Latest Posts

• The Good Book Blog

  Fine-Tuning and the Prior Probability of Theism

  William Lane Craig — November 28, 2014

  This is the weekly Q & A blog post by our Research Professor in Philosophy, Dr. William Lane Craig: I'm taking a philosophy class at a local community collage. I wrote a paper on the fine-tuning argument presented by Robin Collins. The fine tuning is improbable given atheism. Here we have all of the number for fine tuning for life given by Collins. But my professor raised an objection that I have never heard before, namely what is the probability of God? His objection is that if have a probability for the fine tuning we need a probability to compare it to. Since we don't have a clear one, why should we conclude that God is more likely than atheistic fine tuning? If you could help me understand this I would greatly appreciate it. I can understand that it seems like a very reasonable thing to think God is not as unlikely as the fine tuning but is there a strong philosophical argument or case to be made here?

• The Good Book Blog

  Evolution Without God

  William Lane Craig — November 21, 2014

  This is the weekly Q & A blog post by our Research Professor in Philosophy, Dr. William Lane Craig: While taking an anthropology course at San Jose State University about 10 years ago, the instructor took a poll on the first day of class asking students if that we were there because: 1) God created the world that we know including humans in their present form. 2) God guiding evolution to present times. 3) Evolution without God via chance and natural selection. The instructor ended the survey by saying that by the end of the course he would convince the class that #3 is, in fact, the truth. One of the examples that he used was the argument involving vestigial limbs and body parts. He pointed to humans resembling tadpoles with tails in the embryo state, whales with hip joints, dogs with toes high on their legs that are useless, genetic trail showing that a horse's hoof is really the middle toe that continued to grow longer than the others, etc. I would love to hear Dr. Craig's answer to such evidence. I have been strengthened by your ministry and I will continue to support it. Please feel free to paraphrase my question to correct any grammatical errors.

• The Good Book Blog

  Christmas in November?

  Gary Manning Jr — November 18, 2014

  Merry Christmas! Today, November 18, is Jesus' birthday, according to a few ancient sources. A few years ago, I came across an interesting article about the date of Jesus' birth by Paul Meier, a prominent New Testament scholar. Here is a summary: We celebrate Jesus' birthday on December 25, but it is quite unlikely that he was born on that day. That date was picked out in the fourth century, possibly as a replacement celebration for the winter solstice or other pagan holidays. Paul Meier suggests a birthday in November. This is based on two pieces of data....

• The Good Book Blog

  Reflexiones del Pasado y Presente Sobre la Reforma en Hispano América

  Octavio Esqueda — November 17, 2014

  Hace unos días tuve el privilegio de participar en el IV Congreso sobre la Reforma Protestante Española que tuvo lugar en la Facultad de Filosofía de la Universidad Complutense en Madrid, España. Este importante congreso internacional tuvo como tema principal la Reforma en Hispano América. Entre los participantes se encontraban profesores, historiadores y eruditos para dialogar acerca de la influencia del protestantismo en América Latina y su relación con la reforma española. Aunque el número de participantes no eran tan numeroso, el significado de esta reunión y los temas tratados son de suma importancia y son relevantes para nuestros días. Me gustaría compartir en este espacio algunas reflexiones sobre el pasado y el presente basadas principalmente en los temas tratados en este congreso.

• 51���� News

  51���� Women’s Volleyball Earns GSAC Co-Championship

  Teams wins conference title for first time since 1997

  Neil Morgan — November 17, 2014

  51���� secured its first Golden State Athletic Conference volleyball championship since 1997 with a 3-1 win over The Master's College on...

• The Good Book Blog

  God of the Gaps

  William Lane Craig — November 14, 2014

  This week's question: "...In watching your debates, I came across your debate with Sean Carroll. What an outstanding performance by the both of you. I think it might be the best debate available on your site. But Carroll made a point in passing that bothers me, and I wonder if you might not flesh it out more for me. It is: How are the teleological argument, and, for that matter, the cosmological argument, not God of the gaps? It seems the argument really is "we don't know how this fine-tuning could occur without God, so it must be God." Or, "we don't know how something came from nothing, so it must be God." I admit, as I think it through, why can't the atheist simply tack on "yet." This does seem like an Ancient Greek saying "we don't know how lightning exists, so it must be Zeus." The correct answer then was simply to tack on a "yet" after "we don't know how lightning exists." I'm certain I'm missing something, but I do find this troubling from an intellectual standpoint."

