Dear Friend: To Those Choosing to Abstain or Vote 3rd Party in 2024

2024 Presidential Election, abortion, Abraham Lincoln, Apologetics, Christianity, Democrat, get out the vote, Gospel, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, Politics, Republican, Robert Gagnon, slavery, voting, www.FreeThinkingMinistries.com
Editor’s Note: This post from Dr. Robert A.J. Gagnon was originally posted on October 14, 2024 at FreeThinking Ministries, in the form of an open letter to everyone who is tempted to abstain from voting in the 2024 election. We’ve tried to preserve that format here at CrossExamined. Dear friend who is inclined not to cast a vote for either Harris or Trump, I agree that Trump deserves criticism for his weakened stance on abortion. His position on abortion has probably changed for the worse since coming to the conclusion that he can’t get elected by holding a consistently pro-life position. But consider Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election. Even Lincoln was not a declared abolitionist in 1860 (and also by our standards today a racist). He couldn’t have been…
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Richard Dawkins, the Unlikely Evangelist

Alister McGrath, Anikó Albert, Ard Louis, Ashley Lande, Christianity, Coming to Faith Through Dawkins, Denis Alexander, Evolution, Faith & Science, faith and science, Johan Erasmus, Joshua Pauling, Judaism, Michael Ruse, National Academies of Science, New Atheism, Sam Harris, Schadenfreude, Scott Alexander, Sy Garte
As a recent book of essays demonstrates, the once much-vaunted new atheism spurred many thinking people to become Christians. Source
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Biblical Inerrancy and the Young vs. Old Earth Debate | with Dr. Hugh Ross

Christian Apologetics, Christianity, creationism, Dr. Frank Turek, Hugh Ross, morality, philosophy, Podcast, religion, theology
Can you believe in biblical inerrancy AND hold to the old earth creation model? There’s been an intramural debate brewing between old earth and young creationists, and some evangelical scholars say it’s time to rethink the bedrock doctrine of biblical inerrancy in order for Christianity to remain viable in the intellectual sphere. But what do the Scriptures, along with what we can observe scientifically, reveal about creation and the age of the earth? To help us answer that question is astrophysicist, Christian apologist, author, and founder of Reasons to Believe, Dr. Hugh Ross, who joins Frank from the SES 2024 Steadfast conference, right before his debate with young earth creationist, Dr. Terry Mortenson. In defense of the old earth position, Dr. Hugh Ross will unpack what Genesis 1 shows us about cosmology and will tackle questions like: How…
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Personally Prolife, Politically Prochoice: A Response

abortion, Apologetics, Christianity, cultural apologetics, Gospel, John Ferrer, Legislating Morality, Culture & Politics, pro-choice, pro-life, Pro-Life Apologetics, www.IntelligentChristianFaith.com, “personally pro-life”, “politically pro-choice.”
Can we be pro-life personally but pro-choice politically? The quick answer to this loaded question is: No, we can’t really be pro-life personally if we are pro-choice politically. That’s because pro-lifers recognize that the child-in-utero is a human being, so the decision to abort isn’t a strictly personal decision at all, it’s an interpersonal decision. In that sense, it’s not a “private” decision (for just one person to decide). It’s a public decision (where at least 2 people are involved). Since abortion is an interpersonal act, it bears upon society and politics. Some people might not want to have an abortion, for themselves, but that does not qualify anyone as pro-life. Pro-choicers themselves recognize a “freedom to choose,” even when that includes choosing against abortion. In summary, if you are…
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Toxic Empathy | with Allie Beth Stuckey Plus Q&A

Allie Beth Stuckey, Christian Apologetics, Christianity, Dr. Frank Turek, morality, philosophy, Podcast, religion, theology
Why are so many Christians being led astray by statements like “abortion is healthcare,” “trans women are women,” and “love is love”? These catchy phrases have convinced some believers and conservatives to adopt views aligned with social justice movements—even on issues like illegal immigration. But do these ideas truly align with biblical truth, or are they carefully packaged lies that distort Christian values? This week, conservative commentator and Christian author, Allie Beth Stuckey joins Frank to talk about the inspiration behind her brand new book, ‘Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion‘, which explores real life examples of how compassion has been weaponized against Christians, ultimately shaming evangelicals into supporting and celebrating policies that violate the Christian worldview. During their conversation, Frank and Allie will answer questions like: What are the 5 main…
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Is AI Dangerous? (Part 2)

