Theological Issues -- the Office of Shandon L. Guthrie

Theological Issues

Prayer and Providence: Why the Recent Study On Prayer Should Be No Surprise (2006)
There is no doubt that skeptics are running wild about the alleged ineffectiveness of prayer based on a recent, extensive study. This seemingly plenary study is touted as “the largest study of prayer” concluding that “it provided no benefit to recovery of patients who had undergone cardiac bypass surgery." No doubt this will rattle the cages of firm believers in prayer - particularly evangelicals who find God’s miraculous interventions in human affairs to be more prevalent than traditional views. But I believe that the study fails to falsify the effectiveness of prayer while it remains true that prayer cannot necessarily be legitimized in scientific study due to several unmitigating factors. Hence, as I have personally suspected, the study actually confirms what I believe Christians should expect - relative indifference.

Critique of Matthew Stevens' “Limiting God” (2005)
Matthew Stevens' article 'Limiting God' proffers a purely scientific approach to the coherence of theism (given his area of expertise). It is a remarkable undertaking but in the end leaves more problems and inaccuracies than it attempts to clear up. In his article, Stevens is interested in the coherence of a view that perceives God as being actively involved in the biogenesis of human life and God as being omniscient. In this rebuttal I will deal with most of his points but in two phases: The more important issues that require immediate attention and one lesser important issue that elicits a general concern.

Deliver Us From Our Own Evil: What Spiritual Warfare is Really About (2005)
Evangelicals continue to be fascinated with the demonic in terms of how influential the "powers" and "principalities" of the demonic really are. But much misguided information has circulated ever since the 1970's that have led Christians to think that they can be susceptible to demon-possession and may be in need of deliverance from such bondage. In this investigation, I survey some of the primary arguments and attitudes that well-meaning evangelicals have proffered and provide some suggestions for correction. I wrote this in the hope of redirecting Christians back toward a more thoughtful and intellectual faith.

A Molinist Perspective on the Homiletical "Divine Appointment" (2005)
Many Evangelical pastors declare to their congregation, “You are not here by accident but by divine appointment.” One interpretation would perceive this message as vacuously true such that anyone who appears in their church is the one to whom this message belongs. But this is not satisfactory for those who believe that God bestows special messages to the pastor for the church to hear. I believe that there is only one palpable solution to how attendants of a church, whether long-standing members or first-time visitors, can freely attend a service that God has so decreed. Molinism is the best answer as to how those who freely appear in the congregation are the ones who were given a "divine appointment" for being there.

Qualitative Omnipotence (This is the second draft form -- 2003)
In this essay, I offer a defense of omnipotence that is not concerned too much with a maximal quantity of actions possible for God but, rather, a maximal quality of actions that only an omnipotent being could enact. On such a view, it might not be relevant whether or not a being’s own ontology limits one from omnipotence if that ontology reduces the number of actions possible. Instead, what is required is that a being who is omnipotent ought to be performing a qualitatively maximum set of abilities which are weightier than performing a superior numerical amount yet containing a qualitatively moral deficiency.

"Mormonism" (July 9, 2002: Real Audio format)
Sometimes written literature is not as simplistic as a good audio presentation. For those who find written material on Mormonism too mundane or would like to hear a presentation of basic Mormon tenets in addition to their research, then check out this radio broadcast on Mormonism that originally aired on "The Search for Truth" broadcast on KKVV AM 1060 in Las Vegas, NV with special guest Shandon L. Guthrie. Topics covered include Finite Godism, monarchotheism, deification, the historical Jesus, soteriology, eschatology, and indoctrinational practices. Running time is 1 hour.

"They Shall Never Perish": Possible Worlds and the Problem of Eternal Security (1998; soon to be updated)
The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints has undergone countless criticism, particularly in regard to the problem of eternal security. Basic elements in what cause is necessary for that good reason shared by the presence of belief and the presence of unbelief entail that such a result is best served by two distinct individuals where one final believer results. Eternal security might, thus, be better justified than the view that salvation is not permanent. Or, at the very least, a Molinist account is consistent with a Bañezian/Calvinist interpretation of the New Testament.

