Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

Robert Spencer was a devoted Roman Catholic for more than 30 years until the issue of the infallibility of the Pope led him to investigate the controversial Roman Catholic dogma—an investigation that ultimately led Spencer to write the forthcoming book The Pope and the Church. Spencer joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the issue of Papal infallibility and the problems it presents to the global Christian community. Additionally, Robert Spencer is one of the foremost experts on Islam and a conversation wouldn’t have been complete without getting an update on the state of Islam in the world today.  Topics discussed include: Why did Robert Spencer leave the Roman Catholic Church? (3:50); are Muslims and Christians praying to the same God? (5:30); How can Christians (Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant) unite? (10:35); the importance of Apostolic succession to the Christian faith (13:35); infant baptism (17:20); the problem with Papal infallibility (19:45); different views of Grace in Protestantism, Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy (25:20); Papal supremacy and the Confession of Peter (27:10); the difference between Papal primacy and supremacy (33:15); different views of the Eucharist (35:45); misunderstanding deification (39:45); should the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant Christians ignore their differences in pursuit of unity? (43:55); the state of Islam in the world today (45:35); how do Muslims view Jesus? (48:45); the danger of Islamic Eschatology (51:50); the truth about the Quran (54:00); Christian persecution in the Middle East today (55:45); why do many Westerners find Islam attractive? (57:25); Robert Spencer responds to the Southern Poverty Law Center labeling him as a dangerous extremist and how it has impacted his life and work (59:25); the distinction between God’s essence and energies and why it matters (1:03:10); how important is the perpetual virginity of Mary? (1:06:00); the work of Robert Spencer on a new, honest translation of the Quran and the danger of being critical of Islam (1:08:30); the difference between the message of Muhammad and Jesus Christ (1:16:00).For further information on Islam, please see Hank’s book MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Religion, along with Robert Spencer’s Complete Infidels Guides to the Koran and ISIS, the Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades and The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS. All available for your partnering gifts.https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-and-robert-spencer-books-on-islam/Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

The world around us is consumed by issues of identity—the church included. Responding to these issues from an orthodox Christian perspective is critical to the future of the church, however, it isn’t always easy for Christians to follow their convictions when claims of homophobia, racism and the like are made against those holding to traditional norms of morality. How should we respond to claims that Christians are homophobic, racist and bigoted? Reverend Matt Kennedy has recently written on these issues in the Christian Research Journal (https://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/) (All Have Not Sinned in Every Way: Racism and Original Sin (https://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/out-of-the-ashes-at-ground-zero/) and Why Do Parents of Gay Children Change Their Theological Minds? (https://www.equip.org/christian-research-journal/if-your-child-were-gay-would-you-change-your-view-on-homosexuality/ ) and joins Hank Hanegraaff to provide Christians with encouragement to stand on the solid ground of Christian conviction as opposed to the sinking sands of cultural conformity.Topics discussed include: What made Matt Kennedy become a Christian? (2:15); misunderstanding the true meaning of love leads to misunderstanding God (6:15); the value of exegetical preaching and writing (10:10); why Matt Kennedy left the Episcopal Church and joined the Anglican Communion (12:30); why do parents of gay children change their theological minds? (14:10); increasing pressure for the pastors to adapt to changing cultural norms and narratives that conflict with the traditional Christian teachings and practices (16:55); why misunderstanding the nature of love causes many Christians to change their theology on sexuality (22:45); Christians changing their theology on the basis of their own experience as opposed to biblical exegesis (25:05); the rise of secular beliefs within many churches and Christian organizations (27:05); the worldview of white privilege (29:45); are all White people systemically racist? (33:45); the role of ideology in propaganda projects aimed at rewriting history (36:15); what does the Bible say about race? (39:50); the historical novelty of seeker sensitive churches the (44:10); key differences between traditional liturgical worship and seeker sensitive, modern forms of worship (48:10); the historic Christian belief in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist (53:10); traditionalism vs. tradition and why so many people mistakenly describe liturgical worship as dead faith (55:30); Ignatius of Antioch’s Desire for Martyrdom and the role of suffering and persecution in Christianity (1:00:25); learning to thank God for suffering and allowing it to bring us closer to Christ (1:08:00); what can Christians today learn from the example of Ignatius of Antioch? (1:12:00). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

