Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, has been re-reading Jay Richards' outstanding book, The Human Advantage: The Future of American Work in an Age of Smart Machines. We so often swallow the skin of the truth stuffed with a big lie—in this case the myth that artificial intelligence will soon replace us. Richards shows that while AI certainly brings challenges, it also has its opportunities. And in this sense the age of AI is like the agrarian age, the industrial age, and the information age—they were all ages of opportunity. And the age of AI is ripe for doing only what human beings can bring to the table. Mind and creativity trumps matter. Machines are not aspirational and will not ever be able to do much of what human beings can do—parent, heal the broken hearted, produce homilies empowered by the Spirit of God. So why the hysteria? Because we in the West have swallowed the myth of materialism. Elon Musk questions whether there is such a thing as consciousness—emblematic of the myth that our minds are simply meaty machines. In reality, a machine will never be able to have first-person subjective experience. Self-awareness is, in principle, beyond AI. Richards quotes George Gilder: “The inability of modern techno-philosophers to grasp the difference between machines and human beings is a great trahison des clercs [treason of the clerks—intellectuals] of our time.”

If you have children—or simply care about children—then you must listen to this episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast. The book co-authored by guest Bethany Mandel, Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, provides an urgent deep dive into issues surrounding the current woke indoctrination happening in politics, education, medicine, mental health, entertainment, and culture.These issues may seem subtle, insidious, and hard to make sense of, but armed with the right information we now have a framework from which to fight. While we may simply be trying to parent our children well and create a healthy and happy home environment, this is no longer enough. We must now go on the offense to protect our kids. We can no longer afford to stay ignorant. Our children's lives and the survival of our families are at stake.For further information on how to receive Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, for your partnering gift please click here. Topics discussed include: In praise of resiliency—the importance of embracing resiliency over victimhood (5:00); defining the word woke (7:30); the rising embrace of Marxism by many in the West (11:00); Stolen Youth—the growing attack against parents (13:00); never let a crisis go to waste—how the pandemic accelerated the issue of wokeness (16:00); the dangerous problem of apathy in our culture (18:30); “gender affirming care” as an example of the importance of effective messaging on key issues (22:25); the financial incentives behind many woke movements (24:10); between schools and TikTok, the insidious indoctrination of our children (25:20); Critial Race Theory, Critical Theory and the cultural Marxism being taught in our school systems (29:25); Universities are more concerned with teaching students what to think rather than how to think (32:00); the importance of raising critical thinkers (34:25); the downfall of Disney—how did such a wholesome and family friendly company become so woke? (38:45); the American Library Association and the power of librarians to indoctrinate our children (41:45); the mixed messages on motherhood in our culture today (47:45); reasons for hope in the midst of our current cultural moment (54:00); the perils of woke medicine—pediatrics is one of the most left-leaning sectors of the entire medical establishment (1:01:00); the breakdown of institutional trust (1:07:00); the transgender crusade and the subsequent sociological experiment being performed on children (1:09:00); why are parents allowing their children to be experimented on? (1:13:30); referring to pedophiles as MAPS—minor attracted persons—how did we get to the place where we have sexualized children and pedophilia is just another sexual orientation? (1:18:55); how the left has turned children into child soldiers to advance their ideology (1:21:55); how can we protect our children from absorbing the woke worldview (1:26:30); should you send your kids to public schools? (1:29:30).Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Jesus' last words to his disciples were “Go . . . and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). Unfortunately, many churches are struggling to follow this commandment. In his book Reclaiming the Great Commission, Fr. Evan Armatas offers a roadmap to help us get back on track. Fr. Evan joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the need for Christians to follow the last commandment of Christ and reclaim the Great Commission.Topics discussed include: A modern day parable that explains why the church today is often failing to fulfill the last commandment of Christ (2:30); are evangelism programs a waste of time? (9:00); what have evangelicals discovered in their pursuit of sharing the Gospel? (11:30); is evangelism often more caught than taught? (13:45); finding ways to get out of God's way—what are the biggest barriers that the church has erected around itself? (17:20); the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster as an example of why the Church needs to focus on the little things (25:30); what can we learn from the candle stand? (28:00); going after the Greek festivals—the issue of imbalanced identity and why culture cannot become the defining characteristic of our churches (33:05); what does it take to maintain a healthy church? (43:30); the importance of having a clearly defined identity as a Christian (56:45); growth is a byproduct of a healthy church (1:03:45); faith and planning are not mutually exclusive—on spiritual laziness and the importance of planning (1:10:45); how important is it for a church to have a strategic plan? (1:13:30); resistance is part of transformation (1:17:45); how did Hank Hanegraaff get into ministry? (1:20:45); reclaiming the great commission by equipping leaders that lead to healthy churches (1:27:45); getting back to the basics of the Christian faith (1:32:15).For further information on how to receive Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Roadmap to Parish Health for your partnering gift please click here. For information on Fr. Armatas other book Toolkit for Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving for your partnering gift, please click here.Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the fourth in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher, and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church.In this episode, they discuss such topics as: what true worship looks like, experiencing synergy with God, the authority of the Bible, Church Tradition and more.For further information see Hank's most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More, Nathan's Jacobs Becoming Truly Human 2-disc set: 1 DVD and 1 Blu-Ray, and Metropolitan Yohannan books, Never Give Up and Revolutions in World Missions. Topics discussed include: What does true worship look like? (3:05); what does it mean to become co-workers and experience synergy with God? (6:15); understanding the false dichotomy between faith and works (11:30); is the Bible the only source of authority for Christians? (28:00); understanding the practice of Church Traditions that have been handed down to us that precede the written Bible (39:15); should the Church change over time? (46:00).Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the first in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher, and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church. In this episode, they discuss such topics as: losing Western Civilization, secular Christians, the crisis of belief found in cognitive minorities, what Christians can learn from Mormons, the importance of missions and more. For further information see Hank's most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More.Topics discussed include: Are we losing Western Civilization? (:30); have Christians become too secular? on Peter Berger and the crisis of belief when people find themselves in a cognitive minority (3:15); revitalizing the Christian faith through missions (11:15); the Book of Acts as a blueprint for Pentecost today (29:40); what we can learn from the Parable of the rich man and Lazarus (36:30); what can Christians learn from Mormons? (41:10); how should Christians live their lives? Devoting your life to the Lord looks different for everyone (46:15); we will never know the extent to which the Lord is using our lives for His glory this side of eternity (52:40). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

We all live our lives according to a story—a story that explains the universe and our place in it. But, how do we know if the story guiding the way that we live our lives is true? Dr. Paul Gould joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his book, A Good and True Story: Eleven Clues to Understanding Our Universe and Your Place in it, in which Gould leads readers on an engaging journey through eleven clues that suggest Christianity is not only true but satisfies our deepest longings—explaining the foundations of Christian truth behind the universe, morality, happiness, pain, beauty, and more. The evidence for God is found everywhere in the universe, but that evidence needs to be rightly interpreted. Today's episode will equip listeners to explain the true story of the world and our own place in it, showing that Christianity holds the most satisfying answers to life's biggest questions. For more information on receiving Dr. Gould's book A Good and True Story, please click here. Topics discussed include: Why did Paul Gould write A Good and True Story? (2:45); do we live our lives according to a story? (4:30); evidence for God is everywhere, but it needs to be rightly interpreted (6:45); what are the non-religious stories that explain our existence? discussing scientism, materialism, atheism, nihilism and reductionism (9:15); what are the origins of the universe? (13:30); should the immensity of the universe inspire belief in God? (18:20); what is the nature of life? (22:40); how do we know that life is valuable? (26:30); how the Cambrian explosion uprooted Darwin's Tree of Life (27:30); the current revolutions and shifts in evolutionary theory (30:50); does the modern world suffer from a nature deficit? (32:45); can materialism account for consciousness? (34:15); is there an objective moral order? what best explains morality? (38:40); the new phenomenon of nice nihilism (43:30); what is enchanted naturalism? (45:15); counterfeit happiness and the nature of true happiness (48:30); the problem of evil and the existence of God (52:00); has the logical problem of evil been solved? (54:40); is free will essential to what it means to be human? (57:15); can God do anything? (58:45); the evidential problem of evil (1:00:25); the significance of suffering in our lives (1:02:45); what is love? (1:05:00); how does the existence of love point to the existence of God? (1:07:00); the relationship between truth and beauty (1:10:00); what is the chief value of art? (1:15:00); what is religion? (1:16:45); why can't all religions be true? (1:19:10); the story of Christianity is not only true, but it is a good story that satisfies our deepest longings (1:20:15); have you ever been disillusioned by the Christian worldview? (1:24:45). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the first in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher, and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church. In this episode, they discuss such topics as: the importance of putting our Christian faith into practice, the meaning of grace, misunderstanding salvation, how we pray, why so many Western Christians seem to be lost and more. For further information see Hank's most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More, Nathan's Jacobs Becoming Truly Human 2-disc set: 1 DVD and 1 Blu-Ray, and Metropolitan Yohannan books, Never Give Up and Revolutions in World Missions. Topics discussed include: What do Christians mean when they talk about grace? distinguishing between the essence of God and the energies of God and why that matters (2:45); the dangers of misunderstanding salvation (15:35); the Jesus Prayer, hesychasm and the significance of praying with our soul, mind and body (26:10); empty repetition (34:25); Hank Hanegraaff's acronym of THEOSIS (38:00); why do so many Western Christians seem to be lost? (45:00).

