Podcasts about Moralistic therapeutic deism

In this episode, Sociologist Christian Smith discusses his new book Why Religion Went Obsolete. Smith explains that while traditional religion has been declining in America for decades, this decline hasn't resulted in greater secularism but rather a shift toward what he calls "re-enchantment culture." He argues that religion hasn't simply declined but has become obsolete - still functional but superseded by alternatives that better match contemporary sensibilities. Smith identifies numerous causal factors behind this obsolescence, including technological changes, neoliberal capitalism, transformed family structures, and the internet. He emphasizes how religious institutions often contributed to their own obsolescence through scandals and political entanglements. Our conversation explores how these changes have created a "millennial zeitgeist" that fundamentally mismatches with traditional religious structures, making religion feel outdated for younger generations who are raised with different cultural assumptions and technological environments. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Christian Smith is a renowned sociologist specializing in the study of religion in contemporary society. He currently teaches at the University of Notre Dame, where he conducts extensive research on religious trends, particularly among young Americans. Smith is the author of multiple influential books exploring faith, culture, and generational shifts, including his latest work Why Religion Went Obsolete. He previously developed the concept of "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" to describe the dominant religious worldview of American teenagers. Smith's research often combines quantitative data analysis with qualitative interviews to understand the complex factors shaping religious participation and belief. His work examines how broad cultural and economic transformations affect religious institutions and practices, with particular attention to how different generations experience and express spirituality. Smith approaches religious change through a sociological lens that emphasizes cultural contexts rather than focusing solely on individual belief or institutional membership. Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025 3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends. ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ManyFacesOfChrist.com for more details and to sign up! _____________________ Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's an enormous chasm between evangelical thought/praxis, and the actual teachings of Jesus found in the Gospels. In this episode, we ask: how is it possible to sway so many evangelical traditions away from Jesus? We peel back the layers to reveal the methods that shape and form malformed beliefs, before describing the impact on evangelical culture. One of the primary tools used is the widespread adoption of conspiracy theories. Jared Stacy joins to share his insights on the ways conspiracy theories are entangled with evangelicalism. We then pivot to name how the reliance on conspiracy theories shapes evangelical culture with guest Dr. Ed Ng. We discuss how the religious right is shaped to stay rooted in fear as a key to guiding belief systems. “…when it’s ancient we call it a legend, when it’s modern we call it a conspiracy theory. – Jared Stacy” Episode 3 – Show Notes (00:00) – Introduction (05:30) – Jared Stacy on a history of conspiracy theory. (12:00) – Conspiracy theory in the 20th century. (19:00) – Naming some of the mechanism propogating conpsiracy in the 20th century. (25:17) – The use of media in consipracy. (29:00) – Introducing Dr. Ed Ng (30:00) – Dr. Ng on Terror Management Theory (37:30) – Describing contirbuting social conditions in the Religious Right. (44:00) – Rugged individualism and Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. (52:00) – Outro Featuring your host, Rohadi (from Rohadi.com). Special guests in Episode 3: Theologian/Author – Jared C Stacy Jared Stacy is a theologian and ethicist and former pastor to evangelical churches. He received a PhD in moral & practical theology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. His research focuses on the intersection of theology and politics. Specifically on ethics, extremism/conspiracy theory and US evangelicalism. Jared’s work & story has been featured on platforms like TIME, NPR, NBC News, the BBC, and Christianity Today. Psychologist – Dr. Ed Ng Ed Ng is a Registered Psychologist in private practice in Vancouver and is the founder and director of Eastgate Psychological Services. Ed has taught at Trinity Western University and Regent College in the areas of diversity and counselling. He is also the founder of the Eastgate Project and hosts its podcast, which focuses on the intersections of psychology, theology, and the experiences of the Asian diaspora. Intro Music by Jesse Peters. Bumper music by Daniel Wheat.

