Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

Justin Brierley is the host of the popular podcast Unbelievable? and the similarly titled book Unbelievable? Why after Ten Years of Talking with Atheists, I'm Still a Christian. Brierley has dedicated his career to holding engaging conversations between believers and atheists, and joins Hank to discuss the keys to having good conversations with those with whom we disagree. There is no doubt that the state of dialogue is in disarray, as Dictionary.com's word of the year for 2018 is "misinformation," highlighting the need for authentic conversations in a world filled with "fake news."Topics discussed include: the popularity of Brierley’s podcast, Unbelievable?, featuring discussions between Christians and nonbelievers (5:30); Premier Christian Radio being one of the only religious radio stations in the UK (8:05); how Brierley and his wife ministering with the Odibo mission in Namibia set the tone for the rest of their lives (11:00); the importance of breaking out of “echo chambers” (13:05); why Brierley began Unbelievable? at Premier Christian Radio as an opportunity to model Christian conversations with skeptics (16:20); the keys to having good conversations (18:05); how editing other writers helped Brierley learn how to write (22:05); how Brierley stays neutral while moderating debates between believers and skeptics (25:05); the glaring contradiction when atheists apply objective moral standards (27:20); how atheist Peter Singer attempts to apply objective moral standards to his materialistic atheist worldview (29:35); what it was like to interview the most well-known atheist on the planet, Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion (32:40); the key to connecting with people in conversation (35:30); the importance of authentic conversations in our world today (38:50); ways of winning the person rather than winning the argument (42:00); how apologetics helped Brierley through a season of doubt (44:00); the inspiration for Hank’s upcoming book, Truth Matters, Life Matters More (48:00); the relationship between doubt and faith (49:45); how Brierley’s beliefs have evolved as a result of hosting Unbelievable?, such as his annihilationist view on eternal torment and creationism vs. evolutionism (52:30); Mere Christianity and how Christians can come together over common causes and drop the secondary issues that separate them (1:03:45); the strongest arguments that skeptics have made against Christianity (1:09:10); and why, after ten years of talking with atheists, Justin Brierley is still a Christian (1:16:55).

Dr. Paul Nelson is a philosopher and a prominent leader in the Intelligent Design movement as well as a key figure in the films of Illustra Media. Dr. Nelson joins Hank to discuss how the power of cinema can convey the complexity of the universe and how the films by Illustra Media, such as the most recent film The Call of the Cosmos, use the evidence of creation as an evangelistic tool to expand the kingdom of Christ without saying a word. Topics discussed include: the significance of the new film from Illustra Media, The Call of the Cosmos (9:00); does nature reveal the existence of God? (11:05); how NASA scientist Robert Jastrow began to hold the belief that if there was a beginning to the universe, there is also a Creator (14:30); the difference the films by Illustra Media are making around the globe and how Christians can use these films as an evangelistic tool to transform lives (18:10); does God speak to us through the book of nature, His creation? (23:00); is the size and complexity of the universe a sign of a creator? (28:25); lunar eclipses as an example that we are living on a privileged planet (32:20); was Carl Sagan right when he called our planet insignificant? (36:20); looking to Christ as our example for how to practice proper evangelism (40:15); what is Intelligent Design? What is the state of the Intelligent Design movement? (45:20); the importance of following the truth, wherever it leads (48:20); arguments against popular Darwinian positions such as his view of common descent and Darwin’s Tree of Life (51:00); what the theory of evolution fails to explain [click for further review as referenced in conversation https://bit.ly/2z6NDdZ ] (56:20); remembering the presence, power, and control of the Holy Spirit (59:20); how Illustra Media harnesses the power of a camera lens to reveal the complexity of design in the universe (1:02:00); the metamorphosis of a butterfly as a metaphor for resurrection (1:06:30); thinking critically about the popular icons of evolution (1:13:00); how Paul Nelson once wanted to be an artist before he fell in love with the beauty of science forty years ago and never looked back (1:15:35).