In the greatest sermon ever preached—The Sermon on the Mount—Christ provides us with the three-legged stool of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that is axiomatic for living the Christian life of experiencing an ever-deepening union with God. As we observe the Lord's example it is evident that in order to grow in our faith it is essential that we devote our lives to developing these disciplines in our daily lives. Fr. Evan Armatas refers to these disciplines as a “spiritual toolkit” and joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the fundamentals of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in a conversation that is both practical and profound. For further information on how to receive Toolkit for Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving for your partnering gift, please click here.Topics discussed include: Jesus taught us to practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving in His Sermon on the Mount (1:00); what is the purpose of prayer? (7:20); what is the eye of the soul? Exploring the idea of the “nous” (10:25); who do we pray to when we pray? the importance of understanding Trinitarian prayer (12:10); should we only practice extemporaneous prayer? the importance of praying written prayers and praying in a liturgical fashion (16:30); the little church—the importance of having a prayer corner in our homes (24:00); can tending to a vigil lamp can change your life? (34:30); what should we do with our body while we pray? (37:35); creation and incarnation –matter matters (40:45); what is the significance of almsgiving? almsgiving is not something we do, but it is something we become (47:00); what is toxic charity and how can we avoid it? (55:45); the way that the liturgical calendar of the Church can aid us in our spiritual growth (59:10); the liturgical calendar walks you through the life of Christ throughout the year (1:06:45); why is fasting an important practice for every Christian? (1:09:45); the importance of building spiritual disciplines over time (1:17:30); why are so many modern Christians hesitant to embrace the spiritual discipline of fasting (1:20:30); the four seasons of fasting for Christians (1:23:00); Christianity is about setting patterns of practice that reorient our lives towards an eternal process of growing closer to God (1:27:50); the joyful sorrow of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (1:32:50). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Western Culture is in a state of crisis. Objective truth is replaced by virtual reality, humanity by “transhumanism,” meaning by meaninglessness, religion by whole-hearted devotion to scientism, and the republican government by the liberal internationalist regime. This cultural chaos inevitably leads to the question—Can the West be saved? On this episode of Hank Unplugged the Oxford-educated classicist Spencer Klavan joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his new book How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises in which Klavan identifies five “essential crises”: The Crisis of Reality, The Crisis of the Body, The Crisis of Meaning, The Crisis of Religion and The Crisis of Regime. Klavan's deep understanding of the roots of Western civilization make him a trustworthy guide for those concerned about the future of Western civilization. The situation is dire. But every crisis we face today we have faced—and surmounted—before. For more information on How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises and how to receive for your partnering gift, please click here.Topics discussed include: Hank explains how he became familiar with Spencer Klavan's work and their differences on human sexuality (:45); the crisis that ensues when we fail to communicate even when we disagree (7:25); how do we define Western Civilization? (9:35); does maintaining the traditions of Western Civilization matter? (13:45); are we experiencing a reality crisis? (19:30); if you can't tell what is real or fake, then how can you determine good vs. evil? (24:30); what is reality privilege? (29:00); the connection between Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse and Plato's Cave (32:45); the crisis of the body, consciousness and the soul (37:00); the purely fabricated notion of gender (43:00); the slippery slope from transgenderism to transhumanism (45:45); the state of our culture wars and the crisis of meaning (49:15); where do the rules of reality come from for a materialist? (53:45); the new religions of scientism and social justice (59:50); the disservice that the Enlightenment did to Western Civilization (1:04:50); the modern infatuation with the multiverse theories (1:09:10); why most people do not have the courage to live according to their convictions (1:13:45); the mythology that follows in the wake of science—the problem with science trying to answer questions that it was never designed to ask (1:17:20); our current political crisis is a crisis of civic love (1:20:05); the bright side of technology (1:30:00); how can we save the West? (1:31:35). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the first in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church. They discuss such topics as: why they are Christians, the misunderstood concept of mystery in the Christian faith, Orthodox anthropology, the hope found in Christianity and more. For further information see Hank's most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More.Topics discussed include: Why are you a Christian? (9:10); why do we need the church? an argument for the church as the epicenter of the universe (27:10); the often misunderstood role of mystery in the Christian faith (38:50); differences between Eastern and Western theology (47:15); Orthodox anthropology is about more than merely being saved—it is about theosis (59:05); salvation as progressive transformation as opposed to punctiliar and transactional (1:13:10); the problem with making the Bible an end to itself as opposed to a means (1:19:45); what is the hope of Christianity? (1:26:00). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, explains why the redefinition of marriage is such a serious matter. In the considered opinions of such great western philosophers as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, marriage was seen as a relationship between men and women. Indeed, in the Judeo-Christian tradition marriage has always been rooted in the dual, gender-distinct nature of humanity. As such, intercourse consummates marriage as a multifaceted mystery in which two people are forged together as one flesh. In mysterious union, a man and a woman procreate children fashioned in the image and likeness of their Creator. Marriage, however, is even more profound than procreation and paradisiacal pleasure—it is a mysterious parable of Christ and His church. The union of two people a poignant portrait of the unity of Christ and His bride. The parable has its roots in Genesis and bears ultimate fruit in Revelation. There are essentially three building blocks of civil society—marriage, church, government—resting atop the foundation of human life. Of the three none is more significant than marriage. The ABC'S—Anthropology: women and men enjoy strategic complementarity; as such, both are essential in the rearing of children. Biology: sexual reproduction requires male and female. Civics: Redefining marriage opens Pandora's Box and spells the death knell to civil society.

Millions of Christians around the world use the sign of the Cross—and have done so for centuries—as a gesture of blessing. It is practiced when alone, during worship, before sleep, upon waking, before eating, before travel, and many other times throughout the day. But, what does it mean? Where did it originate? What did the sign of the Cross mean to the first Christians, and how has this simple movement of the hand evolved over the centuries?The sign of the Cross is literally a tracing of the Cross of Christ onto the body. By so doing, Christians invite the mystery of the Cross into their everyday lives. Andreas Andreopoulos joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the symbolism, the history and the mystery behind the sign of the cross—an interesting, informative and inspirational conversation that truly fulfills the mission statement of Hank Unplugged.For more information on receiving Andreas Andreopoulos book, The Sign of the Cross The Gesture, the Mystery, the History for your partnering gift, please click here. Topics discussed include: Metamorphosis and the theology of the transfiguration (3:30); art and theology (10:00); the depth and symbolism of icons (13:30); biblical authority and whether all Christians should practice making the sign of the cross? (20:30); making the sign of the cross as a form of prayer that centers us in Christ (31:30); the many ways that the symbol of the cross is used throughout Christian practice (34:40); the connection between the Eucharist and the cross (41:30); what does the cross have to do with our own suffering? (45:10); the cross as a weapon against spiritual warfare (48:15); the sign of the cross as a declaration of faith and Christian identity (52:00); the symbolic nature behind the gesture of the sign of the cross and the use of it as a way to bless oneself and/or others (55:15); theology as experience and experience of—recovering from an overly rationalistic form of faith and rediscovering our shared Christian tradition (1:00:15); Dionysius and the threefold process of ascent (1:02:05); what is prayer? what is contemplative prayer? (1:09:10); different expressions of the sign of the cross and the different occasions they are used (1:13:10); learning to become imitators of Christ and the cross—WWJD (1:16:00); what the sign of the cross has to offer Christians from all traditions—despite differences in tradition (1:19:45); the significance of personally connecting with Christological events such as the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and the second coming (1:23:25); what is the cosmic cross? (1:28:30); different understandings of original/ancestral sin (1:34:00); a summary of the significance of the sign of the cross (1:41:40).Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on an article in The Economist, “Christianity Is a Minority Religion in England and Wales,” which notes the precipitous decline of Christianity in Britain. Less than one half of the population now consider themselves to be Christian and the number of people who have “no religion” has rocketed up 57 percent. In the meantime, Islam has risen 42 percent, partly due to immigration. Millions of Muslims have come to a place like England (and the US) to fill a void created by death and abortion. Perhaps as troubling is that what is left of the Church in England has become increasingly irrelevant. Instead of being a change agent in the culture, the church has become a microcosm of the culture. More often than not the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman or that biological sex is real has become anathema. In other words, the church has become increasingly politically correct. We can curse the darkness or be part of the solution. We can refocus our attention on the great and glorious reality that Christ became Man so that we might be adopted into the family of God—as sons and daughters of God called to enter into the very life of the Trinity. United to God and to one another, the church is empowered by an unlimited flow of divine energy by which to provide light and life to the world.See “Christianity Is a Minority Religion in England and Wales,” The Economist, November 30, 2022, https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/11/30/christianity-is-a-minority-religion-in-england-and-walesFor further study, see Hank Hanegraaff, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the

