Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, has been re-reading Jay Richards’ outstanding book, The Human Advantage: The Future of American Work in an Age of Smart Machines. We so often swallow the skin of the truth stuffed with a big lie—in this case the myth that artificial intelligence will soon replace us. Richards shows that while AI certainly brings challenges, it also has its opportunities. And in this sense the age of AI is like the agrarian age, the industrial age, and the information age—they were all ages of opportunity. And the age of AI is ripe for doing only what human beings can bring to the table. Mind and creativity trumps matter. Machines are not aspirational and will not ever be able to do much of what human beings can do—parent, heal the broken hearted, produce homilies empowered by the Spirit of God. So why the hysteria? Because we in the West have swallowed the myth of materialism. Elon Musk questions whether there is such a thing as consciousness—emblematic of the myth that our minds are simply meaty machines. In reality, a machine will never be able to have first-person subjective experience. Self-awareness is, in principle, beyond AI. Richards quotes George Gilder: “The inability of modern techno-philosophers to grasp the difference between machines and human beings is a great trahison des clercs [treason of the clerks—intellectuals] of our time.”

If you have children—or simply care about children—then you must listen to this episode of the Hank Unplugged podcast. The book co-authored by guest Bethany Mandel, Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, provides an urgent deep dive into issues surrounding the current woke indoctrination happening in politics, education, medicine, mental health, entertainment, and culture.These issues may seem subtle, insidious, and hard to make sense of, but armed with the right information we now have a framework from which to fight. While we may simply be trying to parent our children well and create a healthy and happy home environment, this is no longer enough. We must now go on the offense to protect our kids. We can no longer afford to stay ignorant. Our children’s lives and the survival of our families are at stake.For further information on how to receive Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation, for your partnering gift please click here. Topics discussed include: In praise of resiliency—the importance of embracing resiliency over victimhood (5:00); defining the word woke (7:30); the rising embrace of Marxism by many in the West (11:00); Stolen Youth—the growing attack against parents (13:00); never let a crisis go to waste—how the pandemic accelerated the issue of wokeness (16:00); the dangerous problem of apathy in our culture (18:30); “gender affirming care” as an example of the importance of effective messaging on key issues (22:25); the financial incentives behind many woke movements (24:10); between schools and TikTok, the insidious indoctrination of our children (25:20); Critial Race Theory, Critical Theory and the cultural Marxism being taught in our school systems (29:25); Universities are more concerned with teaching students what to think rather than how to think (32:00); the importance of raising critical thinkers (34:25); the downfall of Disney—how did such a wholesome and family friendly company become so woke? (38:45); the American Library Association and the power of librarians to indoctrinate our children (41:45); the mixed messages on motherhood in our culture today (47:45); reasons for hope in the midst of our current cultural moment (54:00); the perils of woke medicine—pediatrics is one of the most left-leaning sectors of the entire medical establishment (1:01:00); the breakdown of institutional trust (1:07:00); the transgender crusade and the subsequent sociological experiment being performed on children (1:09:00); why are parents allowing their children to be experimented on? (1:13:30); referring to pedophiles as MAPS—minor attracted persons—how did we get to the place where we have sexualized children and pedophilia is just another sexual orientation? (1:18:55); how the left has turned children into child soldiers to advance their ideology (1:21:55); how can we protect our children from absorbing the woke worldview (1:26:30); should you send your kids to public schools? (1:29:30).Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Jesus’ last words to his disciples were “Go . . . and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). Unfortunately, many churches are struggling to follow this commandment. In his book Reclaiming the Great Commission, Fr. Evan Armatas offers a roadmap to help us get back on track. Fr. Evan joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the need for Christians to follow the last commandment of Christ and reclaim the Great Commission.Topics discussed include: A modern day parable that explains why the church today is often failing to fulfill the last commandment of Christ (2:30); are evangelism programs a waste of time? (9:00); what have evangelicals discovered in their pursuit of sharing the Gospel? (11:30); is evangelism often more caught than taught? (13:45); finding ways to get out of God’s way—what are the biggest barriers that the church has erected around itself? (17:20); the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster as an example of why the Church needs to focus on the little things (25:30); what can we learn from the candle stand? (28:00); going after the Greek festivals—the issue of imbalanced identity and why culture cannot become the defining