Summary Chad Gross interviews Dr. Christopher Cloos about the challenging Old Testament violence texts and his recent debate with theologian Randal Rauser. They explore the complexities of interpreting these texts, the role of moral intuition, and the contrasting views of covenant virtue ethics and providential errancy theory. The conversation delves into how moral intuitions can inform biblical interpretation while also addressing the potential pitfalls of subjectivity in understanding scriptur...
Jun 02, 2025•56 min•Season 2Ep. 132
Summary Brian Auten interviews ultra runner and philosopher Sabrina B. Little. They explore the intersection of endurance sports and ethics, discussing how running can cultivate virtue, expose vice, and serve as a training ground for character development. Sabrina shares her journey from philosophy to ultra running, emphasizing the importance of discipline and habit in forming virtues. The conversation delves into the complexities of virtue and vice, the role of sports in moral formation, and th...
May 24, 2025•50 min•Season 2Ep. 155
Summary In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross speak with Dr. Marcus Ross, a prominent figure in the Young Earth Creationism debate. They explore Dr. Ross's background, his journey in paleontology, and the challenges faced by Young Earth Creationists. The conversation delves into the historical context of Young Earth Creationism, the evidence supporting it, and the importance of open dialogue in understanding differing perspectives on creation and evolut...
May 17, 2025•2 hr•Season 2Ep. 153
Episode Summary : In this episode of the Apologetics 315 Podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross welcome back J. Warner Wallace and his son Jimmy Wallace to discuss their new graphic novel, 'Case Files: Murder and Meaning.' The conversation explores their journey into comic books, the collaborative process of creating a graphic novel, and the themes of identity and value within the context of law enforcement. They also discuss the challenges of balancing Christian and secular perspectives in s...
Apr 14, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 151
Episode Summary : In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross discuss the book “Rational Faith” by Stephen T. Davis. They explore the unique approach Davis takes in defending Christianity, emphasizing humility in apologetics and the rational basis for faith. The conversation covers various themes including theistic evolution, the reliability of the Gospels, and arguments for the resurrection of Jesus. The hosts appreciate Davis's ability to present complex id...
Apr 02, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 150
Episode Summary: In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross welcome Professor Ken Samples to discuss his new book, 'Clear Thinking in a Messy World.' The conversation explores the intersection of logic, critical thinking, and the Christian worldview, emphasizing the importance of discernment and understanding cognitive biases. The hosts and Ken delve into the significance of Jesus as a logician and thinker, the role of science and philosophy in achieving obj...
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 151
Episode Summary: In this episode, Brian and Chad welcome Melissa Dougherty, author and apologist, to discuss the influence of the New Thought movement on modern culture and Christianity. Melissa shares insights from her book, explaining how New Thought has infiltrated self-help teachings, Word of Faith theology, and broader church beliefs. She also explores its historical roots and the challenges of recognizing and addressing these ideas in Christian circles. Key Topics Discussed: 1. Introductio...
Jan 30, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 150
Episode Summary : In this first episode of 2025, Brian Auten and Chad Gross dive into a "Cornucopia" of topics, offering an eclectic mix of discussion points for anyone interested in apologetics, Christian living, and the new year ahead. The hosts share insights on their favorite apologetic arguments, explore the reliability of the New Testament, and provide encouragement for Christian parents. They also discuss Wesley Huff's recent debate and appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, reflecting on les...
Jan 19, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 149
Summary In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auden and Chad Gross engage with Dr. Michael Licona, a prominent New Testament scholar, to discuss his latest book, 'Jesus Contradicted.' The conversation delves into the historical reliability of the Gospels, addressing the differences in accounts and how they can be understood within the context of ancient biography. Dr. Licona shares insights from his extensive research, emphasizing the importance of compositional devices use...
Nov 11, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 148
Summary In this episode of the Apologetics 315 Podcast, host Chad Gross interviews Eric Chabot about his essay, 'Does the Resurrection of Jesus Prove He is the Jewish Messiah?' The conversation explores Chabot's background, his work with Ratio Christi, and the significance of the resurrection in the context of Jewish messianic expectations. Chabot discusses the concept of the Messiah, the varied expectations of the Jewish people in the first century, and the challenges faced when discussing thes...
