The Freethinking Podcasts

#Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #ObjectiveMorality #MoralArgument #Atheism #PhilosophyOfReligion #DoesGodExist #ChristianApologetics

Nov 3, 2026 1 hr 38 min

The Argument from Reason Is DEBUNKED? Let's Examine the Evidence.

Show notes

**Has the Argument from Reason really been DEBUNKED?** Critics of Tim Stratton's Free-Thinking Argument, including atheist philosophers Alex Malpass and Dan Linford, have challenged its central claims. But do their objections actually succeed? And what does this debate reveal about the relationship between determinism, free will, and rational thought? In this episode of FreeThinking Ministries, Josh Klein sits down with Dr. Tim Stratton to examine the criticisms, clarify common misunderstandings, and respond to the claim that his argument has been refuted.

Can we genuinely exercise epistemic responsibility if our beliefs and reasoning are determined by factors beyond our control?

Does rational thinking require libertarian freedom?

And does the Free-Thinking Argument provide good reasons to favor the Christian worldview?

Join us as we explore these questions and consider whether the case against the Argument from Reason is really closed.

**➡️ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ⬅️**

📄 **Read Tim Stratton's full response:** *Stratton vs. Skydive Phil and Alex Malpass: Did They Really Debunk the Argument from Reason?* https://www.freethinkingministries.com/post/stratton-vs-skydive-phil-alex-malpass-did-they-really-debunk-the-argument-from-reason

🎥 **Watch the original criticism featuring Alex Malpass and Dan Linford:** *C.S. Lewis Humiliated? The Argument from Reason Debunked* https://youtu.be/oQHeM5MnUGc?si=GIZdar1wVZN76iHt

🎥 **Watch Tim Stratton debate Alex Malpass on Unbelievable?:** https://youtu.be/bKn6OPV7NW0?si=CvfAsmcj73Yexi_i

**➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️**

00:00 Introduction: Was the Argument from Reason Debunked?

02:17 Why Tim Responded to Alex Malpass

09:10 The Argument from Reason vs. the Free-Thinking Argument

16:27 The Carefulness Condition and Epistemic Responsibility

24:05 Does Determinism Undermine Rational Thought?

34:00 Did Tim Change His Argument to Defend Christianity?

45:20 Does Libertarian Freedom Require a Little Person in Your Head?

57:20 Does Knowledge Require Libertarian Free Will?

1:04:25 Misunderstanding Justified True Belief

1:13:40 Compatibilism, Determinism, and the Problem of Randomness

1:23:00 Does the Double Pendulum Refute Free Will?

1:28:32 Could God Determine All Our Beliefs?

1:36:05 Why Libertarian Freedom Fits the Christian Worldview

**➡️ SUPPORT FREETHINKING MINISTRIES ⬅️

** Help us equip Christians to think carefully, reason together, and engage challenging philosophical and theological questions. Donate: https://freethinkingministries.com/donate

Have a question or want to connect with us? Contact: https://freethinkingministries.com/contact

**➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️**

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to **LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE** the episode with someone interested in philosophy, apologetics, and the relationship between faith and reason.

#Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #ArgumentFromReason #FreeWill #Determinism #Molinism #PhilosophyOfReligion #ChristianApologetics #TimStratton #AlexMalpass

Oct 27, 2026 1 hr 44 min

Who Decides What Is Good? Atheism, Genesis & Two Very Different Debates

Show notes

Two debates. Two very different settings. But underneath both conversations was a surprisingly similar question: Who gets to decide what is actually good? Tim Stratton recently debated atheist Richard Suttles on objective morality and whether our moral experience points beyond ourselves—or whether morality merely seems objectively real. Meanwhile, Josh Klein found himself in a very different conversation with New Age thinker Napah Shadah, discussing the Bible, morality, the Garden of Eden, and the remarkable claim that Jesus was the serpent in Genesis 3.

In this episode, Josh and Tim break down key moments from both debates, examine the arguments being made, and explore what happens when human beings become the ultimate authority for defining good and evil.

Can atheism account for objective moral truth?

Could our moral intuitions simply be an evolutionary illusion?

Does the Bible condone evil?

