Theistic Evolutionism: An understanding of the development of life on earth that arose out of the attempt to relate the interpretation of Genesis to the scientific theory of organic evolution by taking a nonliteral view of the creation account while wholeheartedly trusting its truthfulness as the Word of God. Theistic evolution teaches that while the various species emerged throughout the evolutionary process, God superintended the development of life. That is, evolution was the means that God used in bringing about the divine purpose of creating life on this planet. Theistic evolutionists generally maintain the classical Christian doctrines of creation, original sin and human depravity in need need of redemption.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 112.

Apologetics 315 has begun transcription of its collection of ongoing interviews with Christian historians, scientists, evangelists, philosophers, pastors, authors, and other leading scholars in the area of Christian apologetics—some 150+ and counting. This page will serve as an index for the completed transcripts. (Click here for a message from me about this project.)

Please feel free to suggest the next interviews to transcribe from the growing master list of interviews.

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS:
• Gary Habermas
• Craig Keener
• Lee Strobel
• Hugh Ross
• Former atheist Richard Morgan
• Michael J. Kruger
• Michael Patton
• David Instone-Brewer
• Paul L. Maier
• Norman Geisler
• Craig Blomberg
• John Warwick Montgomery
• Paul Copan
• Bruce Little
• Ellis Potter
• Casey Luskin
• Jeff Zweerink
• David Robertson
• Frank Turek
• J.P. Moreland
• Scott Oliphint
• Ravi Zacharias
• Robin Collins
• Mike Licona 1
• Mike Licona 2
• Scott Klusendorf
• Mark Mittelberg
• Craig Evans
• Greg Koukl
• David Wood
• Michael Behe
• John Frame
• Matthew Flannagan
• Andrew Fellows
• Jay Smith
• Kerby Anderson
• Louis Markos
• Alister McGrath
• Kenneth Samples
• Robert Bowman
• Edgar Andrews
• Douglas Jacoby
• Donald Johnson
• Peter J. Williams

As always, you can help this project by funding it or volunteering your service to aid in the transcription. Thanks for your support!

"Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy must be answered... The learned life then, is for some, a duty."
- C.S. Lewis

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
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Today we continue with Chapter Three in the Read Along with Apologetics 315 project. This is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists by Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow. (Hear an interview about the book here.) Below you will find an audio intro for Chapter Three, a brief summary of the chapter, a PDF workbook with questions for the chapter, and some notable quotes. You're also encouraged to share your comments and feedback for each chapter in the comment section below. Feel free to interact!

In this audio, Jonathan Morrow of ThinkChristianly interviews Michael J. Kruger on the canon of scripture. Kruger's most recent book is Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books. (Apologetics 315 interviewed Kruger here.) This is another helpful interview looking at the formation of the canon and why we have the books of the Bible that we do.

Interview Audio here. ThinkChristianly podcast here.
Michael Kruger's blog here.
Enjoy.

In this audio and video, Christian apologist Frank Turek debates David Silverman, president of the American Atheists, on the topic: Which offers a better explanation for reality–Theism or Atheism? This debate was held on April 18, 2013 at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA. Watch the debate on Vimeo here.

Full Debate MP3 Audio here (2hr 10min)
Enjoy.

General revelation: Term used for the knowledge about God that he makes possible through the natural world, including general religious experiences of awe and dependence. Defenders of general revelation have usually claimed that it is sufficient only to give us knowledge of the existence of a powerful Creator, though some have argued that the goodness of God can also be seen in the natural order. General revelation is distinguished from the special revelation God has provided on particular occasions in history through the prophets, apostles and supremely (for Christians) Jesus of Nazareth. Special revelation provides more concrete knowledge of the character and actions of God in relation to his creation.1

1. C.Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), p. 49.

Today's interview is with Larry Taunton, founder and Executive Director of the Fixed Point Foundation. He talks about his background and the vision of Fixed Point, the purpose and impact of public debates, lessons learned from debating with skeptics and atheists, the bridging of the sacred and the secular, how Christians can get started in making a difference in their communities, advice for the next generation of Christian apologists, debates and resources, and more.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here (31 min)

Enjoy.
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"A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection."