The Philosophy of the New Testament and the Question of Greek Influence (1996 - reviewed by Dr. Mary Phelps)
Some critics of the New Testament are determined to make its genesis the product of a re-packaged Greek philosophy. These critics maintain that the language and doctrines used in the NT point decisively toward this conclusion. I have argued in this essay that such a conclusion is not only unwarranted but contradicted by the pages of the NT itself.

A Discussion on Mormonism (1989; 1992)
This is the definitive work on Mormon doctrine (the popular Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Each of the main beliefs of Mormonism are spelled out by the teachers, leaders, and prophets of the Church itself. In this essay, Mormonism is evaluated in the light ot biblical hermeneutics and philosophical investigation. The result is the impossibility of Mormonism being the "restored" church of Christianity.
----A Mormon Responds

A Discussion on Jehovah's Witnesses (1988; 1998)
The Jehovah's Witnesses, ardent disciples of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, are mistaken about the natures of God and Jesus Christ. The beliefs of JWs are evaluated in the light of good biblical hermeneutics, Greek scholarship, and the Watchtower's internal inconsistency. An additional section has been added discussing Jehovah's Witness apologist Greg Stafford's new book Jehovah's Witnesses Defended: An Answer to Scholars and Critics. If you are a Jehovah's Witness, this is the essay that your organization doesn't want you to see!

Reply to Mormon Rusty Wells on the Corporeality of God (1996)
After I gave a lecture on apologetics at a local church, a Mormon sit-in took the initiative to compose an essay defending the corporeality of God's nature. Although his essay is unavailable on-line, I have provided a serious response to the mistakes Wells has made in his undertaking. For those who are interested in a detailed analysis of the incorporeality of God will find this rejoinder quite valuable.

No Laughing Matter: Christianity in "Light" of the Toronto Blessing (1995)
Recently, Christianity has been threatened by the emotional instability of revivalism molded by questionable Christian leaders. This preliminary essay to your study of the Toronto Blessing (and the now "Brownsville Revival") will find an excellent theological and philosophical approach to the errors of the "laughing revival". Responsible church worship and self-restraint are centered features of a healthy, well-balanced church.
*Dale C. Crow (of The Toronto Blessing Discovery Page) says, "Your paper is one of the best theological papers on this movement" (7/13/97).

Philosophical and Biblical Problems with the New Age Movement (1992)
Having studied Hinduism and other Indian facets of Eastern mysticism, I have found the New Age Movement to be its unadopted Western stepchild. The philosophical and biblical errors of the New Age movement are exposed in this enlightening essay that was intended to be published in a local New Age magazine prior to its going out of business. The concepts of reincarnation, human deification, and New Age soteriology are dealt with as unsupportable and illogical propositions.

Comparative Soteriology and Logical Incompatibility: A Look at what World Religions Believe About Being "Saved." (reviewed by Dr. Mary Phelps; 1995; 1997)
The beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism about salvation are evaluated in light of their differences. The fact that either one system is right or they are all wrong causes us to look at worldwide representatives of various religious beliefs. Christianity is defended as the preferable system.

What Price Tolerance? Evidence from Hinduism and Mohandas K. Gandhi that Tolerance has its Limits (Reviewed by Dr. Satish Sharma; 1996)
Co-authored with Mario DelaRosa, this work is the combined efforts of a Christian and a Continental philosopher who agree that India's champion of civil rights, Mahatma Gandhi, has inscribed beliefs contradictory to basic Hinduism's notion of absolute Tolerance. This essay shows that, for Gandhi, tolerance itself has its limits. Therefore, Western philosophers should not be so quick as to parade Ethical Relativism as the product of an enlightened Eastern culture in such a way as to misconstrue Hinduism's popular advocate that tolerance is to be implemented at the expense of objective beliefs about morality and religion.

