I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST

What can radio-carbon dating tell us about the timing of the destruction of Jericho? And how much does the archaeology seem to correlate with the biblical narrative? In this midweek podcast episode, author and archaeologist, Dr. Titus Kennedy, returns to continue the discussion on the evidence for Jericho’s destruction and his new research article, The Bronze Age Destruction of Jericho, Archaeology, and the Book of Joshua. Frank and Titus explore more of the archaeological findings that have been discovered near Jericho such as scarabs, the Amarna Letters, pottery, and much more! Should the book of Joshua be considered as a valid historical source for what happened at Jericho? Listen as Titus explains why there is a compelling case to be made for the biblical account of the fall of Jericho. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. Resources mentioned in the episode: Link to full research article: https://www.mdpi.com/2343846 Evidence for the Exodus (podcast): https://bit.ly/46Oopz1 Top 10 Discoveries About Jesus Outside the Bible (podcast): https://bit.ly/3rufbIj Books by Dr. Titus Kennedy: Unearthing the Bible: https://a.co/d/ecsN1L7 Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: https://a.co/d/8VToSmp The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (available for pre-order): https://a.co/d/ggOYiiA Download Transcript

Have there been any significant archaeological finds that support the biblical account of the fall of Jericho? Joshua 6 describes the details of the conquest, led by Joshua himself, that took place almost 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt. But what exactly have archaeologists been able to uncover during Jericho’s recent excavations within the last century? In this week’s podcast, archaeologist, author, and Biola Professor, Dr. Titus Kennedy, joins Frank to discuss his new eye-opening research article entitled ‘The Bronze Age Destruction of Jericho, Archaeology, and the Book of Joshua‘ where he analyzes the current existing evidence for the historical destruction of Jericho. Frank and Titus answer questions like: Where is Jericho located and is the site contested? How do archaeologists and scholars determine the dating of the destruction of Jericho? Who are the main players that have contributed to excavations at Jericho? Does the archaeology seem to support or discredit Jericho’s biblical account? What conclusions have different archaeologists come to based on their data and findings? For decades, skeptics, scholars, and archaeologists have disputed the details of this well-known story in the Bible. But where does the evidence actually lead? Dr. Kennedy has excavated all over the Middle East, and in this exciting new episode, he’ll reveal some of the fascinating artifacts that have been discovered near Jericho, and how these clues corroborate with the biblical narrative. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. Resources mentioned in the episode: Link to full research article: https://www.mdpi.com/2343846 Evidence for the Exodus (podcast): https://bit.ly/46Oopz1 Top 10 Discoveries About Jesus Outside the Bible (podcast): https://bit.ly/3rufbIj Books by Dr. Titus Kennedy: Unearthing the Bible: https://a.co/d/ecsN1L7 Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: https://a.co/d/8VToSmp The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (available for pre-order): https://a.co/d/ggOYiiA

Does the government have the right to force Christians (or anyone else) to say or do things that violate their conscience and/or religious views? The Supreme Court recently ruled in the favor of a Christian graphic artist who the Court declared cannot be compelled to create designs with which she disagrees, including same-sex weddings. Was this decision an act of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, or a true act of justice? In this midweek podcast episode, Frank reacts to an insightful article written by Dr. Michael Brown entitled ‘Questions for Those Who Differ With the SCOTUS Decision in Favor of a Christian Graphic Artist’ that addresses the Supreme Court’s ruling in this controversial case. Later in the episode, Frank responds to several listener questions about the deity of Christ, how to pray for loved ones who are embracing sexual immorality, and why God seemingly allowed people to lie in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 16) . To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. Resources mentioned in the episode: Dr. Brown’s article on The Stream: https://bit.ly/3rvtHze

