What REALLY Happened During the Inquisitions? with Bill Federer
What’s the real history behind the Inquisitions, what do they reveal about the Christian faith, and could history be repeating itself? A few weeks ago, we unpacked the truth about the history of the Crusades. This week, the great Bill Federer returns to shed light on the rise of the first inquisitions, their lasting impact on both the Church and American history, and how these events connect to the biblical narrative. Join Frank and Bill as they tackle questions like:What are some of the key events surrounding the Spanish, Islamic, and Portuguese Inquisitions?What does Islam teach about those who leave the faith?What is the "Divine Right of Kings" and why is it so dangerous?Why was translating the Bible into English considered a serious crime?How did Christian disengagement from politics open the door to more persecution?Is religion really the root cause of most wars—and which worldview has the most violent history?Who did Thomas Jefferson give credit to as the inspiration for his views on freedom of religion?What is Jesus' new way forward now that the Old Covenant law is obsolete?Who in our culture wants to do an inquisition against Christians?In this thought-provoking episode, Frank and Bill explore how political powers throughout history have exploited religion to gain control—often with tragic consequences. From assassinations to coerced conversions, you’ll get a gripping look at the real story behind the inquisitions—while also debunking myths and setting the record straight by looking at the facts! Want to dig deeper? Visit AmericanMinute.com to check out some of Bill's books mentioned in the resource list below!Resources mentioned during the episode:Bill's website: https://americanminute.com/What REALLY Happened During the Crusades? - https://bit.ly/3RiWMYxBackfired - https://bit.ly/4jvVBRoThree Secular Reasons Why America Should Be Under God - https://bit.ly/3RUluywEndangered Speeches - https://bit.ly/42w49knBullies and Saints - https://bit.ly/42xTupo
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1:24:02
How Does a Skeptical Philosopher Become a Christian? with Wikipedia Co-Founder Larry Sanger
How does someone go from co-founding one of the world’s most visited websites as an atheist to becoming a Bible-believing Christian? And what kind of evidence can shake a skeptical philosopher out of his naturalistic worldview? This week, Frank sits down with Dr. Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia, to explore the surprising path that led him back to faith in Christ. Tune in as they answer questions like:When and why did Larry stop believing in Christianity?How did Wikipedia get started and what does it teach us about human nature?What was it about the Bible that inspired Larry to read through it with a critical lens and what passages intrigued him the most?How did reading the Bible in 90-days change his perspective?What do skeptics and apologists often overlook in the evidence for God?Why is changing someone's worldview so difficult and what's the best approach to do so?From confronting evil in the world to exploring the design behind creation, Larry’s journey is both intellectual and deeply personal. If you're curious about faith, philosophy, or how one of the internet’s pioneers found truth in Scripture, be sure to read Larry's testimony on his website using the link below!Resources mentioned during the episode:Larry's Website - https://larrysanger.org/Larry's Testimony - https://larrysanger.org/2025/02/how-a-skeptical-philosopher-becomes-a-christian
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48:18
Why is Christianity So Exclusive? Plus More Q&A
Why do Christians think Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven? In this midweek podcast episode, Frank unpacks what truly sets Christianity apart from other religions and also tackles tough questions from listeners related to same-sex relationships, woke churches, and baptism. Tune in as he addresses questions like:Does simply saying you believe Jesus is our LORD and Saviour enough to save you?Why was Jesus' sacrifice necessary?Are all non-Christians going to Hell, even if they’re "good" people?Why can’t a loving God allow everyone into Heaven, regardless of their beliefs?Do you need Christianity to be a good person?What’s wrong with the popular 'He Gets Us' campaign?How are people tormented in Hell?What's the difference between justice and grace?Why is the nature of truth inherently exclusive?All this and more will be discussed in this special Q&A edition of 'I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist'!BOOK: Stealing From God - https://bit.ly/41hLt91BOOK: Street Smarts - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310139139BOOK: Tactics - https://bit.ly/3DgZ1bmPODCAST: What Could Be Wrong About Love? - https://youtu.be/MettT5ToozMTake a trip to Jordan, Israel, & Egypt with Frank! - https://bit.ly/4iUCUHi
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47:42
After 20 Years of Debates, Why I'm Still a Christian with Justin Brierley
How do you spend 20 years talking to some of the world’s most well-known atheists and still remain a committed Christian? Is it possible that belief in God actually makes sense?Popular radio host and podcaster Justin Brierley has been creating and facilitating constructive conversations about faith for more than two decades, and has had a ringside seat as believers and nonbelievers have debated Christianity. This week on the podcast, Justin joins Frank to discuss his upcoming book, 'Why I'm Still a Christian: After Two Decades of Conversations with Skeptics and Atheists–The Reason I Believe' and shares how he kept his faith intact while engaging with skeptics from around the world. Together, he and Frank answer big questions like:What led Justin to write this book, and what ultimately convinces him that Christianity is true?Is Christianity intellectually defensible in a secular age?What are the strongest arguments for (and against) the existence of God?Why are some leading atheists reconsidering their skepticism?Has science truly made belief in God obsolete?How can Christians engage skeptics without losing their own faith?What advice does Justin have for people who may be "deconstructing" their faith?Don’t miss this eye-opening discussion, and be sure to pre-order your copy of 'Why I'm Still a Christian' to support Justin’s important work in Christian apologetics!Resources mentioned during the episode:How a Dice Can Say That God Exists - https://youtu.be/yy6kaDaeDT8Pre-Order Justin's new book - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496466934Justin's Podcast - https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth
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48:19
Are the Gospels Hopelessly Contradictory? with J. Warner Wallace
Are there contradictions between the gospel accounts? If so, how can we trust the central tenet of Christianity--the Resurrection of Jesus? J. Warner Wallace returns to share how he used his skill set as a detective to investigate the claims of the New Testament gospels and compares his findings to those of atheist/agnostic New Testament scholar, Bart Ehrman.Together, Frank and Jim answer questions like:What's necessary to prove an event occurred in the past?Why weren't first-century historians bothered by textual differences found in the Gospels?Why is it better to have four different gospel accounts vs. one harmonization?Why would God allow these textual differences?What surprised Jim the most the first time he read the Gospels as an atheist?Why do detectives separate eyewitnesses?When doing detective work, why does Jim prefer it when the stories are "messy"?Does the evidence always determine the verdict? In other words, why do Jim and Bart come to different conclusions when it comes to the Resurrection of Jesus?Why is bias against the supernatural a double-standard for materialist atheists?What's the best way to test an eyewitness?If the Gospels are contradictory and can’t be trusted, why do critics like Erhman conclude that much of the New Testament is true and that the disciples really believed they saw the resurrected Jesus?How are atheists disagreeing with themselves and agreeing with Christians when it comes to alternative explanations for the resurrection?And so much more! If you normally listen to podcasts on 2x speed you may need to slow it down for this one and take some notes!Resources mentioned during the episode:Jim's website - https://coldcasechristianity.com/Cold Case Christianity - https://a.co/d/dABS4uACase Files: Murder & Meaning - https://casefilesgraphicnovel.com/
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