Latest Posts

• Biola News

  How to Combat Stress: A Psychology Professor Shares Tips

  April was National Stress Awareness Month, and with graduation right around the corner, college seniors understand why

  James O'Hearn — May 20, 2016

  At the end of the month, nearly 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students will walk across a stage at Biola University — a symbolic and...

• The Good Book Blog

  God’s Love and Justice in Contradiction?

  William Lane Craig — May 20, 2016

  Dr. Craig, Your ministry has radically changed my life. As a direct result of your arguments and debates, I went from a nihilist to a staunch Christian. However, I have encountered a problem with the ontological argument. Is there a contradiction between perfect justice and perfect mercy in a maximally great being? The way I have seen this objection posed is that the Christian God is just and merciful. Mercy is defined as the suspension of justice. Thus there is a contradiction. I have also seen the argument being put as perfect justice is giving everyone what they're due, and perfect mercy is giving some people less than what they're due. Is this objection as crushing as its proponents make it out to be? ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Theological Anthropology

  Ryan Peterson — May 18, 2016

  Christian anthropologies have been of vital importance throughout the history of the church because at each point in history there are cultural assumptions and philosophical perspectives about the nature of humanity that call the gospel into question, that question God’s Lordship, humanity’s servanthood, and their genuine fellowship in Jesus Christ. To maintain a biblical understanding of salvation, Christians have needed to emphasize humanity’s existence as embodied and as spiritual, as moved by intellect and by desire, as motivated by the will and as motivated by habitual acts that shape the will. These realities of human existence have been uncovered as theologians have thought through the logic of the gospel and its proclamation in their context ...

• Biola News

  Tenth Tour Stop Brings Biola’s Campaign to the Pacific Northwest

  Event draws local alumni and raises more than $92,000 toward campaign

  Cambria Aviles — May 18, 2016

  On Saturday, May 7, Biola University hosted the tenth stop of the Campaign National Tour in Seattle, Wash. More than 120 local alumni, parents and...

• Biola News

  Art Professors Release New Books

  Kurt Simonson releases first photobook; Jonathan Anderson releases book on modern art and theology

  Daryn Daniels — May 17, 2016

  Art professors Kurt Simonson (’00) and Jonathan Anderson (’00) are sharing pieces of their personal journeys through two different approaches in...

• The Good Book Blog

  What is Theology?

  Erik Thoennes — May 16, 2016

  The study of theology is considered by many to be dry, boring, irrelevant, and complicated. But for those who want to know God, the study of theology is indispensable. The word “theology” comes from two Greek words, theos (“God”) and logos (“word”). The study of theology is an effort to make definitive statements about God and his implications in an accurate, coherent, relevant way, based on God’s self-revelations. Doctrine equips people to fulfill their primary purpose, which is to glorify and delight in God through a deep personal knowledge of him. Meaningful relationship with God is dependent on correct knowledge of him ...

• Biola News

  New Provost Announced

  Deborah L. Taylor named to university’s second-ranking position

  Brenda Velasco — May 16, 2016

  Biola University President Barry H. Corey announced on May 16, 2016 the appointment of Deborah L. Taylor to the position of Provost and Senior...

• Biola News

  San Francisco Event Boosts Biola’s National Campaign Tour Momentum

  Campaign exceeds $170 million mark; on track to reach the finish line

  Cambria Aviles — May 16, 2016

  On April 16, the Campaign National Tour closed out it’s ninth event with an evening in San Francisco, Calif. Biola University President Barry H....

• The Good Book Blog

  Problems with Paul

  William Lane Craig — May 13, 2016

  Question I read your response to the person who responded to Jesus and disliked Paul. I too find myself in this position and was surprised that you found it difficult to figure out why somebody would object to Paul who is drawn to Christ. Jesus is filled with incredible love power mercy and grace and humility. Paul is full of well, Paul. He says he doesn't boast then boasts. I can't imagine Jesus approved of his rules for helping widows (or that any actual widow would make the cut and receive help.) Despite all of the efforts made to defend him he is obviously no fan of women and he worries far too much what other people think. So much so that he is willing to act like a phony to convert them. And whenever you go to church and meet a modern day Pharisees if you ask them a couple questions they always turn out to be really Paul focused. In fact the lack of Christ-like love in the American church and the eagerness to point out other people's sins seems to come from this guy because it's definitely not coming from Christ. I would love for you to finish answering your question and address the issues that most people have with Paul that it seems like you must be aware of. Thanks! ...

• Biola News

  Student-Led Groups Support the Fight Against Cancer

  Biola’s Love Your Melon Campus Crew and Colleges Against Cancer chapter work to provide hope for those hurting from cancer

  Daryn Daniels — May 13, 2016

  Biola University students are helping support the fight against cancer through different on-campus organizations like the Love Your Melon Campus...

• Biola News

  From Second Baseman to Pitcher: McCarrell Pushes Biola Baseball to Postseason

  After a slow start, Biola Baseball makes a statement after first tournament berth since 2012

  Drew Mattocks — May 12, 2016

  Sean McCarrell may be one of the most fun pitchers to watch on the Biola Baseball team due to his unorthodox pitching method, but before he was...

• Biola News

  From Second Base to Pitcher: McCarrell Pushes Biola Baseball to Postseason

  After a slow start, Biola Baseball seeks to make a statement after first tournament berth since 2012

  Drew Mattocks — May 12, 2016

  Sean McCarrell may be one of the most fun pitchers to watch on the Biola Baseball team due to his unorthodox pitching method, but before he was...