Oct 24, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 147
Summary In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross speak with Benjamin Shaw, a distinguished Christian apologist and author of Trustworthy: 13 Arguments for the Reliability of the New Testament .' The discussion covers Shaw's personal journey into apologetics, the importance of New Testament reliability, and the historical criteria that support it. Shaw emphasizes the cumulative approach to understanding the New Testament, the significance of the Gospels as ...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 146
Summary In this conversation, Brian and Chad interview J. Warner Wallace, a former cold case detective turned Christian apologist and author. They discuss his new book, 'The Truth and True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life.' The book explores the intersection of true crime and spirituality, focusing on 15 principles that lead to human flourishing. They delve into topics such as the three motivations behind every crime (money, sex, and power), the dangers of fam...
Sep 10, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 145
Summary In this conversation, Chad Gross interviews Eric Hernandez about the existence of the soul. They discuss the definition of the soul, the relationship between the mind and the brain, and the arguments against physicalism. Eric presents the case for substance dualism and argues that consciousness cannot be reduced to physical properties. They also touch on the panpsychist view of consciousness and its implications. The conversation delves into the philosophy of mind and the implications fo...
Aug 22, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 144
Summary Robbie Lashua discusses the Stand to Reason (STR) Outposts initiative, its purpose, and the process of starting one at a local church. He shares his journey of getting involved with STR and his role as the outpost coordinator. The conversation also covers the flexibility of outposts, the target audience, and the use of STRU courses for small group discussions. Robbie is interviewed about STR's Outpost program, which equips local churches with apologetics resources. The program allows fle...
Jul 01, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 143
Summary Nate Sala shares his journey from leaving the church to becoming a Christian, his ministry Wise Disciple, and his insights on debate and persuasion. He discusses the importance of objectivity in debate analysis and the criteria for judging debates. The conversation covers various aspects of debate preparation, styles, and strategies, as well as the role of emotion and rhetoric in debates. It also delves into the significance of cross-examination and the art of debate, along with the impa...
Jun 17, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 142
Summary In this episode, Brian and Chad interview Travis Dickinson about the argument from reason. They discuss the different options for explaining the existence of logical principles, focusing on naturalism and Platonism. Travis argues that if God does not exist, logical principles either do not exist or exist as brute abstract objects. He explains that naturalism, which denies the existence of anything outside the natural world, cannot account for the existence of logical principles. Platonis...
Jun 03, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 141
In this episode, Brian Auten & Chad Gross engage with philosopher Paul Gould to discuss the profound connection between beauty, love, theism. They delve into why beauty is more likely on theism than naturalism and explore various philosophical perspectives on love and the recognition of beauty. Topics Covered: 1. Introduction to the Topic of Beauty: - Beauty in Theism vs. Naturalism: - Gould explains why beauty is more likely on theism than naturalism. - Discussion on the analogy between hum...
May 21, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 140
Introduction - Chad and Brian discuss their favorite and most memorable debates between Christian apologists/philosophers and atheists/skeptics Chad's Debate Picks 1. James Crossley vs. William Lane Craig - Was Jesus Raised from the Dead? (2012) - Highlights Craig's case for the resurrection based on postmortem appearances - Contrasting styles of young Crossley vs distinguished Craig 2. Jeffrey Lowder vs. Frank Turek - What Better Explains Reality: Naturalism or Theism? (2016) - Appreciates Lowd...
May 10, 2024•31 min•Season 2Ep. 107
In this episode, Brian and Chad discuss the importance of listening to debates. This is a kind of PART 1, and part 2 will discuss specific debates. Brian's seven reasons for listening to debates were: 1) Hearing the best defenders of each view, 2) Hearing actual arguments without interruptions, 3) Finding the cutting edge of the current debate, 4) Getting used to hearing opposing views without anxiety, 5) Seeing that Christianity can hold its own intellectually, 6) Observing how a cumulative cas...
Apr 24, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 136
In this episode, Brian and Chad interview Chris Date about his view on conditional immortality, which is the idea that the final punishment of the wicked is death and total destruction rather than eternal conscious torment. Chris provides an overview of the two contrasting views and shares his journey of how he became convinced of annihilationism after originally believing in eternal conscious torment. He then dives into key biblical texts that are often used to argue for eternal torment, such a...
