The L'Abri ideas library has provided a vast online resource of audio recordings of theologian/philosopher Francis Schaeffer, as well as from others involved with L'Abri. Check out the Francis Schaeffer Collection where you can find MP3 audio for download - the complete list is here, with around 100 audio files or so from Schaeffer.

Enjoy.

You may also be interested in other historical apologists.

Natural Law: Moral principles supposed to govern human behavior that can be recognized independently of special revelation. Advocates of natural law typically think that at least the basic principles of natural law are knowable by all people and thus can be said to be "written on the heart." The natural law tradition links morality to the "natures" things possess and the purposes of those natures. Theists think of natural laws as literal laws promulgated by God, though some naturalists who believe in natural laws use the term metaphorically.1

1. C.Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), p. 78.

See last year's great apologetics audio lectures by Ronald Nash.

Today's interview is with Dr. Craig Hazen of Biola University. He is the founder and director of the M.A. program in apologetics at Biola and the editor of Philosophia Christi (of the Evangelical Philosophical Society). He talks about his background and influences, Philosophia Christi, his book Five Sacred Crossings, the Biola apologetics program, their certificate program, advice to apologists, and more.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here. (34 minutes)

Giveaway for FREE Apologetics Products
The Graduate Program in Christian Apologetics is giving away two copies of Hazen’s Five Sacred Crossings to two people. To be entered in this contest, leave a comment on this post. Each person will only be counted once, even if multiple comments are left. Giveaway ends on April 2 at 11:59 pm PST. Winners will be chosen at random using random.org and notified by email.

10% off anything in the Biola apologetics product catalog Apologetics Resources.

Buy Craig Hazen’s apologetics novel, Five Sacred Crossings @ $10 each Special Discount

Only $75! Biola’s Certificate in Christian Apologetics. $20 discount. Special Discount

Biola’s apologetics program will honor such rates until the end of April for all readers and friends of Apologetics 315. If you want to receive the 10% discount off of anything in the apologetics product catalog that is not clickable above, please order by phone (562-906-4570) or email.

Enjoy.

“We know truth not only through our reason but also through our heart. It is through the latter that we know first principles, and reason, which has nothing to do with it, tries in vain to refute them.”

- Blaise Pascal, Pensées (110) / 28

On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision by William Lane Craig is an introductory-level text from one of the leading apologists today. Written with the layman in mind, Craig has geared his most powerful arguments found in Reasonable Faith into a more approachable, readable book. It is not only easily accessible for the layman, but the book itself contains illustrations, sidebars, argument maps, and summaries that make understanding and retaining the material an easier task. This review will provide an overview of the content and an assessment of the book’s usefulness for its intended audience.

• Read More Less - Great tips bookmark
• Pascal's Pensees for iPhone/iPod touch - free now
• Michael Tooley & William Lane Craig Interview MP3 (Sound Rezn)
• Jumping to Design Conclusions
• The Ambassador's Creed
• Grounding Morality (Video by Greg Koukl)
• The “Pray for an Atheist” Campaign
• The Rage Against God Video by Peter Hitchens
• 18-month, higher-learning, biblical worldview program
• Apologetics Conference for Promoting the Christian Worldview through Literature and the Arts
• Faith Has Its Reasons by Ken Boa & Rob Bowman Free Download
• Free Online E-book: Letters to a Mormon Elder by James R. White
• What to Say to Mormons & Jehovah's Witnesses When They Knock on Your Door by Mike Licona
• Subscribe to Apologetics 315 Interviews in iTunes

Are you a woman apologist? You might be interested in checking out the International Society for Women in Apologetics. Membership requirements can be found here. The ISWA mission is:

• To encourage women to enter the field of apologetics
• To encourage women to be defenders of the faith and to equip their children
• To fill a void in current women’s ministry
• To equip women with ministry opportunities in the field

Check it out.

Friends in this life,
Brothers in the Lord.
Memories of laughter,
Encouragement in labor.
You ran your race;
Well done.

I'll see you at the finish line, my friend.

This continues the Apologetics Toolkit series on: Tips for Lifelong Learning. The goal here is to provide a sort of "apologetics toolkit" -- habits, tips, and tools the Christian apologist can use to continue to grow, learn, and develop.

