Latest Posts

• The Good Book Blog

  Is the Universe an Object, and Does It Matter?

  William Lane Craig — April 29, 2016

  Dr Craig, My question is based on your formulation of the argument from contingency, specifically, your restricted version of the PSR. Restricted PSR: everything that exists has an explanation for its existence, whether in the nature of its own necessity or an external cause. There are good reasons to prefer a restricted PSR over the strong version - it avoids the famous objection by Peter Van Inwagen, which argues that the PSR is false because it has the absurd consequence on making all facts necessary. I am aware that you have of Alexander Pruss's work on defending the strong version and am on the fence at the moment as to whether Inwagen's objection succeeds ...

• Biola News

  In Honor of National Autism Awareness Month, Professor Offers Insight in Q&A

  Expert shares insights on the autism spectrum disorder

  Marissa Ray — April 29, 2016

  Robin LaBarbera, Biola University professor and director of special education, specializes in teaching future teachers how to educate students...

• The Good Book Blog

  Misinterpreting the Thief (John 10:10)

  Gary Manning Jr — April 28, 2016

  In Jesus’ Shepherd Discourse in John 10, Jesus contrasts himself with “the thief.” “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it in abundance.” If you hear this verse quoted in a sermon, or see how people use this verse online, you will usually hear that the thief is Satan. But is that what Jesus meant?

• The Good Book Blog

  Does the Church Have a "Plausibility" Problem?

  Sean McDowell — April 27, 2016

  Since writing my book on Same-Sex Marriage, I have been reading almost every book I can get my hands on related to homosexuality and the church. While there are some great books, there has been a huge need for a book that addresses the “plausibility” problem. I recently came across the book Same-Sex Attraction and the Church by Ed Shaw, and was pleasantly surprised that it dealt with this exact issue with clarity and insight. In my view, this book is one of the top five most important books for Christians to read on the subject. Pastor Ed was kind enough to answer a few of my questions. Enjoy! ...

• Business. Ministry. Life.

  Student to Startup

  Kayla Harrington — April 26, 2016

  Kayla Harrington is a student in the Crowell School of Business at Biola University. She led her team, White Elephant Post, to the first-place finish in the inaugural Biola Startup Competition. In this post, she shares her thoughts about her experience.

• Business. Ministry. Life.

  Announcing our New Concentration in Business Analytics

  David Bourgeois — April 26, 2016

  The Crowell School of Business is pleased to announce the launch of our new concentration in Business Analytics, which will begin this fall. The...

• The Good Book Blog

  What Does Jerusalem Have to Do with Washington D.C.?: Rethinking the Church’s Role in Law and Public Policy

  Thaddeus Williams — April 25, 2016

  The summer of 2014 gave us the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby on the side of religious liberty. The summer of 2015 witnessed another culturally controversial 5-4 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which carries potentially ominous implications for religious liberty (particularly according to the dissents of Justices Roberts and Alito). Meanwhile, some legal scholars are forecasting a massive public policy paradigm shift in coming years over another hotly contested issue—the right to life. Fordham University’s Charles Camosy, as a case-in-point, sees such a dramatic shift as not only possible but indeed inevitable ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Deductive Arguments and Probability

  William Lane Craig — April 22, 2016

  Hello, Dr. Craig. You have often said that a deductive argument is good if it meets two conditions: It is valid, and each premise is more probable than it's denial. Furthermore, in a recent newsletter, you said, "in a deductive argument the probability of the premises establishes only a minimum probability of the conclusion: even if the premises are only 51% probable, that doesn't imply that the conclusion is only 51% probable. It implies that the conclusion is at least 51% probable." But why would the probability of a premise establish minimal probability of a conclusion? Shouldn't it establish maximal probability? ...

• Biola News

  Art Alumni Reunion Will Feature Screening of Alumnus’ Film “I Am Sun Mu”

  Event will showcase student, faculty and alumni work, and provide opportunity to give to Loren Baker Scholarship Fund

  Daryn Daniels — April 22, 2016

  Alumnus Adam Sjöberg (’07) will screen his second feature film, “I Am Sun Mu,” at an art alumni reunion event this Saturday, April 23. The reunion...

