All Rise with Abdu Murray

Was the Scopes “Monkey Trial” ever really about science—or was it a staged showdown with a hidden agenda?  In this episode of All Rise, we talk to Dr. Rick Townsend, a historian of ideas whose groundbreaking dissertation uncovers the real story behind one of the most famous courtroom dramas in American history: the 1925 Scopes Trial.  For a century, we’ve been told it was the moment science defeated religion. But what if the real battle wasn’t evolution vs. creation—but parental rights vs. elite control? Dr. Townsend walks us through how the trial was orchestrated, how William Jennings Bryan became a media caricature, and how a false narrative took root that still shapes educational debates today.  We also explore Mahmoud v. Taylor, a 2025 Supreme Court decision that echoes the same themes 100 years later. Are we still fighting the same battle—just with different labels?  Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or just someone tired of being told a one-sided version of history, this episode will change the way you think about the “Monkey Trial”—and what’s really at stake in the classroom.   Dr. Rick Townsend's PhD Dissertation, "Reconsidering Bryan: William Jennings Bryan's Advocacy of Causes Using Rights-Based Arguments," can be accessed at https://utd-ir.tdl.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/3aa73f5e-5985-4a20-8a04-7131c391dffb/content.    Dr. Townsend's recent article in Salvo Magazine, "Still Unrefuted," about the anti-evolution arguments of William Jennings Bryan: https://salvomag.com/article/salvo73/still-unrefuted.   Salvo Magazine's most recent issue, which includes Dr. Townsend's articles along with several others', can be accessed here: https://salvomag.com/issue/current (note that this link will only go to the correct issue while it is the "current" issue. For future reference, this is issue #73 from Summer 2025).   You can keep up with Dr. Townsend through his LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/in/rick-townsend-271b2920.    🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored.    🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray  Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.   Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

Was "junk DNA" ever really junk—or did science just need to catch up with design?  In this episode of All Rise, we talk to Dr. Fazale Rana (biochemist and President & CEO at Reasons to Believe) to dive into one of the most groundbreaking scientific reversals in recent history: the 2024 Nobel Prize awarded for discoveries showing that so-called “junk DNA” is functional and essential.  For decades, large portions of the human genome were written off as useless leftovers of evolution. But was that ever good science—or just bad theology in disguise? Fuz Rana walks us through the history of this idea, why many Christian scientists and intelligent design theorists questioned it from the beginning, and how new discoveries are forcing a complete rethinking of what our DNA says about purpose, design, and even God.  Is this the death of the “junk DNA” myth? What does it mean for Darwinian evolution? And how should Christians respond to this scientific turning point?  Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or just curious about what your genes are really saying, this conversation will give you a fresh look at the intersection of science, faith, and design.    Resources mentioned in this podcast:  George Haraksin and Krista Bontrager (eds.), Revealing God in Science: https://a.co/d/24u5RzX   Other resources mentioned are forthcoming.     🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored.   🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond.    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray    Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.   Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

Is the Qur’an truly the perfectly preserved word of God—or is its history more complicated than many believe?  In this episode of All Rise, Abdu Murray and Qur'an scholar Andy Bannister explore the turbulent early history of the Qur’an: from its oral roots to the compilation controversies that many Muslims have never been told about. Was there really just one Qur’an from the beginning? Did early Muslim leaders know what the Qur’an was? And what can the evidence of oral storytelling, variant versions, and missing passages tell us about how the Qur’an came to be?  With wit, respect, and deep scholarship, Abdu and Andy cut through the myths to explore what Islamic, historical, and scholarly sources actually say about the formation of Islam’s central text.  Whether you're a Muslim, a Christian, or just curious about the Qur’an’s origins, this conversation offers thoughtful insights that challenge assumptions and invite further investigation.  #Quran #Islam #AndyBannister #Apologetics #IslamicHistory #TextualCriticism #Hadith #Christianity #ExMuslim #BiblevsQuran    Resources mentioned in this podcast:  Andy Bannister, An Oral-Formulaic Study of the Qur'an  Andy Bannister, shorter article on Oral-Formulaic Study (https://www.academia.edu/9490706/Retelling_the_Tale_A_Computerised_Oral_Formulaic_Analysis_of_the_Qur_an)   Digital, Critical version of the Qur'an: http://quran-tools.com/  Oral formulae from the digital version: https://qurantools.mst.edu.au/help/formulaic-analysis.php   Gordon Nickel, The Quran with Christian Commentary (book) Gordon Nickel, The Gentle Answer to Muslim Accusation of Biblical Falsification (book) Patricia Crone, Meccan Trade (book) Jonathan Bernier, Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament (this popular-level book includes discussion of the early dating offered by non-Christians Maurice Casey and his student James Crossley).   Shabir Ally admits there are fables in the Qur'an: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLuzyRurhm4     🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored.   🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond.    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray    Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.   Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

What comes after deconstruction? In this episode, we talk with AJ Swoboda—pastor, professor, and author of After Doubt and A Teachable Spirit—about why doubt has become so common, why it shouldn't be the end of the story, and how real spiritual formation takes shape in our lives.  We explore:  The limits of “just me and my Bible” Christianity  A fresh take on sola Scriptura from a Protestant perspective  Why we all carry traditions—whether we admit it or not  The value of humility and a teachable spirit  Why formation is slower—but deeper—than deconstruction  With humor, honesty, and pastoral wisdom, AJ offers a compelling vision for rebuilding faith that can last.  AJ Swoboda is a pastor, theologian, and author who teaches Bible, theology, and Christian formation at Bushnell University. He is also co-host with Nijay Gupta of the Slow Theology podcast. Find out more about AJ's books, writing, and socials at https://ajswoboda.com/. Check out his latest, A Teachable Spirit, at https://a.co/d/3lBZxE4.     🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored.    🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations, debates, and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond.    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray    Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.     Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