Tool #05: Learn Through Teaching

The Problem: You think you know the subject. Your study it. You are familiar with it. You are immersed in it. But only when you attempt to teach the subject will you realize where you fall short. Everything changes when it is time to teach what you think you know. The fact is that deeper learning requires elements of teaching what you are learning.

Empiricism: A philosophical theory that assumes that all knowledge is gained through either internal experience (thoughts, emotions, etc.) or external experience (sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste). Empiricism is most closely associated with individuals such as Francis Bacon and John Locke, but the purest form of empiricism is found in the thought of David Hume. Hume took empiricism to its extreme, stating that a person can not really know if external things (objects) exist because all one can know for certain is one's own experience of those things.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 44.

What was last year's post? It was a great free ebook.

Today's interview is with Greg Koukl, founder and president of Stand to Reason. He talks about his influences, how he got started defending the faith, the ambassador approach to apologetics, how to think on your feet, preparing for a debate, the importance of mentors, Christian character, and much more. Lots of great insights.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here. (55 minutes)

Special offer for Apologetics315 listeners: 10% off any Ambassador Basic Curriculum material (CD or MP3) through the end of March.  Just enter AP315 in the discount code box at checkout.

Check out these other items of interest from Greg Koukl:
• Greg's Podcast: Stand to Reason (iTunes link / web link)
• Also check out Greg's articles, videos, blog, and more resources.
• Greg's phenomenal book: Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Greg Koukl & Francis Beckwith
• Precious Unborn Human Persons by Greg Koukl
• Greg's monthly mentoring newsletter: Solid Ground
• Never Read a Bible Verse
• MORE of Greg's audio and other resources on Apologetics 315.

Enjoy.

Subscribe to the Apologetics 315 Interviews feed here or in iTunes.

"The existence of our universe might be explained by scientific cosmology, but such an explanation would still have to refer to features of some larger reality that contained or gave rise to it. A scientific explanation of the Big Bang would not be an explanation of why there was something rather than nothing, because it would have to refer to something from which that event arose. This something, or anything else cited in a further scientific explanation of it, would then have to be included in the universe whose existence we are looking for an explanation of when we ask why there is anything at all. This is a question that remains after all possible scientific questions have been answered."

- Thomas Nagel

"Why is there anything?" in Secular Philosophy and the Religious Temperment (Oxford University Press: 2009), p. 28. H/T: J.P. Moreland.

The following is an excerpt from William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith, 3rd Edition, p. 233:
"The process of determining which historical reconstruction is the best explanation will involve the historian's craft, as various factors will have to be weighed. In his book Justifying Historical Descriptions, C. Behan McCullagh lists the factors which historians typically weigh in testing a historical hypothesis:

1. The hypothesis, together with other true statements, must imply further statements describing present observable data.
2. The hypothesis must have greater explanatory scope (that is, imply a greater variety of observable data) than rival hypotheses.
3. The hypothesis must have greater explanatory power (that is, make the observable data more probable) than rival hypotheses.
4. The hypothesis must be more plausible (that is, be implied by a greater variety of accepted truths, and its negation implied by fewer accepted truths) than rival hypotheses.
5. The hypothesis must be less ad hoc (that is, include fewer new suppositions about the past not already implied by existing knowledge) than rival hypotheses.
6. The hypothesis must be disconfirmed by fewer accepted beleifs (that is, when conjoined with accepted truths, imply fewer false statements) than rival hypotheses.
7. The hypothesis must so exceed its rivals in fulfilling conditions (2)-(6) that there is little chance of a rival hypothesis, after further investigation, exceeding it in meeting these conditions."

For writings from William Lane Craig on the Historical Jesus, see here. Wikipedia on the historical method. Philosophical papers by C. Behan McCullagh here.