Apr 06, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 2Ep. 137
In this episode, Dr. Hugh Ross joins Brian Auten and Chad Gross to discuss his book "Rescuing Inerrancy: A Scientific Defense." Dr. Ross, an astrophysicist and Christian apologist, explains how modern scientific discoveries actually strengthen the case for biblical inerrancy rather than undermining it. He argues against the notion that science forces a redefinition of inerrancy, showing how the latest findings in fields like genetics and cosmology align with a literal, historical interpretation ...
Mar 24, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 136
Historian Dr. John Dickson joins the show to discuss his book, Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History. Dickson provides an insightful, nuanced perspective on some of the most controversial episodes in Christian history, from the Crusades to the Galileo affair. He argues that while Christians have certainly made grave mistakes throughout history, the influence of Christianity has also been profoundly positive, pioneering hospitals, abolitionism, and education...
Feb 25, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 135
In this episode, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Alisa Childers about the topic of deconstruction, and unpack ideas discussed in her newest book: The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond co-authored with Tim Barnett. https://a315.co/3SmCWvp The podcast focuses on the faith deconstruction movement that is becoming more popular, especially among young people. Alisa Childers explains that deconstruction involves re-examining and often disma...
Jan 31, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 134
This special end-of-year episode features hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross reflecting on 14 years of podcasting. They announce some changes coming in 2023, including less frequent but more focused episodes centered on topics they are passionate about. They also share lessons learned over 300+ episodes, like the importance of understanding multiple perspectives, asking good questions, and clearly explaining complex subjects. The hosts reminisce about memorable past guests. They discuss what makes...
Dec 21, 2023•58 min•Season 2Ep. 131
In this episode, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Michael Jones of the Inspiring Philosophy YouTube channel. They discuss the problem of divine hiddenness - the idea that if God existed, he would make his existence clearly evident to everyone, yet there are many non-resistant nonbelievers who earnestly seek God but do not find convincing evidence of his existence. This is seen as evidence against God's existence. Michael provides an overview of the divine hiddenness argument, explainin...
Nov 13, 2023•47 min•Season 2Ep. 132
In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Tyson James, the global director of Reasonable Faith Chapters. This episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast featured an interview with Tyson James, the global director of Reasonable Faith chapters . Tyson shared about his journey to Christianity and how studying apologetics strengthened his faith. He explained that Reasonable Faith chapters are small groups at churches focused on studying Christianity and answering objections, with the goal of...
Nov 06, 2023•34 min
In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview renowned apologist Greg Koukl. Koukl is the founder of Stand to Reason, an organization that equips Christians to defend their faith and engage in meaningful conversations. The discussion centers around using questions to have better conversations about Christianity, drawing from Koukl's books Tactics and his latest work Street Smarts. Koukl explains how questions can guide conversations in a more construc...
Oct 30, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 126
In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview J. Steve Miller on the topic of deathbed experiences and near death experiences. 0:24 - Intro to Steve Miller and his books 4:50 - Welcome to Steve Miller 5:00 - How did he get into this area of research? 7:42 - What’s the difference between deathbed experiences and near-death experiences? 12:40 - Examples of these experiences 16:16 - The cumulative effect of many similar experiences 17:27 - What are the lines of evidence that are good when l...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 129
In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross speak with Professor Nancy Pearcey about her book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes - https://a315.co/468rzNF 0:24 - Intro banter on hobbit food 2:15 - Intro to Nancy Pearcey and her book The Toxic War Against Masculinity 6:16 - Welcome to Nancy 6:46 - Nancy’s background and why she wrote the book 9:14 - Francis Schaeffer’s influence on Nancy Pearcey 15:41 - Why a toxic war against masculinity? 18:35 - The statistics a...
Oct 16, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 128
In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross speak with Justin Brierley ( www.justinbrierley.com ) about his book The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again - https://a315.co/3PBmXZ7 0:24 - Brian and Chad discuss the book 5:27 - Intro to Justin, welcome back! 7:15 - How did the new atheism actually help Christianity? 9:12 - The change in the cultural landscape 13:30 - Atheists who are now no longer fighting Christianit...
Oct 09, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 127