– Tim Keller
The Reason for God, (p. xvii) [HT: Hope's Reason]

In Warranted Christian Belief (henceforth WCB), Alvin Plantinga examines the conditions under which theistic and Christian beliefs possess warrant—that which transforms true belief into knowledge. His definition of warrant (defended at length in the prior two books in this trilogy) is as follows:

A belief has warrant just if it is produced by cognitive processes or faculties that are functioning properly, in a cognitive environment propitious for that exercise of cognitive powers, according to a design plan that is successfully aimed at the production of true beliefs. (Location 114 Kindle edition)

It is important to recognize that Plantinga’s goal in this book is not to argue for the truth of Christian belief, but for its warrant. Once the reader realizes this, it becomes clear why Plantinga introduces the distinction between de facto and de jure objections to theistic and Christian belief. A de facto objection attacks the truth of Christianity and is hence making a metaphysical or an ontological claim (e.g., God does not exist). Popular de facto objections are the logical problem of evil or that the attributes of God are logically inconsistent. De jure objections are epistemological in nature. For example, a de jure objection might hold that whether or not Christian belief is true, it is nonetheless unjustified or unwarranted to hold such belief. Plantinga sees the book serving two distinct functions:

On the one hand, it is an exercise in apologetics and philosophy of religion, an attempt to demonstrate the failure of a range of objects to Christian belief. …. On the other hand, however, the book is an effort in Christian philosophy…the effort to consider and answer philosophical questions from a Christian perspective. (Location 153 Kindle edition) 

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Today we continue with Chapter Two in the Read Along with Apologetics 315 project. This is a chapter-by-chapter study through the book Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists by Sean McDowell and Jonathan Morrow. (Hear an interview about the book here.) Below you will find an audio intro for Chapter Two, a brief summary of the chapter, a PDF workbook with questions for the chapter, and some notable quotes. You're also encouraged to share your comments and feedback for each chapter in the comment section below. Feel free to interact!

In this audio, bio-ethicist Scott Klusendorf presents a talk at a Gordon College convocation, receiving a standing ovation for his pro-life case. For more pro-life resources, go here.

Full MP3 Audio here.

Listen.

The following transcript is from an Apologetics 315 interview with Bruce Little. Original audio here. Transcript index here. If you enjoy transcripts, please consider supporting, which makes this possible.

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BA: Hello this is Brian Auten of Apologetics 315. Today's interview is with Dr. Bruce Little. He is the Associate Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He's also the author of A Creation-Order Theodicy: God and Gratuitous Evil. The purpose of our interview today is to learn a bit more about Dr. Little and his work, discuss the topic of evil and theodicy and seek his advice for Christian apologists. So Dr. Little, thanks for doing this interview.

BL: My pleasure, Brian.

BA: Would you mind telling our listeners a bit more about yourself and your background?

Nihilism: The rejection of objective moral values and structures, literally "nothingism." The nihilist is a skeptic about moral traditions and obligations and does not regard them as binding. A distinction should be made between the attitude of the reluctant or sorrowing nihilist, who finds nihilism terrifying but true, and the celebrative nihilist, who view nihilism as liberation from oppressive rules. Friedrich Nietzsche sometimes described nihilism as a fate that haunts Western culture. At other times, he seems more celebrative in his calls for the construction of a new morality. For those who believe morality requires a transcendent basis, Nietzsche is seen as a guide pointing beyond nihilism.1

1. C.Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), p. 82.

Today's interview is with systematic and analytic theologian Randal Rauser. Randal is the author of a number of books with theological and apologetical themes, including his latest: The Swedish Atheist, The Scuba Diver, and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails. He talks about his background and work, the "tentative apologist," theology, apologetics, and philosophy, his approach to apologetic interaction, authoring a book with John Loftus, his latest book, skills apologists should master, common pitfalls, developing relationships, and how to be a better theologian. Check out Randal's blog here.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here (36 min)

Enjoy.
Subscribe to the Apologetics 315 Interviews podcast here or in iTunes.

"If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself."

- St. Augustine of Hippo

Most Christians have questions about Genesis in relation to science. As I’ve studied the first chapters hundreds if not thousands of times, my perspective has changed quite a bit. I grew up in churches that most likely accepted an old earth, but said little to nothing about evolution. Despite the claims of internet atheists to the contrary, I think this is probably the experience of the majority of evangelical churchgoers in America. These issues simply are not central in most sermons or Bible studies.

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