Dr. Nicole Roccas writes about death, sadness and despondency with a spirit of hope. Her book, Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life, explores the relationship between human perceptions of time and the spiritual sickness of acedia. Her conversation with Hank explores the depths of time and despondency, both today and throughout history, as well as how they ultimately relate to the purpose of our lives, becoming fully human through our relationship with Christ.Topics discussed include: How Dr. Nicole Roccas writes about death, sadness and despondency with a spirit of hope (6:00); while our anxieties draw our focus to the future and our regrets focus on the past, the present is where we are truly able to commune with Christ and that is precisely why it is important to be present (9:20); time isn’t an illusion or an abstraction, but central to how we experience life, likewise our faith is not an abstraction, but experienced in the present moment in time (12:05); Dr. Roccas’ book is titled Time and Despondency—what is meant by despondency? (16:15); what are some of the symptoms of despondency and how does technology? (19:55); is despondency a crime needing to be punished or a sickness needing to be healed? (23:55); can despondency be both a sickness and a crime? (27:25); anger as a source of despondency (28:20); using busyness to mask purposelessness and despair (30:20); the church is not a courtroom, but a hospital whereby the sacraments offer healing and restoration through the process of theosis (32:45); what is time? three different ways to view time (35:45) liturgical tradition as a transfiguration of time (39:00) the Resurrection isn’t merely a historical event, but something we can experience in the present (39:40); discussing different terminologies of time-Chronos, Kairos and Aion (43:10); the relation between time and prayer and how that relates to why we pray for the dead (47:05); in many Eastern religions the key to enlightenment is to empty oneself, whereas the key to Christianity is to be filled with Christ (51:20); practical steps to dealing with despondency, such as practicing a spirit of humility (56:20); the biblical roots of the The Jesus Prayer and how it can be practiced to develop a spirit of humility (59:10); the importance of praying for our enemies (1:03:45); the importance of patience and perseverance in an age of instant gratification and decreased attention spans (1:08:35); the importance of expressing thanks, as thanksgiving is at the heart of the Christian life (1:12:00); community and the sacrament of confession as a medicine for the soul (1:15:00); the dangers of medicalizing spiritual conditions and spiritualizing medical conditions, especially concerning depression (1:17:40); how time makes relationships, love and free-will possible (1:20:55); time as the giver of second chances (1:23:15).

In an era when truth is eroding in favor of whatever feels best, the work of good philosophers such as Dr. James Anderson is invaluable. His book What's Your Worldview? An Interactive Approach to Life's Big Questions employs a similar formula to the “choose your own adventure” book genre in order to systematically discover your worldview. This is a fun way to address a critical issue as we exist in a syncretistic society where individuals are often unaware of the inconsistencies of their worldview or that they hold to a worldview at all.Topics discussed include: hat are worldviews, and why do they matter? (7:30); why Anderson wrote a “choose your own adventure” style book to help people become more aware of their worldview and to think critically about them (9:45); how do people develop their worldview? (13:20); how do Christians handle the transgender revolution without being bullied into submission (15:25); are Christians failing to believe that we can change the culture? (19:10); atheist philosophers such as Alex Rosenburg and the self-defeating worldview of a consistent atheist (21:50); the difference between scientific and scientistic (24:15); the recent phenomenon of using consensus science to bully people to buy into believing particular paradigms (26:05); discussing global warming and whether or not we know for certain that CO2 emissions are bad for the planet (31:30); the irony of atheists that make truth claims to claim that there is no truth (33:40); discussing Anderson’s article from the Christian Research Journal titled "The Internal Testimony of the Holy Spirit: How Do You Know That the Bible Is God’s Word?" (39:00); is there a universal mandate for Christians to be able to give an apologetic defense of their faith? (45:25); the argument from contingency and why anything exists at all? (49:15); do objective values presuppose a transcendent good? (51:25); Joel Marx renouncing his morality and becoming an amoralist after years of writing The New Yorker column titled Moral Moments (56:00); the argument from reason that our ability to reason presupposes the existence of God (58:00); the idea of apathy, or apatheism, in our world today and how we can awaken indifferent individuals by appealing to their passions and interests (1:03:00); the Kavanaugh hearing as evidence of the erosion of the presumption of innocence in favor of the dangerous precedent of allowing our tribal affiliations to trump truth (1:05:45); Anderson’s passion for intense study that subsequently allows him to equip students with truth (1:08:20); why should we study philosophy; and what are the benefits of being philosophically trained? (1:11:15); how theology points us to an experience with God (1:12:50); remembering R. C. Sproul (1:14:10).

