Questioning Belief

Was Jesus of Nazareth a real, historical figure? Join us in this brief episode where we take a deep yet concise dive into three primary sources from non-Christian Roman historians and writers to assess whether a human named Jesus actually existed, was killed by Pontius Pilate, and founded the Christian religion. We discuss the testimonies of Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, and Flavius Josephus -- three men who were not sympathetic to Christianity in the slightest (one of them calling it a "depraved superstition"), therefore three sources not biased in Christianity's favor. Watch this episode online here.

We’ve all heard the charge levelled at Artificial Intelligence (AI) that it is a demonic technology that should never be used. However, AI already underpins many technologies in our lives, from Netflix suggestions to software for clinical decisionmaking. Can AI be stewarded wisely for use by the church to support its mission without denigrating its community? Will AI ever reach the status of human intelligence, and what does it actually mean to be human? Dr. Todd Korpi, author of the acclaimed book AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence, joins Dr. Noller, a scientist who uses artificial intelligence for cancer research, to discuss the Christian perspective on AI. We discuss whether AI will ever reach a human-like level of intelligence and what Christian theology teaches us about being human. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities AI poses for pastors, ministry leaders, and laypeople and grapple with the ethical concerns of leveraging AI for Christian missions. Resources: AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence What is Artificial Intelligence? Introductory article from IBM

You may or may not be aware of the debates surrounding the historicity of the Gospel of John. Many scholars have suggested that John’s Gospel contains unhistorical embellishments or is “metaphorically” but not historically true as are Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This accusation has serious implications for our understanding of Jesus and His teachings, as well as for the reliability of the New Testament as a whole. Did John truly alter the facts and put words in Jesus’ mouth to serve his own theological goals? Analytic philosopher Lydia McGrew refutes these claims in The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage, arguing in detail that John never invents material and that he is robustly reliable and honestly historical. Resources: Dr. McGrew’s website The Eye of the Beholder: The Gospel of John as Historical Reportage by Lydia McGrew 

Do you want to transmit your faith to the next generation and leave behind a legacy that your children and grandchildren will be proud of? Substack bestseller and strategist Johann Kurtz joins us to discuss how to build a virtuous family dynasty which serves the local community. We discuss the true meaning of Christian charity and how to practically love your neighbor and become a servant leader in your community. We discuss how to help the next generation without breeding entitlement and while instilling a deep sense of Christian and family duty.

Is the archetype of the crucified and resurrected God present in religions other than Christianity— particularly in religions predating Christianity? Apologetics debates often bring up pre-Christian resurrection and crucifixion myths as evidence that the Christian accounts of Jesus' bodily resurrection are at best unremarkable and at worst copied from older accounts. We dive into primary sources in this episode to discuss three pre-Christian examples: the alleged spiritual resurrection of King Thoulis of Egypt, the Osiris myth, and the myth of the Hindu deity Krishna.

What did Jesus really think of women, and what is the modern woman called to be? Renowned apologist and writer Dr. Rebecca McLaughlin joins us to tackle the assertions of sexism and gender inequality commonly made against Christianity. In this episode, we address unsavory statements made by church fathers attesting to women's inferior intellect or moral character in reference to men's. We discuss biological, social, and Biblical differences between men and women, inclinding headship and submission in marriage. We discuss the decline of monastic culture leading to a devaluation of singleness within the modern church. Finally, we hypothesize why Jesus didn't choose female apostles, but chose several female disciples who played significant and irreplaceable roles in His ministry. Resources: Confronting Christianity podcast Confronting Christianity by Dr. McLaughlin Jesus Through the Eyes of Women by Dr. McLaughlin

"You can tell a lot about the state of twenty-first century evangelicalism by talking to those who leave it." This is the opening sentence of the introduction to A Heart Aflame for God, a thoughtful, Scripturally-based, and thoroughly-researched book by Dr. Matthew Bingham on spiritual practices from the early Reformed church. In this episode, we discuss perceived issues with Protestantism such as the de-emphasis of ceremony and "tradition," the focus on the mind and Word over bodily worship, and the stereotype that Puritan worship was divorced from the affections of the heart. Dr. Bingham takes us through the Puritan practice of "keeping the heart" and proposes a Reformation triangle of three interconnected practices for spiritual formation: Scriptural engagement, meditation, and prayer. We close by discussing the interplay between one's own spiritual formation and the health of the Church.