Through the incarnation of Christ, His kenosis (emptying) makes our theosis (deification) possible. But, what is theosis? While Hanegraaff believes that theosis is the crown jewel of theology, he is aware that for many Christians theosis is a foreign concept and those who are aware of it all too often misunderstand it. Yet, if we ignore—or denounce—theosis than we miss the point of all theological speculation. Said Vladimir Lossky, ‘Christian theology is always in the last resort a means: a unity of knowledge subserving an end which transcends all knowledge. This ultimate end is union with God or deification.” For more information on Hank's view see Truth Matters, Life Matters More available for your partnering gift here. In short, theosis is best understood as the process of attaining an ever-deepening union with God—a process that begins during our lives on earth and extends into eternity. As we celebrate the incarnation it is critical to remember that Jesus Christ came not only to save us from death, but to give us life. Theosis is what our lives are for and the process through which we become fully human. For more information on receiving Fellow Workers With God: Orthodox Thinking on Theosis for your partnering gift please click here. Topics discussed include: Why do so many Christians denounce deification? (4:30); what is deification? (9:20); the difference between the essence and energies of God and why it matters (11:30); what does it mean to experience theosis? (15:00); the incarnation, theosis and kenosis (17:45); we can't do it alone—the ecclesial and sacramental nature of theosis (21:55); was the incarnation always intended to happen? (25:00); cooperation with God—some quintessential examples of theosis (32:05); self-transcendence and the communal experience of Christ—we cannot experience theosis on our own (38:25); the power of the Sacraments—chiefly the Eucharist (42:30); the Jesus Prayer and Hesychasm—seeking divine stillness through the contemplation of God in uninterrupted prayer (48:45). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on the story of the first biological male to win a local Miss America pageant (New Hampshire). Brían Nguyen said, “I am ecstatic to be the first transgender woman to be a Miss America local titleholder, and I hope to make everyone proud and become the first to walk the Miss America stage.” Among Hank's first thoughts upon seeing the story was the question, Why are the fellow women contestants cheering and going along with the ruse? Here is a clear example of absurdity. The pageant is no longer about authentic feminine beauty. This is a charade. Yet, all too often we are quiet. Perhaps we, too, fear that if we say something, we'll be called out as out of touch with social trends—as backward or benighted. But we do need to speak up. And we must teach our children principles to live by so they are not swept along by this radical Wokism tide.See Amanda Harding, “Transgender-Identifying Teen Becomes First Male To Win A Miss America Sponsored Beauty Pageant,” The Daily Wire, November 10, 2022, https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-identifying-teen-becomes-first-male-to-win-a-miss-america-sponsored-beauty-pageant.See also, Douglas R. Groothuis, Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-fire-in-the-streets-how-you-can-confidently-respond-to-incendiary-cultural-topics/ and Noelle Mering, Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology-wa2209fl2/

​Why aren't we wise? One of the greatest paradoxes of the information age—a historic period of unparalleled access to information and knowledge—is that we are woefully unwise. In the face of dizzying distractions we encounter on a daily basis, Christians are called to cultivate wisdom. But, what does wisdom look like? In an effort to help us consume a more balanced, healthy diet of information, our guest Brett McCracken has created the “Wisdom Pyramid.” Inspired by the food pyramid model, the Wisdom Pyramid challenges us to increase our intake of enduring, trustworthy sources (like the Bible) while moderating our consumption of less reliable sources (like the Internet and social media). At a time when so much of our daily media diet is toxic and making us spiritually sick, The Wisdom Pyramid suggests that we become healthy and wise when we reorient our lives around God―the foundation of truth and the eternal source of wisdom. For more information on The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World and how to receive for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-wisdom-pyramid-feeding-your-soul-in-a-post-truth-world/Topics discussed include: The paradox of lacking wisdom during the information age (2:30); the importance of contemplation (4:30); do you know how to read? (8:15); chronological snobbery—is innovation always better? (10:00); the danger of being a digital wanderer (12:45); the problem of algorithm driven, hyper-partisan echo chambers combined with the sorry state of journalism today (15:55); the democratization of information and the death of expertise (20:00); the tension between feelings, reality and the self (25:15); can wisdom exist apart from God? (32:10); what are the biggest challenges for the church in the digital age? (36:30); the connection between embodiment, the church and wisdom (43:00); approaching the Bible with humility and learning to live with tension and paradox (48:35); the rhythms of the church calendar (55:00); the synergy between Christianity and science (56:05); the importance of being involved in your local community (1:03:45); our innate need for nature (1:07:00); the importance of developing the discipline of reading (1:11:00); the synergy of silence and beauty and their relationship to the Sabbath (1:19:25); 5 habits to cultivate wisdom online (1:21:50); what does wisdom look like? (1:27:15). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, is thinking about the recent mid-term elections. We put so much hope in our political system, and certainly political activism plays a necessary role. Yet while the ballot box is necessary, it is insufficient. Consider maladies in Western Civilization such as transgenderism and radical transgender surgery—something you could never have imagined where people are now at young ages having top and bottom surgeries making up maybe a trillion dollar industry for the medical establishment with young people becoming medical patients for life. Radical individualism, wokism, militant egalitarianism, religious pluralism, and so on. All such things are not magically changed or redeemed at the ballot box. Illiberal liberalism is perpetuated and disseminated in so many different ways. Think about educational institutions—so many educators saying the state should have a bigger input into the lives of children than parents. The entertainment industry, which many of us are hooked on. Environmental industries that create, manipulate, and disseminate ideological constructs driving Western civilization in a various dangerous direction. Just a glimpse of the darkness. What are the solutions? The church must awaken from its diabetic coma brought on by a steady diet of fast-food Christianity. Christians must become not only intellectually equipped but equipped internally—by a mysterious Zoetic energy—the energy by which we may yet reclaim the soul of the world against the insistent forces of secularism and paganism. For further reflection, see Hank Hanegraaff, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-truth-matters-life-matters-more/

“The disintegration of rational society started in the drift from the hearth and the family”, wrote G. K. Chesterton in 1933. “The solution must be a drift back.” Today's guest, lauded as “probably the greatest living authority on the life and work of G.K. Chesterton,” joins Hank to discuss his book The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State that Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens—a compilation of texts and quotes from G. K. Chesterton, edited by Dale Ahlquist, illustrating the glory of the family—the heritage of romance, love, marriage, parenthood, and home. In a world that has lost touch with normality, it takes a pioneer to rediscover the wonders of the normal and Dale Ahlquist represents Chesterton as a prophet from our past that can help us defend the role of the family as the key to a healthy civilization. For further information about receiving The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State that Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens for your partnering gift, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-story-of-the-family-g-k-chesterton-on-the-only-state-that-creates-and-loves-its-own-citizens/Topics discussed include: Why does how we define the family matter? (5:30); why is G.K. Chesterton important today? (7:25); on natural law (10:45); the growing influence of the government in our lives—especially in public schools (15:00); the paradox of freedom (17:30); the modern attack on the family (18:40); what were G.K. Chesterton's critiques of capitalism? (21:00); what is the mystical mirror? (24:15); the sacramental idea of sex as a picture of Christ and the Church (27:20); the problem with free love, birth control and divorce (29:20); the connection between eugenics and birth control (32:20); real birth control is self-control (36:15); communism, capitalism and something worse (40:10); the practice of self-control (41:40); is public education undermining the family more than anything else? (43:40); does it make sense for feminists to attack motherhood? (48:00); the value of homemaking—the original work from home (50:25); why bad philosophy is ultimately self-destructing (52:40); the main point of distributism—also known as localism (54:25); how should we read? (1:00:00). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on an article from the World Socialist Web Site by scholar Tom Mackaman, “American Historical Association President Issues Groveling Apology after Racialist Social Media Attack.” Here we have “the president of the American Historical Association, Professor James Sweet of the University of Wisconsin,” making a soft criticism of The 1619 Project and ending up having to publish “a groveling apology.” Sweet had criticized “the dominance of ‘presentism' in historical writing.” According to Sweet, presentism is the “tendency to view history ‘through the prism of contemporary social justice issues—race, gender, sexuality, nationalism, capitalism,' while minimizing ‘the values and mores of people in their own times.'” Mackaman comments that “the subject is certainly worthy of discussion, not apology and retraction.” Sweet had also suggested that “The 1619 Project's insinuation that slavery was a uniquely American ‘original sin'” wasn't quite right. He pointed to “a slaving site he'd recently visited in Ghana, Elmina,” regarding which “‘[l]ess than one percent of the Africans passing through…arrived in North America.' Most of the other 99 percent, presumably, were bound to destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.” So, the US was hardly exceptional in this regard. But in the face of social media criticism like, “as a ‘white man' he has no right to make critical commentary on Black or African History,” Professor Sweet “crumpled in record speed,” as Mackaman put it, tweeting out an apology containing sentiments such as “I take full responsibility;” “I am deeply sorry;” “I sincerely regret;” “I hope to redeem myself.”See Mary Grabar, Debunking The 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America (Regnery History, 2021) https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology-wa2209fl2/.See also Tom Mackaman, “American Historical Association President Issues Groveling Apology after Racialist Social Media Attack,” World Socialist Web Site, August 23, 2022, https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/08/24/ogzj-a24.html; James H. Sweet, “Is History History? Identity Politics and Teleologies of the Present,” Perspectives on History, August 17, 2022, https://www.historians.org/publications-and-directories/perspectives-on-history/september-2022/is-history-history-identity-politics-and-teleologies-of-the-present.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, has been meditating on the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–7:29). Meditating on the words of this most glorious of magnificent sermons is transformational. In this sermon, Jesus famously asked, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?” Hank was thinking about these words when he happened upon an article, “Of Smart Phones and Snakes,” by Grazie Pozo Christie, who writes, “Every time I see a little hand holding a smartphone and childish eyes staring mesmerized at the screen, I remember those Gospel words [from Luke 11:11 and also Matthew 7:9–10] and imagine the phone is a rattlesnake.” In the early stages of their development, we've handed impressionable children over to the greed of big tech—“luring them into ‘rabbit holes' of coarse sexuality and drug use” and transgender traps. Twelve- and thirteen-year-olds—even younger—being groomed for radical hormonal treatments and devastating surgical alterations. While the bottom line for tech giants is quite promising, the resulting top and bottom surgeries, woke ideologies, and cultural confusion wreaks inestimable harm. Older tech addicts fare little better. Our overstimulated constitutions are increasingly devoid of critical thinking. We've substituted quick answers for critical thought. Information substituted for reflection and true wisdom. Solutions are not to be found in more screen time, but more Scripture time—meditating, mining, memorizing the wisdom of Scripture for all its substantial worth. Perhaps start by reading a chapter a day of Proverbs. See Grazie Pozo Christie, “Of Smart Phones and Snakes,” Angelus, September 9, 2022, https://angelusnews.com/voices/of-smartphones-and-snakes/

