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Inspiring Philosophy Academy

60 members • $25/month

8 contributions to Inspiring Philosophy Academy
Need help with a discussion on the resurrection
I've had a long discussion with two friends about the resurrection as the proof for Christianity, I've gotten some objections I am not sure how to answer: Firstly, a "spiritual but not religious" friend of mine said Jesus could've been a man who simply transcended spiritually and learned how to defeat death, then he did so to trick people in order to attain worship for himself Secondly, from an agnostic, the resurrection of Jesus could be explained by natural causes we haven't yet discovered, like a unique biological anomaly, an error inside of a simulation or a law of physics not yet discovered I'd much appreciate any help with these objections as I found myself stuck, thank you!
Need help with a discussion on the resurrection
@Niko Gulić My research in a few forthcoming peer-reviewed philosophy papers (and likely my thesis) deal with this idea regarding the underdetermination of miracles. First thing to understand is that Jesus’ Resurrection is what philosophy of language experts in pragmatics call a “signal.” While the actual raw data (the resurrection) doesn’t logically entail the sender type, the surrounding context - the coordination, the semantic content in-near proximity, the ex-ante passion predictions of resurrection - show that the resurrection functions as an endorsement of Jesus’ identity. While it doesn’t prove that the Christian God resurrected Jesus, it minimally shows that the resurrection + context is a communicative signal meant to be interpreted as a vindication of the Christian God. But why might someone want to endorse the Christian God? It doesn’t mean that it’s ACTUALLY the Christian God, you may ask. There are a few things going on in your “spiritual example” and your “unknown natural law.” A force (or agent with genetic aims) that raised Christ from the dead without endorsing his claims has a smaller explanatory scope with respect to Jesus’ communicative acts. It’s like saying “quantum fluctuations explain the resurrection” or that “physics explains consciousness.” It’s a nice hypothetical, but the precise details are needed to generate that explanatory power (ex. the exact arrangement of the atoms to produce resurrection are needed because the possibility space of non-anthropological continuums rarely account for counterfactuals. It only takes one stray atom to not result in a resurrection). Similarly, Shakespeare is best explained by an agent, not “physical laws mashing together.” So the better explanation is a personal agent ratifying Jesus’ claims, but what principled reason should we think that the Christian God is the better explanation vs. deceptive aliens or gods? My good friend Roy from ImagoLogos helped me with an analogy that will stick. If you recall, the Cartesian Demon can deceive you into thinking your experiences of the universe are real. So if sensory experience is probability-raising support for BOTH the Cartesian Demon (or even “deceptive natural law) and ordinary reality, does this mean that we should be global skeptics?
*or an agent with GENERIC aims
Sneak Peak: What’s Coming
We’ve got some exciting things in the works at IPA. This week we’re beginning development on a brand-new course covering Bayesian Epistemology and Rational Belief Formation alongside one of the leading scholars in the world working in this area. The goal isn’t just to teach Bayes’ Theorem. We want to help you understand how rational belief revision actually works, how evidence affects probability, how cumulative cases are built, and how these principles apply to questions about Christianity, history, miracles, science, and everyday reasoning. We’re also going to be building practical tools alongside the course, including: 📊 A Bayes Calculator 📈 Evidence-weighting tools 🧠 Interactive probability visualizations 🔬 Resources to help you apply Bayesian reasoning to real-world arguments and evidence If you had a chance to learn a topic with us: what topic? And what scholars would you want to hear from?
Just brainstorming, but maybe weekly exercises in spotting case examples of misapplications of Bayes’ Theorem by atheists. Examples include partitions, principle of indifference (like MonkeyBoy), Philosophers of religion like Oppy, maybe even Carrier’s abuse of it for mythicism. Basically like a “detective analysis” of whats wrong with the atheist argument. Like a timed lab almost. I think it would be cool to see people in real-time interact with the arguments. I might be totally off base though if someone has a better idea 😅
Saturday Q&A 6/20 Call Update - Michael Jones
Our weekly Saturday Q&A this week will host our very own Michael Jones of Inspiring Philosophy. If you want to have your questions answered, you don't want to miss this call!
Saturday Q&A 6/20 Call Update - Michael Jones
The man, the myth, the legend 😎
Reading Recommendation for Ancient Christian Heresies
On May 30th, I'm doing a presentation on the Christian Apologetics network on ancient heretical Christian groups. Instead of showing merely that these heresies are not biblical, or that the Trinity is orthodox, I've decided to take the approach of showing why these heresies are NOT apostolic. I think one way to advance the case for the Trinity being implicitly taught by the Old Testament/intertestamental communities is to demonstrate the counterfactual connection, that the same "implicit teaching" cannot be likewise said of the ancient Christian heresies. Any reading/research recommendations that would aid the above "counterfactual argument?" My preliminary research shows that refuting Walter Bauer's influential thesis is essential. He basically theorized that heresy arose before orthodoxy in Christian communities, and is arguably the foundation for low Christological theories for modern higher critics (of the likes of Elaine Pagels, Bart Ehrman, etc.). TA Robinson's "The Bauer Thesis Examined" is only available in hard-copy, but I have a pdf of Paul Hartog's "Orthodoxy and Heresy in Early Christian Contexts." I haven't taken looked at "Heresy of Orthodoxy" by Köstenberger and Kruger, since I'm generally skeptical of the findings from (presuppositional) "reformed epistemologists" by the likes of Kruger. I would think the essays provided by Hartog should be enough, but I want to double-check my blind-spots if I'm missing anything essential. Thanks!
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🚨 NEW COURSES 🚨
Hey guys, as we slowly build out the program to include MORE high level training, we want to know what YOU guys would be looking for first. I'll add some options we already plan on adding, but feel free to comment any topics you want to be trained on (or even WHO you would like to see teaching as part of the course!)
Poll
33 members have voted
A business-oriented person like @Inspiring Philosophy or @Tim Howard teaching on how to master the social media algorithm/trends would slap😎 I'd venture to say that even for non-content creators, it would be helpful to understand the tactics and techniques people use to "hook" you into clicking on their stuff.
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Apollos Christian Apologetics
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@apollos-christian-apologetics-7398
Former Atheist. Christian Apologetics is based

Active 14h ago
Joined Apr 27, 2026
Houston, Texas (Southside)
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