Fr. Barnabas Powell joins Hank to discuss his journey from pastoring a Pentecostal church and holding a prominent role in evangelical media ministry to becoming a priest in the Orthodox Church. After years of pursuit, Fr. Barnabas found the timeless truth he was searching for in the ancient faith of the Eastern Orthodox Church and decided to live out his faith daily by being “Orthodox on purpose.” Fr. Barnabas and Hank are both uniquely positioned to discuss the divisions between Eastern and Western Christianity and why it is critical for Christians everywhere to embrace the doctrine of unity taught in the Lord’s high priestly prayer in the face of deeply entrenched tribalism inside and outside of the church today.Topics discussed include: Fr. Barnabas Powell’s background as a pastor in a Pentecostal church and how his Pentecostal background prepared him for the transition to becoming a priest in Orthodoxy (2:45); the popular narrative that we should never call anyone (such as a priest) "Father," and why that is a mistake (4:45); what does it mean to be “Orthodox on purpose?” (7:30); are there Christians outside of Orthodoxy? (14:00); incarnate theology and the significance of a priest, like Fr. Barnabas himself, wearing robes (17:00); the significance of the quote by St. Cyprian: “He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the church for his mother,” and what it says on the unity of the church (20:15); comparing liturgical practice in the church to a spiritual gymnasium where the disciplines of life in the church strengthen our spirit (25:00); the paradox of disciplining our desires and the misconception of viewing spiritual disciplines, such as fasting, as works done to earn our salvation (29:25); Rejecting RAPTUREMANIA (48:45); the purifying power of pain and the false perception that pain is the ultimate evil in an era of prosperity preaching (52:00); the pursuit of timeless truth and following St. Vincent of Lerins's three rules of antiquity, universality, and consensus (55:50); combating our chronological snobbery to understand the enlightenment of the early church fathers (59:05); addressing problems within Orthodoxy (1:02:05); the difference between a transactional and transformational Christian faith (1:07:20); the significance of developing a dispassionate disposition toward our desires, and how spiritual discipline can help (1:08:35); understanding what the discipline of confession is really about, and the difference between how confession is conducted in the East and the West (1:12:35); why Christianity is Eucharistic at its core and why being grateful is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian (1:16:30); the importance for Christians everywhere to embrace the doctrine of unity taught in the Lord’s high priestly prayer in the face of tribalism inside and outside of the church (1:20:00); and weighing in on the current schism in the Orthodox church today (1:26:20).

While writing MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest-Growing Religion, one of the most impressive scholars Hank discovered was Dr. Dario Fernandez-Morera, author of The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise: Muslims, Christians, and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain. His book, a finalist for World Magazine’s Book of the Year, reveals the myth of the Andalusian Paradise, a supposed time of religious tolerance in Islamic Spain that in reality was a repressive era reflective of the true tenets of Islamic belief and practice. Today, academics and politicians alike are pushing a politically correct cultural narrative when it comes to Islam and courageous scholars such as Dr. Fernandez-Morera stand as beacons of truth and light in the face of propagandists intent on pulling the wool over our eyes.Topics discussed include: why studying Miguel de Cervantes led Fernández-Morera to realize that the narrative of a peaceful Islamic rule in Spain was wrong (4:00); the resistance he faced regarding his book The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise: Muslims, Christians, and Jews under Islamic Rule in Medieval Spain (7:20); reasons behind the resistance to his research and the positive, politically correct narrative of Islam (10:15); examining the possible reasons behind academic bias and Islam as follows: linguistic ignorance, stakeholder interests and incentives, motivated blindness, intellectual innocence, shoddy research, and cultural agendas (16:40); several motivations for a cultural agenda promoting Islamic principles (30:30); the importance of rhetoric in creating cultural narratives and why our culture seems more concerned with Islamophobia when in reality it is increasingly Christophobic (33:10); examining several rhetorical tricks devised to develop desired narratives (36:30); misapprehension of the real, main meaning and practice of Jihad in Islam (40:25); Islam has always progressed by shahada, subjugation, or the sword (most often the sword, as Muhammad invoked his followers to do) (47:10); the differences between Islamic Jihad and Christian Crusades (1:03:45); did Osama bin Laden choose September 11 for a reason? (1:11:25); Fernandez-Morera notes that many historians are not religious and why this lack of religiosity might impact the mindset of academic assessment of the historical motivations of religious individuals (1:16:15); is Islam really a religion? (1:18:45); the different approaches that academics take when examining Christianity and Islam (1:24:20); the myth of the Dark Ages (1:29:00); and the Armenian genocide as an example of the collective amnesia of the modern world and the fundamental importance of historical literacy (1:33:00).

The health of our soul is more important than the health of our body, yet in our modern age of materialism we have made the medical doctor the new high priest of a civilization seeking purely physical solutions to problems previously presumed to involve the soul. Hank is joined by French Professor Jean-Claude Larchet, a prolific scholar holding doctoral degrees in both theology and philosophy, and one of the foremost Patristic scholars in the world today to discuss sickness, suffering and the soul from a theological perspective. His profound book, The Theology of Illness, examines the role that suffering and illness play in our lives and how they can actually aid our spiritual development. From provocative statements such as “there is no question that people today have far fewer resources than their ancestors did to deal with illness” to “good health is evil if it contributes to making a person indifferent to his salvation and keeps him away from God by giving him the false impression that he is self-sufficient” professor Larchet will challenge the way you think about suffering, illness and what true health really is.Topics discussed include: Do people today have fewer resources than their ancestors did to deal with the problem of illness? (4:00); spiritual illness is more serious than physical illness, yet our modern age has made the medical doctor the new high priest of civilization (5:20); how detached we have become from the wisdom of the early church fathers (7:10); the connection between the communion of all saints and asking for prayers from those who have passed before us (10:45); the difference in the human body before and after the fall and the implications for our resurrected state in the world to come (12:20); was man created perfect? (16:05); deification (theosis) and what it means to become God’s by grace (17:05); is there a link between illness and sin? (28:05); why perfect health does not exist in this world (28:05); discussing zoetic energy (33:00); Hank asks a personal question regarding his battle with cancer (37:10); good health is evil if it contributes to making a person indifferent to his salvation and keeps him away from God by giving him the false impression that he is self-sufficient (42:30); the role suffering plays in raising our awareness and why illness can be better than health if it aids our spiritual progress (47:45); the essential role of prayer in growing closer to God (51:25); the significance of asking Mary, or Saints in general, to intercede for us in prayer and why it is biblical (59:25); the relationship between demon possession and illness (1:01:05); contrary to modern beliefs, the health of the soul is more important than the health of the body (1:04:15); is there a connection between an improper theology of illness and the rise of suicide? (1:07:38).

Dr. Nathan Jacobs holds advanced degrees in philosophy, historical and systematic theology, church history, and fine art. He joined Hank in Charlotte for an intimate conversation in his study, and given the breadth of Dr. Jacobs’s academic achievements, it came as no surprise that it was wide ranging. The early church fathers went to great lengths to ensure that the followers of Christ did not innovate but rather perpetuate “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3), and this conversation seeks to understand what they meant, where we may have gotten off track, and what it means to become truly human through ChristTopics discussed include: balancing academic research and writing with artistic innovation and creation (5:00); a search for authenticity and authority led Jacobs to study the early church fathers, such as Athanasius of Alexandria, where he came to realize the difference of thought between Eastern and Western Christianity (6:45); Ephesians, examining the use of the term “energeia” by Paul, and understanding that faith and works are not in opposition (18:25); ecumenical councils where early church fathers defended the faith by answering the question “What is the faith that we received handed down by the apostles?” (30:20); biblical illiteracy, historical ignorance, and troubling Trinitarian analogies (37:35); the importance of a Trinitarian God as opposed to Unitarian (46:10); the sophistication of the early church fathers and our anachronistic belief that we are more intelligent than our ancestors, theologically speaking or otherwise (53:00); distinguishing between creation and types of causation (55:00); biblical terminology getting lost in translation and the linguistic advantage the early church fathers had over the scholars that proceeded them (1:00:35); understanding the balance between rationality and mystery (1:06:45); addressing the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist (1:15:15); objectivity in academics, distinctions between different systems of thought, and the systems of thought creating the biggest divide between Eastern and Western Christianity (1:21:30); the difficulty of communicating complex issues in a soundbite culture (1:32:30); the importance of Christians being part of a church community (1:20:20); and should Christians confess their sins? (1:42:45).