Why have public schools seemingly abandoned the study of logic? Instead of learning how to think, most kids today are learning what to feel. But if critical thinking is a thing of the past, how can we help the next generation protect themselves against the lies of the culture? Have no fear, Shanda Fulbright is here! A former public-school teacher and certified apologist from Biola University, Shanda joins Frank this week to expose some of the informal fallacies that have become popularized through social media and introduce their brand-new online course called ‘Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic‘. While the PREMIUM version of this course— the one with the live Zoom Q&A sessions— will be conducted for 6-8th graders, adults who have never had a course in logic before will benefit from taking the SELF-PACED course. Frank and Shanda answer questions like: Why is logic more fundamental than Bible interpretation? How has the logic deficit impacted the Gen Z identity crisis? What fallacy is commonly used by Christians? How did Jesus approach logical fallacies in the Bible? How can adults benefit from this course? Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that we must prepare the next generation to “guard their hearts” by using logic, sound reasoning, and evidence. And that is exactly what ‘Train Your Brain‘ will equip them to do. The PREMIUM CERTIFICATE course begins on 10/2, so be sure to use coupon code: LOGIC2023 to save 20% at checkout when you pre-register your child TODAY! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. Shanda’s website: https://shandafulbright.com/ Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic: https://bit.ly/3NG09qm

Many people around the world accuse Christianity of being a white, imperialistic religion that enslaved people of color and set the stage for racism here in the United States. But is the behavior of “bad” Christians a legitimate reason to reject the truth of the Gospel message? In this special Fourth of July midweek podcast episode, Frank addresses this and several other listener questions related to eschatology, transgender ideology, a perplexing ethical dilemma, and learning obedience through suffering. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry. Resources mentioned during the episode: Christian Ethics by Norman Geisler: https://a.co/d/487wxGB The Babylon Bee – If Jesus’ Resurrection Were a Hoax: https://bit.ly/46wdnOM Download Transcript

Are you afraid to call out immoral behavior in the public square? If your values don’t align with what mainstream society deems “appropriate”, you risk being labeled as intolerant. But is it truly intolerant to warn people if they are putting themselves, other people, or even society at risk? In this week’s podcast, Frank will expose some of the hypocritical and contradictory ideas that have been popularized in modern culture and how choosing to remain silent on these issues actually causes more harm than good. He will also share his own personal experience of being terminated on two separate occasions because of his controversial book Correct, Not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage and Transgenderism. Listen as Frank tackles questions like: What is the distinction between legislating religion and legislating morality? Why is public rebuke sometimes a necessity? What is the mark of a dying society? Are disparities and discrimination the same? How did the Founding Fathers address immorality in the Declaration of Independence? Ultimately, it is impossible to achieve total moral neutrality. The true question is, are you on the right side of morality? By appealing to the Scriptures, our nation’s history, and true brotherly love, Frank will encourage you to not only do what is right, but also to say what is right while leaving the results to God. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Is Christianity a misogynistic religion that beats down on women? Does the Bible advocate for “toxic masculinity”? Modern culture would like you to believe that. But is that truly the case? In this midweek episode, Christian apologist, scholar, and author, Nancy Pearcey, returns to continue the discussion about her new book, ‘The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes’, and takes a deeper look at some of the questions addressed in Part 1 of the podcast. Frank and Nancy discuss the strengths of both men and women as image bearers of God, and also tackle questions such as: What is the cultural mandate? Does Christian marriage oppress women? Why do so many men dislike church? Why has the Church become so emotion oriented? Why are women becoming more academically and professionally successful than men? As Nancy explains, solid empirical research is showing that Christianity has an answer to misogyny. Christianity has proven itself to be the best thing that can happen to women and their families and for this reason, Christians should be bold in confronting the false accusations that our faith produces “toxic masculinity”. Nancy Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as “America’s pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual.” To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry. Nancy’s book: https://a.co/d/5YaIN1X Nancy’s website: https://www.nancypearcey.com/