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Atheism Theological Issues Ethical Issues Debates About the Author Audio Files Links FAQs Contact Professor Guthrie's Schedule Home	Theological Issues Prayer and Providence: Why the Recent Study On Prayer Should Be No Surprise (2006) There is no doubt that skeptics are running wild about the alleged ineffectiveness of prayer based on a recent, extensive study. This seemingly plenary study is touted as “the largest study of prayer” concluding that “it provided no benefit to recovery of patients who had undergone cardiac bypass surgery." No doubt this will rattle the cages of firm believers in prayer - particularly evangelicals who find God’s miraculous interventions in human affairs to be more prevalent than traditional views. But I believe that the study fails to falsify the effectiveness of prayer while it remains true that prayer cannot necessarily be legitimized in scientific study due to several unmitigating factors. Hence, as I have personally suspected, the study actually confirms what I believe Christians should expect - relative indifference. Critique of Matthew Stevens' “Limiting God” (2005) Matthew Stevens' article 'Limiting God' proffers a purely scientific approach to the coherence of theism (given his area of expertise). It is a remarkable undertaking but in the end leaves more problems and inaccuracies than it attempts to clear up. In his article, Stevens is interested in the coherence of a view that perceives God as being actively involved in the biogenesis of human life and God as being omniscient. In this rebuttal I will deal with most of his points but in two phases: The more important issues that require immediate attention and one lesser important issue that elicits a general concern. Deliver Us From Our Own Evil: What Spiritual Warfare is Really About (2005) Evangelicals continue to be fascinated with the demonic in terms of how influential the "powers" and "principalities" of the demonic really are. But much misguided information has circulated ever since the 1970's that have led Christians to think that they can be susceptible to demon-possession and may be in need of deliverance from such bondage. In this investigation, I survey some of the primary arguments and attitudes that well-meaning evangelicals have proffered and provide some suggestions for correction. I wrote this in the hope of redirecting Christians back toward a more thoughtful and intellectual faith. A Molinist Perspective on the Homiletical "Divine Appointment" (2005) Many Evangelical pastors declare to their congregation, “You are not here by accident but by divine appointment.” One interpretation would perceive this message as vacuously true such that anyone who appears in their church is the one to whom this message belongs. But this is not satisfactory for those who believe that God bestows special messages to the pastor for the church to hear. I believe that there is only one palpable solution to how attendants of a church, whether long-standing members or first-time visitors, can freely attend a service that God has so decreed. Molinism is the best answer as to how those who freely appear in the congregation are the ones who were given a "divine appointment" for being there. Qualitative Omnipotence (This is the second draft form -- 2003) In this essay, I offer a defense of omnipotence that is not concerned too much with a maximal quantity of actions possible for God but, rather, a maximal quality of actions that only an omnipotent being could enact. On such a view, it might not be relevant whether or not a being’s own ontology limits one from omnipotence if that ontology reduces the number of actions possible. Instead, what is required is that a being who is omnipotent ought to be performing a qualitatively maximum set of abilities which are weightier than performing a superior numerical amount yet containing a qualitatively moral deficiency. "Mormonism" (July 9, 2002: Real Audio format) Sometimes written literature is not as simplistic as a good audio presentation. For those who find written material on Mormonism too mundane or would like to hear a presentation of basic Mormon tenets in addition to their research, then check out this radio broadcast on Mormonism that originally aired on "The Search for Truth" broadcast on KKVV AM 1060 in Las Vegas, NV with special guest Shandon L. Guthrie. Topics covered include Finite Godism, monarchotheism, deification, the historical Jesus, soteriology, eschatology, and indoctrinational practices. Running time is 1 hour. "They Shall Never Perish": Possible Worlds and the Problem of Eternal Security (1998; soon to be updated) The doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints has undergone countless criticism, particularly in regard to the problem of eternal security. Basic elements in what cause is necessary for that