Wise organizational leaders and managers understand that Jesus is Lord of all, no exceptions. Accordingly, Jesus is Lord of all organizations. Therefore, the proper way to lead and manage an organization is in accordance with Scripture. To function any other way is humanistic, which will ultimately end in failure. The MTD message is incompatible with Christianity as historically understood by orthodox Christians. To build sound, efficient, and effective organizations, one of the key predicates is to build with people committed to orthodox Christianity as evidenced by their lifestyle.

In today's conversation, we talk with Susan Pizor Yoder, a researcher and faith leader who wants to understand how and why recent generations are less likely to identify with traditional religious communities. As the lead author of the recent book, Hear Us Out, Dr. Pizor Yoder talks about the process of interviewing over 200 18-40 year olds about how they find meaning, whether that be in a community or not.Show notes:Hear Us Out (https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506489193/Hear-Us-Out)

Dan and Jordan discuss what sort of topics leaders should try to prioritize for studying with their students while avoiding Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.

In Matthew 16:6 Jesus issued a warning against teaching that contaminates truth. In this series, we explore the reasons why and how this warning remains applicable and true to the new covenant believer today. In part nine we explore the belief system known as Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and how it contaminates truth about Christianity.

Nearly twenty years ago, the largest study on youth and religion described the religious worldview of youth and young adults as Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. The teenagers and young adults in that study are now the parents of GenZ, which prompts the question, “Is MTD still a good description of youth spirituality?”  Discussion Questions For our listeners who don't know about the National Study on Youth and Religion, could you share an overview of what that was all about and about your role in it?  The most enduring finding from NSYR was Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. What is that, and could you give a few examples of the way it was understood at the time?  How does MTD relate with tolerance culture today?  What are some lessons from NSYR that we continue to overlook today? Your book Almost Christian really struck a nerve when it was released in 2010. What were some of the messages from that book that resonated with people at the time, and how do you see those continuing or changing in youth culture today?  Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean is a youth ministry legend and is Professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary. Dr. Dean has written or co-authored a dozen books, most notably Starting Right, The Theological Turn in Youth Ministry and Almost Christian.  Resources Mentioned in this Podcast: Soul Searching, by Christian Smith and Melissa Lundquist Denton Handing Down the Faith, by Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk Almost Christian, by Kenda Creasy Dean The Polaris Young Adult Leadership Network at Princeton Theological Seminary  

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism takes Christianity and reduces it to nothing more than moralism. The actual faith is removed. We talk about how to stop this. EPISODE 521 SHOW NOTES & LINKS

Fr. Patrick preached this homily on April 9, 2024 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Wadsworth, OH. The readings are from Acts 4:32-37, Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5 & Jn 3:7b-15. — Connect with us! Website: https://shofjesus.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sacredheartwads Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredheartwads Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgwnA59ZKlUcDJtEt8zPog

Perhaps without knowing it, many young people today have a moralistic therapeutic deistic view of God. Fr Columba breaks down what this means, how easy it is to get stuck there, and how to find your way out.

Why are young people reacting the way they do to things? Has what they ultimately want driving how the church is now doing ministry? Lots of good discussion between Doug & Paula as they dive into this deep topic.-Feel free to email us with any questions at info@servingbb.org or for more information check out our website at https://servingbeyondborders.org-Follow us on:Instagram - @servingbeyondbordersYouTube - Serving Beyond BordersFacebook - Serving Beyond Borders-"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve. . ." Mark 10:45-LISTEN HERE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-radical-christian-life-with-doug-and-paula/id1562355832#podcast #podcasting #podcasts #spotify #applepodcast #podcaster #interview #newpodcast #spotifypodcast #missions #jesus #god #love #bible #faith #jesuschrist #christian #church #christ #gospel #holyspirit #prayer #christianity #pray #theradicalchristianlife 