Muslims love Jesus—but do they know who He really is?  In this episode of All Rise, Abdu Murray explores the Islamic view of Jesus, known to Muslims as "Isa." What does the Qur’an say about Him? Is He just a prophet, or something more? And how do Islamic beliefs about Jesus at the end of time—His return, His role in judgment—compare with what the Bible reveals?  Abdu draws from his background as a former Muslim and Christian apologist to explain what Islam gets right about Jesus, what it leaves out, and why the differences aren’t minor—they’re eternal.  Whether you're a Muslim, a Christian, or simply curious, this episode will help you understand one of the most fascinating—and essential—points of divergence between two of the world’s largest faiths.    Other Resources: Ex-Muslim Answers: Who is Allah? Understanding the Islamic View of God | Ep 79  Live Q&A: Faith, The Bible, and Leaving Islam     🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored.   🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations, debates, and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond.    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray    Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.   Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

"If the virgin birth really happened, why did Jesus’ own family think He was out of His mind?"  That’s the sharp question we received after releasing two episodes on the historical and theological credibility of the virgin birth. And honestly, it’s a great one.  In this episode of All Rise, Abdu Murray and Derek Caldwell explore the surprising—and often misunderstood—passages in Mark 3:21 and John 7:5, which seem to suggest that Jesus’ own family, possibly even Mary, doubted Him or thought He had gone too far. Does that undermine the credibility of the virgin birth? Or is something deeper going on?  What we discovered in the biblical text was far more intriguing than expected—revealing layers of historical, cultural, and biblical insight that actually strengthen the case for who Jesus really is.  Whether you're questioning, curious, or confident in your faith, this episode brings clarity to one of the most human—and most profound—questions in the Gospels.  Read Dr. Drew Holland's article, "The Meaning of Exestē in Mark 3:21" at https://place.asburyseminary.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1076&context=jibs.   🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored.   🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations, debates, and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond.    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray    Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.    Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

What do Muslims believe about God? In this episode of All Rise, former Muslim and Christian apologist Abdu Murray takes a deep dive into Islamic theology to explore who Allah is—his attributes, character, actions in history, and relationship with humanity.  But this isn’t a caricature. This is a steelman critique.  With both respect and clarity, Abdu outlines the Islamic view of Allah in its best and most compelling form—before thoughtfully examining how it differs from the Christian understanding of God. Drawing from his own background and family ties to Islam, Abdu explains why the biblical picture of God ultimately offers a more complete and relational view of the divine.  Whether you're a Muslim, Christian, skeptic, or curious seeker, this episode offers a respectful and intellectually honest conversation about one of the most important questions of all: Who is God? 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored.   🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations, debates, and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray  📬 Want to connect with Abdu or see when he’s speaking near you? Sign up for his newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.  🙏 Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer people, not just questions. Partner with us: https://embracethetruth.org/donate.      

Tis the season … to discuss the resurrection! In this special bonus episode of All Rise, we take you back to a compelling 2016 debate between two men who have each made dramatic journeys of faith and doubt. Christian apologist and former Muslim Abdu Murray goes head-to-head with atheist and former Christian John Loftus on the foundational question of Christianity: Did Jesus really rise from the dead?  This rigorous and respectful exchange tackles the historical, philosophical, and evidential claims surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or seeker, this debate offers valuable insights and thoughtful arguments from both sides.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray  Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.   Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the famed Muslim-turned-atheist and critic of religion along with her New Atheist cohort, shocked the world when she came out as a Christian in 2023. The partial story of her conversion from the UnHerd article she penned received backlash from non-Christian and Christian commentators alike. Recently, she sat down with agnostic Alex O'Connor to set the record straight. In this episode of All Rise, former Muslim, Abdu Murray, and former atheist, Derek Caldwell, react to Ayaan's more complete self-disclosure.  Read the original article that started it all: https://unherd.com/2023/11/why-i-am-now-a-christian/.   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray  Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.   Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.  

The Christian world is finally awaking to the reality of the technological captivity of humanity. But one man who has been thinking about this from the beginning is Stuart McAllister. Gleaning wisdom from CS Lewis and many other authors, Stuart helps us navigate the technological world by first helping us understand the underlying problems and what is at stake.   Stuart is the Director of Ministry for Thinking Out Loud (featuring Cameron McAllister and Nathan Rittenhouse) and the Director of Leadership and Deployment for Restoration Presbyterian Church in Dacula, Georgia. Stuart is an in-demand speaker, author, and thought leader who has contributed chapters to several books and co-wrote Faith That Lasts: A Father and Son on Cultivating Lifelong Belief (InterVarsity Press, 2021).  We mentioned a lot of resources in this episode! If you're interested in this topic, we recommend you check them out. Here is a list of the works referenced, which are all books unless otherwise noted:  CS Lewis, The Abolition of Man  Jacques Ellul, The Technological Society   Peter Berger, Brigitte Berger, and Hansfried Kellner, Homeless Mind   Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust  Neil Postman, Technopoly  Norbert Wiener, The Human Use of Human Beings  Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism  Rod Dreher, Living in Wonder  Gerard Manley Hopkins, God's Grandeur (poem)  Robin Phillips and Joshua Pauling, Are We All Cyborgs Now  Kevin Kelly, What Technology Wants  Paul Kingsnorth, The Cross and the Machine (article)    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12  Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray  TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray  Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/.   Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.