• Biola News

  Gospel Choir Celebrates 30th Anniversary at Biola University

  On Saturday, Biola will host the celebratory event, Gospelfest

  Sarie Koes — April 22, 2016

  The Biola University Gospel Choir will celebrate their 30th anniversary this Saturday, April 23. Formed in 1986, the Gospel Choir has had a long...

• Biola News

  Awareness Week Aims to Prevent Sexual Assaults, Educate, and Heal

  Biola University strives to recognize and educate during National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

  Sarie Koes  — April 21, 2016

  One in five women and one in 16 men are assaulted during their college years. For Biola University, that would mean 800 current undergraduate and...

• The Good Book Blog

  Worshiping at Work

  Mark Saucy — April 20, 2016

  What images do the word “work” bring to mind? If students and others I’ve had the chance to ask are any measure, the first thoughts aren’t all that positive. For myself I can recall flip comments I have made (half-) jokingly about hating when my work gets in the way of my hobby (cycling, mountain biking—the sport of kings!). From what I get from others, I’m fairly typical ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Why Were Some Books Left Out of the Bible?

  Clinton E. Arnold — April 19, 2016

  A few years ago, the National Geographic Society announced the discovery of a lost gospel called the Gospel of Judas. Every major news outlet covered this event, with some hailing it as the discovery of the century. The Society then aired a television special on the Friday before Easter telling the story of this great find and discussing its significance. This discovery raised many questions for people, but especially two of a critical nature for the Christian faith: (1) why were some books left out of the Bible (like the Gospel of Judas), and (2) should we consider including other books in the Bible? ...

• The Good Book Blog

  New Book Provides Short Answers to Big Questions about God

  Sean McDowell — April 18, 2016

  I recently received a copy of an intriguing book in the mail called Short Answers to Big Questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity. One of the authors, Dr. Clinton Arnold, is a friend and colleague of mine at Biola University. This father-son pair tackle some of the biggest theological questions raised about Christianity today, such as, “Is Hell a real place?” “Do angels and demons really exist?” and “Does God hate sex?” If you’re looking for an easy-to-read, insightful, and timely book that tackles these types of questions, then I highly recommend this book. To give you a sense of the content and approach of this book, the Arnolds answered a few of my questions ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Properly Understanding Properly Basic Beliefs

  William Lane Craig — April 15, 2016

  "Another example would be the warrant for Christianity's truth that comes from the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. To assume that the experience of the Holy Spirit's witness to the truth of Christianity is mere emotions is question-begging. If God does exist, He is certainly capable of communicating His truth to you in an interior way as well as through external evidences. Again, certain Christian beliefs are, I'm convinced, known to be true in a properly basic way, grounded in the inner witness borne to us by God Himself. Interestingly, beliefs based on testimony--like my belief that your name is Grant--is a properly basic belief which I am rational to hold unless and until a defeater for that belief comes along. Similarly, many Christian beliefs are beliefs warranted to us by testimony--God's own testimony. Don't be too quick to dismiss it, lest you fail to hear the voice of God speaking to you." Okay then. We have two properly basic beliefs: (1) The testimony of others (2) Inner witness ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Does God Want Me to Be Happy?

  Clinton E. Arnold — April 12, 2016

  Without any hesitation we can say that yes, God wants you to be happy. The Bible (as well as experience) tells us that the Christian is given happiness in an incredible number of ways. But Christ has actually sweetened the deal and offered us something even better. While happiness is used to describe a basic feeling of gladness and contentment, what Christ offers is joy, which includes happiness, but runs much deeper, lasts much longer, and is felt much more strongly than happiness. The word joy shows up roughly four hundred times in the Bible, and it is no coincidence. Christ wants you to experience the joy that comes from him ...

• Biola News

  Students Volunteer at Hospitals as Part of Death and Dying Sociology Course

  Professor Brad Christerson gives insight into the sociology of death and how to grieve in new class

  Shayna Brodsky and Sarie Koes — April 12, 2016

  Junior student Erin Choi was admitted to a hospital and told she had two months to live. According to doctors, she was dying of cancer. As it...