Welcome back, FBS listeners!  We have made it to the final worldview in our Jesus Is Better season.  Pastor Kyle takes us into the idea of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.Maybe you've never heard that title, but you definitely know these people.  Everywhere we turn in the current culture is the idea that "individuality is king" and "living your truth" brings freedom.  There's a wide scope of beliefs and only one boundary.Listen in as our hosts discuss the benefits and harms of this worldview and ultimately why Jesus is better.This season our hosts, Lead Pastor Kyle Nelson and Next Steps Director Christina Scott, are taking us through an overview of a few philosophies and world religions and discussing why Jesus is better.LIKE, SUBSCRIBE AND SHAREPlease take a minute to leave us a review. You can also help us spread the word about this podcast by giving us a share on social media or texting the link to a friend!OTHER WAYS TO CONNECTCatch up on previous episodes, or check out our other podcasts here: http://fathom.church/category/listen/If you would like prayer, information about next steps, or are new to Fathom, text FATHOM to 97000 and follow the prompts - we would love to hear from you! CONNECT WITH US ANYTIME, ONLINE www.fathom.church info@fathom.church christina@fathom.church

https://www.thetruthpulpit.comClick the icon below to listen.         Related StoriesMTD and True Prayer #2MTD and True Prayer #1MTD and the True Goal in Life #2 

https://www.thetruthpulpit.comClick the icon below to listen.         Related StoriesMTD and True Prayer #2MTD and True Prayer #1MTD and the True Goal in Life #2 

Rev. Roy Askins, managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about some of the heresies explained in the August 2023 LW “Heresies: Ancient and Modern,” including Gnosticism, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, and Prosperity Gospel. Pick up a copy to read more about these heresies and also Arianism, Nestorianism, Eutychianism, Pelagianism, and Double Predestination. Find it at witness.lcms.org/2023/lutheran-witness-august-2023. Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness. The Coffee Hour is underwritten by Concordia University Wisconsin. Live Uncommon. Learn more at cuw.edu.

Rev. Roy Askins, managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about some of the heresies explained in the August 2023 LW “Heresies: Ancient and Modern,” including Gnosticism, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, and Prosperity Gospel. Pick up a copy to read more about these heresies and also Arianism, Nestorianism, Eutychianism, Pelagianism, and Double Predestination. Find it at witness.lcms.org/2023/lutheran-witness-august-2023. Find online exclusives of the Lutheran Witness at witness.lcms.org and subscribe to the Lutheran Witness at cph.org/witness.

Dr. Joel Biermann of Concordia Seminary-St. Louis Luther's Large Catechism with Annotations and Contemporary Applications Wholly Citizens: God's Two Realms and Christian Engagement With the World A Case for Character: Towards a Lutheran Virtue Ethics The Lutheran Witness magazine The post 2023. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – Dr. Joel Biermann, 7/21/23 first appeared on Issues, Etc..

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) is our topic and Fr. Joey Odell is our guest. No orthodox Anglican would willfully participate in MTD, but some Anglican Priests are unwittingly using the vocabulary of this false teaching. Join us as Fr. Joey explains what MTD is and what we offer in response in priestly formation. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – American Anglican Council The Theology of Jen Hatmaker, With Anne Kennedy—The Alisa Childers Podcast #52Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: The New American Religion - Albert Mohler Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith

Hey, gals! Today Amy looks at another "kind" of Christian that doesn't fit what the Bible has for us. May we all be DOERS of the Word and not hearers only. Resources: Discipline: The Glad Surrender by Elisabeth Elliot https://www.gotquestions.org/Moralistic-Therapeutic-Deism.html References: Luke 8:1-15; John 1:4; John 6:47-48; 1 John 5:12; James 1:21-25; Revelation 4:11; 1 John 2:3; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:23; I Corinthians 6:12-19; Proverbs 16:9 Contact us: devotedpodcast@atheycreek.com women@atheycreek.com http://atheycreek.com/ministries/women Follow us on IG @atheywomen @ammcreynolds

Part 5/6 in a Lenten series exploring Christian heresies, this episode focuses on Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, Comparmentalism, and the Separation of Church and State