characteristic of our churches (33:05); what does it take to maintain a healthy church? (43:30); the importance of having a clearly defined identity as a Christian (56:45); growth is a byproduct of a healthy church (1:03:45); faith and planning are not mutually exclusive—on spiritual laziness and the importance of planning (1:10:45); how important is it for a church to have a strategic plan? (1:13:30); resistance is part of transformation (1:17:45); how did Hank Hanegraaff get into ministry? (1:20:45); reclaiming the great commission by equipping leaders that lead to healthy churches (1:27:45); getting back to the basics of the Christian faith (1:32:15).For further information on how to receive Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Roadmap to Parish Health for your partnering gift please click here. For information on Fr. Armatas other book Toolkit for Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving for your partnering gift, please click here.Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the fourth in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher, and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church.In this episode, they discuss such topics as: what true worship looks like, experiencing synergy with God, the authority of the Bible, Church Tradition and more.For further information see Hank’s most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More, Nathan’s Jacobs Becoming Truly Human 2-disc set: 1 DVD and 1 Blu-Ray, and Metropolitan Yohannan books, Never Give Up and Revolutions in World Missions. Topics discussed include: What does true worship look like? (3:05); what does it mean to become co-workers and experience synergy with God? (6:15); understanding the false dichotomy between faith and works (11:30); is the Bible the only source of authority for Christians? (28:00); understanding the practice of Church Traditions that have been handed down to us that precede the written Bible (39:15); should the Church change over time? (46:00).Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the first in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher, and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church. In this episode, they discuss such topics as: losing Western Civilization, secular Christians, the crisis of belief found in cognitive minorities, what Christians can learn from Mormons, the importance of missions and more. For further information see Hank’s most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More.Topics discussed include: Are we losing Western Civilization? (:30); have Christians become too secular? on Peter Berger and the crisis of belief when people find themselves in a cognitive minority (3:15); revitalizing the Christian faith through missions (11:15); the Book of Acts as a blueprint for Pentecost today (29:40); what we can learn from the Parable of the rich man and Lazarus (36:30); what can Christians learn from Mormons? (41:10); how should Christians live their lives? Devoting your life to the Lord looks different for everyone (46:15); we will never know the extent to which the Lord is using our lives for His glory this side of eternity (52:40). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

We all live our lives according to a story—a story that explains the universe and our place in it. But, how do we know if the story guiding the way that we live our lives is true? Dr. Paul Gould joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his book, A Good and True Story: Eleven Clues to Understanding Our Universe and Your Place in it, in which Gould leads readers on an engaging journey through eleven clues that suggest Christianity is not only true but satisfies our deepest longings—explaining the foundations of Christian truth behind the universe, morality, happiness, pain, beauty, and more. The evidence for God is found everywhere in the universe, but that evidence needs to be rightly interpreted. Today’s episode will equip listeners to explain the true story of the world and our own place in it, showing that Christianity holds the most satisfying answers to life’s biggest questions. For more information on receiving Dr. Gould’s book A Good and True Story, please click here. Topics discussed include: Why did Paul Gould write A Good and True Story? (2:45); do we live our lives according to a story? (4:30); evidence for God is everywhere, but it needs to be rightly interpreted (6:45); what are the non-religious stories that explain our existence? discussing scientism, materialism, atheism, nihilism and reductionism (9:15); what are the origins of the universe? (13:30); should the immensity of the universe inspire belief in God? (18:20); what is the nature of life? (22:40); how do we know that life is valuable? (26:30); how the Cambrian explosion uprooted Darwin’s Tree of Life (27:30); the current revolutions and shifts in evolutionary theory (30:50); does the modern world suffer from a nature deficit? (32:45); can materialism account for consciousness? (34:15); is there an objective moral order? what best explains morality? (38:40); the new phenomenon of nice nihilism (43:30); what is enchanted naturalism? (45:15); counterfeit happiness and the nature of true happiness (48:30); the problem of evil and the existence of God (52:00); has the logical problem of evil been solved? (54:40); is free will essential to what it means to be human? (57:15); can God do anything? (58:45); the evidential problem of evil (1:00:25); the significance of suffering in our lives (1:02:45); what is love? (1:05:00); how does the existence of love point to the existence of God? (1:07:00); the relationship between truth and beauty (1:10:00); what is the chief value of art? (1:15:00); what is religion? (1:16:45); why can’t all religions be true? (1:19:10); the story of Christianity is not only true, but it is a good story that satisfies our deepest longings (1:20:15); have you ever been disillusioned by the Christian worldview? (1:24:45). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast, is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the first in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher, and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church. In this episode, they discuss such topics as: the importance of putting our Christian faith into practice, the meaning of grace, misunderstanding salvation, how we pray, why so many Western Christians seem to be lost and more. For further information see Hank’s most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More, Nathan’s Jacobs Becoming Truly Human 2-disc set: 1 DVD and 1 Blu-Ray, and Metropolitan Yohannan books, Never Give Up and Revolutions in World Missions. Topics discussed include: What do Christians mean when they talk about grace? distinguishing between the essence of God and the energies of God and why that matters (2:45); the dangers of misunderstanding salvation (15:35); the Jesus Prayer, hesychasm and the significance of praying with our soul, mind and body (26:10); empty repetition (34:25); Hank Hanegraaff’s acronym of THEOSIS (38:00); why do so many Western Christians seem to be lost? (45:00).

In the greatest sermon ever preached—The Sermon on the Mount—Christ provides us with the three-legged stool of prayer, fasting and almsgiving that is axiomatic for living the Christian life of experiencing an ever-deepening union with God. As we observe the Lord’s example it is evident that in order to grow in our faith it is essential that we devote our lives to developing these disciplines in our daily lives. Fr. Evan Armatas refers to these disciplines as a “spiritual toolkit” and joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the fundamentals of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in a conversation that is both practical and profound. For further information on how to receive Toolkit for Spiritual Growth: A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving for your partnering gift, please click here.Topics discussed include: Jesus taught us to practice prayer, fasting and almsgiving in His Sermon on the Mount (1:00); what is the purpose of prayer? (7:20); what is the eye of the soul? Exploring the idea of the “nous” (10:25); who do we pray to when we pray? the importance of understanding Trinitarian prayer (12:10); should we only practice extemporaneous prayer? the importance of praying written prayers and praying in a liturgical fashion (16:30); the little church—the importance of having a prayer corner in our homes (24:00); can tending to a vigil lamp can change your life? (34:30); what should we do with our body while we pray? (37:35); creation and incarnation –matter matters (40:45); what is the significance of almsgiving? almsgiving is not something we do, but it is something we become (47:00); what is toxic charity and how can we avoid it? (55:45); the way that the liturgical calendar of the Church can aid us in our spiritual growth (59:10); the liturgical calendar walks you through the life of Christ throughout the year (1:06:45); why is fasting an important practice for every Christian? (1:09:45); the importance of building spiritual disciplines over time (1:17:30); why are so many modern Christians hesitant to embrace the spiritual discipline of fasting (1:20:30); the four seasons of fasting for Christians (1:23:00); Christianity is about setting patterns of practice that reorient our lives towards an eternal process of growing closer to God (1:27:50); the joyful sorrow of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (1:32:50). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Western Culture is in a state of crisis. Objective truth is replaced by virtual reality, humanity by “transhumanism,” meaning by meaninglessness, religion by whole-hearted devotion to scientism, and the republican government by the liberal internationalist regime. This cultural chaos inevitably leads to the question—Can the West be saved? On this episode of Hank Unplugged the Oxford-educated classicist Spencer Klavan joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss his new book How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises in which Klavan identifies five “essential crises”: The Crisis of Reality, The Crisis of the Body, The Crisis of Meaning, The Crisis of Religion and The Crisis of Regime. Klavan’s deep understanding of the roots of Western civilization make him a trustworthy guide for those concerned about the future of Western civilization. The situation is dire. But every crisis we face today we have faced—and surmounted—before. For more information on How to Save the West: Ancient Wisdom for 5 Modern Crises and how to receive for your partnering gift, please click here.Topics discussed include: Hank explains how he became familiar with Spencer Klavan’s work and their differences on human sexuality (:45); the crisis that ensues when we fail to communicate even when we disagree (7:25); how do we define Western Civilization? (9:35); does maintaining the traditions of Western Civilization matter? (13:45); are we experiencing a reality crisis? (19:30); if you can’t tell what is real or fake, then how can you determine good vs. evil? (24:30); what