What is a good definition of “culture,” and why is it so effective at conforming us to believe certain things, and to behave in certain ways? How do we protect ourselves and the next generation from the negative influences of our increasingly secular culture? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal discusses these issues and more with Brett Kunkle, founder of Maven , and co-author of A Practical Guide to Culture. SHOW NOTES Resources by Brett Kunkle A Practical Guide to Culture and A Student’s Guide to...
Dec 05, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast The word “totalitarianism” describes a political system in which the state has total authority over every aspect of life. In regimes of this kind, external conformity is just the first step—what they really want is your soul. According to Rod Dreher, we’re now seeing the rise of a new “soft totalitarianism” which is closer to Huxley’s Brave New World , than Orwell’s 1984 . In soft totalitarianism, conformity is achieved by manipulating access to things like status and comfort, often by means of ...
Nov 28, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast Fifty years ago, Os Guinness released his book, The Dust of Death , which offered a piercing analysis of the sixties counterculture movement with its revolutionary ideas about human nature and sexual liberation. In his preface to a new edition of this work, Guinness argues that during this tumultuous decade, “many of the seeds of today’s most radical ideas were sown, only to flower more recently in their most destructive forms.” Shane Rosenthal talks with Os about many of his observations and pr...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast As discussed on recent episodes, when it comes to religion and worldview preferences, most people tend to follow their own internal feelings, intuitions, and experiences. But what are the larger social implications of this increasing emphasis on the subjective? According to Carl Trueman, in today’s culture of “expressive individualism,” the idea of conforming to anything external—anything outside the “self”—has come to be seen as “inauthentic.” As a result of this cultural shift, identity is now...
Nov 14, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast In his 1923 classic, Christianity & Liberalism , J. Gresham Machen argued that the liberal churches of his day had abandoned everything distinctive about Christianity in favor of a non-redemptive religion that was rooted in moralism and personal experience. According to Michael J. Kruger, contemporary liberal and progressive Churches are making the same crucial mistakes a century later. On this episode, Shane talks with Dr. Kruger about his book, The Ten Commandments of Progressive Christianity....
Nov 07, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this edition of The Humble Skeptic podcast, we’ll contrast popular beliefs about ghosts and the afterlife with the views presented in the Old and New Testaments. Joining Shane to discuss this important topic is Dr. Michael McClymond, who is the professor of Modern Theology at St. Louis University, and the author of numerous books including Familiar Stranger: An Introduction to Jesus of Nazareth , and The Devil’s Redemption: A New History & Interpretation of Christian Universalism. SHOW NOTES ...
Oct 31, 2023•58 min•Transcript available on Metacast T. David Gordon served as a professor of Media Ecology at Grove City College for several decades, and as laptops, smartphones, and social media arrived on the scene in successive waves, he and his colleagues began to notice a change in students’ ability to pay attention and to process the various reading assignments. Shane discusses this with Dr. Gordon along with some of the issues he addresses in an article he recently wrote titled, “The Material is Not Immaterial.” SHOW NOTES Related Articles...
Oct 17, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can we know whether religious experiences are authentic, or just a trick of the brain? And if they really are supernatural, how we be sure that they emanate from the God of the Bible, as opposed to the Koran? Too often we allow our experiences to confirm that which we already believe. On this episode, Shane discusses this with believers from a wide variety of faiths and also airs the second half of his conversation with Dr. J.R. Miller, author of One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. SHOW NOTES ...
Sep 26, 2023•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mormons know their religion is true because they experience a “burning in the bosom.” Pentecostal Christians believe they have proof of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit because they speak in tongues. So how are we to know which religious experiences are truly authentic? Is experience a proper way to ground faith in the first place? On this episode, Shane talks with Dr. J.R. Miller, co-founder of The Center for Cultural Apologetics about his book, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism , which traces ...
Sep 12, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever noticed that conversations about religion and politics tend to produce more heat than light? Because most of us are aware of this, we tend to avoid conversations relating to our deepest convictions. So how can we discuss our beliefs with others in a way that ends up producing more light than heat? How do we have difficult conversations on controversial topics such as the use of personal pronouns? On this episode, Shane talks with Greg Koukl about his forthcoming book Street Smarts ...