• ESV on your iPhone/iPod Touch is phenomenal and free!
• Westminster Shorter Catechism on iPhone/iPod touch
• Darwin's Legacy
• Is There a Darwin Consensus?
• When to Doubt a Scientific ‘Consensus’
• How Do We Test Intelligent Design?
• Stephen Meyer interviewed on Sound Rezn Radio MP3
• How to Mark a Book - An Essay by Mortimer J. Adler (PDF)
• William Lane Craig to Debate Michael Tooley at UNCC
• William Lane Craig to Debate Herb Silverman at University of NC
• Absolutely yes, you should get Craig's new book.
• Why Apologetics Has a Bad Name 
• (TrueU) Does God Exist? Kit: Building the Scientific Case
• James White debates Adnan Rashid: trustworthiness of the Bible vs Koran

TrueU is a DVD-based apologetics curriculum featuring Stephen Meyer. TrueU is designed primarily to help students solidify their Christian faith with foundational apologetics training. This will equip young people to stand strong in the university environment. Check out the video downloads here, and you will see some great quality. More info here. FAQ here.

Order on their website here or on Amazon.

Check it out!

This is a 1998 interview with William Lane Craig at University of California, Santa Barbara. In this audio Craig answers the common questions regarding Jesus' resurrection and makes a historical case for its veracity. This is an audio from the Veritas Forum, which has recently revamped their website. Video of this interview is also available here.

Full MP3 Audio here. (50 minutes)

Lots of online resurrection resources can be found here.
Books on the resurrection:
• The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Habermas & Licona - A simple, accessible, powerful case. Everyone should read this book.
• The Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. Wright - An epic book on the resurrection.
• The Son Rises by William Lane Craig - Craig's case for the resurrection in 150 pages.
• The Resurrection of God Incarnate by Richard Swinburne - a philosophical evaluation of the plausibility and probability of the resurrection of Jesus.
• The Resurrection of Jesus: A Jewish Perspective by Pinchas Lapide
• Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus by William Lane Craig - Craig's full-fledged defense of the resurrection weighing in at over 400 pages.

Enjoy

The Give Me An Answer 2010 Conference audio is here, from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Theologians and pastors answer the question Does God Still Speak?, and discuss Biblical truths that will help you reach your friends, your family, and your college with the Word. There are 27 audio files listed. Download individually by "right-click, save-as" or just use the RSS Feed here. Or to add to iTunes automatically, click here. More about speakers here.

• General Session 1 with Dr. Mohler - MP3
• Late Night with Dr. Mohler - MP3
• General Session 2 with Dr. Moore - MP3
• Question and Answer Session with Dr. Mohler and Dr. Moore - MP3
• Are There Contradictions in the Old Testament? - MP3
• How Did The Early Church Decide What Should Be In The Bible? - MP3
• Four Accounts, One Story: Are There Contradictions in the New Testament? - MP3
• Three Friends, A Dorm, and a Bible: What Makes a Church . . . a Church? - MP3
• Christ in the Cinema: How Should Scripture Impact Movies? - MP3
• Does the Bible Accurately Record History? - MP3
• Did Jesus Use the NIV? How Did We Get the Bible? - MP3
• Hymns and Hip Hop: How Should Scripture Impact Music? - MP3
• Visions, Dreams, and the Word of God: How Do We Evangelize Muslims? - MP3
• How Are the Old and New Testaments Related to One Another? - MP3
• How Do I Use Scripture to Counsel My Friends and Myself? - MP3
• What Does a Biblical Woman Look Like? - MP3
• What Does a Biblical Man Look Like? - MP3
• Man or God: Who Wrote the Bible? - MP3
• When the Bible is Silent: Does the Bible Speak to All Areas of Life? - MP3
• How Do We Read and Interpret the Bible? - MP3
• Reconciling Rebels: How Do We Use Scripture in Witnessing? - MP3
• Reason and Faith: Is Christianity Illogical? - MP3
• How Do I Respond to Someone Who Doesn’t Believe the Bible is True? - MP3
• Tarot Cards and Tongues: Is the Bible All We Need? - MP3
• Are You Expecting God to Write Your Hollywood Love Story? - MP3
• How Do Christians Discern God’s Will? - MP3
• General Session 3 with Dr. Moore - MP3

Enjoy.