​In a world filled with fake news—Research — the ‘R’ in CRI — is more critical than ever. While researching Columbus Day, Hank Hanegraaff read countless articles conveying Christopher Columbus as one of history’s greatest villains—far from the hero of history we learned about as students. Then Hank realized something. Every article using the same source — Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States. You may not know his name, but he’s largely responsible for poisoning the minds of an entire generation. Zinn’s influence is wide and his lies won’t be resisted unless they’re recognized—making Debunking Howard Zinn one of the most important books you could read. Mary Grabar joins Hanegraaff to discuss her critically important book Debunking Howard Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation Against America. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2102hup/Topics discussed include: How Hank Hanegraaff discovered Mary Grabar’s book Debunking Howard Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation Against America while researching for a monologue on Columbus Day (0:25); how was Howard Zinn able to change the historical perspective of so many people? (7:45); how Matt Damon and the film Good Will Hunting made Howard Zinn and his book A People’s History of the United States household names(11:00); how did an alleged member of the communist party like Howard Zinn made it mainstream in America? (15:35); the altered narrative of Christopher Columbus as an example of Zinn’s use of rhetorical tricks to essentially rewrite history (20:00); radical liberalism (23:00); the radicalization of a Christian college like Spellman College (26:45); cultural Marxism in America today (30:30); the Zinn Education Project and the growing influence of Howard Zinn globally (33:00); why Mary Grabar felt it necessary to write Debunking Howard Zinn: Exposing the Fake History That Turned a Generation Against America (36:40); the narrative of A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn (40:50); was Christopher Columbus motivated by greed or God? (44:00); the popular idea that there is no objective history or truth (50:30); is America the most racist country in the history of the world? (54:45); The 1619 Project and the goal of reframing American history (58:55); narratives concerning Islam, Christianity and slavery (1:02:00); changing portrayals of President Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War (1:05:40); the changing cultural narrative influencing American children today (1:08:10); Howard Zinn and the Communist Party USA (1:10:00); the Marxist principles of Black Lives Matter as an organization (1:14:15); Howard Zinn, Ho Chi Minh and the use of propaganda (1:18:30); the emotional manipulation of children in the Howard Zinn Education Project (1:20:20); the attacks on Mary and her work (1:23:15). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Professor Ryszard Legutko lived and suffered under communism for decades and fought in the Polish anti-communist movement to abolish it. Having now live for over two decades under a liberal democracy, Legutko has discovered that liberal democracy and communism have more in common than one might think. Professor Legutko joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss The Demon in Democracy, as Legutko explains how liberal democracy has slowly tilted toward the same goals as communism, albeit without Soviet-style brutality. Having escaped the horrors of communism Legutko understands just how critical it is for Western Christians to understand the threats that lie buried within the systems we’ve long considered safe and learn to recognize The Demon in Democracy. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2101hup/Topics discussed include: What are the similarities between communism and liberal democracy? (3:30); the problem when everything is political (8:30); modernization projects, the myth of progress and the continued influence of the Enlightenment (13:30); how the West plans to deliver on the failed promises of Communism (17:55); a modern society that is consumed with entertainment and self-hatred (20:10); Black Lives Matter and the ulterior motives of the movement such as the disruption of the nuclear family—because family is often the enemy of modern revolutionary ideology (23:25); the continued shift to the left in “mainstream politics” and the exclusion of conservatives (30:00); the manipulation of language and the problem with changing the meanings of words and concepts in a society (35:35); identity politics and communism (40:20); multiculturalism