Aug 29, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Have you ever been puzzled by things you read in the Bible? For example, why does the book of Exodus spend so much time walking through all the meticulous details related to the Tabernacle? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal talks with J. Daniel Hays about the Bible’s grand narrative, which helps us to understand all the individual puzzle pieces. Dr. Hays is the senior professor of Old Testament at Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, and he’s the author of The Temple and the Taberna...
Aug 08, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast What were some of the notable features of the earliest Christian sermons? What sort of things did they have in common, and how do they compare with the messages we’re likely to hear in Christian circles today? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Dr. Dennis Johnson, author of The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption , and Let’s Study Acts . SHOW NOTES• Recommended books by Dennis Johnson: Journeys with Jesus , The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption , Let’s St...
Jul 25, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Is the book of Acts a collection of stories and legends about the lives of the apostles, or is it a trustworthy and reliable history of the earliest days of the church? Is there any external evidence that helps to corroborate its claims? Shane Rosenthal discusses these questions and more with Dr. Lydia McGrew, author of Hidden in Plain View: Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels and Acts. SHOW NOTES Recommended Books Hidden in Plain View , Lydia McGrew Testimonies to the Truth , Lydia McGrew Th...
Jul 11, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 1Pet. 3:15, Peter famously says, “Always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies in you.” In many ways, this has become the standard prooftext for the apologetic enterprise, but have we really understood all that this verse has to teach us? Shane discusses this question and many other related issues with Jeremy Smith, the founder and president of ReThink315 . SHOW NOTES• For more information about Jeremy Smith and the mission of ReThink315 , click here . • Related articles by Shane ...
Jun 27, 2023•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode of The Humble Skeptic , Shane talks with Dr. Adam Duker about his interest in the study of comparative religion, as well as some of his unique experiences teaching this subject at The American University in Cairo . In particular, he relates a story that he was directly involved with a few years ago which became international news. SHOW NOTES• To read news articles related to the international incident involving Dr. Duker, use the following links: Fire , ARA , RNS , Fox News , Ale...
Jun 13, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this program, Shane talks with Fikret Bocek who currently serves as the pastor of a Christian church in Izmir, Turkey. Fikret was raised as a Sunni Muslim, and during this episode he tells the story of the time in which he began to question his faith. In this process, he began to explore both the Koran and the Bible, and ultimately this led to his conversion to Christianity. SHOW NOTES• For more information about Fikret Bocek, click here . For information about Global Church Ministries , whic...
May 30, 2023•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Shane talks with Sarabeth Kapusta about her experience growing up in a cult that in her words “masqueraded as a Baptist church.” Sarabeth is the host of Reconstructing Your Faith , which is a podcast designed to help those who’ve been affected by various forms of spiritual abuse. SHOW NOTES• For more information about Sarabeth Kapusta’s podcast, click here . To listen to the two episodes of Reconstructing Your Faith featuring Shane Rosenthal, use these links: Part 1 , and Part 2...
May 16, 2023•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is it okay to question your faith or to express doubts about your religious convictions? On this episode, Shane explores a fascinating scene from Luke 7 in which John the Baptist questions whether Jesus is the promised Messiah. Shane discusses the implications of this passage with Greg Koukl and Alisa Childers, and he also hears from Sarabeth Kapusta of the Reconstructing Your Faith podcast who shares her experience of being raised in a cult where questions were off-limits and doubt was a sin. S...
May 02, 2023•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode of The Humble Skeptic , Shane talks with Greg Koukl about the way faith is misunderstood in our day. In fact, he argues that the English word “faith” has evolved to such an extent that Christians should probably stop using it altogether. Greg is the founder and president of Stand to Reason and the author of The Story of Reality, Tactics , and Faith is Not Wishing . SHOW NOTES • Related Humble Skeptic episodes: “ Is Faith Irrational? ”, “ Is Faith Blind? ”, “ Is Faith a Feeling? ”...
Apr 25, 2023•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this bonus edition of The Humble Skeptic podcast, Shane reads lessons 9 & 10 of Richard Whately’s Introduction to Christian Evidences . SHOW NOTES • Click here to access an online version of Richard Whately’s Introduction to C hristian Evidences. If you would like to obtain a paperback reprint, click here . • Recommended articles by Shane Rosenthal, “ Why Should We Believe The Bible ?,” “ How to Detect Deception, ” “ Authenticating The Fourth Gospel ,” and “ On Faith & History .” • To watch a...
