Truth Tribe with Douglas Groothuis

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of nineteen books, including Fire in the Streets (a critique of critical race theory or wokeness) and Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Find more from Dr. Groothuis at www.DouglasGroothuis.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Soren Kierkegaard on the Self and God  “The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all” - Soren Kierkegaard. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?—Jesus, Mark 8:36. The Human Condition: Who Are We? A. Philosophical problem: philosophical anthropology i. What is our nature? ii. What is our problem? iii. What is good for humans? B. Existential problem of being human under the sun i. How do we cope with our nature? ii. How do we address our problem? iii. How do we embrace the good and shun the bad? C. The Theme in Philosophy in Seven Sentences All of our philosophical sentences invoke or provoke the self, but from different angles. Protagoras brings it all back to the self, which is the measure of all things. I measured Protagoras wrong. Socrates exhorts the self to examine itself for truth for as long as it takes. For that, he should be commended and emulated. For Aristotle, our nature as human selves is to seek knowledge. He was right. Descartes finds certainty in his indubitable awareness that he is thinking and thus an existing being who has the concept of an infinite God in his mind. We could find worse places to start our investigations. Pascal exhorts us to consider reasons of the heart, that aspect of self that knows directly and intuitively. Groothuis, Douglas. Philosophy in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic (p. 124). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This program is a synopsis of my most recent book, World Religion in Seven Sentences (InterVarsity Press, 2023). Get Dr. Groothuis' book here: https://www.ivpress.com/world-religions-in-seven-sentences  "Most of us will never become scholars of the major world religions. But as society becomes more pluralistic and technology increases our awareness of and interconnection with countries all over the world, there has never been a time when it is more crucial for believers to understand the major religious worldviews. Enter Douglas Groothuis's marvelous book World Religions in Seven Sentences. Groothuis has earned the reputation of being a first-rate scholar who deals fairly and accurately with views he critiques. And World Religions in Seven Sentences may be his best example yet. This work is unique in that it accurately presents the major religious worldviews; provides fair, hard-hitting criticisms of them; and accomplishes all this in a brief, easy-to-read way. In my view, this is now the first book to read for anyone who wants to get at the heart of important religions and compare them with Christianity. I love this book!" — J. P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and author of A Simple Guide to Miracles. The seven sentences are: God is dead. (Atheism) I am Who I am. (Judaism) You are that. (Hinduism). Life is suffering. (Buddhism). The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao. (Daoism). Before Abraham Was, I am. (Christianity) There is one God, and Mohammad is his prophet. (Islam). Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10) The concepts of fear and hate need some examination, given how absurdly abused they are in common culture. Supposedly, any idea based on fear is irrational and all hate is hateful. But appropriate fear and appropriate hate are necessary parts of a good life. Let me explain. 1. Appropriate Fear in a Dangerous World Fear what is fearful and nothing else 2. The Fear of the Lord See Proverbs 1:7; 2:5; 5:12; 9:10; 15:33; Psalm 111:10   Now all has been heard;    here is the conclusion of the matter:Fear God and keep his commandments,    for this is the duty of all mankind.  For God will bring every deed into judgment,    including every hidden thing,    whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Jesus on fear: Luke 12:4-7 Escaping the fear of God’s judgment through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18) 3. The Fear of the Lord and Holy Hatred Hate what is evil in the fear of God Proverbs 8:13; Revelation 2:16; Luke 14:26-27; Matthew 10:16-21   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of nineteen books, including Fire in the Streets (a critique of critical race theory or wokeness) and Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Find more from Dr. Groothuis at www.DouglasGroothuis.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

While the explosive and devastating riots of 2020 were sparked by the death of George Floyd, there was an ideological underpinning for much of the violence and verbiage of that summer of hate, carnage, ideological blindness, and outrage. It is called Critical Race Theory (or CRT), an ideology at odds with the truth of the Christian worldview on a number of counts. We will only address the theory of knowledge of CRT, which is called standpoint epistemology. As Francis Schaeffer wrote in He is There and He is Not Silent, “Unless our epistemology is right, everything is going to be wrong.” CRT epistemology is wrong.For more on Critical Race Theory, see Douglas Groothuis' Fire in the Streets (Salem, 2022). Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is a Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of nineteen books, including Fire in the Streets (a critique of critical race theory or wokeness) and Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Find more from Dr. Groothuis at www.DouglasGroothuis.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of nineteen books, including Fire in the Streets (a critique of critical race theory or wokeness) and Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Find more from Dr. Groothuis at www.DouglasGroothuis.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