Pr. Roy Askins of The Lutheran Witness The Lutheran Witness

“My beliefs as a five-year old were: A God exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth. God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself. God does not need to be particularly involved in one's life except when God is needed to resolve a problem. Good people go to heaven when they die.[7]” Did Jesus struggle with his own times of disappointment, sorrow, anger, prejudice, impatience, and despair, just as other human beings struggle with these experiences as a fully human being? The concept of Jesus being flawless has always intrigued my intellect because it is beyond my comprehension and it makes me ask countless questions. If my life depended on it and I had two options to pick from between the Unitarian Universalist human rights Jesus instead of the Churchianity Jesus in terms of discipleship, belief, and being a pupil, I would be a disciple and student and believer in the Unitarian Universalist human rights Jesus. I'm not a fan of the Churchianity Jesus. I read and study all religious texts and I read and study all secular schools of thought. It would be awesome to fully know and not just stop at believing. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/antonio-myers4/support

An in-depth study of the books of Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. This lesson focuses on a God who is slow to anger, gods of the imagination, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism, wondering why, unbelievable truth, waiting patiently, living by faith, surefooted climbers, the final destruction, strange apparel, searching with candles, the Day of the Lord, light prophets, reversing Babel, and more. 0:00 Introduction 2:03 Nahum, Habakkuk, & Zephaniah 6:54 Nahum's Burden 10:13 Slow to Anger 21:38 A God of Power & Goodness 28:19 Imagining a Different God 33:18 Moralistic Therapeutic Deism 39:10 Freed from Assyrian Affliction 44:43 Strengthening the Army 51:29 Lamenting Our Losses 58:18 Exposing Evil 1:05:03 Falling Like Others Before 1:16:01 Habakkuk Wonders Why 1:22:34 Unbelievably True 1:30:46 Things We Know & Things We Don't Know 1:37:51 Patiently Waiting 1:43:42 The Just Shall Live by Faith 1:50:54 Woes to Babylon 2:05:34 God's Ways Are Everlasting 2:12:27 We Have Proved Him in Days that Are Past 2:20:05 Surefooted on the High Places 2:23:22 Zephaniah & the Destruction of the World 2:30:21 Clothed with Strange Apparel 2:36:17 Searching Jerusalem with Candles 2:40:16 The Day of the Lord Is Near 2:45:49 Warning the Nations 2:55:33 Light Prophets or a Just God 3:01:15 Gathering Wheat & Tares and Reversing Babel 3:08:28 Rejoicing in the Lord 3:14:31 Conclusion

Today Pastor Matt returns with the final sermon in our Worlds Apart series.  Today's topic is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD), and we will compare this type of Christianity to a biblical worldview.  We will face two questions to help us determine whether our beliefs are truly part of a biblical worldview, and learn how to correct course if we are falling short.

Life is learned, and we're all learning how to live from someone. And at the end of the day, we will live our lives in one of three ways: by Default (replicating familial patterns), by Drift (doing what everyone else is doing), or by Design (building your life with intention).   In this sermon, we explore two philosophies of life, one religious and one secular, and compare these to a third way, the Way of Jesus.   Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: God set up the world to work best for those who live rightly; so, if you want a whole and happy life now and Heaven when you die, be good. The problem is if you try to build your life on this philosophy, it simply can't support the weight of your life. It won't be able to handle the pressures that come your way, and in the end, it'll collapse. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism is sinking sand. Expressive Individualism: Life is about finding our deepest, inner self and expressing it authentically in the face of all expectations; so, if you want a whole and happy life, be yourself. The problem is if you try to build your life on yourself, it simply can't support the weight of your own life. It won't be able to handle the pressures that come your way, and in the end, it'll collapse. Expressive Individualism is sinking sand. Gospel-Centered Life in Jesus: We are made for abundant life with God, a relationship we lost because of our sin, but one that Jesus gave Himself to restore; so, if you want a whole and happy life with God now and forever, believe in Jesus. If I'm building my life on what I do, or if I'm building my life on who I am, at the end of the day, my life is built on myself. And I'll never be enough because it's a life built on sand. But if I build my life on whose I am, at the end of the day my life is built on Jesus. And He is always enough, so it's a life built on The Rock.   Takeaway: On whom is your life built?