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, reads from a poignant, acutely distressing article by Ritchie Herron, “A Detransitioner's Perspective: Awakening from the Dream of Gender Utopia,” published by Human Events. Ritchie writes and speaks in a very compelling fashion. “I was 25, an adult,” he explains, “but a vulnerable adult with high traits of autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and substance misuse issues. Like many, I was captured by the idea that I was less than perfect. The solution to my imperfection was to be laid on a path that would lead to a degree of unimaginable self-destruction, through irreversible surgeries that have turned me into a lifelong medical patient, reliant on synthetic hormones, as well as being under constant supervision for ongoing complications related to the deeply invasive surgery. This was all in the name of the promised Gender Utopia, where we were all free to be ourselves, express ourselves without boundaries, and celebrate our individuality in an explosion of liberation and autonomy, yet, at the age of 35, almost a decade after embarking on this deeply destructive journey, I've come to realize this is not the Gender Utopia we were promised.” See Ritchie Herron, “A Detransitioner's Perspective: Awakening from the Dream of Gender Utopia,” Human Events, September 13, 2022, https://web.archive.org/web/20220915085236/https:/www.humanevents.com/2022/09/13/a-detransitioner-s-perspective-awakening-from-the-dream-of-gender-utopia

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, reflects on The 1619 Project and what motivated the Nazi Holocaust. Nikole Hannah-Jones, director of The 1619 Project, reimagines America as a ‘slaveocracy'—and says that even Nazi Germany used America as inspiration for its racial policies. But actually Nazi Germany was motivated by Darwinism and its implications. Nazi Germany took eugenics, which was increasingly promoted throughout the West, to its logical conclusion. Namely, to take those that were not well born and exterminate them in order to bring about the uber race. Thus at the heart of the problem is the notion that we're not created in the image and likeness of God, such that we have intrinsic worth, but rather we are merely molecules in motion—and the goal is always to progress to a higher ideal. The amoeba becomes the ape; and ultimately, the ape becomes the astronaut. For evolution to work, you have to eliminate the weak, otherwise they will pollute the gene pool and render evolutionary progress impossible. The educational system in concert with The 1619 Project is bent on eradicating the God of the Bible—because if we eradicate God, then anything becomes possible. In truth it has always been sin, not skin color, that animates racism. And we know that because slavery has existed throughout all of human history. So if we are to re-imagine America, we must do so based on the communication that, as human beings, we are all created in the image of God.See Mary Grabar, Debunking The 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America (Regnery History, 2021) https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology-wa2209fl2/; and Richard Weikart, Darwinian Racism: How Darwinism Influenced Hitler, Nazism, and White Nationalism (Discovery Institute, 2022), https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-darwinian-racism-how-darwinism-influenced-hitler-nazism-and-white-nationalism/.

Hank Hanegraaff is joined by Dr. Mary Grabar to discuss her book Debunking the 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America. According to the New York Times's “1619 Project,” America was not founded in 1776, with a declaration of freedom and independence, but in 1619 with the introduction of African slavery into the New World. According to Grabar, the “1619 Project” is not just bad history, it is a danger to our national life, replacing the idea, goal, and reality of American unity with race-based obsessions that we have seen play out in violence, riots, and the destruction of American monuments—not to mention the wholesale rewriting of America's historical and cultural past. In this illuminating conversation, Grabar discusses the lies, distortions, and propaganda behind the “1619 Project” and why her book debunking it is essential reading. For more information on how to receive, Debunking the 1619 Project: Exposing the Plan to Divide America, for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-debunking-the-1619-project-exposing-the-plan-to-divide-america/Topics discussed include: How has Debunking the 1619 Project been received? (5:15); the problem with an apology from the American Historical Association regarding the 1619 Project (8:25); what is the origin of the 1619 Project? (12:55); how do we know which historians to trust? (15:10); who is the founder of the 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones? (19:30); the rise of idea laundering in academia (23:25); the dangerous decline of investigative journalism (26:30); the problem with the 1619 Project being taught in schools (35:25); the truth about Thomas Jefferson and slavery (43:10); why the abolition of slavery was so historically radical (46:25); did Thomas Jefferson really want to abolish slavery? (52:25); the mistreatment of Abraham Lincoln in the 1619 Project (1:01:00); the Constitution and slavery (1:07:30); the misappropriation and virtue signaling of the Kente cloth (1:14:20); the impact of Karl Marx on the perception of slavery in America (1:18:05); combatting the false narratives of the 1619 Project (1:19:30); the stealth edits and corrections of the 1619 Project (1:25:15). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on an important book he is reading: The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State That Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens, edited by Dale Ahlquist (Ignatius Press, 2022). In this compilation of texts from Chesterton, he shows that “society is built on the family.” He eloquently explains that one cannot free something from what it is by nature, including marriage and the family. You cannot free a marriage from the union of a man and a woman, the natural end of which is the bearing and rearing of children. There is no other social relation parallel to the natural and “mutual attraction of the sexes,” and by missing this point, the modern world has fallen into countless “vices and follies,” including same-sex sexuality and transgenderism. Chesterton shows that undercutting the “triangle of truisms, of father, mother, and child,” destroys any civilization that once cherished them. Seeking to thwart nature, we succeed only in cutting off the very limb on which we are seated. Ultimately, “the war against the family” is a “war against God and the Church.” The road back is through “the story of the family.”See The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State That Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens, edited by Dale Ahlquist (Ignatius Press, 2022) https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-story-of-the-family-g-k-chesterton-on-the-only-state-that-creates-and-loves-its-own-citizens/