Individualism, Exclusion, and the Cult of Busyness: How to Build a Radically Christ-Centered Community Christian communities should be strongholds of worship, godly love, and hospitality, but the Church elicits many negative perceptions in the modern day, some imposed by the surrounding culture and some of its own making. Dr. Brian Carrier, Pastor of Discipleship at the District Church in Washington, D.C., shares his experience in community-building and spiritual formation as a pastor in a highly individualistic and professional urban setting. We discuss modern Church struggles such as its perception by the outside world as exclusionary and unwelcoming, its need to fight radical individualism and the consumerist mindset of attendees, and its lack of substantial young male involvement. Dr. Carrier advises non-Christians on how to explore the Church and advises Christians on how to disciple others, how to practically love their neighbors, and how to encourage commitment and forge strong bonds within Christian community. This episode will help you to understand what it means to genuinely "do life together."

Dr. Sita Slavov grew up in a Hindu household, practiced Zen Buddhism for many years, and is now a professing Christian. Dr. Slavov embarked on a search for absolute truth from an early age, using her skills as a researcher to investigate the truth claims behind different world religions. In this episode, we address religious pluralism, the role of tradition and upbringing in religious identity, and the distinction between religious practice and faith. We explore the contrasts between the Buddhist and Christian concepts of the self, suffering, salvation and the practice of meditation. Resources: Christianity Today article by Dr. Slavov Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis:

In this episode, Dr. Noller engages the wisdom of a speaker with a wide-ranging expertise in Reformed theology, Dr. Gray Sutanto. We discuss the development of apologetics throughout church history and the influence of seminal Reformed theologians such as Herman Bavinck, Cornelius Van Til, and Alvin Plantinga on cultural apologetics. We dive into common yet weighty objections to Christianity such as: does evolution explain away the existence of good and evil? Why doesn't God save everyone, and does He predestine people for Hell? Do atheists have a burden of proof for denying the existence of a god? And how can a good and powerful God permit the existence of evil? We close with Bavinck's prediction of the rise of Aryan nationalism from the decline of Christian faith in Europe.

Discussing Christianity or sharing your faith with others who hold different beliefs can be intimidating. In this episode, Dr. Bannister teaches us how to organically open up about our faith and ask open-ended questions of others. Evangelism doesn't need to take place in a stadium and apologists needn't be university professors-- they can be ordinary Christians like you and me. Join us as we discuss tactics to address objections such as "all religions are the same" and "Christians are hypocrites." From his real-life experience and role as Director of Solas, an evangelical organization, Dr. Bannister shares his impression of shifts in worldview, the new wave of atheism, and the Muslim perspective on Jesus. Join us for an engaging and practical discussion! The Questioning Belief podcast, hosted by Kathleen Noller, Ph.D., addresses objections to Christianity through in-depth discussions with experts. Drawing from her background as a former atheist and her experience in apologetics, Kathleen invites you to explore thoughtful responses to serious questions about faith.

Dr. Tom Tarrants is President Emeritus of the C.S. Lewis Institute and author of Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love: How a Violent Klansman Became a Champion of Racial Reconciliation. In this episode, Tom and I discuss the accusation that the American Protestant church promotes bigotry and racism, particularly white supremacy. In Part 1 of our discussion, Tom shares his gripping testimony of growing up in the Deep South amidst anti-communist and racist ideologies and coming to know God through his readings of classical philosophy and the Gospels in a maximum security prison. We discuss the difference between nominal and true faith, whether America is a Christian nation, the sinful perversion of the Bible to justify racism, and more.