In this episode, I discuss the findings from the Arizona Christian University's Cultural Research Center under the direction of Dr George Barna concerning "America's Most Popular Worldview" today. American Worldview Inventory 2021 Release #02 introduces "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism" as the most popular worldview in America today. Which sadly also means that many people seating in the church pews see the world through the lense of MDT. So What is it? Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) is a worldview initially identified and named by sociologists Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton. They introduced their findings and conclusions in their book, Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, published in 2005 and which was based on national research among the teenagers of the turn of the millennium. At that time Smith and Denton identified several core beliefs that characterized the thinking and behavior of the group. Those components included: • belief in a God who remains distant from people's lives • people are supposed to be good to each other (i.e., moral) • the universal purpose of life of being happy and feeling good about oneself • there are no absolute moral truths • God allows “good people” into Heaven • God places very limited demands on people. Consistent with other worldview research, the current Cultural Research Center findings confirm that even though those perspectives developed two decades ago, during the preteen years of that generation (a group we now call Millennials), they have held on to those beliefs as they have aged. That follows the well-established worldview developmental pattern. Research conducted by George Barna, and subsequently others, over the past quarter-century has shown that a person's worldview develops when they are very young, is refined during their teens and 20s, and then serves as a decision-making foundation for the duration of a person's life. Without conscious retraining, it is unlikely that worldview will change during a person's lifetime.-(https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CRC_AWVI2021_Release02_Digital_01_20210427.pdf) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/i61-exploits/message

Do all good people go to heaven- That's actually a trick question because, according to the Bible, there are no good people, only sinners- And on this edition of The Truth Pulpit, Pastor Don Green will contrast the truth of Scripture with the lies of the false philosophy known as Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. --TheTruthPulpit.com

It's been said that one reason God allows difficulties and tragedies in our lives is because it's the only time He hears from us- Well, we hope that's not true of you. But on this edition of The Truth Pulpit, Pastor Don Green will examine what true prayer should look like as we continue our series deconstructing Moralistic Therapeutic Deism titled Deception Close to Home.--TheTruthPulpit.com

Last time, Pastor Don Green first offered a broad definition of the term, then began looking at one term at a time. On today's program, Pastor Don will examine the meaning of deism in full context. To be moralistic is to be pleasant and non-confrontational, ignoring doctrinal errors. To be therapeutic is the idea that faith should make you feel good about yourself and God, whereas Scripture says we must be humbled. So have your Bible open and ready...--TheTruthPulpit.com

It's a mouthful to say and a lot to unpack- Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. Though, it's just another in a long line of false belief systems that have appeared throughout history. Today, Pastor Don Green begins a new series titled Deception Close to Home.--TheTruthPulpit.com

This second installment in the Worldviews series examines a "nice" God whose primary purpose is to make you happy, on your terms.

