262 Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? [Part 2] with Dr. Jeff Zweerink

apologetics, apologetics profile, Jeff Zweerink, Daniel Ray, Watchman Fellowship, multiverse, Reasons to Believe, fine-tuning, big bang

Our guest again this week, astrophysicist and author at Reasons to Believe (www.reasons.org) Dr. Jeff Zweerink, tells us that we have nothing to fear, not even the multiverse! Many atheists and skeptics have tried to employ the multiverse as a means of explaining away God as the cause of the existence of our universe. Come and hear what Jeff has to say this week about how creation not only is not threatened by modern science, but how it ultimately can encourage and strengthen our faith when we learn more about it. By faith we know that the physical universe and everything it contains, both seen and unseen, are all ultimately declaring the glory of God. This week we conclude our discussion about Jeff's 2008 book, Who's Afraid of the Multiverse?

Jeff Zweerink is an astrophysicist and a senior research scholar for Reasons to Believe (www.reasons.org), an organization dedicated to demonstrating the compatibility of science and the Christian faith. Jeff’s work focuses on helping people of all backgrounds bridge the perceived gap between science and the Christian faith. Jeff has also made many media appearances, on television, radio, and in print. He earned a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics with a focus on gamma rays from Iowa State University. He taught and ran the planetarium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, until postdoctoral research in gamma rays led him to the University of California, Riverside. Jeff is also a coauthor on more than 30 academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Astrophysical Journal, Astroparticle Physics, and Astrobiology.

Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast:

• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Scientism by Dr. Luke Barnes and Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Scientism
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Carl Sagan's Cosmos by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/CosmosTV
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism
• Book: The Story of the Cosmos by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/CosmosBook

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

The universe is a fantastically wondrous place. There are more things in heaven and earth than are often dreamt of in our philosophies, to paraphrase Hamlet a little bit. And for the many things we can observe in the physical universe, science sometimes struggles to come up with an explanation as to what is really going on. How much more mysterious are those things which we cannot see? How should Christians think about things that the science of the heavens tells us cannot be seen, such as the idea of the existence of many different universes? That's the question we tackle this week and next on the broadcast with astrophysicist from Reasons to Believe, Dr. Jeff Zweerink. We talk about his 2008 book, Who's Afraid of the Multiverse? So, who is afraid of the multiverse? Come and see!

Jeff Zweerink is an astrophysicist and a senior research scholar for Reasons to Believe (www.reasons.org), an organization dedicated to demonstrating the compatibility of science and the Christian faith. Jeff’s work focuses on helping people of all backgrounds bridge the perceived gap between science and the Christian faith. Jeff has also made many media appearances, on television, radio, and in print. He earned a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics with a focus on gamma rays from Iowa State University. He taught and ran the planetarium at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, until postdoctoral research in gamma rays led him to the University of California, Riverside. Jeff is also a coauthor on more than 30 academic papers published in peer-reviewed journals, such as Astrophysical Journal, Astroparticle Physics, and Astrobiology.

Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast:

• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Scientism by Dr. Luke Barnes and Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Scientism
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Carl Sagan's Cosmos by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/CosmosTV
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism
• Book: The Story of the Cosmos by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/CosmosBook

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Our guest again this week is author and apologist Lindsey Medenwaldt, who continues to share with us insights and her personal experiences with apologetics and evangelism. The Apostle Paul tells his fellow Christians in Corinth to do all to the glory of God. What does that mean? Do we have to be a popular evangelist or a pastor or have a successful social media following to glorify God? Must we be gregarious, outgoing evangelists who have no fear of man in order to win the world to Jesus? No. In whatever situation in which God has placed us, we can do all for the glory of God. Our witness to the world is most effectively accomplished through how we live our lives, in whatever vocation that might be. Our witness should be authentic, sincere, and candid, so that a world in need of hope can see how we have a hope in Christ that does not disappoint.

Lindsey Medenwaldt is the Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics, and is the resident worldview and world religion specialist. She has a master’s degree in apologetics and ethics from Denver Seminary, as well as a master’s in public administration and a law degree. She’s the author of Bridge-Building Apologetics (Harvest House, 2024). She’s an editor and author for the Christian Research Journal, an editor for Women in Apologetics, and a member of the Pelican Project.

Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast:

• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Atheism
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

In the 12th chapter of Paul's first letter to Corinth, he reminds the church that "the body is not one member but many... the eye cannot say to the hand 'I have no need of you.'" The Spirit of God has distributed diverse gifts to the body of Christ. We each have unique gifts and abilities which we can use to help encourage and edify one another as fellow Christians. Though not all of us have the gift of evangelism, we are all called to be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us, with gentleness and reverence. We are all included in the Great Commission. But we will each go about sharing our faith diverse and unique ways with others. Our guest this week and next is author and apologist Lindsey Medenwaldt. She shares some of her insights about apologetics and evangelism in her new book Bridge-Building Apologetics.

Lindsey Medenwaldt is the Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics, and is the resident worldview and world religion specialist. She has a master’s degree in apologetics and ethics from Denver Seminary, as well as a master’s in public administration and a law degree. She’s the author of Bridge-Building Apologetics (Harvest House, 2024). She’s an editor and author for the Christian Research Journal, an editor for Women in Apologetics, and a member of the Pelican Project.

Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast:

• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Atheism by Dr. Robert M. Bowman: www.watchman.org/Atheism
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Agnosticism by W. Russell Crawford: www.watchman.org/Agnostic
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Deconstruction by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Deconstruction

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

What does materialism, Big-Bang cosmology, and Mormonism all have in common? Can we really work toward becoming a god of our own world? What does a mid-twentieth century interpretation of quantum mechanics have to do with Latter-Day Saint theology? And just exactly how can the Gospel help us better understand how to respond to these complex issues? This is part two of our rather unique dialogue with president of Watchman Fellowship and former 4th-generation Latter-Day Saint James K. Walker and astrophysicist and cosmologist Dr. Luke Barnes, plus some bonus material from some of our previous podcasts you won't want to miss!

Luke A. Barnes is a Senior Lecturer in astronomy and cosmology. With PhD at the University of Cambridge, he has published papers in the field of galaxy formation and on the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. He is the author, with Geraint Lewis, of A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos and The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook: (Or: How to Beat the Big Bang). Luke, along with Allen Hainline, has also written a contributing chapter to The Story of the Cosmos - How The Heavens Declare the Glory of God.

James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth-generation Mormon with over twenty-five years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight, and The News Hour News with Jim Lehrer. He is author of The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality.

Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast:

• Watchman Fellowship articles on Mormonism: www.watchman.org/LDS
• Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Tim Martin: www.watchman.org/Mormonism
• Watchman Fellowship Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Is it possible for us to become a god? Do mathematics tell us that there are many universes? Is there any evidence of other universes? This week and next on the Profile, we guarantee that in all of the some five million podcasts out there today, you won't likely find the the topics of Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses covered in the same episode. The next two episodes will be somewhat unique, but we think they cover a lot of lesser-known ideas that have some overlap. Many who leave the Latter-Day-Saint faith turn to atheism. But neither Mormonism nor an atheistic materialism are in accordance with the true story of the cosmos.

Luke A. Barnes is a Senior Lecturer in astronomy and cosmology. With PhD at the University of Cambridge, he has published papers in the field of galaxy formation and on the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. He is the author, with Geraint Lewis, of A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos and The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook: (Or: How to Beat the Big Bang). Luke, along with Allen Hainline, has also written a contributing chapter to The Story of the Cosmos - How The Heavens Declare the Glory of God.

James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth-generation Mormon with over twenty-five years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight, and The News Hour News with Jim Lehrer. He is author of The Concise Guide to Today's Religions and Spirituality.

Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast:

• Watchman Fellowship articles on Mormonism: www.watchman.org/LDS
• Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Tim Martin: www.watchman.org/Mormonism
• Watchman Fellowship Profile on Naturalism by Daniel Ray: www.watchman.org/Naturalism

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

South Korea may seem quite remote to us, both geographically and culturally. Yet right here in the US, in your local malls, colleges, and even churches, could very well be members of the high-control cult from South Korea known as Shincheonji aggressively attempting to recruit people. They also pose on social media sites, even dating apps, they will even lie and deceive people in their recruitment efforts. This week we continue our conversation with Chris, a former SCJ member, who will share more of his story about how he left the group and share valuable insights about SCJ's doctrines and tactics.

Related Links: Free access to additional resources including some related Watchman Fellowship Profiles:

• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Shincheonji by Steve Matthews: www.watchman.org/ProfileSCJ
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Shincheonji (in Korean) by Steve Matthews: www.watchman.org/SCJ_Korean
• Apologetics Profile podcast on Shincheonji with Steve Matthews [Part 1]: www.watchman.org/SCJ1
• Apologetics Profile podcast on Shincheonji with Steve Matthews [Part 2]: www.watchman.org/PodcastSCJ2
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on World Missionary Society Church of God by Steve Matthews: www.watchman.org/WMSCOG
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Patterns in the Cults by James Walker: www.watchman.org/Patterns
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Spiritual Abuse by David Henke: www.watchman.org/Abuse

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

South Korea is increasingly becoming a hotbed for cults. A few of them have successfully made their way into the United States through aggressive but sometimes secretive and covert means. On this episode of the Profile, we talk with Chris, a former member of the cult of Shincheonji (pronounced shin-shon-JEE), a group that began in South Korean in 1984. Chris will share with us what Shincheonji teaches, how he became involved, their tactics, and finally how he escaped.

Related Links: Free access to additional resources including some related Watchman Fellowship Profiles:

• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Shincheonji by Steve Matthews: www.watchman.org/ProfileSCJ
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Shincheonji (in Korean) by Steve Matthews: www.watchman.org/SCJ_Korean
• Apologetics Profile podcast on Shincheonji with Steve Matthews [Part 1]: www.watchman.org/SCJ1
• Apologetics Profile podcast on Shincheonji with Steve Matthews [Part 2]: www.watchman.org/PodcastSCJ2
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on World Missionary Society Church of God by Steve Matthews: www.watchman.org/WMSCOG
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Patterns in the Cults by James Walker: www.watchman.org/Patterns
• Watchman Fellowship 4-page Profile on Spiritual Abuse by David Henke: www.watchman.org/Abuse

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free.

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (over 600 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook.

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give.

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.