I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

Is the Bible just about encouragement, living "your truth," seeking personal happiness, finding your identity, and manifesting your desires? Popular Christian YouTuber, Melissa Dougherty, join Frank to discuss her brand new book, 'Happy Lies,' and how the profound (yet often unnoticed) beliefs of the New Thought movement have made its impact on the modern Church. During their conversation, Frank and Melissa will tackle questions like:What is the purpose of life according to the New Thought movement?What's the difference between New Thought and New Age?Is there a connection between New Thought and the Word of Faith movement?Should Christians recite affirmations?What do adherents of New Thought mean by "Christ Consciousness"?What are some of the key verses that are used in the New Thought movement and how are they twisted to deceive Christians?If you’ve never heard of New Thought, this episode will uncover how its teachings deceptively infiltrate Christian culture, distort Scripture, and subtly influence your worldview. Could some of the most well-known pastors be peddling New Thought in the pulpits of America today? Tune in next week for the surprising answer in the midweek podcast and make sure you pre-order a copy of Melissa's book, 'Happy Lies'!Resources mentioned during the episode:Melissa's Book - 'Happy Lies': https://a.co/d/igzRfqQMelissa's Website: https://www.melissadougherty.co/Melissa's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MelissaDougherty/

Are you following the truth or are you following incentives that may cause you to turn your back on Christianity and throw Jesus under the bus? On this midweek podcast episode, Frank continues the conversation on the powerful incentives that often prevent us from denying ourselves and picking up our cross for Christ as we go through our daily lives. He'll answer questions like:What does FOMO (the fear of missing out) reveal about our underlying motivations?Why does the question, "If Christianity were true, would you be a Christian?" often reveal a non-believer's true intentions and desires?What did Norman Geisler mean when he said, "Fraternity will almost always overcome theology."?What are some examples from the Bible when people follow incentives instead of following Christ?Near the end of the program, Frank addresses two listener questions related to this topic--one from an Indian American who is struggling to commit to Christianity because his family wants him to embrace his Hindu roots, and the second from a Muslim seeking clarification on some differences between the Quran and the Bible. There's no doubt that following Christ is ever an easy decision to make, and even Christians are susceptible to falling off the rails for the sake of convenience and not ruffling any feathers. But we hope this episode will encourage you no matter where you are on your journey with Jesus!Truth or Incentives? Part 1 - https://bit.ly/408gz0KBook - 'Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes' - https://a.co/d/1dANcEzOnline Course - 'How to Interpret Your Bible' - https://bit.ly/3BoEhxDBook - 'The Anxious Generation' - https://a.co/d/b08gb1pBlog Post - 'The Anxious Generation' - https://bit.ly/3zW4ySMWatchman Fellowship - https://www.watchman.org/

Have you ever taken the time to reflect on what it is that primarily motivates all of us to make decisions? Is it based on what's objectively true or what we find attractive? Are we following facts or are we more inclined to follow our desires and self-preservation?It’s a brand-new year, and since many of us set goals for 2025, Frank is kicking things off with an investigation into how incentives can often lead both Christians and non-Christians away from the truth. Listen as Frank answers questions like:Is it possible to pursue your self-interests and reason at the same time?What are the 3 incentives that cause people to sin and what makes them so powerful?Are incentives inherently wrong?How do "normal" people become proponents and active participants of genocide?Where do we see examples of incentives in our schools, workplace, and health care system?What is the root cause of bad economic policy here in the United States and all over the world?What's the 2nd most important truth in the Bible for our culture today?Why do many pastors avoid talking about controversial issues?What's the driving force on social media that often causes both kids and adults to throw Jesus and Christianity under the bus?Let’s face it, we’re all tempted to do the wrong thing for what we tell ourselves are good reasons, but in reality we are incentivized to lie to ourselves. When incentives push you to lie or follow what you find attractive, will you be committed to denying yourself and following Christ? Or will you conform to the cultural norms, compromising the truth for comfort and acceptance like so many people of the past and present? Tough question that even Peter failed to answer rightly. Pray and choose wisely!Resources mentioned during the episode:Book - 'Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes' - https://a.co/d/1dANcEzDr. Robert W. Malone on X: https://x.com/RWMaloneMDDr. Peter A. McCullough on X: https://x.com/P_McCulloughMDOnline Course - 'Why Does God Allow Evil?' - https://bit.ly/4gYjT5vOnline Course - 'How to Interpret Your Bible' - https://bit.ly/3BoEhxDBlog Post - Sex at Work? https://crossexamined.org/sex-at-workBook - 'The Anxious Generation' - https://a.co/d/b08gb1pBlog Post - 'The Anxious Generation' - https://bit.ly/3zW4ySM