And what should Christians make of the claim that the serpent in Eden was actually Jesus? Two very different debates—but perhaps not such a different underlying issue after all.

➡️ WATCH THE FULL DEBATES Tim Stratton vs. Richard Suttles — Debate on Morality: https://youtu.be/Pje49p6ERKI?si=RkUG1e7XQkargnES

Josh Klein & Napah Shadah — Digital Social Hour: https://www.youtube.com/live/AIM5mL8doWM?si=6HWE3OyltQ44AWsU

Josh's response to the argument concerning the Holy Spirit being feminine comes during the final portion of the Digital Social Hour conversation.

➡️ CHAPTERS

00:00 Two Debates, One Theme

07:48 Does Objective Morality Exist?

19:22 The Ultimate Moral Argument for God

32:23 Is Objective Morality Just an Illusion?

46:31 Does the Bible Condone Rape? | The New Age Debate

1:02:07 Was Jesus the Serpent in Genesis 3? 1:20:27

How Christians Should Debate

➡️ CONNECT WITH FREETHINKING MINISTRIES

Want to invite FreeThinking Ministries to speak at your church, school, conference, or event? https://www.freethinkingministries.com/contact

Support the work of FreeThinking Ministries: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate

If these conversations help you think more carefully about Christianity, philosophy, theology, and culture, make sure to like this video and subscribe to the channel. Thanks for watching—and as we always say here at FTM: Stay Reasonable.

#Apologetics #Christianity #ObjectiveMorality #Atheism #Genesis

Oct 13, 2026 1 hr 24 min

Is Beauty Evidence for God? | Jim Spiegel

Show notes

Is beauty really just in the eye of the beholder, or does objective beauty tell us something important about the nature of reality and the existence of God? In this episode of FreeThinking Ministries, Josh Klein and Tim Stratton sit down with philosopher and author Jim Spiegel to discuss his book A Thing of Beauty and the case for objective beauty. What does it mean to say that beauty is real rather than merely subjective? Can some works of art actually be better than others? How are beauty, morality, and human flourishing connected? And if objective beauty exists, does it ultimately point beyond the physical world to a Creator?

Jim explains what he calls the "Divine Art Paradigm," explores whether the cosmos itself can be understood as a work of art, and discusses how objective aesthetic value fits within a Christian worldview. The conversation also examines aesthetic obligations, morally corrupt art, cultural taste, and whether beauty can function as evidence for God.

📘 Get Jim Spiegel's book, A Thing of Beauty: https://a.co/d/0a7WSyBb

🔗 Learn more about Jim Spiegel: https://jimspiegel.com/

📝 Read Jim and Amy Spiegel's Wisdom and Folly blog: https://wisdomandfollyblog.com/

📖 Read Tim Stratton's article, "Objective Beauty & the Existence of God": https://www.freethinkingministries.com/post/objective-beauty-the-existence-of-god

➡️CHAPTERS⬅️

00:00 Is Beauty Woven Into Reality?

02:46 Why Jim Spiegel Wrote "A Thing of Beauty"

12:09 The Divine Art Paradigm: Everything is Art

22:11 Is Beauty Really in the Eye of the Beholder?

22:59 Can Immoral Art Be Beautiful?

43:26 Are We Obligated to Appreciate Beauty?

51:20 Does Objective Beauty Point to God?

1:00:35 What Makes a Movie Objectively Good?

➡️ SUPPORT & CONNECT ⬅️

Support FreeThinking Ministries: https://freethinkingministries.com/donate

Contact FreeThinking Ministries: https://freethinkingministries.com/contact

Subscribe for more conversations on apologetics, philosophy, theology, logic, and the Christian worldview.

#Apologetics #Christianity #ObjectiveBeauty #Philosophy #ExistenceOfGod #ChristianPhilosophy #FreeThinkingMinistries

Oct 7, 2026 1 hr 8 min

The Creation Dilemma Backfires on Mormonism?

Show notes

Does Hayden Carroll's "Creation Dilemma" successfully challenge traditional Christianity, or does the argument create an even bigger problem for Mormonism? In this episode of FreeThinking Ministries, Josh Klein and Tim Stratton are joined by Taylor from @thoughtfultheology to examine the Creation Dilemma, Hayden Carroll's (@LetsTalk-HaydenCarroll) philosophical argument concerning God's foreknowledge, creation, human freedom, hell, and divine goodness.