• The Good Book Blog

  Why Evolution Is Not "Just a Theory"

  Sean McDowell — April 11, 2016

  One of my favorite presentations to do at universities, schools, conferences, and churches is my Atheist Encounter, in which I interact with the audience while role-playing an atheist. After briefly setting up my character (which involves putting on my “atheist glasses”), I then take live questions from the audience and do my best to defend atheism so Christians can see how well—or how poorly—they defend their faith ...

• Biola News

  The Campaign National Tour Heads East to Washington, D.C. and New York City

  Events draw local alumni and help campaign reach 94 percent of goal

  Cambria Aviles — April 11, 2016

  Biola University’s Campaign National Tour continued with back-to-back events in Washington, D.C. and New York City on April 1 and 2, respectively....

• Biola News

  Winners of Biola University’s First-ever Startup Competition Announced

  First place wins a $15,000 cash prize and more to fund their dream business

  Daryn Daniels — April 08, 2016

  Biola University Crowell School of Business announced the winners of its first-ever startup competition on April 8. First, second and third place...

• The Good Book Blog

  Is the Universe a Necessary Being?

  William Lane Craig — April 08, 2016

  Dear Dr. Craig, In the Leibniz' Contingency Argument, the premise 2 states that "If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is God". This requires that the universe does not exist by the necessity of its own nature, and that anything that could possibly exist outside the universe, could not be the cause of the universe, except for God. The universe is further defined as all of space-time reality, including all matter and energy. You have previously answered the question "Is Part of the Universe a Necessary Being?" (Question #235), essentially by stating that it would be absurd to suggest that a specific set of elementary particles would exist necessarily in all possible worlds, while being the cause of all the other similar particles ...

• The Good Book Blog

  How Do We Help Students Resist our Pornified Culture? Part 2

  Sean McDowell — April 07, 2016

  In my first post, I discussed two underlying reasons why pornography has such a stronghold on many youth today. In this post, my goal is to offer six practical insights so we can best help students resist the lure of pornography. These are some of the points I will be sharing at the upcoming Set Free Global Conference on pornography.

• Biola News

  Biola Launches Office of Employer Relations

  New department is dedicated to connecting students and alumni with top tier internships and jobs

  Drew Mattocks  — April 07, 2016

  The Center for Career Development at Biola University launched the Office of Employer Relations this spring in an effort to provide more...

• The Good Book Blog

  How Do We Help Students Resist Our Pornified Culture? Part 1

  Sean McDowell — April 06, 2016

  For the past two decades, I have been speaking, teaching, writing, and counseling students on a variety of issues. Yet in the past few years, no issue has become more critical to address with students than pornography. And yet, sadly, many parents, youth workers, teachers, and other adults simply ignore it ...

• The Good Book Blog

  La Vida es un Regalo Divino / Life is a Divine Gift

  Octavio Esqueda — April 04, 2016

  Todos los viernes en la tarde un grupo de estudiantes y maestros de la universidad cristiana en donde trabajo se reúnen a jugar basquetbol. Hace unas semanas fui a jugar con ellos y lo que parecía un día normal se convirtió en una experiencia que me ha impactado y que también ha tenido el mismo efecto en muchísimas personas. Después de jugar por más de una hora uno de mis alumnos del doctorado se disponía a irse a su casa cuando le pedí que me esperara unos minutos porque necesitaba hablar con él. Primero se sentó y después se recostó en el césped a un lado de la cancha en lo que terminaba de jugar mi partido. En cuanto el juego terminó fui a hablar con él y en ese momento me di cuanta que estaba inmóvil, sin respirar y con una apariencia pálida y descolorida. Inmediatamente pedí ayuda y mientras algunos lo trataban de resucitar yo llamé a los servicios de emergencias. Gracias a Dios lograron que respirara otra vez y se lo llevaron a la sala de emergencias de un hospital cercano ...