The Don Johnson Show Archives
Life, Thrown Over the Fence
The Don Johnson Show, 9-19-11 Don and Brandon find it hard to argue with the logic of Justice Joanne Veit, who gave Katrina Effert a suspended sentence instead of prison time for strangling her baby boy to death and throwing the body over the fence into the neighbors...
What a Facebook Friend We Have In Jesus
The Don Johnson Show, 8-29-11 Is believing in God the same as believing in space aliens? Bill Keller thinks so. Can we read the Bible as basically a bunch of facebook posts from God? (This part of the discussion references articles by William Deresiewicz and Chuck...
Penn Jillette Doesn’t Know and Pregnant Jenny Doesn’t Care
The Don Johnson Show, 8-22-11 Our Jonathan Swift Award for crazy pro-abortion argument of the week goes to Jenny the former mother of twins, who killed one of them in the womb because she had created him in a test tube anyway and besides, she wanted to make sure she...
Why Government Can’t Fix Nihilism and God Can’t Create Thinking Computers
The Don Johnson Show, 8-15-11 Don comments on the riots in Britain, answers a listener email about whether God could create a computer with free will, discusses how we should approach gaps in scientific theories, and offers some thoughts on how to interpret the first...
Believing for No Good Reason
The Don Johnson Show, 8-8-11 Don and Brandon bemoan the rampant anti-intellectualism in the culture (including within the Church). Along the way they reference last week's show, a blog post by Sigfriend Trent, and several emails and facebook posts that Don has run...
Discussion with Jason the Ex-Christian
The Don Johnson Show, 8-1-11 Don and Brandon take a call from Jason, who abandoned a version of Christianity after 25 years of belief and ministry to become a "secular humanist." A key line from this conversation occurs at around the 1:15 mark: After Don explains what...
On Flowers in Heaven and Faking Your Prayer Life
The Don Johnson Show, 6-20-11 Don and Brandon respond to an article at losingmyreligion.com on the impossibility of being good in Heaven and answer a listener email about whether or not you should go through the motions of religion even if you don't feel like it.
The Irrationality of “Jesus Movements,” Anti-Semitism, and Allowing a Baby to “Choose” its Gender
The Don Johnson Show, 6-6-11 What are we to make of "Jesus Movements" in which people claim to follow Christ while remaining Muslim, Buddhist, etc.? Don and Brandon discuss the relationship between Christ and culture. What is the best explanation for anti-Semitism? Is...
The End of the World
The Don Johnson Show, 5-16-11 Don and Brandon discuss several topics associated with Harold Camping's prediction that the end of the world will start this weekend.
Discussion with Cameron the Atheist
The Don Johnson Show, 5-9-11 Don gets a call from Cambridge, England and spends the hour comparing worldviews with Cameron.
On Living without Religion, Granting Equal Rights to Plants, and Knowing when not to Cry
The Don Johnson Show, 5-2-11 Osama bin Laden, Hell, and Atheism This part of the conversation includes a reference to Ross Douthat's defense of hell in the New York Times. Living without Religion is out to convince people that atheists can hope, care, and love just...
College Education and the Rise of the Village Atheist
The Don Johnson Show, 4-11-11 "New atheists" such as Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens like to portray themselves as academically and intellectually superior to Christians. Does this claim stand up to scrutiny? Don and Brandon talk about that in reference last...
Debate with Jared the Atheist
The Don Johnson Show, 4-4-11 Don and Brandon take a call from Jared, who thinks that belief in God is a stupid leap into irrationality.
Heaven, Hell, and the Nature of Eternity
The Don Johnson Show, 3-28-11 Don discusses Rob Bell's new book Love Wins and talks with caller Justin about whether or not people will be able to sin in Heaven.
A Refusal to Love God
The Don Johnson Show, 2-28-11 Don and Brandon discuss some issues brought up by listeners in the wake of last week's show with Emery Wang, including the notion that sin, at its root, is disordered love.
Discussion with Atheist Emery Wang
The Don Johnson Show, 2-21-11 Don talks to Emery Wang, founder of losingmyreligion.com and co-host of the podcast A Christian and an Atheist.
Does Science Prove that Religious Belief is False?
The Don Johnson Show, 2-7-11 Don and Brandon break down atheist Andy Thomson's take on why people believe in gods.
Discussion with Justin the Atheist
The Don Johnson Show, 1-31-11 Don and Brandon compare worldviews with caller Justin. They discuss, among other topics, why Don thinks Justin's understanding of Christianity is faulty and whether the accuracy of the scientific method is actually evidence for atheism.
