The Don Johnson Show Archives

God With Us

God With Us

The Don Johnson Show, 12-13-13 What is Christmas all about? Don and Brandon talk about the meaning of the incarnation by surveying how Jesus was prefigured in the Old Testament.

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The Radical Sexual Ethics of Jesus

The Radical Sexual Ethics of Jesus

November 1, 2013 Don and Brandon discuss John's Fugelsang's defense of Jesus in a debate with atheist Jamie Kilstein. They argue that Jesus was a radical teacher in regards to sexual ethics, but not in the way that Fugelsang suggested.

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From Heartbreak to Joy

From Heartbreak to Joy

The Don Johnson Show, 10-11-13 Don and Brandon talk about the latest developments in the Ridley's ongoing struggle to adopt their son.

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Is God a Sociopath?

Is God a Sociopath?

The Don Johnson Show, 10-4-13 The Don Johnson Show, 10-4-13 Don and Brandon discuss comedian Jamie Kilstein's assertion that if God exists, he is a sociopath.  

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Louis CK on Dealing with That Forever Empty Feeling

Louis CK on Dealing with That Forever Empty Feeling

The Don Johnson Show 9-27-13 Don and Brandon discuss a very interesting interview from The Conan O'Brien Show. Louis CK explains how sometimes people should just get quiet and cry out in despair because of the fact that life is "all for nothing and you're alone."...

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The Atheist Quaker who Longs for More

The Atheist Quaker who Longs for More

The Don Johnson Show, 9-13-13 Don and Brandon talk about last week's caller, Don's new book, and a very interesting article by Nat Case, an atheist Quaker who still hasn't found what he is looking for.

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Not the Real Thing

Not the Real Thing

The Don Johnson Show, 8-30-13 Would people still take vacations if they didn't get to post pictures of their adventures on facebook? In this episode, Don and Brandon discuss that and more, including Don's new book How to Talk to a Skeptic: An Easy to Follow Guide to...

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Science and the Light of Faith

Science and the Light of Faith

The Don Johnson Show, 7-19-13 Does the scientific method tell us all there is to know about the world? In tackling this issue Don and Brandon discuss an article by Barbara Forrest and refer to the new encyclical from Pope Francis.

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Living like Animals

Living like Animals

The Don Johnson Show, 7-12-13 Don and Brandon discuss sexual ethics in light of what it means to be created in the image of God. They note that God made us with the ability to love, but we have largely chosen to squander that gift and live like animals, slaves to our...

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The Brutal Logic of Abortion

The Brutal Logic of Abortion

The Don Johnson Show, 5-2-13 Don comments on the Kermit Gosnell case. Some links to go with the show: Why Gosnell's Trial Should be a Front Page Story From Roe to Gosnell Gosnell Worker: Baby Surviving Abortion Struggled in Toilet Trying to Live The Lethal Logic...

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Terrorism and the Search for Meaning

Terrorism and the Search for Meaning

The Don Johnson Show, 4-29-13 Don discusses the idea that the Boston Marathon bombers may have been motivated to become Islamists because it provided their life some meaning. He analyzes the various ways people respond to the void we all feel in our hearts. Some links...

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Discussion with Naturalist Matthew Ferguson Part 2

Discussion with Naturalist Matthew Ferguson Part 2

The Don Johnson Show, 4-5-13 Don compares worldviews with metaphysical naturalist blogger Matthew Ferguson, a doctoral student at UC Irvine. In this part of the conversation, Don and Matthew discuss science and miracles. Some links to go with the show:   Miracles...

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Discussion with Naturalist Matthew Ferguson Part 1

Discussion with Naturalist Matthew Ferguson Part 1

The Don Johnson Show, 4-5-13 Don compares worldviews with metaphysical naturalist blogger Matthew Ferguson, a doctoral student at UC Irvine. In this part of the conversation, Don and Matthew discuss the "mind-body" problem faced by reductionistic materialism. Some...

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Interview with Rick Schenker of Ratio Christi

Interview with Rick Schenker of Ratio Christi

The Don Johnson Show, 2-1-13 Rick Schenker is President and CEO of Ratio Christi, a campus-based Christian apologetics organization that is taking off around the world. Don talks to Rick about the ministry and how you can be involved.

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Should Christians Stay Quietly in the Shadows?

Should Christians Stay Quietly in the Shadows?

The Don Johnson Show, 1-21-13 This week contained many culturally controversial events: President Obama was inaugurated on Monday, which was also Martin Luther King Day, and Tuesday was the 40th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision. Don and Brandon discuss how...

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God’s Desire to be Present with his People

God’s Desire to be Present with his People

The Don Johnson Show, 1-7-13 Corinna Nicalou is going to visit every church in her area in order to understand religion better and perhaps find God. Don and Brandon discuss her quest and take issue with some advice Corinna has received from Christians on her blog.