good reason shared by the presence of belief and the presence of unbelief entail that such a result is best served by two distinct individuals where one final believer results. Eternal security might, thus, be better justified than the view that salvation is not permanent. Or, at the very least, a Molinist account is consistent with a Bañezian/Calvinist interpretation of the New Testament. The Philosophy of the New Testament and the Question of Greek Influence (1996 - reviewed by Dr. Mary Phelps) Some critics of the New Testament are determined to make its genesis the product of a re-packaged Greek philosophy. These critics maintain that the language and doctrines used in the NT point decisively toward this conclusion. I have argued in this essay that such a conclusion is not only unwarranted but contradicted by the pages of the NT itself. A Discussion on Mormonism (1989; 1992) This is the definitive work on Mormon doctrine (the popular Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Each of the main beliefs of Mormonism are spelled out by the teachers, leaders, and prophets of the Church itself. In this essay, Mormonism is evaluated in the light ot biblical hermeneutics and philosophical investigation. The result is the impossibility of Mormonism being the "restored" church of Christianity. ----A Mormon Responds A Discussion on Jehovah's Witnesses (1988; 1998) The Jehovah's Witnesses, ardent disciples of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, are mistaken about the natures of God and Jesus Christ. The beliefs of JWs are evaluated in the light of good biblical hermeneutics, Greek scholarship, and the Watchtower's internal inconsistency. An additional section has been added discussing Jehovah's Witness apologist Greg Stafford's new book Jehovah's Witnesses Defended: An Answer to Scholars and Critics. If you are a Jehovah's Witness, this is the essay that your organization doesn't want you to see! Reply to Mormon Rusty Wells on the Corporeality of God (1996) After I gave a lecture on apologetics at a local church, a Mormon sit-in took the initiative to compose an essay defending the corporeality of God's nature. Although his essay is unavailable on-line, I have provided a serious response to the mistakes Wells has made in his undertaking. For those who are interested in a detailed analysis of the incorporeality of God will find this rejoinder quite valuable. No Laughing Matter: Christianity in "Light" of the Toronto Blessing (1995) Recently, Christianity has been threatened by the emotional instability of revivalism molded by questionable Christian leaders. This preliminary essay to your study of the Toronto Blessing (and the now "Brownsville Revival") will find an excellent theological and philosophical approach to the errors of the "laughing revival". Responsible church worship and self-restraint are centered features of a healthy, well-balanced church. *Dale C. Crow (of The Toronto Blessing Discovery Page) says, "Your paper is one of the best theological papers on this movement" (7/13/97). Philosophical and Biblical Problems with the New Age Movement (1992) Having studied Hinduism and other Indian facets of Eastern mysticism, I have found the New Age Movement to be its unadopted Western stepchild. The philosophical and biblical errors of the New Age movement are exposed in this enlightening essay that was intended to be published in a local New Age magazine prior to its going out of business. The concepts of reincarnation, human deification, and New Age soteriology are dealt with as unsupportable and illogical propositions. Comparative Soteriology and Logical Incompatibility: A Look at what World Religions Believe About Being "Saved." (reviewed by Dr. Mary Phelps; 1995; 1997) The beliefs of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism about salvation are evaluated in light of their differences. The fact that either one system is right or they are all wrong causes us to look at worldwide representatives of various religious beliefs. Christianity is defended as the preferable system. What Price Tolerance? Evidence from Hinduism and Mohandas K. Gandhi that Tolerance has its Limits (Reviewed by Dr. Satish Sharma; 1996) Co-authored with Mario DelaRosa, this work is the combined efforts of a Christian and a Continental philosopher who agree that India's champion of civil rights, Mahatma Gandhi, has inscribed beliefs contradictory to basic Hinduism's notion of absolute Tolerance. This essay shows that, for Gandhi, tolerance itself has its limits. Therefore, Western philosophers should not be so quick as to parade Ethical Relativism as the product of an enlightened Eastern culture in such a way as to misconstrue Hinduism's popular advocate that tolerance is to be implemented at the expense of objective beliefs about morality and religion. 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