WELCOME to Dr Barry Whitney's Podcast Resources

Podcasts are being made available on this website. Some of these podcasts may also be put on i-Tunes. There has been a considerable delay in the final preparations of the podcasts, unfortunately, due to Professor Whitney's prolonged leave from the Universitiy of Windsor. Some podcasts were completed in 2007 and are available below.

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THINKING about GOD Podcasts on God and EVIL

GOD and EVIL Series, Part One
This is the Introduction to the Series. It introduces the Problem of Reconciling Belief in God with the evil, suffering, and injustice in the world. It's an edited (shortened) version of the Introductory Lecture from Dr. Whitney's university course, "God and Evil," recorded in the Winter Semester of 2006. More than 140 undergraduate students were enrolled. Course Notes for this class are available on this website when the class is being taught.

GOD and EVIL Series, Part Two
In this episode, Dr. Whitney discusses why the problem of evil is so threatening to belief in God, and why monotheistic religions like Christianity have a unique problem of evil which demands a different solution than that of eastern religions. He then shows how the problem of evil has been formulated and responds to some of the arguments used by skeptics to reject belief in God, based on these formulations.

GOD and EVIL Series: Part Three
This episode extends the discussion to consider the question of divine punishment in relation to natural disasters and animal sufering. Dr Whitney argues that divine punishment and other explanations for suffering are far too simplistic and cannot be gereralized to explain all suffering. He argues also that seeking meaningful explanations is one of the best means of coping with suffering: poor explanaitons greatly hinder coping.

GOD and EVIL Series: Part Four
This episode provides further information about moral and social evils, natural disasters, and the importance of seeking credible explanations for suffering to cope more effectively. As in episode three, the point is made that divine punishment in particular is not to be extended to explain all suffering.

More to come ...

PEACE with GOD Podcasts on GOD and EVIL

GOD and EVIL Series: Part One
This is the Introduction to the Series. It introduces the Problem of Reconciling Belief in God with the evil, suffering, and injustice in the world. It's an edited (shortened) version of the Introductory Lecture from Dr. Whitney's university course, "God and Evil," recorded in the Winter Semester of 2006. More than 140 undergraduate students were enrolled. Course Notes for this class are available on this website when the class is being taught.

GOD and EVIL Series: Part Two
This is essentially the same "God and Evil," Part Two episode found in the THINKING about GOD podcast. It is relevant also for a more general audience than professionals and university students, pastors and priests. See the description of the content in the THINKING about GOD series above. For Dr. Whitney's Course Notes and references referred to in this Series, check the Class Notes link on this website when the class is being taught.

GOD and EVIL Series: Part Three
This episode extends the discusson to consider the question of divine punishment in relation to natural disasters and animal sufering. Dr Whitney argues that divine punishment and other explanations for suffering are far too simplistic. He argues also that seeking meaningful explanations is one of the best means of coping with suffering: poor explanations greatly hinder coping.

GOD and EVIL Series: Part Four
In this podcast, Dr. Whitney provides further information about moral and social evils, natural disasters, and the importance of seeking credible explanations for suffering to cope more effectively. Divine punishment in particular should not be used as the explanaiton for all suffering.

More to come ...

PODCAST SERIES

GOD and EVIL Series: Reconciling Belief in God with Human Suffering, Injustice, and Evil. The podcasts in this series will examine the major issues involved in the theological, philosophical and personal dimensions of the issue. Other resources include Dr Whitney's God and Evil Course Notes and the Theodicy and Web Publication pages on this website. The problem of evil is by far the most important of theological issues since it is the main challenge to belief in a God of power and love and justice. This issue has been the specific focus of Dr Whitney's research and writing for over 35 years. He has published the definitive book, Theodicy: An Annotated Bibliography on the Problem of God and Evil, entries on "Evil" and "Theodicy" in the New Catholic Encyclopedia (2002), the popular book, What Are They Saying About God and Evil? (1989), Evil and the Process God (1985), and many journal articles, book chapters, and reviews on this issue. For testimonials to Dr Whitney's work check the Testimonials page.