Many Americans believe things about God that simply don't mesh with the Bible. These confused beliefs can lead to false perceptions of what God is really like. In today's episode of The Rugged Truth Podcast, we will address 5 Things Most Americans Believe About God and compare them to the truth of Scripture. Listen now! What you hear might surprise you! God's Truth can endure any attack and answer any question. It's rugged. Our grasp of God's Truth has to be just as rugged in a skeptical culture. On The Rugged Truth Podcast, Dr Bryan Fergus answers real questions that real people are asking about real life with God as he helps listeners develop a rugged faith. The Rugged Truth Podcast is committed to helping people develop a biblical worldview through in-depth analysis of how God's Word impacts our understanding of the issues of the day. Complex theological and doctrinal questions are answered with Scripture and common sense reasoning. The result is a firm grasp of God's truth that allows followers of Jesus to both comprehend and defend their faith in today's skeptical culture. About Dr Bryan Fergus Dr Bryan Fergus is driven by a passion to teach God's Word in clear and applicable ways and to train up the next generation of Christian pastors and leaders. He currently pursues his passion by serving as an Adjunct Professor at Phoenix Seminary, Calvary Chapel University, and Arizona Christian University. He is also the Lead Educator at The Rugged Truth. Bryan Fergus served in vocational pastoral ministry for 32 years. He has also been teaching courses on the Bible, theology, ancient near eastern history and pastoral leadership at Christian universities and seminaries on four continents for the past 21 years. Dr Fergus earned his Doctor of Ministry degree through Phoenix Seminary, writing a dissertation entitled The Intersection of Analytic Theology and Catechesis. ​ He is a voracious reader and writer with new book projects and online content coming out often and regularly. His YouTube channel is simply called Dr Bryan Fergus. Piano Rock Instrumental by Hyde - Free Instrumentals | https://soundcloud.com/davidhydemusicMusic promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.comCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licensehttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US

In Episode 34 of Season 2, Mick (along with his friends Daniel and Colton) revisit the basic tenets of Christianity and secular ideology, and how those blend in the west to form what some term moralistic therapeutic deism, or the form of spirituality that many in the west exhibit in practice, and how we believe the church is called to a more distilled form of discipleship and conformity to Jesus. Connect with us at ideologypc@gmail.com // Like what you found here? Feel free to subscribe, share, comment, and/or rate. Episode notes: - The Rise & Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

A Sunday school class taught by Renton Rathbun. February 27, 2022.

Outline:Peanut Butter For BreakfastIntellectual HistoryMoralistic Therapeutic DeismSexual ChaosAscetism & Communal LivingSaint Athanasius ChurchContra Mundum SwaggerVideo VersionFeller of Trees Blog (Transcript)

Pastors Sam and Caleb return to the original focus of this podcast: "The intersection of Christ and culture". Today, we focus on the topic of Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. God created and orders the world and watches over life on earth. God wants people to be good, nice and fair to each other. The goal of life is to be happy and feel good about oneself. God doesn't need to be involved in one's life except when needed to resolve a problem. Good people go to heaven when they die. These are the beliefs of MTD. They sound good right? So what's wrong with them? Grab a drink, pull up a seat and join Sam and Caleb at The Table as we talk about Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and feeling good, being happy. https://linktr.ee/thetablepodcast

Children should know the difference between deism and deity -they are not the same! Moralistic Therapeutic Deism isn't a religion like Islam or Buddhism but rather a combination of beliefs amongst American teenagers. The idea is that there is a distant therapeutic god out there that is watching that wants them to feel good about […] The post What is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism? Why Is It a Threat to Our Children? appeared first on Lee Ann Mancini, Author, Producer, Podcaster.

Dr. Tracy Munsil is the Executive Director of the Cultural Research Center and is also Associate Professor of Political Science at Arizona Christian University. Dr. Munsil chaired the collaborative process to develop the ACU CORE liberal arts curriculum and teaches political science and Humanities courses at ACU. She was appointed by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments and serves on the Board of Directors for Voices for the Voiceless, a next-generation pro-life organization based in Phoenix. Dr. Munsil was a full-time lecturer in the Arizona State University School of Politics and Global Studies. Her doctorate was her third degree from ASU, after earning both a political science master's and a bachelor's degree in journalism. At ASU she met her husband, ACU President Len Munsil. Dr. Munsil home-educated their eight children for 14 years.As the Executive Director of the Cultural Research Center--where she works closely with both ACU President Len Munsil and Dr. George Barna, a renowned Christian thought leader--Dr. Tracy Munsil is spearheading some of the most culturally vital research being produced today.  In this episode, she will begin to unpack some of the stunning results of the CRC's first research publications.For more information on Dr. Tracy Munsil, please click on this link.To learn about Arizona Christian University, please follow this link.To begin working through the dynamic research presented by the Cultural Research Center, please visit this link."Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.For more information on Frameworks, please visit:  https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit:  https://www.ncsaz.org/To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email gbrown@ncsaz.org or you can reach him by cell phone:  (623)225-5573.