Is masculinity a bad thing? In popular culture, it seems that it has become socially acceptable to attack men simply for being men! The media has even gone as far as categorizing all forms of male headship and authority in the home as oppressive, tyrannical, and patriarchal. Has the Church contributed to the demonization of all things masculine? And if so, what can we do to stop it? In this week’s podcast, Christian apologist, scholar, and author, Nancy Pearcey joins Frank to discuss her upcoming and unexpectedly controversial book, The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, which focuses largely on the origin of “toxic masculinity” as a concept. Frank and Nancy discuss questions like: What historical events led to the rise of “toxic masculinity”? What are the two competing scripts that men struggle with internally? How has Darwinism contributed to “toxic masculinity”? How do Christian men shatter negative stereotypes? What example of masculinity do we find in Jesus? Throughout this episode, Nancy will burst some common myths, encourage men to embrace their masculinity, and also expose the radical ways in which evangelicalism continues to better societies worldwide. The current research shows that Christian men are doing very well in our culture, and it’s time that we applaud them for it! Nancy Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as “America’s pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual.” To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry. Nancy’s book: https://a.co/d/5YaIN1X Nancy’s website: https://www.nancypearcey.com/ Download Transcript

What does it mean to be “woke”? This word is being used almost everywhere in our culture today by every side of the political and cultural debate. But have you ever stopped to define what it really means? In this midweek podcast episode, Seth Dillon, CEO of The Babylon Bee, returns to discuss this sinister and destructive ideology and how the movement has personally impacted the popular Christian satirical platform. Seth also shares how Elon Musk is trying to turn the tide with Twitter when it comes to the current trend of heightened censorship on social media, and explains that when it comes to making jokes, sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction! For example, could it be possible that atheists like Richard Dawkins and Bill Maher are showing more courage these days than some pastors? Sadly, that seems to be the case! However, we can continue do our part by exercising our right to speak the truth (with or without humor) regardless of the consequences. To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry. Pre-Order the NEW Book ‘The Babylon Bee Guide to Gender’: https://a.co/d/3Z69ASx Download Transcript

Should Christians incorporate humor or even mockery into their apologetics? The idea of poking fun at another person’s worldview may seem offensive to some. But would you believe that the prophet Elijah and even Jesus Himself used mockery on certain occasions? With so much absurdity running rampant in our society, could humor be a part of the solution? This week, CEO of The Babylon Bee, Seth Dillon, joins the podcast to talk about faith, politics, and the importance of free speech. As Frank interviews Seth, you’ll hear about Seth’s personal journey to faith, and how he came to be the CEO of the popular Christian news satire website lovingly dubbed “the definitive source of fake news you can trust”. In this episode, Frank and Seth answer questions like: Should satire be used as a means to purposely offend people? How has The Babylon Bee managed to draw a non-Christian audience? Why is humor such an effective tool in evangelism? How did The Babylon Bee become friends with Elon Musk? What are the dangers of censorship and why should Christians combat it? Between Twitter jail and a recent dust up between DeSantis and Trump, The Babylon Bee has ruffled quite a few feathers along the way. Yet they are unrelenting in challenging their audience to reflect on the flaws within our modern culture. This unofficial ministry of mockery has managed to break down barriers through its comedic flare, winning the laughs of Christians and planting seeds of truth in people who would never step foot inside a church! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry. Pre-Order the NEW Book ‘The Babylon Bee Guide to Gender’: https://a.co/d/3Z69ASx

Did Peter declare that water baptism is a requirement for salvation? In the book of Acts, Peter seems to indicate that all believers must be baptized in order to be saved and yet, the writings of Paul and the teachings of Jesus seem to suggest otherwise. How do we resolve this apparent contradiction? In this midweek podcast episode, Frank responds to one of several hostile emails we received after releasing a 60-second video on the topic of baptism. Using the S.T.O.P. method, Frank walks us through the correct interpretation of Acts 2:38 and provides seven reasons why Christians should NOT regard water baptism as a requirement for salvation. Frank also answers questions like: What is the significance of water baptism? Is the Book of Acts prescriptive or descriptive? Did Peter and Paul have opposing views on baptism? What did Jesus say about baptism? How can Christians have fruitful discussions when we disagree on theological points? By the end of this episode, you will walk away with a better understanding of the expectations and purpose of water baptism as well as the basics of biblical interpretation. Understanding the Bible can be challenging for all Christians at times but taking a moment to S.T.O.P. and ponder the context will make all the difference! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry.