JUSTIFYING RELIGIOUS BELIEFS Series: Studies in Christian Theology: The Justification of Religious Beliefs seeks a religious faith which is reasonable, a "Reasonable Faith" which avoids the extreme positions of mere "faithism" (blind faith, without any attempt to justify beliefs) and the likewise unrealistic demand for conclusive scientific proof for Christian beliefs and doctrines. Apologetics gives reasons and evidences for religious beliefs like the Divinity of Jesus, His resurrection, miracles, and the Bible's Trustworthiness. Apologetics also presents arguments for God's existence and answers the criticisms of those who reject belief in God and other Christian beliefs. Dr Whitney's Class Notes on the course "Justifying Religious Beliefs" provides a basic resource which provides some of the background for the Apologetic podcasts. See also the Apologetics pages on this web site and Dr Whitney's recent chapter on Faith in The Big Argument (2006).

CULTURAL WARFARE Series I: Christianity and New Age Spiritualities Series: Western Culture is engaged in cultural warfare between Christianity and Alternative (New Age) Spiritualities, religions, cults, counterfeit Christianities, and revival of metaphysical cults like New Thought, Scientology, Theosophy, Science of Mind, etc., all of which have infiltrated western culture. The basic premises of these alternatives to Christianity oppose every basic Christian tenet and belief, from God, humanity, sin, salvation, ethics, absolutes, etc. New Age spirituality has influenced Health Care techniques and philosophy, post modern, mystical science, ethics, the meaning of human history, life after death, and even Christianity itself as evidenced in Word of Faith, Mind and Faith Visualization, The Prosperity Gospel, and other Christian deviations. The podcasts will discuss these issues. Other resource include the Class Notes for Dr Whitney's "Religion and Culture" and "Belief in God in Contemporary Culture " courses. "God and Atheism" and "Religion and Culture." His chapter on "scientism" (the belief that science alone is the source of truth) is found in The Big Argument (2006), and his chapter on the irony of Atheism is found in the book, God, Literature and Process Thought. The podcast series will summarize the arguments therein. Dozens of valuable on-line references are found in the Class Notes on Naturalism, Atheism, Scientism, and Secular Humanism.

CULTURAL WARFARE Series II: Christianity and Secular Culture Series: Western Christian Culture is in cultural warfare not only with Alternative (New Age) Spiritualities, but with the skeptical atheism of Secular Humanism. The educational system, including higher learning, is dominated by secular humanism presuppositions in all of the social and physical sciences, and in the Humanities as well. Religious beliefs are largely ignored at best and ridiculed at worse, in academia. The podcasts will discuss this situation. Background resources can be found in the Class Notes for Dr Whitney's courses on "God and Atheism" and "Religion and Culture."His chapter on "scientism" (the belief that science alone is the source of truth) is found in The Big Argument (2006), and his chapter on the irony of Atheism is found in the book, God, Literature and Process Thought. The podcast series will summarize the arguments therein. Dozens of valuable on-line references are found in the Class Notes on Naturalism, Atheism, Scientism, and Secular Humanism.

BASIC CHRISTIANITY Series: Beliefs and Controversies: This podcast series offers studies in basic Christian beliefs: God, Christ, Salvation, Redemption, the Trinity, Life After Death, etc. The series also considers areas of controversy among Christians: the free will--divine predestination question, for example, and the issue of Christianity and Other Religions, etc.

BIBLE REFLECTIONS Series: This series discusses basic Christian beliefs -- God, Christ, Salvation, Redemption, The Trinity, Life After Death, Sin, etc. The series also considers areas of controversy in Christianity -- the free will/divine predestination debate, Christianity and Other Religions, etc. Finally, the series intersects with the Bible Studies series-- for example, "The Continuing Relevance of The Book of Job," for example, and "The Meaningfulness of Life: Book of Ecclesiastes," etc. Dr. Whitney's Web Publications page has downloadable essays on Job and Ecclesiastes which will be revised to function as transcripts of the podcasts on these topics. Other transcripts for the podcasts in all of the series will be provided, as time permits.