Paul Wilson Chamberlain, PhD

Professor of Ethics & Leadership; Director, Institute for Christian Apologetics; Sabbatical Spring 2024

Dr. Chamberlain holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity International University (1981) and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Marquette University (1990). He has authored five books including Can We Be Good Without God (1996), Why People Stop Believing (2011), coedited Everyday Apologetics (2020), and published numerous articles in the fields of apologetics, ethics, and philosophy of religion.

Paul teaches in the areas of Culture & Christianity, Leadership, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, and Apologetics, and is also the Director of TWU's Institute of Christian Apologetics. He also also held the position of Canadian Executive Director of Ravi Zacharias Ministries for a time. He has participated widely in public debates and has made guest appearances on numerous radio and TV programs. He frequently presents papers at professional conferences as well as seminars and lectures in churches, universities and other community forums.

Paul is on Sabbatical for the Spring 2024 Semester.

  • PhD in Philosophy (Marquette University; 1986-1990)
  • MDiv, (Trinity International University; 1980-1981)
  • BRE Major in Humanities (Providence College; 1977-1978)

Expertise

Ethics, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion

Awards & Honors

  • Marquette University Graduate Teaching Fellowship, 1987-1990
  • ‘God Uses Ink’ Writer’s Award: honourable mention in non-fiction book category, 2001, for Final Wishes (Intervarsity press, 2000)
  • Higher Goals in Christian Journalism award, 4th place in category of General article: medium, 2019

Recent Publications

  • Why People Don’t Believe: Confronting Seven Challenges to Christian Faith.  Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2011.
  • How To Talk About Good and Bad Without Getting Ugly: The Art of Moral Persuasion.  Downers Grove: Intervarsity press, 2005.
  • Whose Life Is It Anyway?  Assessing Euthanasia and Other End-of-Life Issues.  Norcross, Georgia: RZIM, 2002.
  • Final Wishes: A Cautionary Tale About Death, Dignity, and Physician-Assisted Suicide.  Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2000.
  • Can We Be Good Without God?:  A Conversation about Truth, Morality, Culture and Other  Things that Matter.  Downers Grove:  Intervarsity Press, 1996.
  • Presenting Jesus in an Age of Pluralism,” March 2007.
  • “Secularizing Christmas,” November 2006.
  • Four Consequences of the Resurrection,” March 2006.
  • A Call for Moral Dialogue,” December 2005.
  • Integrity in the Theological Learning Community,” September 2005.
  • “The Spotlight of 9/11: Why a Coherent Cultural Response was Impossible,” October 2003.
  • “Truth and Tolerance in an Age of Pluralism,” Spring 2002.
  • “Responding to the Case for Physician-Assisted Suicide,” in 2nd edition.  Ed. F. Beckwith (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2001).
  • “Last Wishes,” Spring 2000.
  • “The Quest for Spirituality,” September/April, 1997.
  • “Wilberforce: Pioneer of Social Justice,” March/April, 1997.
  • “Can We Be Good Without God?” Spring/Summer 1997
  • “Training Leaders: Can Philosophy Help?” No. 24, Spring, 1995.
  • “Physician-Assisted Suicide: Should We or Shouldn’t We?” Vol. 1, No. 4, Fall, 1995.
  • “Physician-Assisted Suicide.” Part I. Vol. 4, No. 8, August, 1995.
  • “Physician-Assisted Suicide.” Part II. Vol. 4, No. 9, September, 1995.
  • Craig Daigle. by New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012. 
  • Evans, Abigail Rian,  Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2010.
  • Kelly Munroe Kullberg, ed., Downers Grove: Intervarsity press, 1996. 
  • “Recent Creative Atheist Strategies for Shifting The Burden of Proof.” Presented at the Evangelical Philosophical Society Meetings, Baltimore, MD, November 19, 2013.
  • “Why Christianity Is Not The Root of All Evil.” Presented at the annual conference of The International Society of Christian Apologists, Wake Forest, N. Carolina, April 30, 2011.
  • "Is Religion Dangerous: A Christian Reply to the Modern Atheists"? Presented at Simon Fraser University Faculty & Graduate student forum, Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, January 29, 2010.
  • “Does Religion Breed Violence: The Connection Between Religion and Violence.” Presented at Canadian Christian Political Science Association conference, Trinity Western University, June 3, 2008.
  • “Understanding and Responding to Religious Pluralism.” Presented at C.S. Lewis Christian Thought Series, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.  January 21-22, 2007.
  • “Doing Politics Ethically: Developing and Applying Moral Principles to Political Life.” Presented at Faith/Political Interface Conference, Ottawa, Canada. February 22-25, 2006.
  • “John Hick, Religious Pluralism, and Some Implications for Christianity.” Presented at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries conference in Detroit.  February 1999.
  • “Thomas Hobbes a Psychological Egoist Wasn’t He?” Presented at Philosopher’s Forum, Spring, 1995, Trinity Western University, Langley, BC.
  • “Interpreting Mill’s Harm Principle.” Presented at Northwest Conference on Philosophy, November 7, 1992. Boise State University, Boise, Idaho.

Affiliations & Memberships

  • Society of Christian Philosophers

  • CAP 500 Case for Christianity
  • CAP 501 Philosophy of Religion
  • CAP 550 Apologetics in a Postmodern World
  • CAP 560 Challenges to Christianity
  • CAP 600 Christian Theism & Postmodernism
  • CAP 602 Communicating Christian Truth
  • CAP 603 Reliability of Scripture
  • CAP 650 Historical Jesus & Postmodernism
  • CAP 651 Social Ethics & Christianity
  • CAP 652 Problem of Evil
  • CAP 691 Apologetics I: The Problem of God
  • CAP 691 Christianity and Mormanism
  • CAP 800 Spirituality and the City
  • CAP 801 Spirituality and Politics
  • LDRS 375 Culture & Christianity
  • LDRS 475 Christianity & Culture
  • LDRS 475 Christianity and Culture
  • MCS 810 MCS Graduating Essay
  • PHIL 103 Introduction to Logic
  • PHIL 105 Introduction to Philosophy
  • PHIL 109 Critical Thinking
  • PHIL 210 Contemporary Ethical Issues
  • PHIL 320 Social and Political Philosophy
  • PHIL 383 Philosophy of Religion
  • PHIL 384 Philosophy of Religion II
  • PHIL 420 Auth: Ancient Greek, Pol, Phil, Eth
  • PHIL 607 Topics in Philosophy
  • POLS 320 Social & Political Philosophy
  • PTH 592 Sp Topic: Evang & Proc New Gnration
  • RCE 521 Issues in Social Justice
  • RCE 521 Social Justice
  • RCE 523 Philosophy of Religion
  • RCE 524 Philosophy of Religion II
  • RCE 542 Christian Apologetics
  • RCE 562 Foundations of Ethics
  • RCE 630 Readings in Bioethics
  • RCE 645 Social Ethics
  • RCE 662 Social Ethics
  • RCE 670 Morality and the Law
  • RCE 680 Ethics & Technology
  • RCE 680 Ethics and Technology
  • RCE 680 Technology and Ethics
  • RCE 690 Ethics and Media
  • RCE 521 Social Justice
  • RELS 340 Current Issues in Biblical Theology
  • RELS 343 Issues in Contemporary Culture
  • RELS 360 Christian Apologetics
  • RELS 383 Philosophy of Religion
  • RELS 475 Christianity and Culture
  • RELS 480 Major Christian Thinkers
  • THS 602 Christian Ethics
  • THS 663 Christianity & Pluralism
  • THS 680 Christianity and Culture