Alexa Cramer, Apologetics, Artificial Intelligence, Christianity, cultural apologetics, Culture and Politics, Gospel, MamaBearApologetics.com, Science and Technology, Techie
In Part 1, we may have virtually scared the pants off our readers with our semi-dystopian view of the future. But everything’s going to be okay, mama. You’re fine. I’m fine. Everything’s FINE! No, really, we’re all fine. Let me ask you something: can you give me an example of any time the future wasn’t scary? I doubt it. On this side of heaven, the future will always be uncertain. So, what we can do is cling to that which we are certain of – absolute truth. And that truth is found in a person: Jesus. Seek truth, and you’ll find Christ and His promises. Seek Christ, and you’ll find truth and clarity. Consequently, it’s no surprise that God’s number one enemy is working relentlessly to distort our view of truth. Because that’s ALL…
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Silence Equals Consent: The Sin of Omission | with Bill Federer

Bill Federer, Christian Apologetics, Christianity, Donald Trump, Dr. Frank Turek, Kamala Harris, morality, philosophy, Podcast, Problem of Evil, religion, theology
Why do so many Christians find it acceptable to stay silent in the face of evil? The idea that politics are merely “worldly” and that disengaging from culture is the best path forward has deceived far too many Christians into falling in line with cultural norms. But if the Church continues to withdraw from what’s going on in the world, who’s going to be left in charge? This week, historian and bestselling author Bill Federer joins Frank to discuss his latest book, ‘Silence Equals Consent -The Sin of Omission: Speak Now or Forever Lose Your Freedom.‘ In this eye-opening episode, they dive deep into the Church’s history of political indifference and explore why now, more than ever, Christians must engage with the world to preserve (religious) freedom. Together, Frank and Bill tackle key questions,…
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Do Oral Cultures Operate the Same as the Telephone Game?

4. Is the NT True?, Apologetics, Bellatori Christi, biblical apologetics, Christianity, Gospel, Inerrancy, Infallibility, inspiration, Liberty University, New Testament, reliability, Sherene Khouri
Secular scholars, especially those who attack the historicity of the New Testament, claim it is difficult to establish historical knowledge that is valid and reliable because of the infallibility of the human memory. People do not recall information accurately, especially if the account is written years after the event. However, historians and archaeologists have been able to make strong cases for their accounts considering several factors, such as the closeness of the written document to the event, multiple attestations to the incident, and so on. In this article, I will discuss the factor of oral tradition communities, how literate people recorded their history, and whether their methodology is reliable or not. Western and advanced societies might not realize that there is a pattern that oral communities usually follow to preserve…
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The Eclipse of God with | Dr. Erwin Lutzer

Christian Apologetics, Christianity, Dr. Frank Turek, Erwin Lutzer, morality, philosophy, Podcast, Problem of Evil, religion, theology
Is the American Church still shining as the light of Christ, or have we made too many compromises in the name of “tolerance” and “inclusion”? As darkness in our nation grows, it’s becoming clear that the faith of many has become cloudy and confused, leading to the rise of secularism and threats to the freedoms once rooted in the Christian worldview. Where are we headed, and what lessons from the past should serve as warnings for our future? This week, Frank sits down with the one and only Dr. Erwin Lutzer about his brand new book, ‘The Eclipse of God: Our Nation’s Disastrous Search for a More Inclusive Deity (and What We Must Do About It)‘, which explores how America is attempting to redefine God, replacing Him with one made in our image. Dr.…
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Prioritizing FAT Christians: A Practical Theology for Pastors

Apologetics, Christianity, Church, discipleship, Faithful Available Teachable, FreeThinkingMinistries.com, Gospel, Great Commission, Pastoral Care, Paul Rasor, practical theology, Theology and Christian Apologetics
Several weeks ago, I was listening to the podcast “Wise Disciple” with Nate Salah ( “Is Voddie Wrong about Churches?”). He was discussing the need for pastors to focus on finding FAT Christians in their congregations. (Don’t worry. FAT is an acrostic.) This is to say, pastors need to prioritize their time and efforts upon Christians who are Faithful, Available and Teachable. There are multiple reasons why this principle ought to be followed by pastors. But before addressing those reasons, we need to understand what exactly a FAT Christian is.[i] What are F.A.T. Christians? FAT Christians are not just interested in Jesus but are committed to him as true disciples. Specifically, these are believers who are faithful in many things in the local church, such as attendance to Sunday worship, small group studies, and Sunday school. They are…
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