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The Problem of Providence

The Problem of Providence

The Don Johnson Show, 12-24-12 Atheist Stephen Marche explains why seemingly miraculous events left his stomach in knots and why he was so relieved to see that bad things still happen. In discussing this article, Don and Brandon reference other apparent acts of God,...

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Why Hume was Wrong about Miracles

Why Hume was Wrong about Miracles

The Don Johnson Show, 12-17-12 How the Christmas story shows God's response to the evil in Newtown. For further reference see articles by Ross Douthat, Albert Mohler, Russell Moore, and Ravi Zacharias. Is it better to hold to vague and false doctrine or be openly...

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Truth, Tolerance, and the Argument from Miracles

Truth, Tolerance, and the Argument from Miracles

The Don Johnson Show, 12-3-12 Don and Brandon answer listener emails and address a wide variety of topics, including: Why truth is best transmitted person to person. The Universalist who is intolerant of evangelicals. The evangelicals who are intolerant of...

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Why Christians Must Not Abandon the Culture War

The Don Johnson Show, 11-9-12 Don and Brandon discuss several issues relating to the election, including the notion that Christians should stay away from divisive political issues. Some articles that go with the show: Rights Talk Run Amok Square None Irrepressible...

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On Prayer, Politics, and Freedom

The Don Johnson Show, 11-2-12 Listener Josh asks, "Why does prayer work? If God always does what is best anyway, why would he take our prayers into account when acting?" How should the Christian think about politics? Don and Brandon discuss the relationship between...

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Discussion with Wesley the Atheist Ex-Pastor, Part 2

The Don Johnson Show, 9-9-12 Don talks with atheist caller Wesley. Wesley grew up Christian and attended Dallas Baptist University and Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy. He then worked as a pastor for several years before giving up...

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Discussion with Wesley the Atheist Ex-Pastor, Part 1

The Don Johnson Show, 9-9-12 Don talks with atheist caller Wesley. Wesley grew up Christian and attended Dallas Baptist University and Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a B.A and M.A. in Philosophy. He then worked as a pastor for several years before giving up...

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Mistaking Disneyland for the Real World

The Don Johnson Show, 9-6-12 Don and Brandon discuss the relationship between this world and the next, using Don's trip to Sequoia National Park as an illustration. Some more articles demonstrating an abject refusal to acknowledge the truth when it comes to abortion...

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Discussion with Fahran the ex-Muslim Agnostic

Discussion with Fahran the ex-Muslim Agnostic

The Don Johnson Show, 4-30-12 Don and Brandon talk with Farhan Qureshi of beliefrevision.com. Farhan is an ex-Muslim who now is part of a Unitarian Universalist congregation. He describes himself as a truth seeker, a free thinker, an agnostic theist, a relativist, a...

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Conversation with Bill the Naturalist

The Don Johnson Show, 3-21-11 Don and Brandon talk with Bill, an atheist caller from Virginia. In a discussion that ranges from bears to objective morality, each man presents and defends some evidences for their worldview.

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Religion for Atheists and Promiscuity for Everyone

Religion for Atheists and Promiscuity for Everyone

Don Johnson Show, 3-19-12 An Orange County billboard claims atheists make better lovers because they don't have to worry about anybody watching. What is the actual message here and does it stand up to scrutiny? The New York Times' David Brooks reviews Alain de...

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The Pastor that Rejected Christianity

The Don Johnson Show, 3-15-12 Don talks with Wes, a secular humanist chaplain. Wes recently rejected Christianity after 10 years as an evangelical pastor. He has a B.A. in Biblical Studies with a minor in philosophy from Dallas Baptist University and an M.A. in...

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Naturalism, Morality, and Free Will

The Don Johnson Show, 3-9-12 Scott from Oregon calls in to talk to Don and Brandon about a naturalistic framework for morality that he finds reasonable. The discussion focuses largely on free will and includes references to the new book by Sam Harris of that title.

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An Atheist’s View of Heaven

The Don Johnson Show, 11-28-11 Don and Brandon talk with Emery Wang of the A Christian and an Atheist podcast. Emery called in to talk about heaven, specifically his article about why there won't be any flowers there.

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The Jesus Myth?

The Don Johnson Show, 11-7-11 Did the gospel writers never intend for Jesus to be taken as a literal historical figure? Is Jesus a mythical character on par with Harry Potter? Don and Brandon answer these questions and briefly discuss the previous show about Taoism.

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Universalism and the Story of God

The Don Johnson Show, 10-3-11 Which side of the abortion debate relies on science, reason, and evidence to support its positions and which side uses nothing but metaphysical abstractions and emotional appeals? Don and Brandon discuss articles by Stanley Fish, Deborah...

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