I.    Meta-Apologetics A.    Apologetics: Defending the Christian worldview as objectively  true, compellingly rational, and existentially pertinent to the whole of life (1 Peter 3:15-6; Jude 3) B.    Meta-apologetics: thoughts about how to engage in apologetics, strategies and values. II.    The Christian Apologist’s Moral Compass A.    All are called to check their moral motives and develop godly characterI strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (2 Corinthians 9:27).Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Timothy 4:16).B.    Yearn for Kingdom ministry (Matthew 6:33) C.    Put yourself second to the ministry; do not promote your brand or ego! Let others compliment you. III.    Godly Character A.    Humility, not self-promotionThis is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (1 Timothy 1:5; KJV; see also 1 Corinthians 15:9). B.    Show love, not strifeAnd the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,  and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26).C.    Dependence on the Spirit moment-by-moment (John 15; Acts 1:8). See Francis Schaeffer, True Spirituality. D.    Intellectual preparation for apologetics 1.    Know your Bible (Psalm 119; 2 Timothy 3:16) and biblical interpretation (2 Peter 3:16) 2.    Know biblical and systematic theology to ground your worldview (Acts 17:10-11) 3.    Know logic and logical fallacies; how to argue carefully and assess arguments carefully (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) 4.    Know your own culture: worldviews and means of communication (technologies) Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32). 5.    Be above reproach in citing your sources in speaking and writing (Exodus 20:15) 6.    Behind all these six principles is the importance of being studious, a good scholar Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true (Ecclesiastes 12:9-10; see 1:17; 8:9, 16).I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:3-4; see also John 21:24). IV.    Opportunity and Uncertainty in Apologetics A.    Break new ground! It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation—Romans 15:20). B.    Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 Cast your bread upon the waters,For you will find it after many days.Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.If the clouds are full of rain,They empty themselves upon the earth;And if a tree falls to the south or the north,In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.He who observes the wind will not sow,And he who regards the clouds will not reap.As you do not know what is the way of the wind,[a]Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.In the morning sow your seed,And in the evening do not withhold your hand;For you do not know which will prosper,Either this or that,Or whether both alike will be good (NKJV). C.    Calculate effort in relation to effect and chances of success. D.    Embrace unexpected opportunities. 1.    Paul at Mars Hill (Acts 16-17): unscheduled mission trip before imposing intellectuals. 2.    Paul to Timothy Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine—2 Timothy 4:2 (KJV). V.    My Apologetic Surprises, Successes, and Failures A.    Surprise: Lecturing at a Baha’i meeting B.    Successful attempts  1.    Writing On Pascal and On Jesus 2.    Doing author events for two of my books at a local bookstore in Denver. Another one flopped (Fire in the Streets). C.    Unsuccessful attempts 1.    Debate with James K. A. Smith 2.    Doing a Buddhist-Christia

I.    Prayer for Those Who Influence Public Opinion (Book of Common Prayer)  Almighty God, you proclaim your truth in every age by many voices: Direct, in our time, we pray, those who speak where many listen and write what many read; that they may do their part in making the heart of this people wise, its mind sound, and its will righteous; to the honor of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. II.    The Meaning of Logos for Writers (John 1:1-3) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. III.    Writing with Integrity A.    Luke 1:1-4 B.    Ecclesiastes 12:9-10 IV.    Risking Failure in Writing Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 V.    The Craft of Writing Well A.    Need God’s wisdom (James 1:5) B.    Don’t add unnecessary words (Ecclesiastes 6:11) C.    The need for good editors D.    A pleasing style (Philippians 4:8) E.    Be clear (1 Corinthians 14:7-9) F.    Using one’s imagination to write lively prose (Dorothy Sayers, “The Dogma is the Drama”) Official Christianity, of late years, has been having what is known as “a bad press.” We are constantly assured that the churches are empty because preachers insist too much upon doctrine—“dull dogma,” as people call it. The fact is the precise opposite. It is the neglect of dogma that makes for dullness. The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that ever staggered the imagination of man—and the dogma is the drama.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Several years ago, after giving a message on New Age spirituality at a church in Berkeley, California, I was approached by a distraught middle-aged woman. She asked if I was familiar with Jungian therapy. After I said that I was, she spoke briefly of her mental problems, which were being treated by a Jungian analyst. Looking at me intensely, she asked, “As a Christian, should I be treated by someone like this?” I answered that although Jung provided a few helpful psychological insights, his overall world view was Gnostic and anti-Christian. Therefore, a Jungian analyst would not be able to help her work through her difficulties in accord with her own Christian beliefs. In fact, such a view could do much harm to her soul.             Although I am not a trained counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist, I did not offer this advice lightly. I warned of the dangers of Jungian analysis not because I reject all psychotherapy as unnecessary or dangerous, as do certain incautious and unsophisticated Christian critics. I accept the legitimacy and importance of integrating a thoroughly Christian world view with psychological insights. However, as a student of new religious movements, I have repeatedly found Carl Jung to be a fountainhead of all manner of spiritual aberrations, whether in non-Christian movements or in Christianity itself. More recently, psychologist and best-selling author, Jordan Peterson, has drawn attention to Jung’s philosophy, which he draws on and uses as a lens to interpret the Bible. Christian counselors and other Christians, however, may be drawn to the fascinating figure of Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) for several reasons. Before summarizing some of the hazards of Jung’s thinking, we need to understand something of his strange magnetism… Recommended Reading1. Richard Noll, The Jung Cult: Origins of a Charismatic Movement (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1994). Stanton L. Jones and Richard E Butman, Modern Psychotherapies: A Comprehensive Christian Approach(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1991). Paul Vitz, Psychology as Religion: The Cult of Self-Worship, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995). Douglas Groothuis, Ph.D., is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and the author of nineteen books, including Fire in the Streets (a critique of critical race theory or wokeness) and Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith. Find more from Dr. Groothuis at www.DouglasGroothuis.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.