Fire in the streets has become commonplace as society appears to be literally and figuratively burning down by revolutionary movements that have made their way into almost every institution, including our Churches. While you might not recognize it, the root beneath much of the chaos is an ideology called Critical Theory—a reductionistic form of cultural Marxism that divides society into the oppressed and the oppressors. Longtime Christian Research Journal contributor Professor Doug Groothuis joins Hanegraaff to discuss why he felt compelled to write Fire in the Streets to equip Christians with a better understanding of what Critical Theory is, how it is infiltrating nearly every sector of society and how to counter it confidently and constructively with an orthodox Christian worldview. For more information see Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics by Douglas R. Groothuis available for your partnering gift. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-fire-in-the-streets-how-you-can-confidently-respond-to-incendiary-cultural-topics/Topics discussed include: What is Critical Theory? What is the connection between Critical Theory and Marxism? (4:45); what is the difference between Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory? (10:30); why is capitalism the best option? (18:15); why are so many young people buying into socialism? (22:35); the Marxist origins of Black Lives Matter (28:35); how can we learn to discern what sources to trust for our news and information? (31:20); the odd phenomenon of woke capitalism (36:15); are we aware of the influence of propaganda and party cliches in our world today? (38:05); the 1619 Project (40:05); should we send our kids to public school? (44:30); is the United States Constitution racist? (47:50); developing a Christian philosophy of citizenship (50:20); reverse racism being promoted by public intellectuals such as Ibram Kendi (53:45); what is the difference between equality and equity? (58:25); affirmative action (1:01:45); how is Critical Race Theory in opposition to freedom of speech? (1:03:50); how should Christians respond to the problems posed by Critical Theory? (1:07:50); the need for Christian education as opposed to public schooling (1:10:20); the theme of fire used by Groothuis in his book Fire in the Streets (1:12:25) Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, is reading Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology (TAN Books, 2021) by Noelle Mering. Scripture tells us that Satan prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. Never more so than in the woke ideology that has captured the heart of America. The devil's multifaceted strategy involves “prowling for innocence,” as Mering poignantly puts it, for the innocence of children is a threat to the kingdom of darkness. She points out that media and movies are some of his favorite tools. Think Frozen (2013), Trolls (2016), or the magazine Teen Vogue, which featured “A Guide to Anal Sex.” Far from decrying sodomy, the magazine depicts anal sex as a very natural benefit. In the first generation of cultural demise, it would be difficult to bring up a subject like this. In the second generation, such filth becomes normalized. And in the third generation, we begin to see what we are experiencing today—societal collapse. The only antidote is Christians willing to proclaim truth in a culture where truth is perceived to be little more than hate. See Noelle Mering, Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology https://www.equip.org/donate/ And look for Hank's forthcoming in-depth interview with Noelle Mering on the Hank Unplugged Podcast.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on a recent news story that turns out to be another example of failure to do due diligence in reporting. Duke University women's volleyball starter Rachel Richardson sent out a tweet saying that she and her “fellow African American teammates…were targeted and racially heckled throughout the entirety of the match” between Duke and Brigham Young University. Richardson's Godmother, Lesa Pamplin, tweeted, “My Goddaughter is the only black starter for Dukes volleyball team. While playing yesterday, she was called a [n-word] every time she served. She was threatened by a white male that told her to watch her back going to the team bus. A police officer had to be put by their bench.” LeBron James tweeted, “you tell your Goddaughter to stand tall, be proud and continue to be BLACK!!!....We have her back.” Richardson's father, Marvin Richardson, conveyed to the New York Times that “as the crowd got more hyped and the epithets kept coming, she wanted to respond back but she told me she was afraid that, if she did, the raucous crowd could very well turn into a mob mentality.” New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Sports Illustrated, NPR published articles without sufficient investigation—only a rush to judgment. Eventually, finally, BYU performed a thorough investigation, concluding, “From our extensive review, we have not found any evidence to corroborate the allegation that fans engaged in racial heckling or uttered racial slurs at the Duke vs. BYU women's volleyball match on August 26.” See Jesse Singal, “How the Media Fell for A Racism Sham,” Common Sense News, September 15, 2022, https://www.commonsense.news/p/how-the-media-fell-for-a-racism-sham; Luke Hanson and Thomas Stevenson, “Exclusive: Racist Comments at BYU Volleyball Game Never Happened, Sources Suggest,” Cougar Chronicle, August 31, 2022, https://www.byucougarchronicle.org/post/exclusive-racist-comments-at-byu-volleyball-game-never-happened-sources-suggest; and “A Statement from BYU Athletics Regarding the Investigation of the Aug. 26 Volleyball Match,” BYU Athletics, September 12, 2022, https://byucougars.com/story/athletics/1300724/statement-byu-athletics-regarding-investigation-aug-26-volleyball-match.

Hank Hanegraaff believes that the following conversation with Noelle Mering is one of the most important podcasts he has ever recorded. Most people view woke ideology as a political or social movement, but Mering is convinced that it is a demonically motivated movement that takes partial truths and totalizes them while making God the ultimate oppressor. She wrote Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology as an effort to shed clarity on a movement that operates in confusion and like a trojan horse has manipulated many well-meaning Christians with ideological suppositions that are not only incompatible with but completely counter to Christianity. In short, the advocates of this progressive ideology will increasingly demand allegiance to their cause and Christians must be equipped to recognize and counter the claims of woke ideology by deepening their understanding of what is true and leaning on the historic foundations of the Church.For more information see Noelle Mering, Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology, available for your partnering gift. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology/Topics discussed include: What is the definition of woke? (3:45); the role of language in woke ideology (6:00); Nadia Bolz-Weber and the dangerous future of woke Christianity (8:20); what are the origins of woke ideology? (10:10); critiquing Critical Theory (16:00); the three primary dogmas of wokeism (18:30); how the woke use the weapons of the muzzle and the megaphone (25:00); Intersectionality and the identity crisis that it creates (26:25); the rejection of natural law (28:55); what is the difference between transgender and transracial? (30:35); the basis of woke ideology is despair and destruction (32:50); ESG and the implications of social credit scores (34:10); how the woke are prowling for innocence (36:55); transgenderism and how the medical establishment has capitulated to woke ideology (39:05); is there any hope that we are not witnessing the demise of Western Civilization? (45:40); abortion, anthropology and the eradication of the foundational understanding that we have duties to one another (48:35); Black Lives Matter is ultimately a movement aimed at creating chaos (50:55); why wokeism has a supply and demand problem—the issue with building your identity around being both a victim and an accuser (53:55); how the sloganeering and mantras of woke ideology mimics cultic behavior (57:20); the 1619 Project, idea laundering and why is it so dangerous? (59:20); what is the responsibility of the Church to respond to woke ideology? (1:03:00); the Marxist connection to woke ideology and the historical illiteracy of Marxism today (1:07:45); should Christians pursue utopia on earth? (1:11:45); the deep beauty of fatherhood and the ability of good men practicing healthy masculinity to lead us out of our current situation (1:14:40); why should people read Awake Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology? (1:18:20). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, has been reading a profound book by Benjamin Storey and Jenna Silber Storey, Why We Are Restless: On the Modern Quest for Contentment (Princeton University Press, 2021). In the midst of his reading, he received notification of an NBC News article titled “How Monkeypox Spoiled Gay Men's Plans for an Invincible Summer,” by Benjamin Ryan (https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-health-and-wellness/monkeypox-spoiled-gay-mens-plans-invincible-summer-rcna45326). More than a hundred gay, bisexual, or transgender people talked to NBC News about the “sex they never had” as a result of monkeypox. How monkeypox “upended a summer that was supposed to be a well-earned opportunity” to once again “revel with their gay brothers.” In the article we hear about “resurgent sexual liberation” through “hookup apps,” which “have made meeting sexual partners as convenient as procuring takeout.” That “post-Covid” everyone “went crazy, and there were sex parties all over town”—“free-spirited bacchanalia.” But, alas, the “long-awaited libertine summer” was “sharply curtailed” by monkeypox. The NBC News article is very sympathetic. What all these men have in common, as Storey and Storey make clear, is the acceptance of the notion that fleeting pleasure is a substitute for solid joy. These men have bought the lie that permissiveness will make them happy—that voyeuristic curiosities will make them whole. At the root of all this is a materialistic worldview—a worldview that denies transcendence. A failure to recognize that a thinking being is of necessity more than merely material. Why are we restless? So often we see the world as merely molecules in motion, and if we are mere molecules in motion, everything is permissible. The book, Why We Are Restless, includes a chapter in which the philosophy of Blaise Pascal is unveiled, showing why it is metaphysically and practically bankrupt to consider ourselves merely material beings, and why God veils His presence. God veils Himself because He does not want to force Himself upon those who do not seek Him. Once one seeks after Him, the veil is removed. For further study, see Benjamin Storey and Jenna Silber Storey, Why We Are Restless: On the Modern Quest for Contentment https://www.equip.org/donate/

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, offers some thoughts on the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In New York City, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum hosted an annual ceremony commemorating and honoring the nearly 3,000 lives lost twenty-one years ago. A reminder that the oil-rich Middle East is full of fantastically wealthy Muslims prepared to employ their resources for the sake of jihad. According to former Democratic senator Bob Graham, Saudi Arabia had direct ties to the massacres of September 11, 2001. But this is whitewashed in the Western world, where sharia-subservient states, including Saudi Arabia, are consistently portrayed as peace-loving allies in the fight against terrorism. Little wonder then that when the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia declared it necessary to destroy every church in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula, Western governments did not so much as blink. Worse yet, Western governments, along with academic institutions and media outlets have proven themselves to be cobelligerents with the Wahhabis of Saudi Arabia in exporting a false narrative on Islam. However, the rebuilding of the Saint Nicholas Shrine at Ground Zero provides a glimmer of hope that Christians in the West may once again take the only true and transformational faith as seriously as the Saudi's do the Islamic counterfeit.For documentation and further study, see Hank Hanegraaff, MUSLIM: What You Need to Know about the World's Fastest-Growing Religion https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion/. See also Hank Hanegraaff, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-truth-matters-life-matters-more/.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, offers an update on his sister Jobje, who is battling pancreatic cancer—and undergoing an astonishing 40th cycle of chemotherapy. She writes that she is sustained and blessed by God's ongoing grace. In her recent letter she mentions meeting with the palliative care oncologist, engaging end of life and quality of life questions. She says discussing these quality of life questions makes her uncomfortable. “How do you define ‘quality of life' as a Christian?” she writes. “My faith rests squarely in a sovereign God and a loving Heavenly Father who knows my end of life date. I told the palliative care doctor of my faith and my perspective as a Christian; that I am not trying to be a hero, but simply as His child wanting to trust my Lord. I am fully aware this doctor wants to help to prepare me and ease me through the more difficult days yet to come. I appreciate that a lot. I also realize that I am learning from him in those visits as well. Before we left, he told us he is ‘always refreshed by our visits.' I told him I continue to pray for him because his role is difficult, trying to help people cope, and to prepare to die, is emotionally exhausting and painfully difficult to witness. As we left his office I saw tears well up in his eyes.” Reflecting on verses from Psalm 119—“words that strike a chord,” she explains, “I have been rereading them, enjoying their comfort. ‘Thy hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Thy commandments. Those who fear Thee shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in Thy word. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me. Let Thy steadfast love be ready to comfort me, according to Thy promise to Thy servant. Let Thy mercy come to me, that I MAY LIVE! For Thy law is my delight!' How precious are these words to me in this very difficult exhausting journey as I now have to live life in two week increments! Nonetheless I am continually being blessed in this experience, and learning so much from my Savior as I walk toward Jerusalem, my final destination.” Jobje concludes her letter with these now familiar words, “I look forward to that day! Jobje