Gnosticism: An early Greek religious movement of broad proportions that was particularly influential in the second-century church. Many biblical interpreters see in certain NT documents (such as 1 John) the attempt to answer or refute Gnostic teaching. The word gnosticism comes from the Greek term gnosis, meaning "knowledge." Gnostics believed that devotees had gained a special kind of spiritual enlightenment, through which they had attained a secret or higher level of knowledge not accessible to the uninitiated. Gnostics also tended to emphasize the spiritual realm over the material, often claiming that the material realm is evil and hence to be escaped.1

You may also be interested in this lecture: Gnosticism Past & Present. 

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 56.

Today's interview is with pastor and apologist Phil Fernandes. He talks about his influences as a Christian apologist and philosopher, his debate with Michael Martin, notable books, his most recent book The Atheist Delusion, insights and advice for apologists, apologetics methodology, his vast treasure trove of audio resources, and more.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here. (45 minutes)

Phil's website is here. Podcast feeds for all his apologetics lectures are here. His debate with Eddie Tabash is here. His debate with Robert Price is here. His debate with Jim Corbett is here.

Some of Phil's books include:
• Contend Earnestly for the Faith
• God, Government, and the Road to Tyranny
• The God Who Sits Enthroned: Evidence for God’s Existence
• No Other Gods: A Defense of Biblical Christianity
• Theism Vs. Atheism: The Internet Debate

Enjoy.

"The disciples' willingness to suffer and die for their beliefs indicates that they certainly regarded those beliefs as true. The case is strong that they did not willfully lie about the appearances of the risen Jesus. Liars make poor martyrs."

- Gary Habermas & Michael Licona (The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus, p. 59)

A Sceptic’s Guide to Atheism: God is Not Dead by Peter S. Williams stands apart among the recent books responding to the so-called new atheism. Philosopher Peter S. Williams delves deep into the works and claims of contemporary atheist proponents, excavates their core ideas, evaluates their reasoning, and delivers an extremely thorough, easy-to-read, and philosophically satisfying response.

Williams’ title reclaims the original meaning of the term “sceptical,” which has become rather limited in recent usage. He seeks to restore the original meaning: “This book aims to apply rigorous critical judgement to contemporary popular defenses of metaphysically materialistic atheism, especially defenses arising out of the so-called ‘New Atheism’."1  The purpose of this review is simply to offer a concise overview of the topics covered by Williams.

• Stand to Reason's New Enhanced Solid Ground PDF
• 2010 Online Apologetics Conference
• Featured Website: The One Minute Apologist
• Logical Fallacy: Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
• Peter Hitchens traces his journey back to Christianity
• Fine-Tuned Universe: The Privileged Planet Video on Youtube
• New Book by Gary Habermas: Why Is God Ignoring Me?
• faith + evolution website
• William Lane Craig and Michael Tooley Debate on March 24, 2010
• Stephen Meyer Stirs Up More Controversy with Signature in the Cell
• New: Lee Strobel's Case for Christ Study Bible
• Veritas Forum website has had a makeover
• Now reading William Lane Craig's new book On Guard and it is great.

Philosopher and apologist Douglas Groothuis has provided links to three lectures that he presented at a recent conference "UniverSanity." Here are the MP3s for download (smaller files and better sound than the originals):

1. The Crisis of Truth in the Postmodern World - MP3
2. A Short Course in Defending Christianity - MP3
3. The Lordship of Christ in Culture - MP3

Enjoy.

In this audio file, R.C. Sproul interviews Stephen Meyer in a discussion about Intelligent Design. Original videos for this interview is in five parts, found at the Stand to Reason blog. They also talk about Meyer's  book Signature in the Cell.

Full MP3 Audio here. (40 min)

Enjoy.

More great Stephen Meyer stuff here.

This continues the Apologetics Toolkit series on: Tips for Lifelong Learning. The goal here is to provide a sort of "apologetics toolkit" -- habits, tips, and tools the Christian apologist can use to continue to grow, learn, and develop.

Tool #04: Increase Your Reading Speed

The Problems: You love to read. And you have a stack of books you would love to read. New books come out. You buy them. You add them to the stack. Meanwhile, you crawl at a snail's pace through your current book. The problem is both a slow pace in reading and a backlog of books. This tool for increasing reading speed will help deal with both problems.