This section includes radio and podcast interviews, debates, and lectures.
Randal talks heaven on the television show “Insight” with Paul Arthur (audio only)
The Wrath of God was Satisfied
What can we know about heaven? Randal talks with The Friendly Atheist (Hemant Mehta)
In this episode of the UK radio show “Unbelievable with Justin Brierley” (originally broadcast February 1, 2014) Randal discusses his book What on Earth do we Know About Heaven?
Hemant Mehta (The Friendly Atheist) provides his skeptical response. The result is an interesting exchange of perspectives regarding the afterlife.
Is God Violent? Christianity and the Problem of Biblical Violence
Christians worship the Prince of Peace. So how come there is so much violence in their holy book? Unfortunately Christians often respond with a conspiracy of silence in which they avoid all the most difficult biblical passages, from the hatred of the imprecatory psalmist to the violence of a worldwide drowning to the staggering massacre of the Canaanite genocide to the dizzying sweep of eternal damnation. How is a Christian to bring together the call to peace with these images of violence? In this two-part series Randal offers a way into the discussion of biblical violence, Bible reading and Christian discipleship.
The first session is a 40 minute sermon in which Randal introduces the problem of the imprecatory psalms and offers a reading of them that starts in identification (we, like the imprecatory psalmist, often hate our enemies) and moves on to transformation (we are called to follow Christ by loving our enemies).
In the second session, a two hour seminar, Randal pulls back to survey several types of biblical violence. Next, he focuses in on the problem of divine Yahweh war, particularly in the Canaanite genocide. In response, Randal surveys several responses that the church has explored. There may be no easy answers, but the call to Christian discipleship and a commitment to the plenary inspiration of scripture demands nothing less than an open and honest wrestling with the text in the context of Christian community as we all seek to live in faithfulness to the Prince of Peace.
Sermon on the Imprecatory Psalms
Seminar on Biblical Violence
To hear the seminar click here.
Maternal God, Godly Mothers
On Sunday, May 11th 2014, I preached a Mother’s Day sermon at Greenfield Baptist Church on the maternal aspects of God and the divine aspects of motherhood.
Unfortunately, Christianity has often downplayed the maternal aspects of God and in turn has failed to appreciate the transcendent call of motherhood.
This sermon offers a tribute to mothers in an attempt to redress that imbalance.
Is belief in God rational? The Reasonable Doubts Debate
In this debate, originally recorded in autumn, 2013 for the Reasonable Doubts Podcast, Randal squares off against atheist and blogger Chris Hallquist (aka The Uncredible Hallq) on the issue of whether belief in God is rational.
Hallquist argues that the defeaters for theism (of which he notes two: the problem of evil and Stephen Law’s evil God argument) are so substantial that nobody could rationally be a theist.
Randal offers the contrary view, arguing that one can believe in God as a properly basic belief (i.e. one accepted without evidence) or as a non-properly basic conclusion from evidence.
Check it out!
What happens when we die?
This talk was part of an extended series at St. Albert Alliance Church on the concept of heaven. My specific task was to fill in the gap by talking about the intermediate state. I ended up delivering a talk that focused significantly on the existential crisis presented by annihilation at death contrasted with the hope and peace one can find in the Christian doctrine of the intermediate state according to which death signals a period of rest in the presence of Christ pending our future resurrection.
Randal debates John Loftus on “Unbelievable”
On June 15, 2013 Randal appeared with John Loftus on the UK radio program “Unbelievable” with Justin Brierley to discuss God or Godless and John Loftus’ book The Outsider Test for Faith. Click below to listen/download:
The Outsider Test of Faith & Miracle
Randal debates God or Godless with John Loftus
In June, 2013 Randal debated with John Loftus on the topic of God’s existence. Audio from two of the three debates is included below:
Edmonton debate: God-Godless_debate-Edmonton
Calgary debate: God or Godless-Loftus v. Rauser (Calgary)
Big Questions … No Easy Answers
This is a three-part series Randal delivered at Urban Bridge Church in Edmonton, AB in May/June 2013. Each talk was followed by lively discussion with the audience.