• 51���� News

  51����’s Women’s Cross Country Team Sends Boxes of Appreciation to Soldiers

  Boxes filled with treats and a personalized letter are sent to soldiers overseas

  Daniel Batchman — November 14, 2014

  “The sacrifice we make is nothing in comparison to what the soldiers make and that is why we make time to pause our agendas and give back to these...

• 51���� News

  Cross Country, Soccer Earn 11 GSAC Scholar-Athletes

  51���� leads conference in scholar-athlete awards

  Neil Morgan — November 14, 2014

  Over the past week, the Golden State Athletic Conference released its 2014 Cross Country and men and women’s soccer Scholar-Athletes. To be...

• The Good Book Blog

  Skull of John the Baptist Found in New York City Pawn Shop

  James Petitfils — November 12, 2014

  Whether shock-and-awe biblical archeology, “lost” gospels found just in time for the Easter documentary season, or conclusive proof that the Nephilim of Genesis 6 were actually ancient aliens, the ol’ World Wide Web abounds with juicy rumors. While no one is talking about the big “John the Baptist Skull” story (because I just made that up 10 minutes ago), Facebook has recently been “abuzz” with an article published by the website, World News Daily Report, entitled “Newly-Found Document Holds Eyewitness Account of Jesus Performing Miracle.” This is the same website, incidentally, that broke the story, “Rancher Shoots Down UFO Near Area 51.” Despite the site’s self-identification as a “political satire web publication,” the article was posted and passed around social media hundreds of thousands of times. As a historian focused on the Roman Mediterranean, I’ll comfortably go on the record stating that this story is a pure and fantastic invention. Rather than debunking this particular Jesus rumor, however, I’d like to address a larger question facing many modern followers of Jesus: How should we respond when confronted with such “breaking news”? How might we advise those we disciple on these kinds of intriguing and quick-to-go-viral claims?

• The Good Book Blog

  When the Church Was a Family: ETS Plenary Address

  Joe Hellerman — November 11, 2014

  As indicated in a previous post, Talbot School of Theology will be well represented this year at the Evangelical Theological Society's national meeting [need link here]. For those unable to attend (most of you, I assume!), here is a video clip that touches upon some key ideas that I will be sharing in my plenary address. The interviewer is Dr. Jason Cusick, a pastor at Journey of Faith Church in Manhattan Beach, CA. The clip was shown in a church service as part of a series on the church and the family.

• 51���� News

  Cross Country Qualifies For National Championships

  51���� sends its full women's team and a men's competitor.

  Neil Morgan — November 11, 2014

  LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Late on Monday afternoon the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the official field for the 2014...

• The Good Book Blog

  Anti-Realism and Truth

  William Lane Craig — November 07, 2014

  Dear Dr. Craig, I was listening to an older podcast of yours wherein you stated that one can affirm states of affairs without needing to affirm the truth-status of the proposition used in the affirmation of any state. However, if we deny the reality of truth-status' (in an effort to avoid making propositions or "truth" a real, existing thing), then how can one say that any proposition is self-refuting? ...

• 51���� News

  51����’s Student Newspaper Receives Prestigious National Award

  The Chimes wins online Pacemaker award for second year in a row

  Stephen Day — November 07, 2014

  51����’s student newspaper, The Chimes, won the 2014 Online Pacemaker Award — the highest national award for student online publications...

• 51���� News

  Volleyball Pair Earns Academic Honor

  Alyssa Mason and Amy Weststeyn honored.

  Neil Morgan — November 06, 2014

  CoSIDA RELEASE LA MIRADA, Calif. --- 51���� earned its fourth and fifth Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District nods on Thursday, as Amy Weststeyn...