and social engineering (43:25); the global reaction to Hungary defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman (48:05); reducing everything to the ideological triad of class, race and gender (51:30); the paradox of equality (54:45); religion, conservatism and the family as common enemies of liberal democracy and communism (59:25); killing God, the worship of man and why socialists and communists have always hated religion (1:03:05); the dangerous naivety of progressive, liberal Christianity (1:06:50); the delusion of conciliatory Christians and capitulatory Christians (1:09:05); a stunning statement made by Legutko in The Demon in Democracy (1:11:30); what does resistance look like today? (1:15:00); Ryszard Legutko’s new book The Cunning of Freedom: Saving the Self in an Age of False Idols (1:17:30); the experience of Ryszard Legutko as a member in the European Parliament (1:18:25). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

For years, émigrés from the former Soviet Union have been telling Rod Dreher they see telltale signs of “soft” totalitarianism cropping up in America. Identity politics are intruding into every aspect of life. Progressives are marginalizing conservative Christians. Technology and consumerism are creating the possibility of a corporate surveillance state. And the pandemic has left our country especially vulnerable to demagogic manipulation. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn famously said that one of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming totalitarianism can’t happen at home. Rod Dreher joins Hank Hanegraaff to warn American Christians of approaching dangers and equip them for the long resistance. Topics discussed include: How an essay by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn inspired the title for Rod Dreher’s new book Live Not by Lies (6:15); stories of émigrés from the former Soviet Union telling Rod Dreher that they see reminders of communism cropping up in America (7:55); the dangers of cancel culture and people being afraid to speak freely (11:05); the difference between hard totalitarianism and soft totalitarianism (13:50); are we living in a world more similar to Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World or George Orwell’s 1984? (18:25); See, Judge, Act—what we can learn about the underground church movement of Father Tomislav Kolakovic (21:15); memory holes, the importance of cultivating cultural memory and the dangers of not knowing history (28:15); the importance of discernment (35:45); different meanings of social justice (37:25); the triumph of the therapeutic and how the church is contributing to the decline of Western Civilization (42:20); the totalitarian traits of the transgender agenda and the politicization of every aspect of life (47:10); the problems with Black Lives Matter as a movement (53:00); issues of ideological indoctrination today, especially with “diversity training” in workplaces (55:15); the most important lesson that Rod Dreher learned while writing Live Not By Lies (1:01:25); what should we learn from the state response to the Covid-19 pandemic (1:05:25); learning lessons from the Bolsheviks (1:08:50); similarities between a declining USA and Russia before the revolution and key pre-totalitarian characteristics (1:14:15); the use of science to advance ideological and political beliefs (1:18:00); problems with The 1619 Project by The New York Times (1:19:40); the repurposing of Soviet propaganda for the cover art of Live Not By Lies (1:22:40); the difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism (1:24:50); distinguishing classical liberals from socialists and communists (1:28:30); snowflakes and the power of victimization (1:31:50); the myth of progress (1:35:05); giving up our liberties for the pink police state—Brave New World (1:39:15); why we should value nothing more than truth? (1:42:30); the importance of cultivating cultural memory (1:47:00); the significance of memory and memorization (1:48:50); religion is the bedrock of resistance–the importance of creeds and confessions (1:50:55); the gift of suffering (1:53:50); Christian hope in Christ (2:00:25). For more information on receiving Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents for your partnering gift, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2101hup/Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