First, we take Hayden's argument seriously and ask whether Christians can answer the challenge. Does God's knowledge that someone will reject Him make creating that person immoral? Do libertarian freedom, Molinism, soul-building, and competing goods provide a meaningful response? Then the conversation turns to LDS theology itself. If human beings existed premortally, if Heavenly Father operates according to eternal law, and if some ultimately experience outer darkness, does the Creation Dilemma create a parallel problem for Mormonism? And does premortal consent solve the problem—or simply move it somewhere else? This isn't about dunking on Hayden. We appreciate his willingness to engage difficult philosophical and theological questions, and our goal is to reason carefully through the argument and follow it wherever it leads. FreeThinking Ministries seeks to help people reason together by applying logic and sound theology to all aspects of life.

➡️ RESOURCES MENTIONED ⬅️

Previous FTM discussion with Hayden Carroll on the Creation Dilemma: https://youtu.be/E0h5JyfKTLQ

Tim Stratton's article on the Creation Dilemma: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/post/hayden-carroll-s-creation-dilemma-a-strong-argument-that-ultimately-fails

Josh & Tim's conversation with Hayden on Calvinism: https://youtu.be/wA8QbVhGyNA?si=3G_aJ9at1IzEEXIC

Taylor's video on Mormonism and the Problem of Evil: https://youtu.be/Orusaffhd4I?si=oC-9yDYjH1R4kTmQ

➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️

00:00 The Creation Dilemma: Hayden Carroll's Argument

15:12 Does Foreknowledge Make Creation Immoral?

21:42 Soul-Building, Freedom & Reasons God Might Create

30:30 Is God "Bound"? Feasibility & Eternal Law

45:38 Consent Under Duress & the Problem of Outer Darkness

43:44 Does the Creation Dilemma Backfire on Mormonism?

59:24 Judas, Sons of Perdition & Closing Thoughts

➡️ SUPPORT FREETHINKING MINISTRIES ⬅️

Donate: https://freethinkingministries.com/donate

Join the conversation: https://freethinkingministries.com/contact

➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️

#Mormonism #LDS #ChristianApologetics #Theology #FreeThinking

Oct 1, 2026 1 hr 10 min

Should Christians Forgive Without Repentance? | Counterfeit Forgiveness w/ Teasi Cannon

Show notes

Does biblical forgiveness require repentance? And have Christians sometimes confused forgiveness with simply "letting go" of what someone has done? Teasi Cannon joins Josh Klein and Tim Stratton to discuss her book Counterfeit Forgiveness and challenge some common assumptions about forgiveness in the church. They explore the difference between biblical and therapeutic forgiveness, whether Christians are called to forgive unrepentant offenders, the relationship between forgiveness and reconciliation, and why unconditional forgiveness can sometimes place an additional burden on victims. The conversation also tackles some of the toughest biblical and theological objections: What about Jesus saying, "Father, forgive them"? Does requiring repentance turn forgiveness into a work? Should Christians forgive in the same way God forgives? And what should we say to someone who simply isn't ready to forgive yet?

📖 Buy Counterfeit Forgiveness on Amazon and Leave a Review https://a.co/d/0fQQ8Mrr

🌐 Explore Teasi Cannon's website https://www.teasicannon.com/ ▶️

Find Teasi on YouTube @teasicannon9660

➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️

00:00 Introduction

04:34 Biblical vs. Therapeutic Forgiveness

11:19 Can You Forgive Without Repentance?

18:31 What Does Genuine Repentance Look Like?

24:40 Why Is Forgiveness So Emotional?

30:57 Loving Your Enemies Is Not the Same as Forgiveness

36:10 How Unconditional Forgiveness Can Hurt Victims

42:00 What If You've Practiced "Counterfeit Forgiveness"?

46:51 "Father, Forgive Them" — What About Jesus on the Cross?

52:13 Is Repentance a Work? Calvinism and Forgiveness

57:56 Should We Forgive the Way God Forgives?

1:01:49 What If You're Not Ready to Forgive?