is reality privilege? (29:00); the connection between Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse and Plato’s Cave (32:45); the crisis of the body, consciousness and the soul (37:00); the purely fabricated notion of gender (43:00); the slippery slope from transgenderism to transhumanism (45:45); the state of our culture wars and the crisis of meaning (49:15); where do the rules of reality come from for a materialist? (53:45); the new religions of scientism and social justice (59:50); the disservice that the Enlightenment did to Western Civilization (1:04:50); the modern infatuation with the multiverse theories (1:09:10); why most people do not have the courage to live according to their convictions (1:13:45); the mythology that follows in the wake of science—the problem with science trying to answer questions that it was never designed to ask (1:17:20); our current political crisis is a crisis of civic love (1:20:05); the bright side of technology (1:30:00); how can we save the West? (1:31:35). NOTE: Hank Hanegraaff and the Christian Research Institute hold to the historic Christian orthodox view of marriage and sexuality; namely, that marriage is the exclusive, permanent, and comprehensive union of one man and one woman, the proper end of which is the bearing and rearing of children (Girgis, Anderson, George, What Is Marriage? Encounter Books; 1st Edition (December 11, 2012 ). Indeed, biblical marriage and sexuality constitute essential teaching of the faith—not an area about which Christians can simply agree to disagree. Nonetheless, professing Christians who have strong disagreements on primary doctrines can work together as cobelligerents on common cause issues. Guest Spencer Klavan, who is married to a man, brings brilliant scholarship and deep understanding to bear on the specific areas addressed in his book, How to Save the West, and the Hank Unplugged/Bible Answer Man conversation. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin from another context, we either hang together against the common threats to society or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. In not allowing the perfect to become the enemy of the good, it is our prayer and hope that Hank’s modeling of an uncomfortable conversation will benefit all listeners. For further study, see Scott Klusendorf, “Should Christians Be Cobelligerents in Ecumenical Coalitions?,” Christian Research Journal 29, 03 (2006), and Rev. Matthew M. Kennedy, “Marriage is about the Gospel: Clarifying the Boundaries of Christian Orthodoxy,” Christian Research Journal 45, 2/3 (2022): 16–23.Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff is joined by Nathan Jacobs and Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan for the first in a series of wide-ranging roundtable discussions. A professor, artist, author, philosopher and filmmaker—Nathan Jacobs is Scholar in Residence of Philosophy and Religion in the Religion in the Arts in Contemporary Culture Program based in Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Metropolitan K.P. Yohannan is the author of dozens of books and the founder/president of GFA World—formerly Gospel for Asia—one of the largest outreach organizations in the world that focuses primarily on the 10-40 window in India and Asia. Metropolitan Yohannan is also the head of Believers Eastern Church. They discuss such topics as: why they are Christians, the misunderstood concept of mystery in the Christian faith, Orthodox anthropology, the hope found in Christianity and more. For further information see Hank’s most recent book Truth Matters, Life Matters More.Topics discussed include: Why are you a Christian? (9:10); why do we need the church? an argument for the church as the epicenter of the universe (27:10); the often misunderstood role of mystery in the Christian faith (38:50); differences between Eastern and Western theology (47:15); Orthodox anthropology is about more than merely being saved—it is about theosis (59:05); salvation as progressive transformation as opposed to punctiliar and transactional (1:13:10); the problem with making the Bible an end to itself as opposed to a means (1:19:45); what is the hope of Christianity? (1:26:00). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, explains why the redefinition of marriage is such a serious matter. In the considered opinions of such great western philosophers as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, marriage was seen as a relationship between men and women. Indeed, in the Judeo-Christian tradition marriage has always been rooted in the dual, gender-distinct nature of humanity. As such, intercourse consummates marriage as a multifaceted mystery in which two people are forged together as one flesh. In mysterious union, a man and a woman procreate children fashioned in the image and likeness of their Creator. Marriage, however, is even more profound than procreation and paradisiacal pleasure—it is a mysterious parable of Christ and His church. The union of two people a poignant portrait of the unity of Christ and His bride. The parable has its roots in Genesis and bears ultimate fruit in Revelation. There are essentially three building blocks of civil society—marriage, church, government—resting atop the foundation of human life. Of the three none is more significant than marriage. The ABC’S—Anthropology: women and men enjoy strategic complementarity; as such, both are essential in the rearing of children. Biology: sexual reproduction requires male and female. Civics: Redefining marriage opens Pandora’s Box and spells the death knell to civil society.

