In this and the next podcast, we turn our conversation to points of application, discussing some of the ways the Realism/Nominalism debate is having a dramatic impact on all we think and do.

In these episodes we discuss:

• If beauty is really in the eye of the beholder
• Can there be justice for all if we are nominalists
• How these ideas shape the work of physicians and therapists
• The nominalistic assumption underlying Critical Theory
• Why people say “That’s true for you but not for me.”
• How we got to the point of believing there are more than two genders
• Nominalism and abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia
• If there is one correct interpretation of a passage of Scripture (or any other document, such as the Constitution)?
• How nominalism cuts the heart out of Christian theology (and is supposed in Islamic theology)
• What it means to discuss “family” without a realist understanding
• Some questions that help people understand the limits of their Nominalist views

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• The first episode in this series: #45 – What Makes Things What They Are? The Realist/Nominalist Debate, Part 1
• The second episode in the series: #46 – Good Reasons to Believe in Things We Can’t See: The Realism/Nominalism Debate, Part 2
• The third episode in this series: #47: The Beliefs, Distinctions, and Cultural Impact of Nominalism: The Realism/Nominalism Debate, Part 3
• The fourth episode in this series: #48: God, Universals, and the Nature of Reality: The Realism/Nominalism Debate, Part 4 (with special guest Paul Gould, Ph.D) – Thinking Christianly
• J.P. Moreland, Finding Quiet: My Struggle of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace
• Thinking Christianly Podcast – #19: Finding Quiet When Experiencing Anxiety and Depression
• Pitirim Sorokin, The Crisis of Our Age (archive edition)

Recommended resources:

• J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview

In this episode, we drill down further into how the Realist/Nominalist debate shapes our understanding of God with special guest and expert, Dr. Paul Gould.

In this podcast, we discuss:

• What is “Divine Conceptualism” and how does it relate to Moderate Realism?
• What are some of the intellectual resources we gain when we hold Platonist ideas about abstract objects and traditional theist understandings about God’s nature?
• How does distinguishing the two types of creation help us understand God’s creative activity?
• Where do distinctions about Platonic and Aristotelian thought help us sort through what we can know about reality?
• How does “Divine Exemplarism” help us make sense of difficult passages in Scripture?
• How can we make sense of the concept of “Divine Simplicity” without falling into incoherence?
• What is the concept of “Divine Aseity” and what requirements does it actually place on our ideas about God’s nature?

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• The first episode in this series: #45 – What Makes Things What They Are? The Realist/Nominalist Debate, Part 1
• The second episode in the series: #46 – Good Reasons to Believe in Things We Can’t See: The Realism/Nominalism Debate, Part 2
• The third episode in this series: #47: The Beliefs, Distinctions, and Cultural Impact of Nominalism: The Realism/Nominalism Debate, Part 3

Recommended resources:

• To find out more about Paul Gould and his work, please visit his website – Paul Gould
• J. P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, chapter on Properties
• Garrett J. DeWeese and J. P. Moreland, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions, chapter on Properties
• J. P. Moreland, Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul

In this episode, we continue exploring realism and nominalism by taking a deeper look into Nominalist beliefs.

In this podcast, we discuss:

• What does a person mean when they say they are a nominalist?
• How is nominalism a contributing factor to current cultural beliefs?
• What are the major distinctions within nominalism?
• How do moderate and extreme nominalists understand properties? What are the challenges inherent in these ideas?
• Why would a person be inclined to hold nominalist views?
• How do we engage in this discussion with fellow Christians?

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

• Stan Wallace, “Three Reasons to Believe in Things You Can’t See,” (four-part series)
• The first episode in this series: #45 – What Makes Things What They Are? The Realist/Nominalist Debate, Part 1
• The second episode in the series: #46 – Good Reasons to Believe in Things We Can’t See: The Realism/Nominalism Debate, Part 2

Recommended resources:

• P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, chapter on Properties
• Garrett J. DeWeese and J. P. Moreland, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions, chapter on Properties
• JP Moreland, Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul