In this episode, we explore the nuances of religious epistemology, focusing on Internalism versus Externalism, and how these frameworks influence our understanding of how we know God. We discuss how Christian thinkers like Plantinga approach these issues, and how to evaluate who we can trust in the midst of complexity.

In this podcast we discuss:

• How do we understand the difference between Externalism and Internalism as it relates to epistemology?
• How do Internalists and Externalists address the idea of “normal”?
• The four properly basic beliefs and how we gain knowledge.
• Alvin Plantinga’s epistemological framework and philosophical contributions.
• The negative influence of logical positivism in scholarship, and how it shows up in broader culture.
• How can knowledgeable Christians support each other epistemically?
• How do we evaluate who to trust for correct information?

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• Series Episode 1: How Do You Know? Are You Sure? Epistemology – Episode 52
• Series Episode 2: Who Wants to Live a Lie? Epistemology 2 – Episode 53 – Thinking Christianly
• Alvin Plantinga, Two Dozen (or so) Arguments for the Existence of God: The Plantinga Project
• Find more information on the work of Alvin Plantinga here.
• Randy Newman, Questioning Evangelism, Third Edition: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did
• Neal Gillespie, Charles Darwin and the Problem of Creation
• JP Moreland, Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology
• Richard Swinburne, Epistemic Justification

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Religious Epistemology

02:10 Defining Internalism and Externalism

04:04 The Significance of Properly Basic Beliefs (Not accurate/wrong place)

08:03 Plantinga’s Reconciliation of Faith and Reason (Not accurate/wrong place)

12:02 The Role of Evidence and Experience

16:01 The Authority of Experts and Community

20:00 The Fall and Its Impact on Knowledge

24:09 Logical Positivism and Its Critique

28:00 The Sociological Roots of Belief

32:07 Practical Implications for Christian Faith

In this episode, JP and Stan discuss the requirements and responsibilities of truth-seeking as rational beings created in God’s image.

In this podcast we discuss:

• What does our knowledge of reality have to do with our ability to live a meaningful life?
• Why is seeking truth considered a virtue?
• In what ways does Christianity uniquely elevate the role of reason?
• What is a “justified true belief” and how does that framework help us see beyond Scientism?
• How does understanding epistemology help us in evaluating the claims of Scripture?

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• Antony Flew and Roy Abraham Varghese, There Is a God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind
• Stan W. Wallace, “Four Reasons Why The World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind“
• J.P. Moreland, Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul
• Series Episode 1: How Do You Know? Are You Sure? Epistemology – Episode 52

What does it really mean to say that we “know” something? In this episode, we begin a series on epistemology, the study of knowledge and reasonable belief.

In this podcast we discuss:

• What is knowledge (including knowledge about God)? Can we have it? If so, how? Can we be sure?
• What kinds of knowledge exist and how do we access them?
• What is the difference between certainty and defeasibility? Must we have certainty to have knowledge?
• What is the role of skepticism and how should Christians respond?

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• Roderick Chisholm, The Foundations of Knowing
• J.P. Moreland and Garrett DeWeese, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions, Chapter 2
• J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, Part II (Chapters 3 through 7)