1:10:28 Does Unconditional Forgiveness Confuse the Gospel?

1:16:40 Why Teasi Wrote Counterfeit Forgiveness

➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️

#Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity

Sep 22, 2026 1 hr 23 min

Is William Lane Craig a Heretic? The Trinity Controversy Explained

Show notes

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 ⬅️

#williamlanecraig #Trinity #NiceneCreed #ChristianTheology #Apologetics #EternalGeneration #SolaScriptura #ReasonableFaith #FreeThinkingMinistries #Christianity

Sep 15, 2026 1 hr 30 min

Are You Just a Biological Machine? | Dr. Joshua Farris on Why Souls

Show notes

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 ⬅️

#Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #Souls

Sep 8, 2026 1 hr 20 min

What Makes Human Life Valuable? | The Abortion Debate Goes Deeper.

Show notes

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 ⬅️

https://www.camcintosh.com/about/

X: https://x.com/freethinkmin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@freethinkinc

#Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity

Sep 2, 2026 1 hr 20 min

Can Traditionalism, Annihilationism, & Universalism ALL Be Right?

Show notes

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 ⬅️

➡️ 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 ⬅️

#Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #Hell #Theology #Philosophy #Annihilationism #Universalism #ImagoDei

Sep 1, 2026 1 hr 21 min

Can We Know Jesus Rose from the Dead? | Phil Bair

Show notes

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 ⬅️

#Christianity #Resurrection #ChristianApologetics #JesusChrist

Aug 18, 2026 1 hr 14 min

Leighton Flowers: What Stands Out in Mere Molinism

Show notes

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

Aug 11, 2026 1 hr 27 min

Restored Truth Mocked Tim Stratton's Debate... Our Response

Show notes

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 ⬅️

#Apologetics #Christianity #LDS #Mormon #Theology #FreeThinkingMinistries

Aug 4, 2026 2 hr 34 min

Inside the Dan Barker vs. Adam Lloyd Johnson Debate Book

Show notes

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 ⬅️

#Apologetics #Christianity #God #GodsExistence #Atheism #DanBarker #Debate #ChristianApologetics #Philosophy #Reason #FreeThinking

Jul 28, 2026 1 hr 5 min

Nebraska Baseball Stars Dylan Carey & Joshua Overbeek on Faith, Pressure, and Purpose

Show notes

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 ⬅️

#apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity #athletics

Jul 14, 2026 1 hr 4 min

You DON'T Have Freedom of Religion in America (Here's Why)

Show notes

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 ⬅️

#apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity

Jul 7, 2026 49 min

LIVE: Mere Molinism 2nd Edition Release + Call-In Discussion with Tim Stratton

Show notes

(This was a live call-in show on YouTube. It is NOT live on audio.)

It's official! All the edits have been processed, all the typos clarified and fixed. All the I's dotted and T's crossed. Mere Molinism Edition 2 is hot off the presses and we want YOU to be a part of it!

Get the book here: https://a.co/0dV9ByZv

Visit our website: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/

Jun 30, 2026 2 hr 10 min

Can an all-loving God create hell-bound people? Christianity & LDS Theology with Hayden Carroll

Show notes

Dr. Tim Stratton and Josh Klein invite Hayden Carroll, host of @LetsTalk-HaydenCarroll to discuss his Creation Dilemma, The Trinity and the differences between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and "Creedal" Christianity (historic/orthodox).

Check out the livestream in which we initially broached this topic: https://youtube.com/live/8_f4LOQV3SU?feature=share

Hayden's Book: https://a.co/d/0eyMaMja

Tim's Article on the topic: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/post/a-friendly-response-to-philosophically-minded-latter-day-saints-on-creation-hell-and-the-limits-o

Join FTM Today and Support Podcasts like these: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate

Bring us in to speak: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/contact

➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️

00:00 Introduction

04:30 The Recent Shift in LDS Philosophy

08:15 Could The Trinity Be Compatible with Joseph Smith's Vision?

22:22 The Creation Dilemma's Trinitarian Implications and Best Refutations

28:42 Is How The Soul Comes Into Being A Factor In The Dilemma?

32:55 Why Should The Fact of Some Going To Hell Override Those that Go to Heaven?

