Explore themes of Philosophy of Religion:

Concepts of God

In searching, striving to know God—if there is a God—we discover contrasting ways that God could be. It is good to wonder about God, see a landscape of possibilities, get...

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Speculating About God?

Episode 05

Season 15

26:47

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We dig into issues and arguments about God’s existence—and, if God exists, about God’s nature or traits. We explore competing ideas about God and assess divine...

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What is It About God?

Episode 04

Season 15

26:47

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Can humans probe God? Can we inquire into God’s essence and nature? Is God at all knowable? Or forever beyond human understanding? Let’s be bold in questioning God.

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Is This God?

Episode 03

Season 13

26:46

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Theists and atheists debate whether God exists. But what God are they arguing over? There’s enormous variation in the kinds of gods that populate religions.

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What’s God About?

Episode 11

Season 09

26:46

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How can I assess whether God exists without exploring what kind of God is supposed to exist? So I examine God’s essence and nature.

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What is God?

Episode 03

Season 10

26:46

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The God debate is not a game. Is there a God? If so, what are God’s essences and traits? What are all the ways that God could be? Or could not be? We discover different...

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Wondering About God

Episode 03

Season 05

26:45

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Alternative Concepts of God

Cover image for What can we Learn from Alternative Gods?

Novel concepts of God challenge theism—rejecting the God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Is this ‘heresy’? Or enlarging our vision of what the Ultimate can...

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What can we Learn from Alternative Gods?

Episode 10

Season 13

26:46

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Cover image for Why Seek an Alternative God?

Why Seek an Alternative God? [God] Is God, if there is a God, a personal, conscious, all-powerful Supreme Being? Some offer radically different concepts of ‘God’.

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Why Seek an Alternative God?

Episode 10

Season 12

26:47

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Cover image for Panentheism: Is the World in God?

Panentheism: Is the World in God? The search for God leads to strange ideas. Panentheism claims that the world is in God but God is more than the world. Can this new kind of...

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Panentheism: Is the World in God?

Episode 11

Season 12

26:45

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Cover image for Pantheism: Is the World God?

Is our search for God too narrow? Why do some philosophers espouse Pantheism? Pantheism’s claim is not shy; God is Everything and Everything is God.

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Pantheism: Is the World God?

Episode 05

Season 11

26:45

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Cover image for Alternative Concepts of God

Philosophers explore novel ideas of what God may be like. They challenge classical theism, the personal creator of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

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Alternative Concepts of God

Episode 04

Season 11

26:45

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Cover image for Alternative Concepts of God? (Part 1)

Is God, if there is a God, a personal, conscious, all-powerful Supreme Being? Some offer radically different concepts of ‘God’, exploring novel ideas of what God...

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Alternative Concepts of God? (Part 1)

Topic Series

9 videos

1:42:21

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Faith and Belief

Can God be known only by faith? What is faith? What does faith feel like? Can faith be actionable, practical? Describing faith is one thing; having faith, quite another.

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How Does Faith Work?

Episode 02

Season 17

26:48

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Cover image for Religious Faith: Rational or Rationalization?

There is strain between faith and reason, yet many people proclaim their faith. Why? What generates faith? God? Or human psychology? Should we want to have faith?

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Religious Faith: Rational or Rationalization?

Episode 06

Season 16

26:48

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Cover image for What Causes Religious Belief?

Why are religions so pervasive, across diverse human cultures? If God exists, would God have made it so? But there are entirely natural reasons to expect the widespread...

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What Causes Religious Belief?

Episode 07

Season 13

26:47

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This is personal. Why should I want to believe in God? Is belief a circular path of self-deception? Or the shortest route to bedrock reality?

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Why Believe in God?

Episode 03

Season 11

26:46

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Cover image for Can Religion Withstand Technology?

A social scientist, an expert on science and Islam, and a card-carrying skeptic discuss how the clash between technology and religion reshapes our search for meaning. A...

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Can Religion Withstand Technology?

Roundtable

26:12

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This is personal. ‘Why believe in God’ can mean two things: ‘what are the possible benefits of believing in God?’ and ‘what are the possible...

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Why Believe in God?

Topic Series

13 videos

1:55:17

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Conflict Among Religions

Cover image for A Tribute to Huston Smith

Huston Smith, world religion scholar and seeker of the Divine in diverse religions, died on December 30, 2016. We had the privilege of discussing God, spirit, soul, eternal...

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A Tribute to Huston Smith

Episode 07

Season 17

26:48

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Cover image for Do Religions Complement or Contradict?

I would like to believe in God, but conflicting religions trouble me. Religions clash and compete-and that’s a problem for those who believe or want to believe.

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Do Religions Complement or Contradict?

Episode 11

Season 10

26:47

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Cover image for Can Many Religions All be True?

No one denies the diversity of human religions, and the apparent incompatibility of their core beliefs. Many believe only their own religion to be True. Some claim all...

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Can Many Religions All be True?

Episode 07

Season 03

26:45

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Conflicting religions fill the world. Doctrines about God contradict one another. No one denies the diversity of religions and the apparent incompatibility of their core...

playlist

Can Many Religions All Be True?

Topic Series

11 videos

1:51:34

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Cover image for Authentication and Conflict in Religious Belief?

Humanity’s diverse religions have deeply opposing beliefs that conflict and contradict. How then to claim that any one is the ‘true religion’? How to...

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Authentication and Conflict in Religious Belief?

Topic Series

8 videos

1:13:12

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Religions clash and compete—that’s a problem for those who believe. Some claim that the similarities of diverse religions—such as seeking transcendence beyond the...

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Do Religions Complement or Contradict?

