I had a civil discussion with “Pinecreek” recently on my book Jesus Loves Canaanites. At least, I thought it was civil. Alas, now true to form, Pinecreek has posted a severely shortened edit which he has labeled as “bloviation free”. Oh, how delightfully cheeky that is! Because you see, I’m a pompous, long-winded idiot. And […]
Am I a Marcionite? And Other Questions with Spartan Theology
My latest “Jesus Loves Canaanites” interview, this one on the @SpartanTheology podcast/YouTube channel. It was an engaging interview, and be sure to stick around for my response to the Marcionite charge. ?
Providence, the Problem of Evil, and the Eye of the Tiger
We all know Survivor from their iconic hit “Eye of the Tiger.” But their 1982 album of the same name (an album that I used to spin on the turntable back in the day) also includes another really interesting track, especially from a theological point of view. The ballad “Ever Since the World Began” was […]
Randal Rauser, Conservative Cultural Warrior
Anybody who has read my book What’s So Confusing About Grace? knows my story. I was raised in a fundagelical church that focused on culture war issues. In the early 1990s, I was a Rush Limbaugh fan, I listened to James Dobson and the Bible Answer Man on the radio, and I was ready to fight in […]
Jesus, Canaanites, and a Conversation with Stephen Bedard
In this video, Canadian apologist Stephen Bedard interviews me on my new book “Jesus Loves Canaanites.” In the interview, we address some topics I haven’t touched on in other interviews including my critique of Greg Boyd’s view and the question of whether critiques of biblical violence may be anti-Semitic. ?
The Damned as Freemen on the Land
Over the last while, I have encountered many atheists who object to the doctrine of annihilationism according to which God eventually withdraws life posthumously from those who refuse to submit to be in relationship with God and restored creation. I understand objections to eternal conscious torment, but objections to punishment simpliciter (and this annihilationist account […]
The Early Reviews of Jesus Loves Canaanites
Jesus Loves Canaanites has now been out for 5 weeks and while a few brief reviews have been posted at Goodreads and Amazon, the first blog review was posted today by J.W. Wartick at his Reconstructing Faith blog. You can read it here: Genocide and the Challenge of Apologetics: Randal Rauser’s “Jesus Loves the Canaanites”
A Brief Word on Apologetics, Debate, and Mental Illness
A clinically depressed atheist who commits suicide is not an excuse to talk about the “emptiness” of an atheistic worldview. A schizophrenic Christian who harms someone else is not an excuse to talk about the “danger” of divine command ethics. Don’t exploit mental illness. ?
My Conversation with a Christian Fundamentalist on Biblical Violence
My most recent interview on “Jesus Loves Canaanites” with “The Cynicogue,” a self-described fundamentalist Christian. This was interesting! ?
Killing the Children of Jericho: How Paul Copan Avoids the Question
In this video, we listen to an excerpt of a debate in which Paul Copan is asked directly about the killing of children as referenced in the slaughter of all the residents of Jericho, men and women, young and old (Joshua 6:21). Rather than address directly the ethics of slaughtering children and infants, Copan deflects […]
Biblical Violence Interview on The Curious John Podcast
Yesterday, I was on the “Curious_John Podcast” to talk about Jesus Loves Canaanites. John is a Nigerian atheist and as such, he has a unique perspective. You can find the episode on various platforms (e.g. Spotify) or listen via Google podcasts by clicking here.
The Most Common Early Objection to Jesus Loves Canaanites (And it’s not Good)
My latest book Jesus Loves Canaanites has been out for a month now. Overall, the response has been excellent, but I’ve heard a handful of criticisms from readers. Most of those are, frankly, misfires. But in this article, I am going to consider a more substantive objection which I have heard a few times, one that pertains […]
Discussing Jesus and the Canaanites with Pinecreek Doug
Here is my appearance on Pinecreek Doug’s show discussing my book Jesus Loves Canaanites. It was a good exchange, wide-ranging and civil. ?
God and Genocide: An Interview with Critical Witness
Today, I did an interview with an English podcast called Critical Witness. It was a very spirited discussion. These fellows aren’t afraid to push back and ask hard questions. Check it out! ?
