Apologia

Church Spotting: Watermark Community Church

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 22:46:21 -0500

For this visit, I attended an apologetics conference at Watermark Community Church, a relatively influential and sometimes controversial megachurch that prides itself on conservative theology. This conference was organized by and featured William Lane Craig as keynote speaker, along with Ravi Zacharias, Frank Turek, Greg Koukl, John Stonestreet, and Daniel Wallace.

Special - A Tale of Two Zachs

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:00:31 -0500

In this special interview, Zach interviews another Zach Moore, a young ex-pastor in Washington, DC whose first encounter with the Apologia host came through the Reason Rally Twitter feed in March of this year. After challenging each others' views through social media, the other Zach has had a significant change in worldview.

Remembering Hitchens

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:00:17 -0600

Christopher Hitchens, one of the "New Atheists" and counted among the "Four Horsemen" alongside Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Sam Harris, died from esophageal cancer on December 15, 2011. In this discussion, Zach, Dan, and Kevin reminisce about Hitchens' life and the impact he's had on atheists as well as Christians.

Is Marriage Gay?

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 23:48:53 -0500

In a previous discussion, we touched on the changing cultural landscape and its effect on the family, but what about its effect on marriage? In America, the most significant cultural conflict surrounding marriage is the concept of same-sex marriage. This issue is typically thought as being driven by a religious agenda, but not all religious organizations are opposed to an expanded understanding of marriage. Featuring Dr. Derek Penwell of Douglass Boulevard Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Next Generation

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0500

How will the religious and nonreligious landscape change for the generation of kids being raised now by atheists and believers? What will happen to the concept of the family as American society becomes increasingly secularized?

The Moral Landscape - Part 3

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

A group discussion of Sam Harris' new book, "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values."

The Moral Landscape - Part 2

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

A group discussion of Sam Harris' new book, "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values."

The Moral Landscape - Part 1

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 25 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600

A group discussion of Sam Harris' new book, "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values."

Church Spotting: The Village Church

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:38:59 -0500

In this inaugural episode, we visit The Village Church and talk with Clint Gunter, a young Christian who finds community and purpose among his fellow believers.

Islam

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:00:00 -0500

Saima Chagani, who was born in Pakistan and raised an Ismaili Muslim before converting to Sunni Islam and moving to the United States, is featured in the discussion to examine the current state of global Islam, and the somewhat unique experience of living as a Muslim in post-9/11 America.

Special - Think of the Children

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 12:00:00 -0500

A special interview with Dale McGowan, co-author of "Raising Freethinkers" and founder of the new secular charity, "Foundation Beyond Belief." Also, Amie Parsons, 2009 Camp Director of Camp Quest Texas. Dale and Amie chat about raising freethinking children and the challenges of being a freethinking parent in a society that largely embraces supernaturalism.

Not My God

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 12:00:55 -0500

Sarah Trachtenberg, who blogs at sarahtrachtenberg.com, joins the discussion to talk about her book project, "Not My God," which will be collecting personal "un-testimonies" from atheists and freethinkers. In that spirit, the discussion participants share some of their own stories of apostasy.

The Baha'i Faith

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Enrico Indiogine, a convert to the Baha'i faith, provides the Apologia participants with a brief explanation of his religious beliefs and the similarities and differences that can be seen with more widely recognized faiths.

Galileo

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Why is Galileo's theory today so uncontroversial? Does it not challenge sacred scriptures and contradict the specialness of mankind similar to evolutionary theory?

Charles Darwin

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

It's fairly obvious why there is such a profound cultural division because of evolutionary theory, but is it good to have this divide?

The Coalition of Reason

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

The Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason (www.dfwcor.org) has recently been formed, with a new billboard campaign as their first project. Terry McDonald of the Metroplex Atheists and Fred Edwords of the United Coalition of Reason join the discussion as special guests.

Death and Grief - Part 2

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Is there a fundamental difference in how theists and atheists approach the question of death and grief?

Special - Live at the Christian Book Expo

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Kevin Harris and Zachary Moore attended the Christian Book Expo in Dallas, Texas; the convention featured a panel debate that included Christopher Hitchens and William Lane Craig. After the panel completed, Kevin and Zach recorded a live discussion that included several members of the audience, as well as Hitchens and Craig.

Death and Grief - Part 1

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Is there a fundamental difference in how theists and atheists approach the question of death and grief?

The Problems with Theism

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0600

Danny Schade leads the discussion, talking about some of the most commonly-cited problems with theism. Danny's father, Terry, visits the discussion.

Stump the Theists

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0600

A counterpoint to the previous Stump the Atheists discussion, this time featuring a new Christian and a new Baha'i participant.

What the Devil?

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion about Satan, and how he relates to both orthodox Christianity and atheism, as well as Satanism.

The Problems with Atheism

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The atheists in the discussion gather together to share some of their problems, whether they be intellectual, emotional, or cultural, with atheism.

Stump the Atheists

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A slightly different format- the theists moderate and ask questions of the atheists, with the goal of stumping them.

Love, Sex, and Marriage

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0500

An impromptu discussion about love, sex, and marriage by some of the atheist participants.

Free Will

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion about the nature of free will and how it relates to ethical considerations.

Christopher Hedges

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion about Christopher Hedges' latest book, "I Don't Believe in Atheists."

Artificial Life - Part 2

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A continuation of the discussion sparked by Tom Barbalet's appearance, delving into the question of whether artificial life forms would revere us as gods, and whether humans might fall in love and have sex with them.