Topic Series

6 videos

42:37

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Theology

Cover image for Salvation – A Philosophical Inquiry

It’s intended as ultimate purpose: salvation means eternal life with God. For believers, what actually happens, what kind of life? For non-believers, what can we learn...

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Salvation – A Philosophical Inquiry

Episode 13

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for Atonement – A Philosophical Inquiry

Can atonement absolve sin? For believers, how could The Atonement work? What’s the process? For non-believers, what does The Atonement say about the kind of God that...

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Atonement – A Philosophical Inquiry

Episode 12

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for The Incarnation – A Philosophical Inquiry

It’s a staggering idea: God became flesh. Why would the Creator become human? For believers, how could Divine and Human natures interact? For non-believers, how do beliefs...

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The Incarnation – A Philosophical Inquiry

Episode 11

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for The Trinity – A Philosophical Inquiry

It seems the ultimate riddle: How could One God be Three Persons? How could One be Three? Or Three be One? And why three? Non-believers and believers can both enjoy the logic...

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The Trinity – A Philosophical Inquiry

Episode 10

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for Jesus as God – A Philosophical Inquiry

Why the astonishing claim that Jesus is God? Not like God. Not representing God. But literally God? One need not be a Christian, or even a theist, to appreciate the...

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Jesus as God – A Philosophical Inquiry

Episode 09

Season 19

26:48

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Cover image for Challenges of Analytic Theology

Is analytic theology for the better, clarifying beliefs? Or for the worse, undermining faith? How does it compare with philosophy of religion, biblical studies and exegesis,...

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Challenges of Analytic Theology

Episode 13

Season 18

26:47

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How Philosophy Informs Religion

Can art inform topics in philosophy of religion? Can the existence and varieties of art address or affect theological questions about God, faith, belief, worship?

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Can Art Engage Philosophy of Religion?

Episode 05

Season 20

26:47

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Cover image for Can Metaphysics Discern God II?

Metaphysics seeks insights into fundamental features of existence. It does not depend on human emotions or personal testimonies. When metaphysics focuses on God, what...

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Can Metaphysics Discern God II?

Episode 05

Season 17

26:48

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Cover image for Can Metaphysics Discern God I?

How to think about God rationally, logically, profoundly, critically? Have no illusion that metaphysics can find God, but can a kind of progress be made?

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Can Metaphysics Discern God I?

Episode 04

Season 17

26:48

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Cover image for Can Philosophy of Religion Find God?

Can Philosophy of Religion Find God? Does God exist? What are God’s attributes and traits? How should we examine such questions about God? Can philosophy provide...

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Can Philosophy of Religion Find God?

Episode 06

Season 12

26:45

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“Theism” is the belief in God. But atheists claim that theism is not coherent, meaning that God as a concept is riddled with conflicts, Inconsistencies and...

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Is Theism Coherent?

Episode 13

Season 07

26:46

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Cover image for Does Philosophy Inform Religion?

What can philosophy bring to religion? Philosophy is a systematic way of thinking about ideas and concepts, often fundamental features of the world. The philosophy of...

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Does Philosophy Inform Religion?

Topic Series

11 videos

1:49:47

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Religion Without God

Cover image for Can Religion be Explained Without God?

Most people believe that God exists and religion is God’s revelation. But some claim that religion needs nothing supernatural; that religion, without God, can flourish...

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Can Religion be Explained Without God?

Episode 09

Season 05

26:46

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Cover image for Can Religion Be Explained Without God? (Part 1)

Religion without God? Most people believe that God exists and religion is God’s revelation. But some say religion, partcularly the organization of religion into...

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Can Religion Be Explained Without God? (Part 1)

Topic Series

8 videos

1:17:04

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Cover image for Can Religion Be Explained Without God? (Part 2)

Religion without God? Most people believe that God exists and religion is God’s revelation. But some say religion, particularly the organization of religion into...

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Can Religion Be Explained Without God? (Part 2)

Topic Series

7 videos

1:12

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Cover image for Does Evolutionary Psychology Undermine Religion?

Evolutionary psychology naturalizes religion. It seeks to explain elements of mind by selection and survival over time. Take altruism—individuals sacrificing themselves for...

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Does Evolutionary Psychology Undermine Religion?

Topic Series

9 videos

1:24:19

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Philosophy of Religion

Explore themes of Philosophy of Religion:

Speculating About God?

What is It About God?

Is This God?

What’s God About?

What is God?

Wondering About God

What can we Learn from Alternative Gods?

Why Seek an Alternative God?

Panentheism: Is the World in God?

Pantheism: Is the World God?

Alternative Concepts of God

Alternative Concepts of God? (Part 1)

How Does Faith Work?

Religious Faith: Rational or Rationalization?

What Causes Religious Belief?

Why Believe in God?

Can Religion Withstand Technology?

Why Believe in God?

A Tribute to Huston Smith

Do Religions Complement or Contradict?

Can Many Religions All be True?

Can Many Religions All Be True?

Authentication and Conflict in Religious Belief?

Do Religions Complement or Contradict?

Salvation – A Philosophical Inquiry

Atonement – A Philosophical Inquiry

The Incarnation – A Philosophical Inquiry

The Trinity – A Philosophical Inquiry

Jesus as God – A Philosophical Inquiry

Challenges of Analytic Theology

Can Art Engage Philosophy of Religion?

Can Metaphysics Discern God II?

Can Metaphysics Discern God I?

Can Philosophy of Religion Find God?

Is Theism Coherent?

Does Philosophy Inform Religion?

Can Religion be Explained Without God?

Can Religion Be Explained Without God? (Part 1)

Can Religion Be Explained Without God? (Part 2)

Does Evolutionary Psychology Undermine Religion?