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Course 04

God and the Philosophers

Philosophy of Religion & Metaphysics

Most LDS members have never encountered the serious philosophical arguments about God, and LDS theology has genuinely distinctive positions (materialism, divine embodiment, rejection of creation ex nihilo) that are fascinating in a philosophy of religion context.

Prerequisites

Episodes

  1. 01

    Does God Exist? The Classical Arguments

    Cosmological, teleological, ontological arguments in their strongest modern forms (Leibniz, fine-tuning, Plantinga's modal ontological argument).

    Coming soon
  2. 02

    The Problem of Evil

    Logical problem, evidential problem, theodicy attempts (Augustinian, Irenaean, skeptical theism). The strongest argument against classical theism, presented honestly.

    Coming soon
  3. 03

    Classical Theism vs. Alternatives

    The "omni" God. Process theology. Open theism. Multiple coherent concepts of God — rejecting one doesn't mean rejecting all.

    Coming soon
  4. 04

    Materialism, Dualism, and the Nature of Reality

    The mind-body problem. Physicalism vs. substance dualism vs. property dualism. Relevant to anyone who believes in a soul, resurrection, or divine embodiment.

    Coming soon
  5. 05

    Free Will, Determinism, and Divine Foreknowledge

    Compatibilism, libertarian free will, hard determinism. Molinism, open theism, eternal now. Connects directly to LDS agency theology.

    Coming soon
  6. 06

    Creation, Cosmology, and Contingency

    Creation ex nihilo vs. creation ex materia. "Why is there something rather than nothing?" LDS theology's distinctive position on uncreated matter.

    Coming soon
  7. 07

    Revelation, Miracles, and Divine Action

    How does God act in the world? Hume on miracles. Interventionist vs. non-interventionist models. What does it mean to say God "speaks" to prophets?

    Coming soon
  8. 08

    Religious Pluralism & Particularity

    If God exists, why so many religions? Hick's pluralism, exclusivism, inclusivism. Holding particularist theology and genuine respect for others.

    Coming soon
  9. 09

    Death, Afterlife, and Meaning

    Personal identity and survival after death. The soul-as-continuity problem. LDS theology's unusual approach to postmortal existence.

    Coming soon
  10. 10

    Living With the Questions

    The limits of philosophical theology. Relationship between philosophical argument and lived faith. Intellectual humility does not mean intellectual surrender.

    Coming soon