• The Good Book Blog

  Beloved Dust: An Interview with Kyle Strobel

  The Good Book Blog — November 05, 2014

  Kyle Strobel (assistant professor at Talbot's Institute of Spirtual Formation) and Jamin Goggin ('03, M.A. '08) recently released Beloved Dust: Drawing Close to God by Discovering the Truth 51���� Yourself. We wanted to learn more about this book, so we put together some questions that Kyle graciously answered.

• 51���� News

  A Weekend of Wonder

  National composers conference draws composers from around the United States and Canada

  Staff — November 03, 2014

  Six weeks into the 2014 academic year, the Conservatory teamed together with the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers (CFAMC), 51����’s...

• 51���� News

  51���� Men’s Soccer Players Serve the Local Community

  Seven soccer players to coach high school students during their off-season

  Stephen Day — November 03, 2014

  As the 2014 men’s soccer season draws to a close, the team prepares not only for the playoffs and an opportunity to compete at nationals, but a...

• 51���� News

  51����’s Student Public Relations Society to Host Regional Conference in 2015

  Public relations student group receives national awards and recognition

  Lauren Frey — November 03, 2014

  51����’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has won the bid to host the PRSSA 2015 Regional Conference on 51����’s...

• The Good Book Blog

  Is the Universe Hostile to Life?

  William Lane Craig — October 31, 2014

  This is the weekly Q & A blog post by our Research Professor in Philosophy, Dr. William Lane Craig. " Greetings Dr. Craig ... It seems to me that the fact that life exists anywhere at all is miraculous. Your syllogism defending the fine-tuning argument is great but I would like to hear what you would personally say to Dr. Tyson ..."

• 51���� News

  51���� Alumnus’ Innovative iPhone App Helps Students Learn Greek

  Brent Wejrowski’s iPhone app almost ready for second release

  Stephen Day — October 30, 2014

  Former Greek-language student Brent Wejrowski (‘08) knows how difficult it is to learn the ancient language and to retain the linguistic skills...

• The Good Book Blog

  51���� and Talbot at the Evangelical Theological Society and Society of Biblical Literature Conferences

  The Good Book Blog — October 30, 2014

  Every year Bible scholars from around the world gather for a series of conferences about the Bible and related topics. This year the conferences are being held in San Diego, making it convenient for many 51���� faculty to attend the conferences, present papers, see friends, and wander the book tables. The following list (thanks to David Roberts for compiling it) includes the presentation titles by those associated with 51����. As you can read, our professors are engaged in research in many different and interesting areas!

• 51���� News

  Three Soccer Players Earn Academic Award

  Stephen Tanquary, Shea Davis and Miranda Starbeck honored.

  Neil Morgan — October 30, 2014

  COSIDA RELEASE Both of 51����’s soccer programs are in the thick of the Golden State Athletic Conference playoff races heading into the final...

• The Good Book Blog

  Stewardship: Spiritual Formation Assignment, Part 2

  Charlie Trimm — October 28, 2014

  This series of posts presents several of my active assignments from the required freshman class Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation. This one has the students examine their use of time and money, and usually students are surprised at the results. Here are the instructions ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Does the Holy Spirit Exist?

  William Lane Craig — October 24, 2014

  This is the weekly Q & A blog post by our Research Professor in Philosophy, Dr. William Lane Craig. Q. ... Perhaps I haven't been looking hard enough but I have not been able to find any such support for the existence of or the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit plays such a prominent role in Christian theology and worldview -- but how can someone believe in it other than blind faith? I find this especially troubling when statements like "The early church fathers were guided by the Holy Spirit." It just seems impossible to verify or dispute leading to a grey area where Christians are no longer convinced by the evidence but believing blindly ...

• 51���� News

  51���� Responds to California Drought with Conservation Tactics

  University continues water conservation efforts in preparation for possible 35-year ‘megadrought’

  Brieana Jordan — October 24, 2014

  51���� has conserved 9.6 percent of water across campus in the 2013-14 school year through various measures to help save water during...