In our final podcast episode of 2024, Dr. Jay Richards returns to discuss three essential topics that often cause confusion and dissent among both Christians and non-Christians in America today: the history and purpose of government, macroevolutionary theory vs. intelligent design, and the root cause of chronic disease. Together, Frank and Jay address questions like:What is the biblical purpose of government?Where do our rights come from?How should we define American exceptionalism?Was America founded on Christianity or something else?What did Thomas Jefferson mean by “separation of church and state” and how has the term been misused and misunderstood?What is macroevolutionary theory and why does it fail to explain the origin of life and new life forms?How should Christians respond to the “God of the gaps” objection?Is Darwinism consistent with what we can observe in biology?Why is America sicker than ever despite our ultra-advanced health care system and will RFK Jr. solve the problem?If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!Resources mentioned during the episode:Jay's work at The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/jay-w-richards-phdFollow Jay on X: https://x.com/DrJayRichardsStephen Meyer at the Discovery Institute: https://www.discovery.org/p/meyer/Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine: https://segm.org/Biological Integrity: https://biologicalintegrity.org/The Privileged Planet - https://privilegedplanet.com/Book - 'Money, Greed, and God': https://a.co/d/46pGwlSBook - 'Return of the God Hypothesis': https://a.co/d/hI6RmYtBook - ‘Undeniable’: https://a.co/d/5w0aCbyBook - 'Eat, Fast, and Feast': https://a.co/d/7zVgxmgBook - 'Good Energy': https://a.co/d/igUjom0

Charles Spurgeon once said that discernment is knowing the difference between right and "almost right". But when there's so much noise and confusion happening in the news and on social media these days, how can we tell the difference?As we approach the end of 2024, our friend Dr. Jay Richards returns to unpack some of the essentials of economics, the Christian worldview, and social trends so that you can be informed when it comes to the issues that matter the most. Join Frank and Jay as they discuss the importance of understanding the basics of economics and how it can help Christians think clearly about government policies, healthcare, and how it can equip believers to protect the most vulnerable populations in our society. Tune in as Frank and Jay answer questions like:Does the Bible advocate for a specific economic system?How did the government become so bloated, and why did it get involved in housing and education?What’s the difference between socialism and free-market capitalism?What's the best way to help those in poverty and how do people end up trapped in the welfare system?What did economist and philosopher Adam Smith mean by "the invisible hand"?During the second half of the program, they'll shift gears to examine the economic and cultural factors that are specifically driving the transgender movement. From the profit motives behind gender-affirming care to the resurgence of ancient Gnostic ideas, this thought-provoking conversation will shed light on how transgenderism became politicized, what's causing the major spike in gender dysphoria, and how to end child transitioning for good!Don’t miss this thought-provoking, year-end episode, and please consider making a tax-deductible donation to CrossExamined so that we can continue to help Christians defend the faith and do our part to make Christ known across the globe! 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!Resources mentioned during the episode:Book - 'Money, Greed, and God' by Dr. Jay Richards: https://a.co/d/46pGwlSJay's work at The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/jay-w-richards-phdSociety for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine: https://segm.org/Biological Integrity: https://biologicalintegrity.org/Previous podcast - 'Money, Greed, and God' with Dr. Jay Richards: https://bit.ly/3DvSZn7

Why is December 25th celebrated as the birth of Jesus? Was it a date chosen to overshadow pagan festivals like Saturnalia or Sol Invictus, or does it have deeper Christian roots? While the Bible doesn’t provide a specific birthdate for Christ, it may offer more clues than you think!Just in time for the holiday season, historian and author Bill Federer returns to unpack the fascinating origins of the Christmas story and its rich Christian heritage. One of our most popular topics, this episode dives deeper into the history, theology, and traditions surrounding the incarnation of Christ—a moment that forever changed the course of human history. Join Frank and Bill as they explore questions like:How do the Dead Sea Scrolls provide evidence for Jesus' actual birthday?Why do some Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6th?When did Christians start celebrating Dec. 25th as the birthday of Jesus?What is one of the most overlooked pro-life passages in the Bible?What's the story of King Herod and was he really capable of being a baby killer?Why was there strife between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and how did Rome get involved in Jewish politics?How many wise men brought gifts to Jesus and when did they visit Him?Why are the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus so vague?What's the origin of the "12 days of Christmas"?How does the history of the entire world center on the birth of Christ?This episode will be both enlightening and entertaining as it also lays out the message of the Gospel, so be sure to share it with a friend!Resources mentioned during the episode:VIDEO PODCAST: Is There Any CHRISTIAN Truth to Our CHRISTMAS Traditions? CEevents.orgBILL'S WEBSITE: https://americanminute.com/BILL'S BOOK: 'There Really is a Santa Claus'