In this podcast Hank Hanegraaff wants to highlight one of the most dangerous cults in the world. And we should know. The Christian Research Institute began as a counter-cult equipping ministry and has invested decades in monitoring the deceptions and distortions of cults. But Western Civilization has never known a cult like this one. Why? Because no other cult has come remotely close to the peril this one represents to civilization as we have known it. If this were a cult like Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormonism, it wouldn't have made it past the front door. But since this is a secular cult, our now secularized culture has given it a green light. The cult is Wokeism. A cult that threatens our most basic values and freedoms; a cult that can literally destroy the world if it remains unchecked. For more information, see our current letter https://www.equip.org/letter-from-hank/ to supporters and the resource Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology, available for your partnering gift.https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology/ Also be on the lookout for a forthcoming full length podcast interview with Noelle Mering on this resource.Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, offers thoughts upon hearing of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen of the United Kingdom for 70 years, she maintained that the teachings of Jesus Christ served as her guide throughout the entirety of her very long life—indeed, that Christ is the King she serves. In the foreword to The Servant Queen and the King She Serves (Bible Society, 2016), Queen Elizabeth expressed profound gratitude “to God for his steadfast love” throughout the duration of her life. She was also keenly aware of the reality that death is the great equalizer—as the Orthodox funeral service states, in the grave “kings and beggars dwell together.” In Money and Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way, Andrew Geleris writes, “From the perspective of eternity, only during the relatively brief interval between birth and death does anyone have any control over money. And even this control is somewhat illusory. When, for example, we purchase a home or a plot of land, we claim that we ‘own' it. However, the land has already seen many owners come and go over the preceding centuries, and one would expect that many more would claim such ‘ownership' over the land in the future. Therefore, any claim of land ‘ownership' requires a preposterous suspension of historical awareness.” The land, the wealth, and the honors of this world are all temporary. The Lord Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21 NIV 1984). Queen Elizabeth possessed extraordinary wealth as monarch. The question today for her is not, Did I have wealth on Earth? But, How did I use that wealth to store up treasure in heaven? For further study, see Andrew Geleris, Money and Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way (https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-money-and-salvation-an-invitation-to-the-good-way-and-on-wealth-and-poverty-by-st-john-chrysostom-foreword-by-hank-hanegraaff/

What happens to our souls when we learn to give in accord with the words of our Lord? The answer is the central focus Money & Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way, the much anticipated book by Dr. Andrew Geleris that is now available. Hank had a discussion with Dr. Geleris late last year that he would like to re-release in honor of the release of this book of which Hank could not give a higher recommendation. Do you give with a joyful heart? According to Dr. Geleris, “An utterly breathtaking divergence has developed between the joy of giving that God intends his people to experience and the way many Christians view giving as an unpleasant but necessary obligation of church membership.” Simply put, for many of us money has an unhealthy hold on our hearts. This conversation will challenge you to make a change in your life and view your finances from an eternal perspective. The Lord spoke more frequently and forcefully about almsgiving than he did about prayer, yet most Church leaders are reluctant to discuss money simply because it is often uncomfortable. “Dr. Geleris is passionate about challenging the Church to develop disciples with a biblical “theology of money” that promotes a Godly view on giving with all your heart that will leave Christians “refreshed—indeed, delighted—by recognizing the unfathomably great blessing God hopes to pour out on us through generosity.” “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2.9). For more information on receiving Money & Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way and or On Wealth and Poverty by St. John Chrysostom with a Foreword by Hank Hanegraaff for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-money-and-salvation-an-invitation-to-the-good-way-and-on-wealth-and-poverty-by-st-john-chrysostom-foreword-by-hank-hanegraaff/Topics discussed include: Hank Hanegraaff discusses why he is so excited that the book Money & Salvation: An Invitation to the Good Way is now available (0:00) relationship between money and salvation (7:40); how generous giving transforms our souls (11:00); The Parable of the Farmer (15:30); the relationship between repentance and finances (18:50); what almsgiving actually means and why it is so important (24:30); should we tithe? (27:10); the dangers of the prosperity gospel and the commodification of Christ (31:10); what can we learn from Mary washing the feet of Jesus? (37:25); what are whole burnt offerings and what is the equivalent today? (39:05); the “ovarian lottery” and God's providence (45:00); how the parable of the soils inspired Alan Barnhart to create a financial finish line (47:25); what we can learn from St. Basil the Great about giving (55:45); what is sacrificial giving? (56:10); misconceptions about what tithing is for (1:00:35); how should we tithe? (1:03:25); we don't truly own anything, in the grave “kings and beggars dwell together” (1:06:10); is there a problem with receiving public recognition for giving? (1:07:20); the spiritual growth we experience through giving (1:12:05); should we tithe on our gross or net income? (1:14:10); scriptural examples of giving (1:15:10); should we give to panhandlers? (1:17:10); are Christians fundraising the right way? (1:18:50); God's financial priority is the care of the poor (1:121:55); the powerful lesson of the widow who gave all she had [Mark 12:41-44] (1:23:40); the rewards for almsgiving according to scripture (1:26:30); giving is more beneficial spiritually than financially (1:28:40). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, responds to a recent tweet and video by Benny Hinn. According to Hinn, the Lord spoke to him, saying he needs to talk to his audience about the great catching up. And that his teaching about the rapture is timely because this event is nearly upon us. Popularized by John Nelson Darby in the nineteenth century, the pre-tribulational rapture theory contends that God has two distinct people and two distinct plans for their two distinct destinies. The church will be raptured seven years prior to the second coming of Christ, and Jews will suffer tribulation. Beginning with Darby, rapture theorists held that, due to the murder of Messiah, Jews were in for a time of unprecedented suffering referred to as the “Great Tribulation.” Multiplied millions today hold firmly to this belief. But is it biblical? Holy Tradition, including Scripture, knows nothing of a rapture independent of the bodily appearing of Christ. For further study, see Hank's books The Complete Bible Answer Book—Collector's Edition, Revised and Updated https://www.equip.org/donate/ and The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible Really Says about the End Times and Why It Matters Today https://www.equip.org/donate/

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, expresses angst about what is going on in the world. The West is at war with God. This war embodies the dismantling of humanity. We are in the midst of redefining what is means to be human. In the beginning, “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27 ESV). In redefining the biological realities of “male” and “female,” we are destroying the very body of Christ. The unalterable reality that God created “male and female” is now routinely regaled in the West as transphobic. Sex-specific designations such as “woman,” “female,” and “mother,” have now been neutered by linguistic absurdities like “pregnant, lactating, and post-partum individuals.” Even our newest female addition to the U.S. Supreme Court seems at a loss to define what the word “woman” means. Adding to the confused cultural conundrum, the “B” in LGBTQ+ is quite evidently at odds with the “T.” Bisexual (B) implies two options, while transgender (T) entails a dizzying array of gender identities devoid of common sense or biological reality. And even that merely scratches the surface of apostate Western woke wisdom. Adding insult to injury, multitudes of young people have been effectively reduced to generational lab rats subject to an unholy triad of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and irreversible surgical savageries. Right valuations of personhood build the church. Wrong ideas and perceptions destroy the body of Christ. Only in a Christian worldview does one see the perfect synergy of male and female—of Theanthropos as the Perfect Man, and of Theotokos as the perfect woman, and of God as the Heavenly Father, and of the church as the Mother that nourishes via the sacraments. Little wonder then that the devil is seeking to destroy the church, as woke clergy are aiding the prince of the power of the air in that very quest. For further study, see the upcoming issue of the Christian Research Journal, vol. 45, no. 2/3 (2022)—subscribe at https://www.equip.org/product/crj-subscription/ For more information, visit www.equip.org

“Solo Scriptura” — not sola Scriptura — is a disease of rampant innovation and a failure to respect Holy Tradition. Blaise Pascal speaking in the seventeenth century might just as well have been talking about the twenty-first: “Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.” As such, Hank Hanegraaff has dedicated this special edition of the Hank Unplugged podcast to discuss the imprudence of “solo Scriptura” with the sincere hope that in place of “solo Scriptura,” incessant innovation, and disregard for the Holy Traditions of the Church, the body of Christ may again return to “what has been believed everywhere, always, and by all” (St. Vincent of Lérins). Protopresbyter George Florovsky explained that Holy Tradition is neither “an independent instance, nor a complementary source of faith. Ecclesiastical understanding could not add anything to Scripture. But it was the only means to ascertain and to disclose the true meaning of Scripture. Tradition was, in fact, the authentic interpretation of Scripture. And in this sense, it was coextensive with Scripture. Tradition was actually Scripture rightly understood.” (Attribution to Florovsky was inadvertently left out of Hank's quotation in the recording.) For bibliographical data and documentation of sources, see Hank's From the President column, in the forthcoming (Fall 2022), “The Imprudence of ‘Solo Scriptura,'” in Christian Research Journal, vol. 45, no. 02/03 (2022).To receive this issue when it's released please subscribe to the Christian Research Journal by clicking here. https://www.equip.org/product/crj-subscription/Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

