How Naturalism is Affecting Culture by J.P. Moreland (video)

Worldviews matter and ideas have consequences. J.P. Moreland is one of my heroes and mentors and makes some critical observations about our culture and how we can speak the message of Christianity into it. If you are a pastor or Christian leader and would like to study under J.P. Moreland and other top notch faculty (like Garry DeWeese and Scott Rae), then you may be interested in Talbot School of Theology's new Doctor of Ministry Program in Engaging Mind and Culture. I am currently doing this program and it is outstanding, click here for more.

JP Moreland - Naturalism and How it is Affecting Culture from Southeastern Seminary on Vimeo.

(H/T to Apologetics 315)

Did Humans Invent God?

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What is Scientific Naturalism?

Scientific naturalism is the view that “the physical cosmos science studies is all that exists” (cf. J.P. Moreland). This worldview assumes that only material stuff exists (e.g., physics and chemistry) and that science is the only source of knowledge concerning the world; everything else is mere conjecture. The implication of this view is that there can be no human soul or immaterial objects/persons like angels or God. The supernatural is excluded by definition. Plainly stated: there is no spiritual reality in this world or the next. The grave is all there is.

This is a major worldview in America today. In order to be a good ambassador for Jesus Christ, we must understand the worldviews that are vying for the hearts and minds of this generation.

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The God Question: An Invitation to a Life of Meaning by JP Moreland

The God Question has something for everyone. It is well-written, warm, clearly argued without being overly technical, and engaging. Even if you are a skeptic and disagree with his conclusions at the end of the day, I think you will concede that Moreland has been fair, honest, thoughtful, and authentic about life's biggest question...God.

Dr. Moreland is a prolific author who has written on a wide variety of topics like: happiness, the existence of God, the nature of the soul, spiritual formation, and doubt, just to name a few.

In this book, you get a little bit of all of that (and more) sprinkled in and shaped into a compelling narrative journey of faith. Moreland does not shy away from hard topics like Hell and how can Jesus be the only way. He also spends time exploring who Jesus was and how we can know about Him in history. Moreover, he talks about the powerful evidence for God from the origin and design of the universe in an accessible manner. But this is not merely a book defending the faith (i.e., apologetics).

Moreland places these fascinating and important discussions within the narrative of the Biblical story and his own faith journey in walking with Jesus for 40 years. For example he lets the reader into his own relationship-struggles and joys-with Jesus. And then he places this discussion within a wonderful explanation of the central message of Jesus: proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.

Moreland paints a compelling (and jargon free) picture of what eternal life with God could and should be like according to the New Testament while also spending subsequent chapters talking about how to get good at life according to Jesus. Finally, he wraps up with an enlightening chapter on the afterlife.

Today, there is a lot of confusion about religion in general and Christianity in particular. If you are looking for a thoughtful book, written from the perspective of a follower of Jesus, and that gets past the heat and stereotypes, then The God Question is for you.