Apologetics Conference 2024
In 2024, Aaron Renn and Senator John Crane discussed honoring God in a hostile culture in preparation for November’s national and local elections.
– HONORING GOD IN A HOSTILE CULTURE –
“Within the church in the West it is almost universally acknowledged that we live in a post-Christian culture,” writes Mark Sayers in his book, Disappearing Church. For that reason, the exhortation from Peter (1 Peter 3:15) to be prepared to make a defense for the hope of the Gospel is all the more relevant and crucial. In 2024, Aaron Renn and Senator John Crane discussed honoring God in a hostile culture in preparation for November’s national and local elections.
Speakers
SEN. JOHN CRANE
John Crane is a respected educator and cultural thought leader who spends much of his time equipping leaders to understand our times. He graduated from Taylor University and went on to receive his M.A. in Communications and Culture from Trinity International University. In 2008, John completed an apologetics training program through the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, in partnership with Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. John has served as a pastor and is a Colson Fellow with the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. In 2016 John was elected to the Indiana Senate.
AARON RENN
Aaron Renn is a writer and consultant in Indianapolis, and author of the book Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture. He is a senior fellow at American Reformer, and a former Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and Managing Director at Accenture. He hosts a podcast called “The Aaron Renn Show” where he converses with some of the world’s leading thinkers on the issues of today.
Presentations
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This session will explore lessons from Christian cultural engagement over the past 70 years and suggest strategies for churches, institutions, and individuals to live faithfully in the "negative" world—a culture opposed to Christian values and teachings.
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This session will analyze from a Christian perspective the opportunities and limitations within the political environment, including the essential criteria for finding a proper balanced approach to our political rhetoric and engagement.
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This session will focus on evaluating the church's current position in a negative world, while offering a thoughtful analysis (and practical examples) of how to proactively shine the light in our darkening world.
Apologetics Conference 2023
In 2023, Dr. Jeff Zweerink and Dr. Eric Hedin presented on the relationship between science and faith.
– CAN SCIENCE AND FAITH CO-EXIST? –
“Within the church in the West it is almost universally acknowledged that we live in a post-Christian culture,” writes Mark Sayers in his book, Disappearing Church. For that reason, the exhortation from Peter (1 Peter 3:15) to be prepared to make a defense for the hope of the Gospel is all the more relevant and crucial. In 2023, Dr. Jeff Zweerink and Dr. Eric Hedin presented on the relationship between science and faith.
Speakers
ERIC HEDIN
Eric Hedin earned his doctorate in experimental plasma physics from the University of Washington, and conducted post-doctoral research at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. He has taught physics and astronomy at Taylor University and Ball State University in Indiana, and at Biola University in Southern California. At Ball State, his research interests focused on computational nano-electronics and higher-dimensional physics. His BSU course, The Boundaries of Science, attracted national media attention, resulting in Dr. Hedin’s recent book, Canceled Science: What Some Atheists Don’t Want You to See, highlighting scientific evidence pointing to design.
Since fall, 2021, Dr. Hedin has transitioned into speaking at universities around the country with God’s Not Dead Events, led by Dr. Rice Broocks. These evangelistic outreach events present evidence from science, philosophy, and history for God as Creator and the resurrection of Christ.
JEFF ZWEERINK
Astrophysicist Jeff Zweerink is a research scholar at Reasons to Believe (RTB). He writes and speaks on the compatibility of science and the Christian faith and on evidence for intentional design from multiverse theory, exoplanets, and artificial intelligence (AI). His books include Escaping the Beginning?, Is There Life Out There?, Who’s Afraid of the Multiverse?, and Building Bridges (coauthor).
Jeff earned a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics with a focus on gamma rays from Iowa State University. Prior to joining RTB, Jeff taught and ran the planetarium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, until postdoctoral research in gamma rays led him to University of California, Riverside. He still holds a part-time project scientist position at UCLA. Jeff’s speaking engagements take him to universities, churches, conferences, and other venues around the world.
Presentations
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According to the popular narrative, science is on a relentless quest to truly understand the universe and that quest will inevitably make all religions (including Christianity) obsolete. This talk will debunk that narrative by showing how major scientific findings over the past 100 years provide a wealth of evidence supporting the truth of Christianity. Additionally, a little historical investigation shows that the Judeo-Christian worldview provided the necessary philosophical foundation for the scientific enterprise to develop.
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Science has revealed multiple layers of fine-tuning in the physical properties of our home planet that are essential for Earth’s ability to sustain life in all its myriad forms over the course of history. We’ll look at many of these key properties as evidence for God’s creative design and purpose for lives.
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Scientists discover that the universe had no beginning. We live in a multiverse and that explains all the fine-tuning. Astronomers find another planet capable of hosting life. Unless we act now, global climate change will irrevocably destroy the planet. Statements like these—that seem like a challenge to Christian principles—repeatedly show up in the news. By applying a few powerful principles, we can use such controversial ideas to stimulate conversations about important biblical ideas.
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All living organisms exhibit a high degree of information based on the specific complexity of the biochemistry within each cell. This specified complexity results in functional, living systems and stands out as one of the most profound pieces of evidence for God’s hand in creation. We’ll examine this line of evidence in light of nature’s limits to show that life is consistent with John 1:3 – “All things were made through Him.”
Apologetics Conference 2022
In 2022, Dr. Paul Copan and Dr. Jim Spiegel tackled some of the topics that often raise questions in our contemporary culture about the morality of the Christian faith.
– THE MORALITY OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH –
“Within the church in the West it is almost universally acknowledged that we live in a post-Christian culture,” writes Mark Sayers in his book, Disappearing Church. For that reason, the exhortation from Peter (1 Peter 3:15) to be prepared to make a defense for the hope of the Gospel is all the more relevant and crucial. In 2022, Dr. Paul Copan and Dr. Jim Spiegel tackled some of the topics that often raise questions in our contemporary culture about the morality of the Christian faith.
Speakers
PAUL COPAN
Paul Copan, Ph.D., is a Christian theologian, analytic philosopher, apologist, and author. He is currently a professor at the Palm Beach Atlantic University and holds the endowed Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics.
He is author or editor of over 40 books, including works such as Is God a Moral Monster? and That’s Just Your Interpretation. He has also contributed essays to over 50 books, both scholarly and popular, and he has authored a number of articles in professional journals.
Paul lives in Florida with his wife, Jacqueline; together they have six children.
JIM SPIEGEL
James S. Spiegel (Ph.D., Michigan State University) is currently Head of School at Lighthouse Christian Academy, and starting this January he will be a TempletonResearch Fellow at Hillsdale College.
Jim has published eleven books and 100 articles and book chapters. His books include The Benefits of Providence (Crossway), The Making of an Atheist (Moody), Hell and Divine Goodness (Cascade), and the award-winning How to be Good in a World Gone Bad (Kregel). Jim’s wife, Amy, is also anauthor (Letting Go of Perfect, B&H Press), and the two of them blog together at Wisdom and Folly. Jim and Amy have four children: sons Bailey (22), Sam (20) and Andrew (16) and daughter Maggie (18). Jim’s hobbies include wood-working, racquetball, songwriting, and music production.
Presentations
“The Bible and Sexuality” | Jim Spiegel
“The Bible and Warfare” | Paul Copan
“The Bible and Abortion” | Jim Spiegel
“The Bible and Slavery” | Paul Copan