S7E8 - J.P. Moreland on Deconstruction, “Genocide” Texts, and Why Context Matters

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In this episode, Ken Fish welcomes Dr. J.P. Moreland—philosopher, theologian, and longtime professor (Biola / Talbot)—for a candid, intellectually grounded conversation about faith, reason, and one of the most common “deconstruction” flashpoints: Old Testament passages where God commands the destruction of certain peoples in the land.

J.P. shares his personal story: a chemistry major who came to faith through Campus Crusade door-to-door evangelism, then pursued philosophy to help Christians answer skeptical challenges with humility and clarity. From there, Ken and J.P. tackle why these passages feel uniquely difficult today, how modern culture tends to elevate “soft virtues” (love/mercy) while minimizing “hard virtues” (justice/holiness), and why many people unintentionally rewrite Scripture to match cultural expectations.

They focus heavily on context—historical realities, existential threats, and Israel’s role in God’s redemptive plan—and point listeners to a key resource: Paul Copan’s book Is God a Moral Monster? for deeper study.

🔑 Topics Covered

• Who J.P. Moreland is and how he came to faith (chemistry → philosophy)

• Why reason + signs & wonders belong together (Acts-style)

• Biola/Talbot’s distinctives: rigor + devotion + Scripture

• Dallas Willard’s influence: read both sides, don’t get bullied by secularism

• What “deconstruction” often really means in practice

• Why OT “genocide” texts are so emotionally/intellectually charged today

• Two major scholarly approaches to the conquest language

• Why context, genre, and ancient warfare rhetoric matter

• A pastoral warning: questioning vs. shaking your fist at God

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