Artificial Life - Part 1

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Kevin Harris leads a discussion with special guest Tom Barbalet of the Biota.org podcast, on the subject of artificial life and the ethical implications it raises.

Mind-Body Problem

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion about the ways we attempt to resolve the seeming contradiction between a metaphysical mind inhabiting a physical body. Featuring Rodrigo Neely and Dr. Ian Norris as special guests.

Ethics of Food

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion of the ethical considerations that we all employ when we decide what we should and should not eat. With special guest Richard Spencer of the Faith and Freethought podcast.

Debate

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

We welcome John Ferrer to the discussion to talk about and analyze the debate that he and Zach engaged in recently at the University of Texas at Arlington, entitled "Is God Good?"

Atheist Ethics

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion among the atheist participants about how we can talk about ethics and arrive at very similar-sounding conclusions without appealing to a deity.

Arguments Against God

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The group engages in a discussion on a few atheological arguments, including the argument from non-cognitivism, the problem of evil, and the argument from lexicography. Dr. Derward Richardson of the Summit Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, joins the discussion.

Arguments For God

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The group engages in a discussion on a few of the most popular philosophical arguments for the existence of God, including the moral, the Kalam cosmological, and the teleological arguments. Kyle Deming of the Skeptical Christian blog and podcast joins in.

Partners

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0600

Some of the partners of the regular Apologia participants get together for a "ladies' night" of sorts, and talk about their own religious experiences and interest in common ground.

Sexual Ethics

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:00:40 -0600

A discussion about sexual ethics as both theists and atheists conceive them.

Homosexuality

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0600

An examination of the problems that arise from the intersection of homosexuality and Christianity. With special guest Reed Braden, of the "Unorthodox Atheism" blog and the "Two Smokin' Hot Freethinkers" podcast.

Skepticism

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0600

An examination of the concept of skepticism, its benefits, and its pitfalls.

Special - Interview with Dr. Joe Barnhart

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0600

A special installment of Apologia, interviewing Dr. Joe Barnhart on the subject of ethical common ground, fundamentalism, and Dostoevsky.

Personal Relationship with Jesus - Part 2

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0600

A discussion about the concept of the personal relationship with Jesus, and what it means within Christianity.

Personal Relationship with Jesus - Part 1

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:42:33 -0500

A discussion about the concept of the personal relationship with Jesus, and what it means within Christianity.

Harris and Hitchens

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion about recent comments from Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens that have angered many atheists and freethinkers.

Jesus Myth - Discussion

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:00:00 -0500

A concluding discussion about the Jesus Myth Hypothesis, including some meta-issue questions from Richard Carrier.

Jesus Myth - Part 3

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:00:00 -0500

An examination of the collected arguments in favor of the Jesus Myth Hypothesis. This third part looks at the Arguments from Ahistoricity, including synoptic problem of the gospels, the instances of Biblical testimonies which suggest ahistoricity, and the existence of orthodox revisions of the scriptures.

Jesus Myth - Part 2

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 12:00:00 -0500

An examination of the collected arguments in favor of the Jesus Myth Hypothesis. This second part looks at the Arguments from Similarity, including the existence of dying and rising deities, legendary men, works of ancient fiction, and Jewish literary figures which existed prior to or contemporaneously with the Gospel writers.

Jesus Myth - Part 1

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0500

An examination of the collected arguments in favor of the Jesus Myth Hypothesis. This first part looks at the Arguments from Silence, including the lack of any historical details about Jesus in the works of Paul, as well as the lack of any direct attestations of a historical Jesus is contemporary non-Christian writers.

Common Myths - Part 2

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Zach, Kevin, John, and Dan continue their discussion of common myths about both Christianity and atheism.

Common Myths - Part 1

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Zach, Kevin, and John welcome Dan Sawyer to the discussion to unpack some common myths about both Christianity and atheism.

Rational Response Squad

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0500

Zach and Kevin welcome John Wilson to the discussion, to talk about the recent increase in aggressive atheist activism, especially the activities of the Rational Response Squad.

Stem Cells

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0600

Zach and Kevin finish their stem cell discussion by talking about how science and the Bible can inform us about when humanity is conferred, and what that means to the stem cell issue.

Supporting materials can be found at the Apologia Podcast website.

Religion and Politics - Part 2

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 12:00:00 -0600

A discussion about the relationship between religion and politics.

Religion and Politics - Part 1

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 12:00:00 -0600

A discussion about the relationship between religion and politics.

Special - Bar Talk with D.J. Sansone

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 12:00:47 -0600

An informal discussion about the Christian concept of the will.

Morality

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion about the different perspectives of morality.

Science

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 15 Oct 2006 12:00:00 -0500

A discussion about the relationship between science and religion.

Special - James Lazarus and Kile Jones

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 12:00:00 -0500

James Lazarus and Kile Jones discuss the TAG prior to their upcoming debate.

Theism - Knowledge

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 12:00:00 -0500

The theists in the discussion talk about their understanding of knowledge, and we come to an agreement.

Atheism - Knowledge

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:00:00 -0500

A special installment where the atheists in the discussion talk about their understanding of knowledge.

Natural and Supernatural

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 12:00:16 -0500

Is there a common approach that can resolve the distinction between supernatural and natural phenomena?

Faith and Evidence

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 12:00:00 -0500

How do theists and atheists evaluate evidence?

Faith

zach@drzach.net (Zachary Moore) — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 12:00:00 -0500

What is faith, and is it useful?