For the first time in history, the world shut itself down — by choice — fearful of a virus that wasn’t well understood. The government ordered the closure of countless businesses — many never to return. Schools sent students home to be taught in front of a computer. Churches canceled worship services. “Social distancing” went from a non-word to a moral obligation overnight. We need to know what happened—to keep it from ever happening again. Jay Richards joins Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, to discuss his new book The Price of Panic, examining one of the most unprecedented global events in a generation — the COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2012hup/Topics discussed include: Are there similarities between the way that Y2K was covered and the coverage of Covid-19? (8:45); contrasting the Covid-19 pandemic with other historical pandemics (11:45); why have different populations fared better than others with handling the pandemic? (14:45); The Great Barrington Declaration (17:20); did the lockdowns make a difference? (20:50); the media and political investment in the Covid-19 pandemic panic (27:00); public health bureaucracy and the tyranny of experts (31:00); how Jay Richards and his colleagues dealt with accusations of being conspiracy theorists and/or hoaxers (33:20); is there any evidence to suggest that Covid-19 was manmade? (35:35); the science of social distancing (37:05); vaccines and herd immunity (39:55); why would the government shut down churches, but keep strip clubs open? (42:10); how to interpret mixed messages about the pandemic (43:45); is there any place for civil disobedience during the pandemic? (49:40); the impact of the Covid-19 vaccine (52:25); is the cure worse than the disease? (55:40); hospital capacity to handle Covid-19 cases (57:35); the relationship between testing and spikes (1:00:25); nursing home deaths and failed government policies (1:02:30); the impact of isolation during the pandemic (1:05:30); the use and misuse of predictive models (1:08:00); what is the tyranny of experts? (1:10:50); the role of big tech companies like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. played during the pandemic (1:16:45); political theater of public officials (1:19:50); learning to ask the right questions in the right order (1:24:30); how should we think about the Covid-19 vaccine? (1:26:00); criticism of The Price of Panic (1:28:20).

Tradition has become a dirty word to many Christians in the West, often pitting Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition against one another. However, if Holy Tradition is Scripture rightly understood then there is no need for them to be viewed in conflict. Hank Hanegraaff believes that the West would do well to recapture the spiritual power of Holy Tradition that has provided Christians throughout history with the spiritual practices meant to bring us closer to Christ. As Yaroslav Pelikan so eloquently wrote in The Vindication of Tradition,” Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” Simply put, Tradition is severely misunderstood by many, so Hank Hanegraaff, Francis Chan and Metropolitan Yohan discuss Holy Tradition and Francis Chan ends this discussion series with a plea for Christians to dialogue in a spirit of brotherly love, humility and unity. Topics discussed include: Are Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition in conflict? (0:00); in defense of Holy Tradition—“Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living” (5:35); how can we understand Holy Traditions? (11:30); why are Holy Traditions important? (15:00); the biblical practice of Confession (20:35); church is not about hearing a great sermon it is about worshiping God—the Sacramental life is a life of worshiping God (23:30); Francis Chan makes a plea for Christians to dialogue in a spirit of brotherly love, humility and unity (38:35). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

The sermons of St. John Chrysostom are some of the richest classical commentaries on the Christian life. Rev. Dr. Bogdan Bucur joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss Chrysostom’s Christian classic On Wealth and Poverty.https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2011hup/ Throughout their conversation he eloquently reminds listeners that it is not enough to simply read and exegete the Bible—Christians must put our faith into practice as we experience and absorb the Lord into our lives. Topics discussed include: Why do socialism and communism appeal to so many millennials in the West? (4:25); Why is Second Temple Judaism so important to Christianity? Is Christianity a kind of Judaism? (9:00); the significance of the continuity of the Christian faith (12:45); discussing what are considered canonical or noncanonical books of the Bible (19:25); the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (29:05); the importance and implications of attention to detail in translations, especially biblical translations (31:50); responding to millennials interested in socialism (34:50); the real definition of wealth and poverty from a spiritual perspective (38:35); the importance of putting the Gospel into practice (42:45); it is not only important to give, but to develop a spirit of giving—how we give matters (49:30); the profundity of St. John Chrysostom (54:00); Christians must use their time wisely and put their faith into practice (1:02:00); the twin evils of indifference and curiosity (1:08:05); using the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic to remember the importance of community and service in the Christian life (1:11:30); learning to view one another holistically (1:17:05); both wealth and poverty offer opportunities for ascetic practices (1:22:30); the great chasm between virtue and vice (1:25:00). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

