#003 Dr. Mike Licona - New Testament scholar, Author & Christian apologist
In this episode of the Thinking Matters podcast, host Todd Funk engages with Dr. Mike Licona, a historian and apologist, discussing his journey of faith, the historical reliability of the New Testament, and the significance of the resurrection. They explore the challenges of doubt, the importance of methodical skepticism, and the role of compositional devices in the Gospels. Dr. Licona shares insights on scripture, inerrancy, and the impact of debates on belief, while also offering advice for young believers navigating their faith in a secular world.
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#002 Henare Whaanga – Maori Christian Apologist
In this conversation, Todd Funk and Henare Whaanga delve into the complexities of identity, biculturalism, and the intersection of Māori and Christian worldviews. They explore the challenges and tensions that arise from navigating these cultural identities, the misconceptions surrounding Māori Christianity, and the importance of listening and understanding in apologetics. The discussion emphasizes the need for unity in diversity within the church and the significance of cultural heritage in shaping faith. Henare shares personal experiences and insights on how to reconcile cultural practices with Christian beliefs, ultimately highlighting the redeemable aspects of every culture and the importance of love and understanding in fostering reconciliation.Chapters00:00 Exploring Identity and Worldview02:39 Biculturalism and Its Challenges05:14 The Intersection of Māori and Christian Worldviews07:38 Tensions Between Cultures10:13 Relearning History and Cultural Heritage12:48 Misconceptions About Māori and Christianity15:20 Cultural Practices in the Church17:53 Listening and Understanding in Apologetics20:30 Navigating Cultural Differences23:08 The Role of the Church in Multiculturalism25:43 Unity in Diversity28:23 Personal Reflections and Spiritual Practices30:35 Confronting Historical Narratives33:13 The Choice of Faith and Cultural Identity35:52 Final Thoughts on Biculturalism and Faith
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#001 Luke Barnes – Theoretical Astrophysicist & Cosmologist
In this episode of the Thinking Matters podcast, host Todd Funk engages with Dr. Luke Barnes, a senior physicist at Western Sydney University, to explore the intersection of faith and science. The conversation delves into Barnes’ background, his journey into physics and cosmology, and the implications of fine-tuning and the Big Bang theory. They discuss the challenges posed by Young Earth Creationism, the multiverse theory, and the philosophical implications of cosmology. The episode also touches on historical perspectives, particularly the case of Galileo, and concludes with thoughts on integrating science and faith in contemporary discussions.
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#18 Who's Guilty of Wishful Thinking? | Thought For Today
If you’re a Christian, you may have friends or family who see your faith as a crutch, as a form of wishful thinking because we want God to be real. However, what most people fail to realise is that it can often be the other way around - that those not following Christ can be resistant to it because the price they have to pay seems too high.
Let’s look at atheism as an example. For the atheist, they have no one to answer to - from their perspective they are totally in control of their own lives, and deep down many would rather keep it that way. When former atheist CS Lewis became convinced that Christianity was true, he was initially very disappointed about it. He said…
“I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”
C.S Lewis recognised that following Christ would have consequences and it’s not always easy. In today’s culture of instant gratification, Christianity isn’t a crutch, instead it demands a price that many people are unwilling to pay. Jesus said…
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”
While this may not sound appealing, C.S Lewis and countless others realised that the cost was worth it. Of course, Jesus himself knows what it is to pay a high price for something, giving his very life for us. He is the one who enables us to believe and follow Him and ultimately that leads to true life. That is why Jesus said,
“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”
I’m Becky Gillespie from Thinking Matters and this has been your Thought for Today. For more reasons to believe visit thinkingmatters.org.nz
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#17 Why Do We Die? | Thought For Today
There is a lot of diversity within humanity but one thing which we all have in common is death - whether we like it or not we will all die. But why is this the case? Throughout human history, humans have constantly poured time, money and effort in attempts to lengthen life but it seems that regardless of how much scientific advancement we achieve, we will never avoid death.
The Bible gives a clear and simple answer as to why we all die. It tells us that sin leads to death - and as humans we have all sinned.
But doesn’t this seem extreme? Why does the punishment for sin have to be death?
First we need to remember where our life even comes from. We did not create ourselves, our lives are a gift from God. The Bible tells us that every breath we breathe is given by God whether we recognise it or not. So if God is the source and sustainer of all life, death entered the world when Adam and Eve rejected that source of life. When they disobeyed God, they turned away from the creator of life itself so the natural consequence of this was death.
This is the tragic history of humanity, but God does not want death to be our final destiny. He didn’t create us just to die but he wants us to live with him forever. That is why he sent his son Jesus to the earth, to take our sins upon himself and die on the cross - he paid the price of death so that we don’t have to. By rising from the grave, he defeated the power of sin and death over our lives. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live.”
I’m Becky Gillespie from Thinking Matters and this has been your Thought for Today. For more reasons to believe visit thinkingmatters.org.nz
Do you ever find yourself wrestling with tough questions about faith, meaning, and culture — wondering not just what you believe, but why? The Thinking Matters Podcast with Todd Funk invites New Zealand Christians (and those curious about Christian faith) into conversations that go deep, are honest, and equip you to live out a thoughtful, grounded faith in a rapidly changing world.
Each episode, Todd will engage experts, thinkers, believers, and sceptics — people who ask hard questions and give thoughtful answers.
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