Katie talks about whether Christians are called to be good and Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and it's repercussions.Resources:The Gospel According the The Apostles: https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-According-Apostles-Works-Faith/dp/0785271805/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+gospel+according+to+the+apostles&qid=1642199497&sprefix=the+gospel+according+to+the+a%2Caps%2C230&sr=8-1 Moralistic Therapeutic Deism—the New American Religion - AlbertMohler.comhttps://albertmohler.com/2005/04/11/moralistic-therapeutic-deism-the-new-american-religion-2 What is Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD)? | GotQuestions.orghttps://www.gotquestions.org/Moralistic-Therapeutic-Deism.htmlUnparalleled: https://www.amazon.com/Unparalleled-Christianitys-Uniqueness-Makes-Compelling/dp/080100859X Support the show

Thorny Christians - those seeds who sprouted up but were choked out by the thorns (the cares and riches of this life), yet are still curiously in church. So what keeps them in church? In this episode, we'll take a look at the theology that emerges from a church business seeking to affirm and bolster its power and wealth. 

The fourth episode in a 4-part series “Holy Heresies: A Podcast About the Things We Believe Which We Shouldn't Believe.” We're Walking Through the Book “Counterfeit Christianity” by Roger Olson  https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeit-Christianity-Persistence-Errors-Church/dp/1426772297 (https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeit-Christianity-Persistence-Errors-Church/dp/1426772297) Weeks 1-4 Intro to the Series, and Gnosticism Trinity & Doctrine of the Trinity Montanism and Marcionism - What do we do with the Bible? Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – Reducing God Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. (Deuteronomy 5:33) ------------------------------ Episode Summary/For Further Exploration Why Do This Study? “Heresy” within Christianity isn't limited to the pages and annuls of history. Rather, Heresies exist in various forms and haven't lost any of their potency to corrupt our right, Christ-honoring understanding, faith, or worship. Just as we can use scripture wrong, we can carry incorrect belief, often without knowing. We will discuss a few heresies and how each of these have clung on through time and in which ways they may have latched onto our lives.   Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (Be Good Feel Good Religion)   MTD as described by Dr Olson in his book is characterized by 5 Broad Tenants:  (1) the belief in a god who exists and created the world and watches over life on earth,  (2) the belief that God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other as taught by the bible, … and various other world religions,  (3) believing the central goal in life is to be happy and feel good about oneself/live a “good” life  (4) God all that involved in my personal life except for the times when you need God to resolve a problem,  and  (5) the belief that if you're a “good person” in life, you get to go to heaven when you die. The Enlightenment view on Deism:  Belief in a supreme deity The deity ought to be worshiped Virtue combined with piety is the chief part of worship People should repent of their sins Reward and punishment follow from According to the cultural research center, 74% of Americans lean on some variation of agreement/practice with Deism and/or lean on it for life guidance. These people side with the “version of Christianity” which emphasized self, emotion, being good, rather than on God or Objective truth.  Of these 74% Americans, 95% don't consider success in life as consistent with obedience to God 91% don't believe that people are born into sin and need to be saved by Jesus Christ 88% percent get their “Truth” information or moral guidance from places other than the Bible 76% contend that people can earn a place in heaven based on being “good” 75% of these people don't believe God is at all the basis for truth And 71% don't believe the bible is true or reliable.  An Astounding 74% believe in Karma, which is in no way Christian! Dr Olson Gives some Antidotes to These Heresies Number 1: [Quote] “Christians need to recover a sense of the counterculture nature of the Gospel. The Gospel is an offense to common sense and a scandal to ordinary reason,” but it doesn't have to be an opponent to reason, just ordinary reason.  The only way to dive deeply into the fullness of the counter-cultural voice of the bible, is to know the bible through study. Number 2: Listen to the voices of Christians outside our western-american context. Although it seems sometimes like the world follows the drumbeat of American culture, it's not true. Christians in South America, Africa, and Asia have a lot to teach us and can help remind us of the Christ-centered life, despite what our culture keeps trying to convince us.  Number 3: Let's give our Christians a thicker, more...