What is the Secret? Everyone wants to know the secret to life so when Rhonda Byrne claimed to find it the entire world took notice. While it is hard to believe that the culture has fallen for Byrne's claims in The Secret it is unfathomable that so many Christians have come to believe its dubious declarations about the law of attraction—most evident in the word of faith movement. On this edition of Hank Unplugged, Hank discusses why the law of attraction is wrong and how Christians should be equipped to dispute this dangerous worldview.For more on the topic, be sure to check out Hank's updated article “What is the Secret?” in the most recent edition of the Christian Research Journal. https://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/the-battle-for-the-historical-adam-and-eve-contents-back-issue/Other related articles:What is the Secret? by Hank Hanegraaff a previous version https://www.equip.org/article/what-is-the-secret/The Secret Revealed by Robert Velarde https://www.equip.org/article/the-secret-revealed/Postmodern Realities Episode 286 Trusting Jesus in a Universe that Doesn't Have Your Back: A Christian Looks at Manifesting, which discusses similar topics and discusses Anne Kennedy article the most recent edition of the Christian Research Journal on this topic. https://www.equip.org/pmr-podcast/episode-286-trusting-jesus-in-a-universe-that-doesnt-have-your-back-a-christian-looks-at-manifesting/Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

What is the Secret? Everyone wants to know the secret to life so when Rhonda Byrne claimed to find it the entire world took notice. While it is hard to believe that the culture has fallen for Byrne's claims in The Secret it is unfathomable that so many Christians have come to believe its dubious declarations about the law of attraction—most evident in the word of faith movement. On this edition of Hank Unplugged, Hank discusses why the law of attraction is wrong and how Christians should be equipped to dispute this dangerous worldview.For more on the topic, be sure to check out Hank's updated article “What is the Secret?” in the most recent edition of the Christian Research Journal. https://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/the-battle-for-the-historical-adam-and-eve-contents-back-issue/Other related articles:What is the Secret? by Hank Hanegraaff a previous version https://www.equip.org/article/what-is-the-secret/The Secret Revealed by Robert Velarde https://www.equip.org/article/the-secret-revealed/Postmodern Realities Episode 286 Trusting Jesus in a Universe that Doesn't Have Your Back: A Christian Looks at Manifesting, which discusses similar topics and discusses Anne Kennedy article the most recent edition of the Christian Research Journal on this topic. https://www.equip.org/pmr-podcast/episode-286-trusting-jesus-in-a-universe-that-doesnt-have-your-back-a-christian-looks-at-manifesting/Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, is reading a new book by Ryan T. Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis titled, Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing. Pro-abortion operatives speak loudly and profanely about reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, the right to choose, and so forth. Few seem willing to speak about the brutal business of Planned Parenthood or the painful killing of innocent human beings or even consider the profoundly inherent virtue of human life. Ignorance of basic biology in our culture is beyond chilling. And government by and large has abandoned its responsibility to secure the right to life—a right upon which all other rights depend. What is particularly stunning is that surgical abortion is rapidly being supplanted by the horror of chemical abortion, which now accounts for some 50 percent of all abortions in the U.S. The numbers are staggering—some 300,000 to 450,000 chemical abortions per year. One pill cuts off nutrients to the developing child, so she gradually dies; another induces early labor to expel the child from the womb. And of course, the CDC is perfectly fine with all this. Moreover, there is a growing body of evidence pointing to the reality that women who have abortions not only kill innocent human beings but are at greater risk for developing breast cancer. See Ryan T. Anderson and Alexandra DeSanctis, Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing (Regnery, 2022). [[add link to CRI donation page for this book if possible]]

In the eyes of many, the modern church in America has become complacent and shallow—more concerned with conforming the church to the culture than the culture to the church. Today's guest, Matthew Gallatin, joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his journey of faith in pursuit of the authentic experience that would quench his thirst for God in a land of shallow wells. Topics discussed include: Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells (2:00); experiencing Seventh-day Adventism (4:45); how do Seventh-day Adventists rationalize the failed prophesies of Ellen G. White? (12:30); do you know what you believe? (13:50); is there any such thing as a non-denominational church? (18:10); how does Holy Tradition help Christians to rightly understand the Bible and their faith? (25:45); does everyone has a thirst for God? (33:00); is there any place for repetition and ritual in the Christian faith? (36:25); should our daily prayers be spontaneous or formal? (42:00); is it biblical to pray to Mary and other Saints of the Church? (44:20); recognizing the reality and importance of the Theotokos—Mary the Mother of God—to the Christian faith (47:35); viewing iconography as a spiritual reality (53:30); a form of martyrdom—when following the truth leads to losing your livelihood and loved ones (56:00); the correlation between social changes in the culture and in the church (1:08:15); the power of the sign of the cross and other transformational church practices (1:12:10); should we baptize infants? (1:15:45); the demanding nature of the Orthodox life as preparation for eternity (1:22:00). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, reflects on the Christian Reformed Church's (CRC) charge to uphold biblical sexuality. An article by Jonathan Cohn at Huffpost, “An Elite Christian College Has Become the Latest Battleground in America's Culture Wars,” points out that the CRC sees the Bible as infallible and thus renders same-sex marriage incompatible with Christian orthodoxy. The fly in the ointment is Joseph Kuilema, a Calvin University professor of sociology (and teacher of the year in 2019) who considers the biblical text outdated and incompatible with his own great Awokening. As such, he dogmatically contends that the CRC should support his rendering of the biblical text. Kuilema officiated over the wedding of a lesbian couple and, principally as a result, was terminated from Calvin University. Kuilema, who is Reformed and always reforming based on his own authoritative interpretation of Scripture, not only has taken it upon himself to redefine marriage but cavalierly negates the words of God in human flesh who rebuked the Pharisees of His day with the words, “Have you not read, that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female”—and did so for the very purpose of joining them together as one flesh (Matthew 19:4). Therefore, says Saint Paul, “a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and the two shall become one flesh” (Ephesians 5:31). Saint Paul also explicitly states that lesbian women exchange natural relations for relations that are contrary to nature itself—the delusional attempt to merge sexual same's (see Romans 1:26). Marriage has at all times and in all societies been a relationship between men and women, with an end toward bearing and rearing children. The marriage of one man and one woman is not only Scriptural, it is distinctly sacramental. Indeed, marriage is about the gospel! Emblematic of the union of Christ and His church. Yet in full view of the mystery of marriage—replete with its parabolic profundity in Christ and the church, its potential for procreating children in the image and likeness of God, and its promise of psychophysical pleasure—Professor Kuilema gratuitously reimagines the Scripture in the image of the culture. Will the CRC and Calvin hold on to the sanctity of marriage? Time will tell. See Jonathan Cohn, “An Elite Christian College Has Become the Latest Battleground in America's Culture Wars,” Huffpost, June 19, 2022, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/calvin-university-professor-joe-kuilema-gay-marriage-lgbtq_n_62aca02de4b06169ca988191; Rod Dreher, “Saving Calvin,” The American Conservative, June 20, 2022, https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/saving-calvin-university-lgbt-kristin-du-mez/.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, was struck by a headline this morning, “America's Belief in God Hits New Low.” And this as church attendance falls precipitously. Vice President Kamala Harris pontificates that Christians can support abortion without transgressing Christian principles. She's either ignorant or incorrigibly dishonest. And the current administration neither condemns nor prohibits demonstrations against U. S. Supreme Court Justices and their families, as President Biden gleefully anticipates a mini-revolution if states regain the right to vote on abortion once again. It's one thing to curse the darkness—it's another to build a lighthouse in the midst of the gathering storm. The broader culture is in the midst of a “great awokening”—but all of that can change by another Great Awakening in the church. The power of the Holy Spirit can animate the Christian church such that it no longer continues to decline but increases and becomes again a leavening force in the culture. It happened in the first century—it can happen again in the twenty-first. But that means you as a follower of Christ must recognize the incredible opportunity before you of making a difference for time and for eternity. See Erin Doherty, “America's Belief in God Hits New Low,” Axios, June 17, 2022, https://www.axios.com/2022/06/17/belief-god-low-gallup-poll; Leif Le Mahieu, “Survey Shows Fewer Americans Believe In God Than Ever Before,” Daily Wire, June 18, 2022, https://www.dailywire.com/news/survey-shows-fewer-americans-believe-in-god-than-ever-before; Sarah Arnold, “Kamala Harris Insists Abortion Has Nothing to Do With Religious Beliefs,” Townhall, June 18, 2022, https://townhall.com/tipsheet/saraharnold/2022/06/18/kamala-harris-says-support-for-abortion-does-not-require-people-to-abandon-their-faith-n2608954.