What would you expect to find at the REAL Mount Sinai? Could its true location be in Saudi Arabia rather than the traditional site in the Sinai Peninsula? In this podcast episode, Frank unpacks some of the details of his recent trip to Saudi Arabia, including what he and the group saw as they climbed the mountain at Jabal al-Lawz. He'll also discuss what fascinating markers distinguish this mountain as a great contender for Mount Sinai and why it's more important than ever for trained archaeologists to continue exploring the site. During the episode, Frank will answer questions like:Why was the Sinai Peninsula originally selected as Mount Sinai?How long did it take Frank and the group to get up the mountain?Why have there been so few excavations at Jabal al-Lawz?Who is Hathor and what's a possible explanation for all the cow drawings found on the mountain?What evidence exists suggesting that Jabal al-Lawz is the true Mount Sinai?What were Frank and the group AMAZED to see once they reached the top of Jabal al-Lawz?What's so special about the Split Rock of Horeb? And how many people were involved in the Exodus?While it's still too early to make a concrete conclusion on Jabal al-Lawz, the circumstantial evidence discussed in the podcast episode may cause you to seriously consider it to be the REAL Mount Sinai!Resources mentioned during the episode:Living Passages Unveils the True Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia: http://youtu.be/JBaY--L5NPY Frank Visits the Merneptah Stele in Egypt: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gy-RanSnzik Preaching the Good News at the Giza Pyramids: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Cf4JjuRFA0Q Moses and the Split Rock of Horeb: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HLgzLDXFCB8 Was the Golden Calf HERE? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h5yAwssDU5Y

Does the scientific evidence fall short of proving the fine-tuning of the universe? Should Christians regularly "feel God's presence"? And since there are minor differences in the Gospels, does that disprove biblical inerrancy? In this midweek podcast episode, Frank tackles three more BIG questions from our listening audience along with question like:What are the 3 levels of fine-tuning and does it only occur here on planet Earth?Can the fine-tuning argument alone actually prove Christianity is true? And can all truth be explained through science?Where exactly are Heaven and Hell?What's the true meaning of Christmas?Is loving God an emotion, a feeling, or a decision?If God chooses not to reveal Himself to us is that proof that He doesn't exist?What's a great question to ask your skeptic friends?Have a question you’d like Frank to address in a future episode? Send it to hello[at]crossexamined.org, and stay tuned for Friday's podcast to hear more about his recent trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia!Resources mentioned during the episode:BOOK: Hollywood Heroes - https://bit.ly/3Or82AxBOOK: Stealing From God – https://bit.ly/41hLt91BOOK: Decision Making and the Will of God - https://a.co/d/gQhMD3mOCC Course: How to Interpret Your Bible - https://bit.ly/3BoEhxDARTICLE: Does God Whisper? Part 1 – https://bit.ly/3P0KW47ARTICLE: Does God Whisper? Part 2 – https://bit.ly/3ZY3hVJ

Why is the fine-tuning argument so extraordinary, and how have recent scientific discoveries made it even clearer that the universe points to a divine Creator?This week, Dr. Jay Richards joins Frank to discuss the 20th anniversary edition of 'The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos Is Designed for Discovery', the groundbreaking book he co-authored with Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez. Together, they explore the updated book and the remarkable new scientific discoveries that continue to affirm its hypothesis. During their conversation, they’ll address:How and why did Guillermo's career suffer when the book was first released in 2004?What updates have been made to the 20th anniversary edition?What is the likelihood that life exists on other planets?How is materialism a self-defeating worldview?What is the cosmological constant and what type of precision is required in order for a planet to be able to sustain life?How probable is a multiverse?What's so special about "perfect" solar eclipses?What are the most common atheist objections to fine-tuning and our privileged position in the Universe?If you're looking for a good stocking stuffer this Christmas, grab the 20th Anniversary Edition of 'The Privileged Planet', a book and documentary film that continues to stand the test of time and compels readers to acknowledge how the complexity and fine-tuning of the universe couldn't possibly be the result of a cosmic accident.Resources mentioned during the episode:The Privileged Planet Website: https://privilegedplanet.com/The Privileged Planet 20th Anniversary Book: https://www.discovery.org/b/privileged-planet/The Privileged Planet Video on Demand: https://go2rpi.com/privileged-planet-vod/Follow Dr. Jay Richards on X: https://x.com/DrJayRichards

How do you convince non-Christians that homosexuality is wrong without using the Bible? Does human flourishing replace the need for God and the moral argument? And why does God create people that He knows will end up in Hell? In this week's solo podcast episode, Frank tackles three BIG questions that were recently sent in from our listening audience. During this discussion, Frank shares some practical advice on how to address these sensitive topics along with questions like:Should Christians be concerned about what people do privately?How does natural marriage contribute to spiritual maturity?Are morals biologically determined?Does the existence of Hell prove that God is unjust?What thought-provoking questions can you ask people who are in support of homosexuality?Why doesn't atheism solve the problem of evil?What does the Bible say about divine justice?How can pain and suffering possibly result in GOOD?Brace yourself — this episode is not politically correct, but it will be correct! Be sure to grab a copy of 'Correct, Not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage & Transgenderism' and 'Stealing from God' for more in-depth answers to these three BIG questions!Resources mentioned during the episode:BOOK: Toxic Empathy - https://www.toxicempathy.com/BOOK: Correct Not Politically Correct - https://bit.ly/3qws2ZLBOOK: Stealing From God - https://bit.ly/41hLt91VIDEO: Frank and Alex O'Connor - https://youtu.be/qNeB1RVeJHo