Millions of Christians around the world use the sign of the Cross—and have done so for centuries—as a gesture of blessing. It is practiced when alone, during worship, before sleep, upon waking, before eating, before travel, and many other times throughout the day. But, what does it mean? Where did it originate? What did the sign of the Cross mean to the first Christians, and how has this simple movement of the hand evolved over the centuries?The sign of the Cross is literally a tracing of the Cross of Christ onto the body. By so doing, Christians invite the mystery of the Cross into their everyday lives. Andreas Andreopoulos joins Hank Hanegraaff to discuss the symbolism, the history and the mystery behind the sign of the cross—an interesting, informative and inspirational conversation that truly fulfills the mission statement of Hank Unplugged.For more information on receiving Andreas Andreopoulos book, The Sign of the Cross The Gesture, the Mystery, the History for your partnering gift, please click here. Topics discussed include: Metamorphosis and the theology of the transfiguration (3:30); art and theology (10:00); the depth and symbolism of icons (13:30); biblical authority and whether all Christians should practice making the sign of the cross? (20:30); making the sign of the cross as a form of prayer that centers us in Christ (31:30); the many ways that the symbol of the cross is used throughout Christian practice (34:40); the connection between the Eucharist and the cross (41:30); what does the cross have to do with our own suffering? (45:10); the cross as a weapon against spiritual warfare (48:15); the sign of the cross as a declaration of faith and Christian identity (52:00); the symbolic nature behind the gesture of the sign of the cross and the use of it as a way to bless oneself and/or others (55:15); theology as experience and experience of—recovering from an overly rationalistic form of faith and rediscovering our shared Christian tradition (1:00:15); Dionysius and the threefold process of ascent (1:02:05); what is prayer? what is contemplative prayer? (1:09:10); different expressions of the sign of the cross and the different occasions they are used (1:13:10); learning to become imitators of Christ and the cross—WWJD (1:16:00); what the sign of the cross has to offer Christians from all traditions—despite differences in tradition (1:19:45); the significance of personally connecting with Christological events such as the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and the second coming (1:23:25); what is the cosmic cross? (1:28:30); different understandings of original/ancestral sin (1:34:00); a summary of the significance of the sign of the cross (1:41:40).Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on an article in The Economist, “Christianity Is a Minority Religion in England and Wales,” which notes the precipitous decline of Christianity in Britain. Less than one half of the population now consider themselves to be Christian and the number of people who have “no religion” has rocketed up 57 percent. In the meantime, Islam has risen 42 percent, partly due to immigration. Millions of Muslims have come to a place like England (and the US) to fill a void created by death and abortion. Perhaps as troubling is that what is left of the Church in England has become increasingly irrelevant. Instead of being a change agent in the culture, the church has become a microcosm of the culture. More often than not the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman or that biological sex is real has become anathema. In other words, the church has become increasingly politically correct. We can curse the darkness or be part of the solution. We can refocus our attention on the great and glorious reality that Christ became Man so that we might be adopted into the family of God—as sons and daughters of God called to enter into the very life of the Trinity. United to God and to one another, the church is empowered by an unlimited flow of divine energy by which to provide light and life to the world.See “Christianity Is a Minority Religion in England and Wales,” The Economist, November 30, 2022, https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/11/30/christianity-is-a-minority-religion-in-england-and-walesFor further study, see Hank Hanegraaff, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯 broadcast and the 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 podcast, reflects on Pilate’s question to Jesus, “Are you a king, then?” and its relevance to the powerful message of Christmas.Also see The Heart of Christmas: A Devotional for the Season.

