Thinking Christianly

#45 – What Makes Things What They Are? The Realist/Nominalist Debate

In this episode, we kick off a series discussing the most fundamental issue underlying all other questions: what makes things what they are? How does a proper understanding help us live well and flourish in our world?

In this podcast, we discuss:

• Defining the two options: realism (universals exist) and nominalism (universals don’t exist)
• What is G...

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

In this podcast, we discuss: 

• How does understanding what people are help us in proclaiming the Good News?
• How can we avoid the two extremes of only caring for the body or only caring for the soul in missional contexts?
• What does it mean to have confi...

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 sp...

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 mate...

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 f...

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 h...

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...

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 ph...

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 argume...

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 be...

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 “ne...

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.
...

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...

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 conver...

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
• Ho...

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:...

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.” 

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 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.