Mama Bear Apologetics

Episode 144. Self-Refuting Statements with Tricia Scribner

In this episode, the Mama Bears continue laying the groundwork for raising children who can stand firm in a culture that often sounds persuasive but isn’t logically sound. The focus is on self-refuting (or self-defeating) statements — claims that collapse under their own weight because they contradict themselves in the very act of being spoken. Our kids are growing up in a world saturated with emotionally charged slogans and viral soundbites. They are told things like “truth is relative,” “we can’t know truth,” or “science is the only source of truth.” These statements are often presented as intellectual or compassionate, but when examined carefully, they fail to meet their own standards. They saw off the very branch they’re sitting on. If our children are not trained to recognize these inconsistencies, they can be carried along by ideas that feel right but are logically incoherent. As the episode highlights, kids spend hours a day absorbing messages through social media and classroom conversations. Without discernment, emotion becomes the driver and truth becomes negotiable.The Mama Bears remind us that truth corresponds to reality, truth is objective, and truth is knowable — even though we, as finite humans, are not omniscient. There is a crucial difference between saying truth is knowable and claiming we can know everything. That humility matters. We don’t need exhaustive knowledge to make reasonable, evidence-based conclusions about reality or about God. The goal is not to embarrass, but to clarify. Not to win arguments, but to help our children think clearly and stand confidently.When we teach our kids to identify self-defeating claims, we are equipping them with intellectual armor. We are raising children who can be empathetic without being manipulated, thoughtful without being timid, and bold without being brash. In a culture that rewards outrage and discourages logic, that kind of training is both countercultural and deeply necessary.Main Points CoveredWhat self-refuting statements are and how they functionWhy recognizing them strengthens your child’s faithCommon modern examples rooted in relativism and scientismHow to correct faulty logic with both confidence and gracePeople and resources mentionedThe Pig and the Accidental OinkCrows and the Missing PieceThe Fallacy DetectiveThe Tuttle Twins Guide to Logical FallaciesTactics by Greg KouklEphesians 6:10–18 (The Armor of God)Genesis 1:27 (Made in the image of God)Thanks to Our SponsorsThe Every Woman’s Bible is a study Bible created for both the heart and the mind—because loving God well means engaging truth deeply. Learn more at EveryWomansBible.com, and discover God’s heart for you through deeper study and reflection.AquaTru: Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off your purifier using promo code MBA. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee.More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Episode 143. Inductive and Deductive Reasoning with Tricia Scribner

Amy and Tricia continue their classical apologetics series, diving into discursive reasoning—the step-by-step thinking process that distinguishes humans as rational beings made in God’s image.This conversation is a mental workout (in the best way possible!). The mamas unpack the difference between deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning. They emphasize that Christianity does not require blind faith—it calls us to love God with our minds and think well. With practical examples—from the cosmological argument to presidential debates, to lipstick on the wall—the mamas show how logic protects our children from being swayed by emotional manipulation and faulty reasoning.This episode reminds us: Good thinking is discipleship. If we don’t train our children to evaluate arguments, culture will do it for us.Main Points CoveredDiscursive reasoning and how it distinguishes human rationalityDeductive vs. inductive reasoningEvaluating premises, hidden assumptions, and logical fallaciesThe cosmological argument as a real-world applicationTeaching children to think critically through everyday media and conversationsPeople and resources mentionedMama Bear Apologetics BookThe Fallacy DetectiveThanks to Our SponsorsThe Every Woman’s Bible is a study Bible created for both the heart and the mind—because loving God well means engaging truth deeply. Learn more at EveryWomansBible.com, and discover God’s heart for you through deeper study and reflection.AirDoctor: AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Episode 142. Understanding the Nature of Truth with Tricia Scribner

In this foundational episode of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast Amy Davison and Tricia Scribner tackle the concept of truth in an age dominated by relativism and subjectivism. Drawing from Scripture, personal anecdotes, and years of experience in apologetics and teaching, the conversation provides a powerful defense of truth as objective, absolute, and rooted in God’s nature. The episode dismantles cultural misconceptions like "my truth" and "perception is reality" and explains why these ideas, though popular, are intellectually inconsistent and dangerous. The offer practical strategies for parents and grandparents to help their kids develop a clear, biblical understanding of truth in a world of confusion.Main Points CoveredWhat is truth?Relativism and subjectivism defined and critiquedHow culture undermines objective truthDefending Christian exclusivity without being close-mindedPractical tips for teaching kids about truthBiblical foundations for truthPeople and resources mentionedActs 5 – Ananias and Sapphira as a biblical example of truth2 Corinthians 10:5 – Taking thoughts captive in obedience to ChristThe Den — Our new online apologetics community for women.Thanks to Our SponsorsAquaTru: Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off your purifier using promo code MBA. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee.AirDoctor: AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Episode 141. The Role of Logic in Christianity with Tricia Scribner

Amy and Tricia, two of our Mama Bears, define logic and explain why it’s essential for critical thinking, biblical reasoning, and defending the Christian faith. They stress that logic isn’t made by humans—it’s discovered—and reflects an objective reality that testifies to the existence of God. The conversation explores the three foundational laws of logic (identity, excluded middle, non‑contradiction), shows how logic applies in everyday life and worldview discussions (including gender, truth claims, language, and worldview differences), and gives practical guidance for parents on how to help children recognize sound reasoning vs. faulty logic. They also tackle common challenges, including the relationship between logic and God, and how logic relates to knowing God, faith, and evangelism. Ultimately, logic is presented as both defensible and indispensable for meaningful Christian engagement in a culture that increasingly rejects objective truth.Main Points CoveredWhat Logic Is and Why It MattersThe Three Foundational Laws of LogicLogic vs. Emotionalism in CultureLogic’s Role in Knowing God and Defending FaithPractical Tools for Teaching Logic to KidsPeople and resources mentionedHow Has God Revealed Himself EpisodeThanks to Our SponsorsAirDoctor: AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Episode 140. Why Theology Matters with Krista Bontrager

In this episode of Mama Bear Apologetics, Amy hosts Krista Bontrager (a public theologian with decades of experience) to unpack why theology is foundational for Christian living. They define theology, remove intimidation around it, talk about practical ways families can study theology with kids, and point listeners to resources that make theology accessible. The big idea centers around this: theology equips Christians to think well about God so that apologetics isn’t just reactive but rooted in truth. They stress that theology is not just for “academics in tweed jackets,” is essential for discipling children, and that everyday families can begin with simple practices like reading the creeds, memorizing the Lord’s Prayer and the 10 Commandments, and building routines of Bible engagement together.Main Points CoveredWhat theology is and why everyone is a theologianWhy theology must precede apologeticsPractical ways to study theology personally and with childrenCommon pitfalls when approaching cultural issues without theological groundingPeople and resources mentionedIntro Theology & InterpretationBible Doctrine by Wayne GrudemIntroducing Christian Doctrine by Millard EricksonTheology for Today by Elmer TownsHow to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee & Douglas StuartGuest ResourcesTheologyMom.com (Krista’s teaching & classes)Center for Biblical UnityThanks to Our SponsorsAquaTru: Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off your purifier using promo code MBA. AquaTru even comes with a 30-day best-tasting water guarantee.AirDoctor: AirDoctor comes with a 30-day money back guarantee so if you don’t love it, just send it back for a refund, minus shipping! Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code MBA and you’ll receive up to $300 off air purifiers! Exclusive to podcast customers, you will also receive a free 3 year warranty on any unit, which is an additional $84 value! Lock this special offer by using our promo code MBA at checkout!More from Mama BearCheck out our websiteBuy the Mama Bear Apologetics book (affiliate link)Join Our Email ListHave Us Speak at Your EventFollow us on social media FacebookXInstagramWant to support our ministry?Donate Here—Editing and Support by The Good Podcast Co. If you are interested in being a supporting sponsor of the show, please email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co