Hank Hanegraaff, the host of the 𝘉𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘯 broadcast and the 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘜𝘯𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 podcast, offers a candid meditation on trusting the Lord in the midst of suffering. Please keep the Hanegraaff family in your prayers at this difficult time.

Through the incarnation of Christ, His kenosis (emptying) makes our theosis (deification) possible. But, what is theosis? While Hanegraaff believes that theosis is the crown jewel of theology, he is aware that for many Christians theosis is a foreign concept and those who are aware of it all too often misunderstand it. Yet, if we ignore—or denounce—theosis than we miss the point of all theological speculation. Said Vladimir Lossky, ‘Christian theology is always in the last resort a means: a unity of knowledge subserving an end which transcends all knowledge. This ultimate end is union with God or deification.” For more information on Hank’s view see Truth Matters, Life Matters More available for your partnering gift here. In short, theosis is best understood as the process of attaining an ever-deepening union with God—a process that begins during our lives on earth and extends into eternity. As we celebrate the incarnation it is critical to remember that Jesus Christ came not only to save us from death, but to give us life. Theosis is what our lives are for and the process through which we become fully human. For more information on receiving Fellow Workers With God: Orthodox Thinking on Theosis for your partnering gift please click here. Topics discussed include: Why do so many Christians denounce deification? (4:30); what is deification? (9:20); the difference between the essence and energies of God and why it matters (11:30); what does it mean to experience theosis? (15:00); the incarnation, theosis and kenosis (17:45); we can’t do it alone—the ecclesial and sacramental nature of theosis (21:55); was the incarnation always intended to happen? (25:00); cooperation with God—some quintessential examples of theosis (32:05); self-transcendence and the communal experience of Christ—we cannot experience theosis on our own (38:25); the power of the Sacraments—chiefly the Eucharist (42:30); the Jesus Prayer and Hesychasm—seeking divine stillness through the contemplation of God in uninterrupted prayer (48:45). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, comments on the story of the first biological male to win a local Miss America pageant (New Hampshire). Brían Nguyen said, “I am ecstatic to be the first transgender woman to be a Miss America local titleholder, and I hope to make everyone proud and become the first to walk the Miss America stage.” Among Hank’s first thoughts upon seeing the story was the question, Why are the fellow women contestants cheering and going along with the ruse? Here is a clear example of absurdity. The pageant is no longer about authentic feminine beauty. This is a charade. Yet, all too often we are quiet. Perhaps we, too, fear that if we say something, we’ll be called out as out of touch with social trends—as backward or benighted. But we do need to speak up. And we must teach our children principles to live by so they are not swept along by this radical Wokism tide.See Amanda Harding, “Transgender-Identifying Teen Becomes First Male To Win A Miss America Sponsored Beauty Pageant,” The Daily Wire, November 10, 2022, https://www.dailywire.com/news/transgender-identifying-teen-becomes-first-male-to-win-a-miss-america-sponsored-beauty-pageant.See also, Douglas R. Groothuis, Fire in the Streets: How You Can Confidently Respond to Incendiary Cultural Topics https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-fire-in-the-streets-how-you-can-confidently-respond-to-incendiary-cultural-topics/ and Noelle Mering, Awake, Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive Ideology. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-awake-not-woke-a-christian-response-to-the-cult-of-progressive-ideology-wa2209fl2/

​Why aren’t we wise? One of the greatest paradoxes of the information age—a historic period of unparalleled access to information and knowledge—is that we are woefully unwise. In the face of dizzying distractions we encounter on a daily basis, Christians are called to cultivate wisdom. But, what does wisdom look like? In an effort to help us consume a more balanced, healthy diet of information, our guest Brett McCracken has created the “Wisdom Pyramid.” Inspired by the food pyramid model, the Wisdom Pyramid challenges us to increase our intake of enduring, trustworthy sources (like the Bible) while moderating our consumption of less reliable sources (like the Internet and social media). At a time when so much of our daily media diet is toxic and making us spiritually sick, The Wisdom Pyramid suggests that we become healthy and wise when we reorient our lives around God―the foundation of truth and the eternal source of wisdom. For more information on The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World and how to receive for your partnering gift please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-wisdom-pyramid-feeding-your-soul-in-a-post-truth-world/Topics