You are what you love. But you might not love what you think. Christians desire to shape culture, yet are often unaware of how culture shapes us—unaware of the ways our hearts are being taught to love rival gods instead of the One for whom we were made. James K.A. Smith joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the major themes of his book, You Are What You Love, detailing the formative power of culture and the transformative possibilities of traditional Christian practices. Who and what we worship fundamentally shapes our hearts and James K.A. Smith wants Christians to recognize the critical role of the church in lives of Christians—that church should always be the hub and heart of Christian formation and discipleship. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2011hup/Topics discussed include: How historic examples of the Christian faith were lost as Christianity remade itself in the image of the Enlightenment (2:00); the spiritual power of habit (6:10); regaining a perspective of the heart according to biblical language (12:05); the significance of liturgy in the Christian life and the way that disordered or rival liturgies negatively impact our lives (14:55); why James K.A. Smith believes worship is at the heart of discipleship (18:25); the importance of the church in the Christian life and as a means of sanctification to experience union with Christ (20:40); why knowing Church history is so important to our growth as Christians (23:40); James K.A. Smith draws a powerful connection between addiction recovery programs like AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and effective church discipleship in order to point out the spiritual power of habit as well as the spiritual power of bad habit (27:00); what does it mean to have a proper understanding of worship? (30:10); the disenchantment of the Church and the power of spiritual formation through repetition (34:45); the transcendent strangeness of historic Christian worship as a key element to discipleship and evangelism (41:15); Christians cannot hope to recreate the world if we are constantly trying to recreate the church (50:45); the transformative power of practice and habituation in sanctification (55:00); one of the most powerful passages in all of theology—what does a faithful Christian life look like? (58:15).Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Abortion is one of the most divisive issues in the United States and the most powerful advocate for abortion is Planned Parenthood. Abby Johnson went from being a clinic director for Planned Parenthood to an outspoken leader of the Pro-Life movement after her life was changed while witnessing the horror of abortion take place on an ultrasound as she watched the unborn child fight—and lose—the battle for life. Her life’s mission is now to fight—and win—the battle for life. Topics discussed include: Abby Johnson discusses her organization And Then There Were None—a nonprofit organization that exists to help abortion clinic workers leave the abortion industry (3:45); how powerful is Planned Parenthood? (4:50); how did Abby Johnson begin her career with Planned Parenthood? (6:30); what caused Abby Johnson to leave Planned Parenthood even after winning the employee of the year award? (8:15); how watching an abortion procedure on an ultrasound exposed the evil of abortion to Abby Johnson (11:05); Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood and the connection between abortion and racism (14:15); Hank Hanegraaff discusses being brought to tears while watching Abby Johnson’s movie Unplanned—especially the scene depicting The Pieces of Children Room in a Planned Parenthood clinic (18:40); And Then There Where None and the work they are doing to guide workers out of the abortion industry (22:30); Abby Johnson discusses her own two abortions, the thousands of abortions that she assisted in and the redeeming grace and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ (23:15); is Roe v. Wade reversible? (24:50); why ultrasounds are so important to exposing the truth about abortion (27:20); the fallacy of a woman’s right to choose (28:20). For further engagement, see the articles, “Five Questions for Pro-Life Advocates”, https://www.equip.org/article/the-2012-elections-five-questions-for-pro-life-advocates/“Practical Apologetics: Annihilating Abortion Arguments” https://www.equip.org/article/practical-apologetics-annihilating-abortion-arguments/and “Dead Silence: Must the Bible Say Abortion Is Wrong before We Can Know It’s Wrong?“ https://www.equip.org/article/dead-silence-must-the-bible-say-abortion-is-wrong-before-we-can-know-its-wrong/Many more articles, https://www.equip.org/?s=Abortiondiscussions from the Bible Answer Man https://www.equip.org/?s=Abortionand equipping tools. https://www.equip.org/equipping-national-sanctity-human-life-day/For more information as it pertains to the US election, please see: Politics for Christians: Statecraft as Soulcraft by Francis J. Beckwith. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-cri2010wa/Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.