Last week, following the high profile falling away from faith of Joshua Harris, former Hillsong singer and songwriter Marty Sampson posted this on Instagram: “Time for some real talk...I'm genuinely losing my faith...and it doesn't bother me.”          The next day he deleted this post and clarified that he hasn't fully renounced Christianity, at least not yet. Still, he admitted, his faith was quite shaky. He then reiterated his doubts and said that “the majority of a typical Christian's life is not spent considering these things” because they fall into the “too hard basket.”          Sampson's claims, I'm sad to say, are not uncommon among young evangelicals. And let me just say this as directly and bluntly as I can: they reveal a failure on the part of the church to take the difficult but essential task of faith formation seriously enough. As I read through his description of what was happening, I thought to myself, which faith is he falling away from. His words reveal a lot.          First, he described a faith largely driven by emotions. Losing his faith, he said, did not bother him. In fact, he's happy about it. So, if his doubts bothered him and his faith instead made him happy, would he then reconsider? The fact is, too many churches sell Christianity with feelings. We're told how interested God is in our own happiness, our own meaning, and our own sense of purpose. But our feelings cannot determine whether or not something is actually true. Second, the faith Sampson describes is an uncritical faith. Science, he says, “keeps piercing the truth of every religion.” I'm not completely sure what that even means, but it seems to buy into the classic science vs. faith narrative. It's just not true that science is ultimately opposed to faith. It's not true historically, nor is it true today. Faith doesn't need to reject critical investigation. Third, Sampson describes an uneducated faith. He claimed that “no one talks about” the seeming contradictions in the Bible, the fact that Christian leaders fall, or how a loving God can condemn “four billion people to a place, all ‘coz they don't believe.” This of course is just not true. Every apologetics book ever written tackles these questions, and the issues he raised here aren't even the difficult ones. Still, while Sampson is mistaken that “nobody” is talking about these issues, he's not completely wrong in his critique. In fact, far too many churches avoid tough questions. Far too many fail to equip Christians on the current cultural controversies. In fact, too much of Christianity – especially evangelical Christianity – neglects intellectual discipleship altogether. Not even basic theology is articulated from some pulpits. I don't know how else to say it: They fail God's people. Fourth, Sampson also wrote that “Lots of things help people change their lives, not just one version of truth.” This statement reveals a misguided faith, one that smacks of what sociologist Christian Smith called “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism,” that the point of religion and faith is self-improvement. That's not what Christian faith is about. Christian faith is discovering the truth about who God is and what He is doing in the world, and then through repentance and His grace, aligning ourselves to that truth.          Now look, I have no problem with Sampson admitting doubt.  Most of us, at some point in our journey of faith, will encounter doubt about God's love, about Scripture, about whether Jesus is really God, any number of things. In fact, I discussed doubt with apologist Brett Kunkle recently on the BreakPoint Podcast. But Marty Sampson was a worship leader. He wrote modern Christian melodic catechism. He was tasked, as worship leaders are, with communicating theology to the body of Christ. Apparently, he was in a church where no one was talking about the questions he struggled with. The church failed him. In his book “The Fabric of Faithfulness,” Steve Garber wrote that the reason so many young Christians lose their faith is that their worldview isn't “big enough” for the world. This is a depressingly accurate description of what we can expect from a generation whose intellectual faith formation has been neglected.