Sharon Dirckx, PhD., trained neuroscientist, prolific speaker, and author of award-winning books on the problem of evil and human consciousness, helps us to tackle the problem of natural evil. There are evils in our world which can't be directly attributed to human moral error: natural disasters, parasites, and disease attack seemingly indiscriminately, causing rampant death and destruction of innocent people. How can the Judeo-Christian God be simultaneously good, loving, and all-powerful and yet allow disaster and disease to occur on his watch? Did God create these evils, does he passively permit them, or is he powerless to stop them? 

Many Christian leaders across different sects hold varied interpretations of key Biblical practices, leading to notable differences in theology and practice. Do differences in Biblical interpretation betray a pluralism within Christianity or an insufficiency of Scripture as God's method of communication? Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer joins us to discuss historical and modern differences in Biblical reading cultures, what it means to read the Bible "literally," and how to discern Biblical genre. Dr. Vanhoozer puts forth the practice of "mere Christian hermeneutics"-- essential principles for reading the Bible as Scripture everywhere, at all times, and by all Christians.

Dr. Peter Williams joins us to discuss various objections to the trustworthiness of the gospels, including the possibility of fabrication of the gospel accounts by later writers, the presence of apparent contradictions within the gospels themselves, and the alleged corruption of the original accounts by oral transmission and thousands of years of copying and translation. Dr. Williams has been leading Tyndale House, an international Bible research community in Cambridge, England, since 2007. He received his MA, MPhil, and PhD from the University of Cambridge, studying ancient languages related to the Bible and was formerly a Senior Lecturer in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen. He is an Affiliated Lecturer at the University of Cambridge and a member of the Translation Oversight Committee of the English Standard Version. His book Can We Trust the Gospels? (Crossway, 2018) has been published in 15 languages. His latest book is The Surprising Genius of Jesus (Crossway, 2023).

Dr. Carolyn Weber, a prolific writer, professor of literature, and ardent Christian, joins us to discuss the rich history of Christian literature and the purpose of Christian art. We discuss Rudolf Otto's concept of the numinous, or the feelings of awe and mystery which give us a sense of the supernatural. Is beauty more than aesthetic perfection? What can the Bible teach us about storytelling, myth, and archetype? What should the purpose of Christian writers be, and how should Christians handle genres such as horror? Finally, we close with a discussion of how to recover one's sense of mystery, wonder, and presence of the divine through literature.

How can it ever be reasonable to accept the testimonial evidence of an alleged miracle over the mass of evidence that the natural world behaves according to the laws of nature? Could it be rational to accept that miracles could theoretically occur, or are miracles impossible violations of nature? Dr. Timothy McGrew discusses the history of objections to miracles, focusing on Hume and Spinoza, and puts forth positive and negative criteria for evaluating the evidence behind a miracle claim. We discuss the evidence for miracle claims from the Bible, from Catholicism (Eucharistic miracles and the healings at Lourdes), and from religions other than Christianity. We conclude with a personal testimony on how to remain faithful to God in the face of unanswered prayers and undelivered miracles.

How can God be both good and powerful if evil exists? We live in a world where children die of cancer, women are raped, and entire villages are wiped out by natural disasters. Yet, according to Christianity, our universe was created and is presided over by an all-powerful, good, and loving God. So how do we reconcile God's goodness and power with the existence of moral and natural evils in the world today? Join Dr. Bill Kynes and I as we discuss the tension between God as sovereign Creator and humanity as a creation imbued with free will and capable of moral transgression. We discuss whether God is the author of evil, the fairness of original sin, the Old Testament genocides, and the purpose of evil in the lives of Christians. As a former senior pastor of Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Annandale, Virginia, Dr. Kynes shares his wealth of experience in ministering to those in the midst of suffering and offers encouragement to those walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Throughout the podcast, we discuss lessons learned from the book of Job, from Dr. Kynes' book Wrestling with Job: Defiant Faith in the Face of Suffering, and from C.S. Lewis's Problem of Pain. The Questioning Belief Podcast is hosted by Dr. Kathleen Noller who draws on her background as a former atheist, a scientist, and a critical thinker to explore serious questions about faith.