• The Good Book Blog

  5 Tips for Young Apologists

  Sean McDowell — May 11, 2016

  It seems strange to be writing a blog with advice for young apologists. After all, I still think of myself as young! There are many “seasoned” apologists I turn to for advice and direction that are much older and more experienced than me (don’t worry, dad, I won’t mention any names!). But since I’m turning 40 this May, I do have some insights for younger apologists that I have learned along the way ...

• The Good Book Blog

  ¡Gracias Mamá!

  Octavio Esqueda — May 07, 2016

  Ser mamá es uno de los más grandes privilegios, honores y responsabilidades en esta vida. El amor de una madre por sus hijos trasciende el entendimiento y supera cualquier otra expresión de cariño. Por todos es conocida la figura de una “madre abnegada” que da todo por sus hijos sin esperar nada a cambio. A pesar de su amor desinteresado es triste que como hijos y como sociedad en general tomemos este amor por sentado y no lo apreciemos como deberíamos. Qué bueno que podemos celebrar el día de las madres para honrar su servicio y legado en nuestras vidas. Lo malo es que no tengamos la tendencia a reconocer su esfuerzo durante todo el año y celebremos también sus vidas como mujeres que tienen sueños y dones más allá de su labor como madres ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Resurrection Appearances in the Longer Ending of Mark

  William Lane Craig — May 06, 2016

  Dr. Craig, I am Brazilian and doing research on the historical Jesus found some articles written by you. I confess that I was surprised with the gift that God gave you to explain and argue about Christ. The reason of writing it is in respect of a doubt that is messing with my faith and Jesus Christ. I am a servant of our Lord Jesus as a child, but for some time, many questions have taken my mind, which meant I started researching the Bible and the gospel writers. With this research, I found that the Bible contains several flaws, but nothing that came to shake my faith ...

• Biola News

  Center for Marriage and Relationships Expands Influence

  Sold-out conference highlights need for marriage mentoring in churches

  Kathryn Toombs — May 06, 2016

  Since its inception, Biola’s Center for Marriage and Relationships (CMR) has received a tremendous amount of positive response from the community,...

• The Good Book Blog

  What Does a Swastika Mean to Me?

  Rick Langer — May 05, 2016

  In light of Holocaust Remembrance Week and Holocaust Remembrance Day on May 5, professor Rick Langer shares what a swastika means to him. ... Likewise, the swastika, the twisted cross, is a distillation of all of Nazism. It proclaims “racial purity” and narratives of “supermen” and “lives unworthy of living.” Its jagged arms encompass a thousand crimes both large and small, and circumscribe many million corpses, named and unnamed, which lie in graves across the continent of Europe. But the swastika has also etched a personal meaning into countless souls. Some of these souls whisper stories from their graves, but others still walk among us. And for some, myself included, the stories of our fathers and mothers have been etched into our souls as well ...

• The Good Book Blog

  How Do We Truly Help Those in Need?

  Karin Stetina — May 05, 2016

  As the Gospels proclaim, the poor will always be with us (Mt. 26:11) and we are called to help those in need (Mt. 25:31-46). The problem is—how do we do that without causing more harm than good? Anyone who has served in charities in a long-term capacity can recognize a common pattern that author Bob Lupton points out in Toxic Charity ...

• Biola News

  Track and Field Runners Kellian Hunt and Anika Gasner Come Back Strong Despite Injuries

  Graduating seniors look forward to competing at National Championships

  Daryn Daniels — May 05, 2016

  Runners Kellian Hunt and Anika Gasner, both seniors on Biola University’s track and field team, are striving to finish their last season strong...

• Biola News

  Engineering Physics Major Inducted into USC's Honor Society

  Biola senior Geoffrey Knopf recognized for outstanding academic performance

  Marissa Ray  — May 04, 2016

  Geoffrey Knopf, a Biola University senior engineering physics major, was recently inaugurated into University of Southern California’s (USC) Eta...

• The Good Book Blog

  La Envidia / Envy

  Octavio Esqueda — May 04, 2016

  En los Estados Unidos la frase “el jardín del vecino siempre está más verde” es muy común porque ejemplifica correctamente la percepción que la mayoría de la gente tiene de la realidad. No importa lo que uno haga siempre habrá otro que lo haga mejor; no importa lo que uno compre, siempre habrá otro que tenga algo mejor; no importa lo mucho que uno se esfuerce, siempre habrá alguien mejor en alguna área. Esta situación produce algo tan común como destructivo en nosotros, la envidia ...

• The Good Book Blog

  The Worldview Behind "The Jungle Book" Movie

  Sean McDowell — May 03, 2016

  My entire family went to see The Jungle Book this past weekend. From my 3 ½-year old son, to my mother-in-law, we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Disney is to be commended for making an engaging, creative, and faithful “live” version of this classic story. Like all fictional movies, The Jungle Book offers a story, which has worldview implications. Two questions lie at the heart of the movie: What does it mean to be human? And secondarily: How does man relate to nature? Specifically, these questions are explored through the life of Mowgli—a young boy whom wolves raise in the jungle ...

• The Good Book Blog

  Reflections on Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Part Two: The Long Defeat and the Old Testament of Middle-Earth

  Charlie Trimm — May 03, 2016

  This post continues the study of the long defeat of Tolkien by looking at the foundational work for the Lord of the Rings, the Silmarillion. As noted in the previous post, the long defeat was Tolkien’s phrase for the idea that no matter how many times one defeated evil, it continued to (apparently effortlessly) return to full strength. The motif is connected with the elves primarily, who are immortal and experience the long defeat over the long millennia of their lives. Since we are talking about the long defeat, it is good to slow down and look at more history!

• 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...