Ignatius of Antioch said that "Christianity is greatest when it is hated by the world." Facing an overwhelmingly dark and hostile culture, Rome's early Christians took the steps necessary to transform it—laying the foundation for a Judeo-Christian culture that changed civilization for centuries to come. As we watch Western Civilization crumble, learning from the struggles and lessons of early Christians affords us hope that, by imitating their example, we may do the same for our culture today. Hank Hanegraaff is joined by James Papandrea, co-author of How Christianity Saved Civilization…And Must Do So Again, to discuss how Christianity might, once again, transform our dark and hostile culture. For information on how to receive, How Christianity Saved Civilization—–And Must Do So Again, for your partnering gift, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-how-christianity-saved-civilization-and-must-do-so-again//Topics discussed include: The only acceptable intolerance in our society (6:50); should the church change? (8:40); are we smarter than our ancestors? the brilliance of the Church Fathers (11:15); the Bible and Holy Tradition (14:25); why were Christians so hated in the early Roman Empire? (16:50); Christianity, Constantine and the history of religious freedom (22:00); is it self-evident that all people are created equal? (28:35); perpetuation as opposed to innovation (30:35); how involved should Christians be in the community? (32:45); the true significance of the Trinity to the world (35:00); is there a difference between abortion and infanticide? (37:35); the parallels between widows, orphans and the Eucharist (40:50); envisioning a world without slavery (44:30); the impact that Christianity had on the importance of children and family (45:35); how Christianity revolutionized the way we look at work (47:35); should Christians give to those that beg? (49:45); why the idea that the Church is for everyone was radical (54:00); how can forgiveness revolutionize the world? (1:01:50); caring for the poor is not optional for Christians (1:04:00); why is the Christian view of death revolutionary? (1:06:45); how do we measure human value? (1:11:50); the purpose of hierarchy in the Church (1:13:55); how can the Church change the world again? (1:18:45); should Christians isolate themselves from society? (1:22:10); technology should never replace community—especially in the Church (1:24:10); we must speak up and defend the Church (1:26:00); Christians should be joyful (1:27:20); how can Christians—Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox—best embrace unity to save civilization? (1:28:25). Listen to Hank's podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, reflects on reactions to the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Calla Hales, at the Preferred Women's Health Center, says, “Let all this rage radicalize you.” This rage we have already been seeing carried out in front of the homes of Justices of the Supreme Court. In the midst of all of this, we must remember that abortion remains legal in many states, including North Carolina. The hysteria in the wake of the possibility that the Court's ruling could stop the painful killing of innocent human beings at just 65 million over nearly 50 years is palpable. This hysteria over what Mother Teresa once said was a “scourge” (referring to Roe v. Wade) that “deformed a great nation.” Hear people now shouting in the streets about women's rights and reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy and the right to choose—but choose what? Choose to thwart the dignity and worth of pre-born children. To exacerbate inequality and perpetuate racial division. It's well known that vast numbers of Blacks and Hispanics are being exterminated via abortion. So, many are upset that we may not have the opportunity to continue corrupting our medical system. Nothing in our U. S. Constitution has ever promoted lethal violence in the wombs of mothers. But with all of the rage—the rage that is supposed to radicalize the painful killing of innocent human beings—the reality is that abortion will continue on and this battle is not over. Those who value all human beings as bearers of the image of God must continue to stand for truth. Not with the rhetoric of pro-abortion advocates, but rather with reason, respect, and the continuous propagation of truth communicated in love—the truth that every human being has worth.

The U.S. Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in a 5-4 decision. In light of the Supreme Court ruling, we would like to present an encore presentation of Hank Hanegraaff's conversation with Frederica Mathewes-Green on how she went from being a fierce advocate for abortion to becoming a pro-life advocate. When Roe v. Wade was decided almost half a century ago, Frederica Mathewes-Green believed that the landmark decision didn't go far enough to ensure adequate abortion access for women. However, everything changed after she read an article titled “What I Saw at the Abortion” in a 1976 edition of the magazine Esquire that detailed the violent act against both woman and child that takes place when an abortion is performed. Simply put, there was no way that a peace-loving feminist could support this violence against both woman and child, and just like that she became a pro-life advocate. Frederica Mathewes-Green went on to become a pre-eminent voice for the lives of the unborn and—importantly—the mothers who carried these children. Almost everyone on both sides of the debate can agree on one thing—abortion is a miserable choice, as Frederica emphasized in Real Choices: Listening to Women, Looking for Alternatives to Abortion, “No woman wants an abortion as she wants an ice cream cone or a Porsche. She wants an abortion as an animal caught in a trap wants to gnaw off its own leg.” Frederica joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the state of abortion in America as well as what she has learned during the decades of her distinguished career encouraging dialogue between pro-choice and pro-life advocates. For more information, visit www.equip.org. Topics discussed include: What changed your mind about abortion? (5:00); is abortion a violent act against women? (8:30); abortion fatigue—people just don't want to talk about abortion (9:30); Roe v. Wade (11:00); snowflake children—when does life begin? (12:15); the importance of listening to the stories of women when discussing abortion (18:50); defending unborn children without making mothers the enemy (23:45); finding common ground—how can pro-choice and pro-life people better understand one another? (26:30); is public opinion changing on abortion? (30:25); most countries in the world have banned abortion after 12 weeks—making U.S. abortion policy one of the most liberal globally (33:20); “in the land where women kill their unborn children, every lesser love grows frail” (34:30); the extreme individualism of our culture (38:35); what would America look like without abortion? (40:30); what about adoption instead of abortion? (45:15); misconceptions about contraception (48:25); cheap sex—the devaluation of sex in a culture of free love (50:00); the difficulties of being a single parent and the benefits of a two-parent home (59:00); the war on adoption—why is adoption disparaged by abortion advocates? (1:02:40); what actually happens during an abortion procedure? (1:05:45); victims of unisex sexuality (1:12:10); the paradoxical aims of feminism (1:13:30); the problem with government welfare programs (1:18:15); the importance of a support system for mothers and children (1:20:00); the importance of listening to women's stories about abortion (1:21:30); the issue of abortion in the early church (1:27:15); how should we talk about abortion? (1:30:00); responding to common pro-choice claims about abortion (1:34:00); the impact of Frederica Mathewes-Green's book Real Choices: Listening to Women, Looking for Alternatives to Abortion (1:42:25).

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, observes that one is labeled Islamophobic for conveying plain old Islamic history or for pointing out Islamic denigration of Christianity. Yet, despite clear evidence to the contrary, Muslims will say that Christ was never crucified, and therefore He was never resurrected—and that is deemed to be perfectly politically correct in the current social environment. The oil-rich Middle East is full of enormously affluent men who are ready to use their wealth to aid jihad for the sake of Allah worldwide. Most prominent among cobelligerents is the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has spent $100 billion—perhaps much, much, more—to spread their fundamentalist brand of Islamic jihadism around the globe. According to Thomas Friedman in a provocative New York Times piece titled “Our Radical Islamic BFF, Saudi Arabia,” the “title greatest ‘purveyors of radical Islam' does not belong to the Iranians. Not even close. That belongs to our putative ally Saudi Arabia.” America enables Saudi terror lords to peddle their poisonous propaganda pills across the planet with impunity. And in coming months we'll see more puff pieces in the media concerning Saudi Arabia as a result of the new LIV professional gold tour.For further study, see Hank Hanegraaff, MUSLIM: What You Need to Know about the World's Fastest-Growing Religion https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion-det/

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, reflects on the fact that while certainly not all evolutionists are racists, the theory of evolution is inherently racist. In The Descentof Man (1871), Charles Darwin speculated, “At some future period, not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilizedraces of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world.” For evolution to succeed, it is as crucial that the unfit die as that the fittest survive. Adolf Hitler's philosophy that Jews were subhuman and that Aryans were supermen led to the extermination of six million Jews. In the words of Sir Arthur Keith, a militant anti-Christian physical anthropologist, “The German Führer, as I have consistently maintained, is an evolutionist; he has consciously sought to make the practice of Germany conform to the theory of evolution.” While the evolutionary racism of Darwin's day is politically incorrect today, current biology textbooks still promote vestiges of racism. For example, consider the inherently racist recapitulation theory—known by the evolutionary phrase ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny, the odd idea that in the course of an embryo's development, the embryo repeats or recapitulates the evolutionary history of its species. Not only is the recapitulation concept common fare in science curricula but has been championed in our generation by such luminaries as Carl Sagan. The fact that recapitulation is inherently racist is underscored by no less an evolutionary authority than Stephen Jay Gould, who lamented that “recapitulation provided a convenient focus for the pervasive racism of white scientists” in the modern era. How different the Christian worldview, according to which all human beings are created in the image of God. And in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).For further study, see Richard Weikart, Darwinian Racism: How Darwinism Influenced Hitler, Nazism, and White Nationalism https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-darwinian-racism-how-darwinism-influenced-hitler-nazism-and-white-nationalism-wa0822/