Hank is joined by special guest J. Warner Wallace. Before he became a popular apologist, Wallace would listen to the Bible Answer Man broadcast in the car while working stakeouts as an undercover investigator. He has since masterfully melded his unique capabilities as a cold-case detective with his passion for Christian apologetics to provide believers and skeptics alike the tools and evidence to make the case for the Christian faith. Topics discussed include: Wallace recalls listening to the Bible Answer Man broadcast while working as an undercover investigator (3:25); Warner’s response to Colin Kaepernick and the cultural divide involving race and law enforcement (5:40); “visualish”—the new visual language of digital natives (9:45); what is a cold-case detective? (15:15); investigating whether the universe can be created by an uncaused first cause (17:30); strategies for overcoming the dangerous problem of apathy towards religion (25:00); the relationship between millennials and the church (29:55); the role of relationship in evangelism (38:15); Warner discusses his father’s disbelief and the 3 reasons why anyone rejects a truth claim (43:50); the importance of taking complex concepts and making them simple and transferable (49:20); addressing the metaphysical aspect of our humanity (52:00); how important is it for Christians to have a robust understanding of free-will (57:30); the moral responsibility for all Christians to know how to make the case for Christianity (1:01:00); Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels(1:08:00); using cultural commentary to elevate the value of scripture (1:15:25); the importance of hermeneutics and learning to read and interpret properly (1:20:20); the importance of young people making the 3 trajectory decisions of choosing the right worldview, spouse and mission in life a priority (1:23:45); four cultural shifts and transformations Warner believes are contributing to school shootings (1:29:30).

We are living in a divided world. Christians need to understand what is happening, why it is happening, where it will lead, and how to live for Christ today. Hank is joined by John S. Dickerson, a prize-winning journalist, pastor, and the author of Hope of Nations, for a conversation aiming to inform, inspire, and instruct Christians to stand strong in a post-truth, post-Christian world.Topics discussed include: how attending seminary as a hobby led Dickerson, an award-winning investigative journalist, to become a pastor (3:30); the post-truth shift from facts to feelings (7:10); the historic definition of racism and the post-truth reality of racism (13:30); millennial Americans' preference for socialism (17:30); the state of journalism today and the difficulties of being a Christian journalist (21:05); Dickerson believes the window of global peace is closing, but that in Christ, we can be a sign of hope to the nations (23:45); the growing problem of apathy in society, Christians included (26:40); Dickerson’s nine manifestos that Christians can embrace in a post-truth world (31:15); the need for Christians to equip our youth with Christian truth in the face of The Great Evangelical Recession (34:10); equipping Christians with biblical understanding and truth to become reproducing disciple makers for the church and change agents in the culture (38:15); I Am Strong: Finding God’s Peace and Strength in Life’s Darkest Moments (41:55); post-truth being chosen as the 2016 Oxford dictionary word of the year and the way that this paradigm shift is changing the course of Western civilization (52:15); the wealth and freedom that young Americans have inherited and the foundational principles they are rejecting (56:35); the Christian foundations of our modern universities (59:50); examining the differences between socialism and capitalism (1:01:55); warring ideologies, the gravitational center of the globe shifting to the East, and the abolition of Western civilization (1:07:30); examining the factors behind The Great Evangelical Recession, with so many young people leaving Christianity (1:15:25); the importance of Christian unity around the essentials of the faith and the dangers of needlessly dividing the body of Christ (1:18:15); the drying up of donor dollars, as the church is reaching the lowest levels of giving in generations (1:24:50).