Randal interviewed on the Apologetics 315 podcast:
Randal was interviewed by the popular Apologetics 315 podcast in April, 2013. The audio of the debate is included below:
Click here to listen/download: interview-randal-rauser
Randal on “Unbelievable”
This is a dialogue that Randal had with self-described “anti-theist” Ralph Jones on the UK radio show “Unbelievable”.
Debating God on The Drew Marshall Show
Randal has appeared on The Drew Marshall Show (a popular, Toronto-based radio program that focuses on religious topics) on several occasions. In these two appearances Randal participates in an informal debate on the existence of God and the truth of Christianity.
Randal on The Drew Marshall Show (May 2013)
Randal on The Drew Marshall Show (June 2013)
What on Earth do we Know About Heaven?
This is a selection of interviews on the topic of Randal’s book What on Earth do we Know About Heaven?
Randal talks heaven on The Bob Dutko Show:
Randal talks heaven on Amplify with Father Ron:
God or Godless
This is a selection of interviews on the topic of Randal’s book God or Godless, co-authored with John Loftus.
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
Randal interviewed on 99.1 CHRI FM:
The Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails
These are interviews on Randal’s book The Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails.
Randal on Faith Radio Mornings
Author_Talks_-_Episode_27_-_Randal_Rauser
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
A Debate on the Historicity of the Nativity
In December 2012 Randal participated in a pre-recorded debate with philosopher Jonathan Pearce on the topic “The Nativity accounts of Matthew and Luke: are they historically reliable?” (Randal argued in the affirmative!) The debate was broadcast on the Reasonable Doubts podcast.
To listen click here: the nativity debate
Or click below:
You’re not as Crazy as I Think (book)
These are interviews on Randal’s book You’re not as Crazy as I Think.
Interview with “Faith Radio Mornings”
Interview with Melissa Flores on “He’s Alive” Radio: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
Interview with Drew Marshall (Canada’s most popular spiritual talk show)
Interview with Tommy Briggs on “Morning Mayhem” (YES FM)
Randal Rauser on Lifeline with Craig Roberts
Interview on The Bob Dutko Show:
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
Sermons
This is selection of sermons Randal preached at several churches.
“Jesus and the Persecutor” (at Greenfield Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB)
“Jesus Christ, New Adam: The Kingdom Hero” (at Greenfield Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB)
“Does Christian belief have a place for doubt?” (at Fort Saskatchewan Fellowship Baptist Church, Fort Saskatchewan, AB)
Does Christian belief have a place for doubt? (at Greenfield Baptist Church, Edmonton, AB)
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
Finding God in the Shack (book)
These are interviews on Randal’s best-selling book Finding God in the Shack.
(Click title to listen to MP3)
Interview on “Northland Notebook” on Finding God in the Shack
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
Interview with Dr. Alvin Jones on Finding God in the Shack
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
Interview with Wayne Shepherd on UReadbooks.com
(Click title to listen online)
Interview with Transworld Radio (United Kingdom)
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
Christianity & Consumerism
Randal has lectured widely on the topic of consumerism. Some of his lectures and interviews on the topic are included below:
“Sold Out to Stuff: Consumerism as False Religion”
Faith and Culture Lecture at Taylor University College (2007)
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
Consumerism and Christian Education – Part 1
Consumerism and Christian Education – Part 2
Interview with the Christian Educator’s Podcast (Parts 1 and 2)
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)
“Do not conform to the (spending) patterns of this world – Part 1
“Do not conform to the (spending) patterns of this world – Part 2
Greenfield Baptist Church (Aug. 2009)
(Click title to listen online)
Miscellanies
“God and ET: Christian Reflections on UFOs and Little Green Men”
Taylor University College Faith and Culture Lecture (2004)
(Click title to listen to/download MP3)