J. P. Moreland

James Porter Moreland (born March 9, 1948), better known as J. P. Moreland, is an American philosopher, theologian, and Christian apologist. He is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in La Mirada, California.

Biography
Moreland specializes in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and Christian philosophy, having had his work published in journals such as Metaphilosophy and the American Philosophical Quarterly. He has also had his work published by presses such as Intervarsity Press, NavPress, Zondervan, Oxford University Press, Routledge, Rutgers University Press, and Prometheus.

Moreland earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Arts in philosophy with highest honors from the University of California, Riverside. He received his Th.M. in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. In 1985, he received a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Southern California. His dissertation was Universals and the Qualities of Things: A defense of Realism. His dissertation advisor was Dallas Willard. Moreland is married to Hope and together they have two children and four grandchildren.

Career
Moreland teaches at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in La Mirada, California. He is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Center on Culture and Civil Society at the Independent Institute. He served for eight years as a bioethicist for Personal Care Nursing Homes, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland.

He has debated Clancy Martin over the existence of God as well as Canadian philosopher Kai Nielsen and Eddie Tabash on whether the supernatural exists. He has been a frequent guest on the PBS television series Closer to Truth.

Views
Moreland has defended Thomistic substance dualism, libertarian free will, and life after death. Moreland has defended the existence of angels and demons, arguing that he knows they exist due to both Christian doctrine and personal experience. He is an old earth creationist who is a critic of fideism.

In 1978, Moreland signed the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy. In 2017, he signed the Nashville Statement.

Awards and honors

 * Awarded fellowship for Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry, University of Colorado (1970).
 * Rollin Thomas Chafer Award in Christian Apologetics, Dallas Seminary (1978–79).
 * Academic Excellence Award, International School of Theology (1982–83).
 * Winner of the Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, Lakin School of Religion, Liberty University, (1988–89).
 * Elected as a Member of the executive committee for the Society of Christian Philosophers, (1997–99).
 * Fellow of the Center for the Renewal of Science & Culture, Discovery Institute. (2000–present)
 * Winner of the Robert Fischer Faculty Member of the Year Award, Biola University,(1998–99).
 * Member of the advisory board for Philosophia Christi, (1999 to 2003).
 * Member of the executive committee for the Evangelical Philosophical Society (1999-2003, 2006 to present).
 * Fellow of the Wilberforce Forum, 2001 to present.

Works
Moreland has authored or edited numerous publications, including: