/contact Josh's Abortion Article: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/post/moloch-bruised-but-not-defeated Like this? Want more? Help us out and join our team today: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate ➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️ 00:00 Introduction 3:08 Introduction the big question: Is Freedom of Religion Absolute? 7:46 The Religion of Moloch Thought Experiment 15:33 Freedom of Religion is not a License to Harm 20:14 What is REAL Freedom? 27:08 The Deductive Limits of Freedom of Religion Case 30:00 Why This Matters and Applying the Principle 35:00 What About Progressive Christianity? 46:10 The Final Word 48:00 Conclusion ➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️ Website: https://freethinkingministries.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FreeThinkInc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freethinkinc X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc #apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity