The Thinking Matters Talk Contributors
Dominic Bnonn Tennant – Editor
Profession:
ITAbout
Bnonn is a young Christian, husband, and father living in Hamilton. He came to faith in 2004, following several years as an outspoken atheist. One of the principal factors in his conversion was an investigation into the philosophical justifications for knowledge (known as epistemology). During the course of this investigation, Bnonn came to realize that non-Christian thinking is necessarily incoherent and irrational, because it denies the origin of knowledge itself. Conversely, Christian philosophy is internally coherent and rational because it affirms the origin of knowledge.Following his conversion, being cognizant that many Christians have a poor and often faulty grasp of the philosophy of their religion which leads to an inability to adequately defend their faith, he wrote a layman’s guide to presuppositional apologetics called The Wisdom of God. In addition to contributing to and editing the Thinking Matters journal and blog, Bnonn also runs an eponymous blog where he writes on issues around apologetics and philosophical theology. In his spare time, he studies and teaches historical German martial arts in the Liechtenauer tradition, watches reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Star Trek, and feeds his brain with chocolate.
Interests
Philosophical theology, epistemology, martial arts, motorcycling, film, chocolate.Location
Waikato, New Zealand.Church
Trinity Reformed Baptist ChurchWebsite
http://bnonn.thinkingmatters.org.nzContact
bnonn at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz
Jason Kumar – Editor
Profession
StudentAbout
Jason is currently a BA student, living in Auckland. He was originally born in Whangarei; the outcome of the embrace of two cultures, east and west. He spent the first twelve years of his life traveling between New Zealand and Malaysia, among other diverse destinations, yet has always and only ever seen himself as a Kiwi. His church background is Open Brethren, but it was only post-high school that he fully committed his life to Christ. Life before that—how God’s grace found and saved him—is another story that you’re welcome to ask him about.Prior to his study, Jason had work in different occupations, but philosophy and hermeneutics have always been subjects that deeply resonated with him. Nietzsche and Kant were incendiaries that shifted the trajectories of his thought, while Spurgeon, Owen, Edwards and more recent writers such as Carson and Piper have all influenced him strongly. Jason lives on expository preaching, reveres Plantinga and Reformed Epistemology, nurtures an irrational dream to bowl leg spin for the Black Caps, idles inordinately after good cinema, and seeks to make Acts 20:24 his Lebensanschauung. Aside from study, when he is not contending with philosophical quandaries such as solipsism, the limits of knowledge, or who would triumph in a battle of ninja versus pirates, he is usually watching re-runs of Battlestar Galactica or the Mighty Boosh.
Interests
Reformed Epistemology, hermeneutics, biblical theology, cricket, and seeing the intellectual heritage of the church reclaimed; minds sharpened, hearts transformed and Christ proclaimed according to the truth of the gospel.Location
Auckland, New Zealand.Church
Auckland Baptist TabernacleWebsite
Christian TheistContact
jason at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz
Stuart McEwing – Writer
Profession
Graphic Designer, Freelance creativeAbout
Stuart lives in his home town Auckland where he was born and bred. He has a Bachelor of Design and continues in the creative industry. He is a guitarist in a worship band, a song writer and avid reader. He has been in church youth leadership for over 9 years with a wide range of responsibilities. On the sports field you’re most likely to see him playing soccer. He is a member of the New Zealand Christian Writers Guild and aspires to write full length novel.Interests
I have a major interest in the study of apologetics, theology, philosophy and creative enterprises such as illustration, photography, painting and story weaving.Location
Auckland, New Zealand.Church
Encounter Christian CentreWebsite
Stuart McEwingContact
stuart dot mcewing at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz
Rob Ward – Former Writer
Profession
Student.About
Rob is the son of atheist/agnostic parents, the husband of an ex-Catholic wife, and the father of two daughters. He is currently working toward a PhD in Physics, and would love to have more time to study apologetics and philosophy.Interests
Family, sport, science, music (esp. Bob Dylan), technology, logic, apologetics, understanding life as a comprehensive Christian worldview, training the next generation of young people.Location
Palmerston North, Manawatu, New Zealand.Church
Christ SanctuaryWebsite
Manawatu Christian Apologetics SocietyRob’s wife has a website too with reviews of children’s books, women’s issues, political comment, gardening, and practical Christian living tips: Homely Wife
Contact
rob dot ward at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz
Andre Zweck – Writer
Profession:
StudentAbout
Andre is an undergraduate student, half-way through studying for a BA/BSc majoring in three subjects. He is competent in German and enjoys learning other languages. He grew up in a Christian home, yet has interacted with secular thought and philosophical arguments. After careful consideration and a large dose of grace he has chosen to fully accept and follow the historic Christian truths.Interests
Reading about science and faith topics, molecular biology, the early Church, the historical Jesus, the transmission of the text of the NT and philosophy of science, politics, religion and mind.Hiking and camping
Teaching, tutoring and writing
Learning French, NT Greek, and perhaps, soon, Arabic.
Church
Andre attends a co-operating parish of the Anglican and Methodist churches of New Zealand.http://meta-equilibrium.blogspot.com
Contact
andre dot zweck at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz
Dr. Johnson C. Philip – Former Writer
Profession
Dr. Philip is the senior-most Christian apologist in India. He is a physicist (PhD, physics) and has specialized in quantum-nuclear Physics, having worked on the quark structure of neutrons and protons. He is also a trained Christian Apologist (ThD) and an expert in Alternative Medicine (DSc, DNYS). At present he is working on his PhD in Biblical Archeology.About
He has authored more than 70 books and 7000 articles, and more than 100,000 copies of his apologetics ebooks are downloaded every year. He developed an approach known as the Integrated Apologetics where an apologist uses ten specific “Tools” to practice his art.The founder of the first distance graduate school in apologetics/theology, he has traveled worldwide to speak on apologetics, counseling, communication, and physics. Now he is retired and spends time with a worldwide net-based ministry.
Interests
Philosophy of Religion and apologetics, political philosophy, ethics and theology. Blogging, podcasting, and weight training.Location
India.Church
Website
Personal Website
Creation WikiContact
johnson dot philip at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz
Madeleine Flannagan – Guest Writer
Profession
Legal Assistant, Personal Assistant, Human Resources Administrator and Law StudentAbout
Interests
Philosophy, Jurisprudence, Ethics, Worldviews, Apologetics, Theology, Politics, Debating, Blogging, Equestrian Events.Location
Auckland, New Zealand.Church
Massey PresbyterianWebsite
M and MContact
madeleine dot flannagan at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz
Matthew Flannagan – Guest Writer
Profession
Philosopher, TheologianAbout
Interests
Philosophy, Ethics, Theology, Apologetics, Reformed Epistemology, Worldviews, Politics, Debating, Blogging, Martial Arts.Location
Auckland, New Zealand.Church
Massey PresbyterianWebsite
M and MContact
matthew dot flannagan at thinkingmatters dot org dot nz