I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

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

What if more Christians dedicated time to learning about other religions? How could this strengthen our faith along with our ability to share the Gospel? Renowned Christian apologist and philosopher, Dr. Doug Groothuis, joins Frank to discuss the inspiration behind his latest book, 'World Religions in Seven Sentences,' along with the core beliefs of today's major world religions—one sentence at a time. Together, they’ll tackle questions like:What are the seven sentences that represent each world religion, and why did Doug choose them?What makes Friedrich Nietzsche the "quintessential atheist"?Should atheism be classified as a religion? And what typically happens when atheism and Marxism collide?What are some of the key differences between Hinduism and Buddhism?What's the connection between Nietzsche, Pol Pot, Ted Bundy, and human depravity?Why do some people choose to be atheists?What happened when Doug encountered a Hinda guru at the age of 18?How do Judaism and Islam differ in their relationship to Christianity?If exploring diverse faith systems seems overwhelming, 'World Religions in Seven Sentences' is the perfect guide to get started. Tune in as Frank and Doug reveal how false religions often lead to human suffering and why Christianity alone is the solution to the problem of evil in the world!Resources mentioned during the episode:'World Religions in 7 Sentences': https://a.co/d/gExzxhzDoug's Website: https://www.douglasgroothuis.com/Doug's Podcast: https://www.douglasgroothuis.com/podcast-1

Should reparations be paid to people who are the ancestors of slaves? After all, aren't reparations biblical? On this midweek podcast episode, Monique Duson and Krista Bontrager from The Center for Biblical Unity return to continue the conversation that centers on their new book, 'Walking in Unity: Biblical Answers to Questions on Race and Racism' and address the following questions:Can a biblical case be made for reparations?What's the major problem with the modern day reparations movement?Is the way we see Black America today a direct result of slavery?Are all disparities due to racism?Did Lyndon Johnson's 'War on Poverty' help or hurt the black community?During the second half of the episode, you'll also hear the fascinating story of how their ministry started, including details of the supernatural event that brought them together and how their friendship remained intact despite the seemingly insurmountable barriers they encountered along the way. It's an amazing testimony of how God still intervenes in our lives today and you definitely don't want to miss it!Resources mentioned during the episode:The Center for Biblical Unity: https://www.centerforbiblicalunity.com/Walking in Unity: Biblical Answers to Questions on Race and Racism: https://a.co/d/hEuCdwe

Did the Exodus REALLY happen? Contrary to popular belief, archaeologists continue to uncover fascinating artifacts that point to the validity of the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt and even more incredible—some of the most compelling evidence comes straight out of Egypt itself!In preparation for Frank’s upcoming trip to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, this podcast episode dives into 8 reasons why we can trust the biblical account of the 1446 B.C. Exodus and some of the details might surprise you! Listen as Frank answers questions like:What archaeological evidence suggests that the Hebrews lived in Egypt prior to 1446 B.C.?Does the biblical account of the Exodus line up with the archaeological evidence?What do some of the Egyptian sources reveal about the historicity of the Bible?What are the surprising parallels between Moses & Jesus?What was the significance of each of the ten plagues against Egypt?Want to see pictures of everything that Frank is talking about? Don't miss the premiere of the video podcast on the CrossExamined YouTube channel TONIGHT (11/29) at 9:00 PM ET where the visuals make the archaeology come to life and stay tuned to our social media channels during the next two weeks to see LIVE video footage from Frank's upcoming trip!