Why God Didn’t Have More to Say About Slavery in the Old Testament
The Don Johnson Show, 1-24-11 In response to a listener question about God's seeming disinterest in slavery in the Old Testament, Don and Brandon discuss how God's rules fit into his plan for developing mature people. Should Muslims and atheists fear that Christian...
Murder in a Meaningless Universe
The Don Johnson Show, 1-17-11 On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, at least one segment of the black community is not living the dream. Michael Shermer advises us to quit looking for meaning in life and in the process finds moral equivalence between Jared Loughner's...
On Bill O’Reilly’s Argument for God
The Don Johnson Show, 1-10-11 Don and Brandon discuss Bill O'Reilly's interaction with atheist Dave Silverman as well as Stephen Colbert's funny response to it. Along the way Don references Apple's rejection of the Manhattan Declaration iPhone app, an article from...
Why Dan Barker Shouldn’t be so Confident in his Case against God
The Don Johnson Show, 1-3-11 Atheist Dan Barker claims to know with certainty that the God of the Bible does not exist. In response to a listener request, Don and Brandon break down Barker's case for his position as he presented it in this debate.
Why Ricky Gervais Needs to Re-think His Atheism
The Don Johnson Show, 12-20-10 Don and Brandon talk about the difference between emotional and intellectual doubt, then tackle Ricky Gervais' defense of atheism in the Wall Street Journal. Don argues that Mr. Gervais is typical of many atheists: he does not understand...
The Dangers of Easy Believism
The Don Johnson Show 12-14-10 Don talks about the dangers of the false doctrine of easy believism, illustrating his point with a story from Don and Brandon's recent tour of the Holy Land. He then catches up on some more listener emails, touching on the relationship...
Liam Neeson on Aslan and the Apostle Paul on Election
The Don Johnson Show, 12-6-10 Liam Neeson thinks Aslan stands for Mohammed, Buddha, and "other great spiritual leaders" as well as Jesus. Does Romans 9 support the view that God predestines some for salvation and others for damnation? Don offers an interpretation, and...
“Choice,” “Free Choice,” and the Misuse of Language
The Don Johnson Show, 6-24-10 Don and Brandon talk about their discussion with Jeremy on the last show. Only one question left to resolve: Did Jeremy misuse the English language on purpose or was it simply the result of an unfortunate chain of causal determinants in...
Conversation with Jeremy Beahan of Reasonable Doubts
The Don Johnson Show, 5-24-10 In response to listener requests, Jeremy Beahan of Reasonable Doubts comes on the show to address the issues we brought up in our April 19th broadcast and try to clarify his position regarding naturalism and determinism.
Edwina the Dinosaur, Kraken the Sea Monster, and the Need to Broaden the Data Pool
The Don Johnson Show, 5-10-10 Don and Brandon answer some listener emails regarding their method of argumentation. They also discuss how to know God through his actions in history.
The Problem with being “Spritual but not Religious”
The Don Johnson Show, 5-3-10 Don and Brandon analyze the popular notion that we should be "spiritual but not religious" and suggest some problems with it. They also discuss how the God of the Bible uses "religion" to bring people into loving relationship with him....
Unreasonable Doubt
The Don Johnson Show, 4-19-10 In response to a listener request, Don and Brandon break down the argument against free will presented by the guys who host Reasonable Doubts.
How to Talk to an Anti-theist
The Don Johnson Show, 4-12-10 Don and Brandon review some online interactions from the previous week and discuss some principles for talking with anti-theists. They also answer a listener email about the nature of art and why they believe beauty is not in the eye of...
The Warrior God of Passover and Easter
The Don Johnson Show, 4-5-10 Don and Brandon discuss President Obama's interpretation of Easter and Passover, noting that the Biblical narrative paints a far different picture than he does. They also answer some listener questions about last week's show and comment...
The Relationship between God, Government, and Human Rights
The Don Johnson Show, 3-29-10 Don discusses the recent discovery of evidence that the ten plagues of Egypt actually happened and why even some Christians don't know what to do with this data. He also clarifies some points from last week's show and expands further on...
God, Freedom, and Obamacare
The Don Johnson Show, 3-22-10 Don and Brandon rant about Obamacare while answering listener questions and comments. They discuss, among other things, whether the New Testament supports nationalized health care, how Christians should respond to the fall of the American...