discussed include: The paradox of lacking wisdom during the information age (2:30); the importance of contemplation (4:30); do you know how to read? (8:15); chronological snobbery—is innovation always better? (10:00); the danger of being a digital wanderer (12:45); the problem of algorithm driven, hyper-partisan echo chambers combined with the sorry state of journalism today (15:55); the democratization of information and the death of expertise (20:00); the tension between feelings, reality and the self (25:15); can wisdom exist apart from God? (32:10); what are the biggest challenges for the church in the digital age? (36:30); the connection between embodiment, the church and wisdom (43:00); approaching the Bible with humility and learning to live with tension and paradox (48:35); the rhythms of the church calendar (55:00); the synergy between Christianity and science (56:05); the importance of being involved in your local community (1:03:45); our innate need for nature (1:07:00); the importance of developing the discipline of reading (1:11:00); the synergy of silence and beauty and their relationship to the Sabbath (1:19:25); 5 habits to cultivate wisdom online (1:21:50); what does wisdom look like? (1:27:15). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast, is thinking about the recent mid-term elections. We put so much hope in our political system, and certainly political activism plays a necessary role. Yet while the ballot box is necessary, it is insufficient. Consider maladies in Western Civilization such as transgenderism and radical transgender surgery—something you could never have imagined where people are now at young ages having top and bottom surgeries making up maybe a trillion dollar industry for the medical establishment with young people becoming medical patients for life. Radical individualism, wokism, militant egalitarianism, religious pluralism, and so on. All such things are not magically changed or redeemed at the ballot box. Illiberal liberalism is perpetuated and disseminated in so many different ways. Think about educational institutions—so many educators saying the state should have a bigger input into the lives of children than parents. The entertainment industry, which many of us are hooked on. Environmental industries that create, manipulate, and disseminate ideological constructs driving Western civilization in a various dangerous direction. Just a glimpse of the darkness. What are the solutions? The church must awaken from its diabetic coma brought on by a steady diet of fast-food Christianity. Christians must become not only intellectually equipped but equipped internally—by a mysterious Zoetic energy—the energy by which we may yet reclaim the soul of the world against the insistent forces of secularism and paganism. For further reflection, see Hank Hanegraaff, Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-truth-matters-life-matters-more/

“The disintegration of rational society started in the drift from the hearth and the family”, wrote G. K. Chesterton in 1933. “The solution must be a drift back.” Today’s guest, lauded as “probably the greatest living authority on the life and work of G.K. Chesterton,” joins Hank to discuss his book The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State that Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens—a compilation of texts and quotes from G. K. Chesterton, edited by Dale Ahlquist, illustrating the glory of the family—the heritage of romance, love, marriage, parenthood, and home. In a world that has lost touch with normality, it takes a pioneer to rediscover the wonders of the normal and Dale Ahlquist represents Chesterton as a prophet from our past that can help us defend the role of the family as the key to a healthy civilization. For further information about receiving The Story of the Family: G.K. Chesterton on the Only State that Creates and Loves Its Own Citizens for your partnering gift, please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-story-of-the-family-g-k-chesterton-on-the-only-state-that-creates-and-loves-its-own-citizens/Topics discussed include: Why does how we define the family matter? (5:30); why is G.K. Chesterton important today? (7:25); on natural law (10:45); the growing influence of the government in our lives—especially in public schools (15:00); the paradox of freedom (17:30); the modern attack on the family (18:40); what were G.K. Chesterton’s critiques of capitalism? (21:00); what is the mystical mirror? (24:15); the sacramental idea of sex as a picture of Christ and the Church (27:20); the problem with free love, birth control and divorce (29:20); the connection between eugenics and birth control (32:20); real birth control is self-control (36:15); communism, capitalism and something worse (40:10); the practice of self-control (41:40); is public education undermining the family more than anything else? (43:40); does it make sense for feminists to attack motherhood? (48:00); the value of homemaking—the original work from home (50:25); why bad philosophy is ultimately self-destructing (52:40); the main point of distributism—also known as localism (54:25); how should we read? (1:00:00). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.