36:45 Can the Christian God be "Bound" By Feasibility 41:55 The Judas Argument

44:54 How Does This Dilemma Impact LDS Theology and "Outer Darkness"

52:26 Could God's Unique Knowledge Undermine the Argument?

58:22 What Role Does Consent Say and Does LDS Theology Have a Similar "Consent" Problem?

1:07:36 The Difference Between God Being Reality and Being Bound by Reality

1:12:28 Closing Thoughts - If The Argument Holds What Does it Prove?

➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️

#Apologetics #FreeThinking #Christianity

Jun 23, 2026 1 hr 14 min

The Strange Reasons Mindshift Thinks God Can't Exist

Show notes

@MindShift-Brandon YouTube Channel is back with what he believes are several reasons the Christian God cannot exist. This time, the discussion focuses on divine emotions, jealousy, regret, and even memory in Heaven.

If God experiences jealousy, regret, or other emotions, does that make Him less than perfect? Does divine regret imply a lack of foresight? And if people remember loved ones who are in Hell, can Heaven truly be a place of joy? In this episode, we examine Mindshift's arguments and explain why we believe they ultimately fail to undermine the Christian conception of God.

Watch Mindshift's original video here: https://youtu.be/yzg9CLwRIx0?si=5JecRoB69a87e_Cj

➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️

00:00 Introduction

01:00 A New Argument Against God's Existence?

04:35 God and His Emotions

10:35 God Lacked Foresight?

22:14 Is Jealousy Always an Unhealthy Emotion?

33:29 The Truth About Divine Regret

48:11 Is It Wrong to Claim Anthropomorphism Language About God?

54:06 Mindshift's False Dichotomy Concerning Heaven

1:05:48 Is To Remember Suffering to Suffer? Memory in Heaven

1:26:04 Matching Mindshift's Energy

1:30:07 Concluding Thoughts

Topics discussed include God's emotions, divine jealousy, divine regret, anthropomorphic language in Scripture, Christian theology, philosophy of religion, Heaven and Hell, memory in Heaven, and arguments for God's existence.

➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️

#Apologetics #Christianity #Theology #PhilosophyOfReligion #Mindshift #God #Heaven #Hell #ChristianApologetics #FreeThinkingMinistries

Jun 16, 2026 1 hr 31 min

Dr. Ryan Mullins Says William Lane Craig's Molinism Is Incoherent—But Is It?

Show notes

Molinism is one of the most influential models for reconciling human libertarian freedom and divine sovereignty. While Dr. William Lane Craig is among its most well-known defenders, Dr. Ryan T. Mullins recently argued that Craig's particular articulation of Molinism may contain an incoherence and proposed a possible solution. In this episode, Tyson James of Sound Faith Consulting and Reasonable Faith joins us to examine the debate, unpack the philosophical issues at stake, and evaluate whether the alleged contradiction is genuine or whether William Lane Craig's formulation of Molinism remains coherent.

Check out Ryan's work at: https://www.rtmullins.com/

Specific podcast referenced: https://www.rtmullins.com/podcast/episode/de00b8b6/ep-194-molinism

Check out Sound Faith: https://soundfaithconsulting.com/

Join the FTM Team: https://www.freethinkingministries.com/donate

➡️ CHAPTERS ⬅️

00:00 Introducing Dr. Mullins and Tyson

07:45 What Are the Strengths of Molinism?

13:30 Handling the Grounding Objection

30:00 Would God's Knowledge of His Own Counterfactuals Lead to Fatalism or Undermine Freedom?

46:24 The Issue with Logical Moments Prior to Creation

58:09 Ryan Mullins' Challenge: Is William Lane Craig's Molinism Incoherent?

1:13:00 Dr. Mullins Offers a Solution

1:28:08 Parting Words and Concluding Thoughts

➡️ TOPICS DISCUSSED ⬅️

Molinism, William Lane Craig, Ryan T. Mullins, middle knowledge, libertarian free will, divine sovereignty, divine foreknowledge, counterfactuals of creaturely freedom, the grounding objection, fatalism, providence, logical moments, Christian philosophy, theology, and apologetics.

➡️ SOCIALS ⬅️