Sitting in circles makes you a witch, right? Turns out medieval thinking and superstition still plague modern religion. Shawn Boonstra explores how the backstory can help you find a more meaningful life today. Presented by Voice of Prophecy.
What's the point of investing in your future, if everyone's going to die anyway? Shawn Boonstra tackles one of life's biggest questions. Presented by Voice of Prophecy.
The baby Jesus wasn't just born to die—as an eventual sacrifice at the cross. Christ was born to LIVE! Host Shawn Boonstra charts how 33 authentic years became eternity's liberating bridge between heaven and earth, and how Christmas is no mere birthday party.
This week on Authentic, Shawn gets to the heart of what exactly "inspired by God" means when it comes to Scripture—writing it, compiling it, interpreting it. And what about all those "extra" books of the Apocrypha? Are they Scripture? Join us for part 2 of our series on how the Bible came to be.
Almost one-third of humanity sees the Bible as “God-breathed.” But it didn’t appear out of thin air...so where did these scriptures come from, and who decided they were authoritative? Join Shawn Boonstra for a new Authentic series on the astounding history of the Bible. We’ll start with the rich cultures of ancient Mesopotamia—and take a moment to debunk a popular myth from “The Da Vinci Code.”
Join Shawn Boonstra on Authentic as he examines our moral responsibilities to future generations. Shawn questions our ability to engineer a utopia, reflecting on past failures and the pitfalls of ideological pursuits. Delving into ethical considerations and the value of divine guidance, this week's episode challenges our perspective on shaping a brighter future.
On this special episode of Authentic, host Shawn Boonstra is diving deep into the essence of Thanksgiving and why, for him, it might just be the most wonderful time of the year. Join Shawn in appreciating the simplicity, beauty, and life-shaping power of giving thanks.
Why was a tree that led to DEATH placed in paradise in the first place? Was God setting up Adam and Eve for temptation and failure? In part 6 of his "Answers for a Skeptic" series, Shawn Boonstra explores God's choices, our choices, and the troubling mystery of sin. Don't miss this fascinating discussion that sheds light on an age-old dilemma.
This week Shawn continues investigating the common idea of hell and comparing it with Scripture. Where IS hell, exactly? Is it burning in the bowels of the earth? Is hell really everlasting? And is it a truly just punishment? Be sure to catch last week's Part 1 if you haven't already.
Join host Shawn Boonstra for a compelling two-parter as he tackles the age-old misconceptions surrounding hell and eternal punishment. This week he'll explore the origins of these beliefs, the very purpose of hell, and how God's character relates to it all. This is part 3 in Shawn's series called "Answers for a Skeptic."
On this week's episode of Authentic, host Shawn Boonstra continues his series called "Answers for a Skeptic" by focusing on the claim that the Bible is full of mistakes and contradictions.
Join Shawn Boonstra on Authentic as he begins tackling some truly tough questions posed by skeptics about faith, God, and the Bible. First up: why does God stay silent and hidden? The answer may be closer than you think...
In the devil’s final temptation to Jesus, he offers to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world in return for worshipping him. Host Shawn Boonstra highlights the vital message that there are no shortcuts to glory—that is, to a meaningful relationship with God.
Doubt can be useful—healthy, even!—but it can also be poisonous. Saints and skeptics alike have wrestled with suspicions about God, His character, and His words and promises. In "The Temptation of Christ, Part 2," Shawn Boonstra looks at the sharp impulse to doubt that confronted Jesus and entraps us today.
Times of desperation can often tempt us to shift our values—make us consider things we’d never consider under any other circumstances. Shawn Boonstra talks about why you can trust Jesus to help you overcome Satan's temptation just like He did. AUTHENTIC is presented by the Voice of Prophecy.
Everyone copes with anxiety in their own way. Sometimes a simple distraction like playing a game of Tetris or (on the stranger side) digging a big tunnel might be enough to make you feel better. Host Shawn Boonstra explores how spending time with God in prayer might be the best way to deal with your problems.
One of the most stunningly prophetic passages in Scripture has been mangled by modern Christians. Time to reconstruct a tapestry: Shawn Boonstra traces the beautiful threads that tie the Temple, Israel, and Messiah her Prince all together.
Have you ever heard someone say that the stories in the Bible are just a rip-off of older pagan documents? On this week’s Authentic episode, host Shawn Boonstra explores some of those claims comparing the Jesus we find in the Bible to the heroes and gods of the pagans.
What do you imagine when you think of the devil? A lot of people think he's a red-skinned monster with horns, sharp teeth, and a pitchfork. But it turns out that image is rooted in pagan mythology—not the Bible. In this episode, AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra talks about what the devil really looks like and why you should care.
Losing someone to death can be heartbreaking, especially if that person was young. And it's far from rare: studies show young Americans are TWICE as likely to die as their counterparts in other developed nations, like Germany, France, and Japan. The mortality rate for U.S. babies is scarily high, too. How do we cope? AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra says there is something we can do to help make these painful moments less difficult.
If you didn't see it, hear it, or feel it yourself—did it REALLY happen? Learn how your experiences and the way you rely on them can trick you when it comes to miracles. Join Shawn Boonstra as he takes a closer look at famous philosopher David Hume, who didn't believe in miracles. This week's episode of AUTHENTIC will make you think a little differently about the world around you!
Is it possible for miracles to be scientifically proven? Join Shawn Boonstra on this week's episode of AUTHENTIC as he explores one of history's most influential philosophers, David Hume, and his controversial view on miracles. There's plenty to discuss at this fascinating intersection of philosophy, religion, and science—don't miss this week's show!
Churches risk losing their way when they prioritize business and marketing strategies over their core mission. They may be filling the pews, but in the process they're unintentionally compromising the message they stand for. This episode of AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra explores the dangers of putting church growth and popularity ahead of Gospel truth.
Do you really control every decision you make? There’s an increasing number of people who believe that free will is only an illusion—that the decisions you make today are solely caused by events from your past. In this episode, AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra discusses research from neuroscientist Benjamin Libet and the determinism of Dutch-Jewish philosopher Baruch Spinoza. It's a deep dive into the debate over free will versus the law of Nature.
Your life is finite: you'll live and die, having occupied a limited space for a limited amount of time. But in the end, we all seem to sense that there’s something infinite to grab hold of. Where does it take us? This week on AUTHENTIC, Shawn Boonstra peers into the beyond.
Lots of people talk about Jesus' miracles—whether they did or didn't happen. Christians believe they were real. But what's important is that the miracles are not the reason one believes. They're not the foundation of Christian faith. AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra explains how the story of Jesus as Messiah stands strong regardless of the supernatural signs and wonders He performed.
More and more people in North America seem to believe the Bible is a book that oppresses humans and shuts down personal freedom. On this week’s program, Shawn Boonstra argues that the opposite is true—that many freedoms Americans enjoy today are largely inspired by the Bible itself.
Some critics believe the deity of Christ was a concept invented years after Jesus at the Council of Nicaea. But the gospel of John says otherwise, claiming that Jesus was God from the very beginning—even before God created Earth. And AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra says John talks about everything in a way no other gospel writer does. This is the final part in a five-episode series called "The Four Witnesses."
"The gospel of Luke is, by some accounts, the human face of Jesus. It's arguably the most relatable part of the Bible telling the story of Jesus on Earth. And AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra explains why Luke had regular people like you in mind when he wrote it. This is part four of a series called "The Four Witnesses."