How Not to Think About Religion
The Don Johnson Show, 3-8-10 A Christian asks Christopher Hitchens a silly question. Mosab Hassan Yousef understands the difference between Islam and Christianity much more clearly than Brad Hirschfield does. Susan K. Smith proselytizes for a religion that claims we...
Can One be Talked Out Of Being a Christian?
The Don Johnson Show, 2-22-10 Don and Brandon talk with caller Brian about whether it is possible to be "talked out of" being a Christian. More on the Dark Ages in which we currently live, including a reference to a NY Times piece on kids and boredom and a story about...
On Richard Dawkins and The Mormon Answer Man
The Don Johnson Show, 1-25-10 In a discussion of the Haitian earthquake, Richard Dawkins claims that Pat Robertson is the only one who understands Christian theology correctly. As part of Don and Brandon's discussion of this, they bring up an article by Ken Connor. In...
On MLK, Avatar, and The Finger of God
The Don Johnson Show, 1-18-10 Don and Brandon discuss Martin Luther King Jr.'s beliefs about extremism and his enemies, the message of Avatar and the alleged miracles chronicled in the documentary The Finger of God.
Columnists who Don’t Understand Religion and Atheists who Don’t Know How to Read Books
The Don Johnson Show, 1-11-10 Don and Brandon talk about Brit Hume's advice for Tiger Woods and the nature of religious discussion in the public square. Don references several articles, including pieces by Tom Shales, Jenny Block, Kyle Drennen, and Michael Gerson....
Living in Slavery while Believing You’re Free
The Don Johnson Show, 12-14-09 Don and Brandon clarify some points they made last week about the Manhattan Declaration, discuss the meaning of freedom according to Jesus and answer a listener question about the use of icons in worship, among other things. Along the...
The Manhattan Declaration and More
The Don Johnson Show, 12-7-09 Don and Brandon answer some listener questions about seeking meaning in life and whether or not Christianity makes extraordinary claims that require extraordinary evidence. They also discuss The Manhattan Declaration, a recently released...
The Explanatory Power of the Christian Worldview and Intellectual Weakness of Mainstream Media Religion Writers
The Don Johnson Show, 11-30-09 Brandon shares about the apologetic limitations of 30 minute conversations with one's maintenance man. James the Magician hosts a much more effective and entertaining apologetic presentation in Wales this week. Don clarifies some points...
Morality and Meaning According to an Atheist
The Don Johnson Show, 11-16-09 Don and Brandon talk with caller Aaron about whether atheism or theism better accounts for the data our senses provide. Specific topics include how to explain the Fort Hood shooting and whether or not life has any ultimate meaning.
God and Medieval Philosophy
Don Johnson Show, 11-9-09 Charles Barkley rants about Christians who judge. A listener has a question about whether or not atheism is based on faith. Don and Brandon break down Edgar Dahl's assertion that God does not provide a basis for morality. Along the way they...
Is Belief in God a Sign of Dementia?
The Don Johnson Show, 10-26-09 Don and Brandon weigh in on Gardiner Harris's assertion that scientists believe theism is a sign of mild dementia. They also mention William McGurn's piece in the Wall Street Journal on the subject. David Brooks thinks we need to be...
Bible Burning and the Word of God
The Don Johnson Show, 10-19-09 A gaping "loophole" in Utah's homicide law. More evidence that Global Warmism is a fideistic religion. Paula Kirby wants some evidence of God. C.S. Lewis on the way God communicates and the limitations of language. Bible burning and the...
On Loving your Neighbor, Saving the Panda, and Keeping Kids in Church
The Don Johnson Show, 10-5-09 Don and Brandon clarify some points they made last week about biblical interpretation and answer a listener question about whether or not loving your neighbor means we have to believe that all nations are equal. They also address a...
Don’t Try This at Home
The Don Johnson Show, 9-28-09 Don and Brandon discuss: An atheist's attempt to defend religion. The Episcopal Church's attempt to attract more young people. A pastor's attempt to connect Barack Obama and the Antichrist. (Here is John Mark Reynold's excellent piece on...
Addressing Possible Contradictions in the Gospels
The Don Johnson Show, 9-21-09 Don and Brandon answer a listener email about a possible contradiction in the gospels. They also discuss the proper way to frame the discussion when talking about this type of issue with atheists. Other topics include a listener question...
Why it is not in Government We Trust and More
The Don Johnson Show, 9-14-09 Don clarifies some points from last week about Christian political theory and explains why we don't want government running our lives. He illustrates his points with several examples from the news, including stories about Big Brother in...