Apr 14, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Most translations of the New Testament refer to Golgotha as “The Place of the Skull.” But is this correct? On this episode of The Humble Skeptic podcast, Shane Rosenthal talks with Egyptologist David Rohl about a variety of historical and textual clues that help us to better understand, not only the precise location of Golgotha, but also it’s meaning and significance. SHOW NOTES• Recommended articles by Shane Rosenthal, “ Where Was Jesus Crucified? ,” “ How to Detect Deception, ” “ Authenticatin...
Apr 05, 2023•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Shane continues weaving together various interviews he’s recorded on topics related to the reasons Christians can have confidence in the portrait of Jesus presented in the New Testament Gospels. During this podcast, you’ll hear from Peter J. Williams, Richard Bauckham, John Dickson, D.A. Carson, Craig Blomberg, Lydia McGrew, and Daniel Wallace. SHOW NOTES Related Audio For Part 1 of this discussion, click here . For the complete interview with Richard Bauckham, click here , and ...
Mar 28, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Shane weaves together several interviews he’s recorded over the years on topics related to the Christian view of “faith,” how it’s grounded in the facts of the real world, and why we can be confident that it’s true. So during this podcast, you’ll hear from scholars such as John Lennox, Peter J. Williams, Richard Bauckham, John Dickson, and D.A. Carson. SHOW NOTES Related Audio For Part 2 of this discussion, click here . For the complete interview with Richard Bauckham, click her...
Mar 21, 2023•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, we’ll pick up where we left off last week with Egyptologist, David Rohl. During this part of the conversation, Shane talks with Dr. Rohl about various archaeological discoveries which he argues are connected to the lives Saul and David. Later in the program, the discussion shifts to the recent discovery of the Mt Ebal curse tablet, as well as to questions related to the history and chronology of events recorded in the New Testament. Click here to listen to Part 1 SHOW NOTES• To ...
Mar 14, 2023•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Shane tells the story of Egyptologist David Rohl by weaving together various interviews and audio clips over the past few decades related to his research into the New Chronology. In the second half of the program, Shane talks with Dr. Rohl about a number of fascinating discoveries that he writes about in his latest book, Legendary Kings: The Real Bible Unearthed. Click here to Begin Part 2 SHOW NOTES • To order a copy of David Rohl’s latest book, Legendary Kings (which is curren...
Mar 07, 2023•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this episode, Shane interacts with statements made on a History Channel documentary about the reference to Jesus in the writings of Josephus. Some claim that the passage is a complete forgery, while others argue that the passage was mildly interpolated. So, outside the Gospels, what can we really know about Jesus from history? Do the Gospels qualify as history, or should they be set aside as works of religious propaganda? SHOW NOTES• For further reading on this topic, check out Shane’s articl...
Feb 21, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can we tell whether a painting signed by Claude Monet is authentic or not? Similarly, how can we know for certain that the New Testament Gospels aren’t fictional stories, but real historical accounts of the life of Jesus? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation of this subject with Dr. Lydia McGrew, author of Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels. SHOW NOTES • For further reading on this topic, check out Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Go...
Feb 14, 2023•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can we know whether the New Testament Gospels are authentic accounts of the life of Jesus, as opposed to fictional documents written as a part of some larger hoax or conspiracy? Shane Rosenthal discusses this question with Dr. Lydia McGrew, author of Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels . Click here to begin Part 2 SHOW NOTES• Click here to order a copy of Lydia McGrew’s new book, Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels , and here to read an article by Shan...
Feb 07, 2023•36 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this bonus edition of The Humble Skeptic podcast, Shane reads lessons 6 through 8 of Richard Whately’s Introduction to Christian Evidences . SHOW NOTES • Click here to access an online version of Richard Whately’s Introduction to C hristian Evidences. If you would like to obtain a paperback reprint, click here . • Click here to read Shane’s article, “ Why Should We Believe The Bible? ” • For more info about The Humble Skeptic vision and how you can help, click here . We Need Your Help! Consid...
Feb 03, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this special bonus edition of The Humble Skeptic podcast, Shane continues reading selections from the Introduction to Christian Evidences by Richard Whately. SHOW NOTES • Click here to access an online version of Richard Whately’s Introduction to C hristian Evidences. If you would like to obtain a paperback reprint, click here . • Other related articles include: Why Should We Believe The Bible? , What is Faith? , History & Faith , Authenticating the Fourth Gospel , and On Faith & Doubt . • Fo...
Jan 27, 2023•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