Are you unknowingly being misled by false teachers or by misunderstanding certain passages in the Bible? One of the problems with being deceived or misled is that you are unaware that deception is taking place. How can you be assured that you are being led properly so that you can avoid being deceived? In today’s podcast episode, Frank sits down with popular Christian YouTuber and Dallas Theological Seminary graduate, Allen Parr, to discuss his online ministry and the motivation behind his brand-new book, ‘Misled: 7 Lies that Distort the Gospel (and How You Can Discern the Truth)’. Listen as Allen shares one of his own personal experiences of seeing how false doctrine negatively impacted a dear friend. Frank and Allen also touch on questions like: Where did the “Prosperity Gospel” come from? Are physical healing and wealth promised to all believers? Can Christians lose their salvation? How has prophecy been misused? What 3 C’s should Christians remember to avoid misinterpreting the Bible? Sadly, very few churches teach Christians how to properly interpret the Bible. Allen is actively using this book, his online courses, and his Youtube channel ‘The B.E.A.T’ (which stands for ‘Biblical Encouragement and Truth’), to clear up as many false teachings as possible. Allen Parr will join CIA this year as a course instructor, so consider attending CIA to strengthen your presentation skills! To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST along with an EXCLUSIVE interview with Allen about his personal experience as a Christian YouTuber and online content creator, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry. Resources mentioned in this episode: Allen’s book: https://a.co/d/i3j62Sc Allen’s website: https://allenparr.com/ Allen’s YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3P1kuJ1 Apply for CIA 2023: https://bit.ly/43LsjXo

This generation of young adults is totally committed to the idea that they are their own authority. Is there a way to help them understand the biblical worldview and also prepare them to defend it against other counterfeit worldviews? In this midweek podcast episode, Frank interviews his friend and current president of Summit Ministries, Dr. Jeff Myers, to discuss this unique organization that has been active for more than 60 years! Summit Ministries focuses on helping teens and young adults to see the world through a biblical lens, regardless of where they are on their faith journey. Frank and Jeff also give practical tips to parents and youth leaders on how to engage this next generation in tough discussions about sexual issues and guide them in their search for objective truth without pushing them away. As you listen, you’ll find out why Summit Ministries has been so successful at giving its participants an unshakeable faith that lasts well into their adult years! Resources mentioned in this episode: Summit Ministries: https://www.summit.org/ The Dr. Jeff Show: https://bit.ly/3OVhn56

Are miracles possible? Many academics have ruled miracles out completely, claiming that miracles are a violation of the laws of nature. But is that conclusion reasonable? In this week’s podcast episode, Frank provides reasonable arguments to defend the possibility of miracles. There is a popular philosophical assumption among scholars such as Bart Ehrman and David Hume that supernatural intervention is impossible, leading many to only believe in material causes. As Frank reflects on philosophical ideas and specific examples in history and science, you’ll see why miracles are not only possible, but at least likely to have occurred at various points in history. You’ll hear Frank answer questions like: How often do miracles occur in the Bible? Are miracles a violation of natural laws? What is the purpose of miracles in the Bible? What two things must be established in order to prove Christianity is true? What is the greatest miracle in the Bible? To reject the possibility of miracles or the existence of God, you must concede that humans are nothing more than molecular machines or moist robots. Are you open to allowing a divine foot in the door? To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into great discussions with like-minded Christians while providing financial support for our ministry. Resources mentioned in this episode: Bart Ehrman & Justin Bass – Did Jesus of Nazareth rise from the dead? https://bit.ly/43FK4aA