SPOTLIGHT: The Toxic War on Masculinity

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

This Spotlight episode features Nancy Pearcey’s Worldview Conference speech, “The Toxic War on Masculinity.”

Nancy Pearcey is the director of the Francis Schaeffer Center for Worldview and Culture at Houston Baptist University. She is also the author of several, critically-acclaimed books including Total Truth, Love They Body, and The Toxic War on Masculinity.

We are failing to nurture boys and then we blame them for their toxic behavior… researchers now tell us that male unemployment is at Great Depression era levels… and male life expectancy has gone down.

SPOTLIGHT: The Worldview of Our Age

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

In this podcast episode of Illinois Family Spotlight, Monte Larrick interviews Dr. Voddie Baucham regarding the issues of education, worldview, and critical race theory. The latter threatening to divide the Church and nation. There is an agenda to push a “false divide” between black and white people. In an interview with Christianity Daily, Dr. Baucham points out:

“So the Jew-Gentile divide that Paul talks about in the latter half of Ephesians 2, that is a real divide that God established.… Continue Reading

“Busting Myths, Homeschool Style” (Illinois Family Spotlight #254)

Producer’s note: I apologize for not apprising listeners that last week’s podcast (#253) would be one segment and not two. This podcast will have the same format, likewise the third part next week. David Smith, Rich Hartian and their daughters recorded this series of podcasts all at one time, thus the questionable ending last week.

Any homeschooler who’s had any homeschooling experience at all has heard myths about homeschooling. These include the “unsocialized homeschooler,” the homeschooler that has no extra-curricular opportunities, or that poor homeschooler who won’t be able to go to college.… Continue Reading

“The Nature of Gambling: Sin” (Illinois Family Spotlight #242)

Here’s a topic that appears to have been lost in the shuffle: gambling. But we are surrounded by a culture of gambling. Illinois recently approved a piece of gambling expansion legislation, which IFI and IFA fought against, but has now been encoded. On this episode of spotlight, IFA’s Dave Smith and Monte Larrick take a deep dive into the issues with gambling, and most importantly, what the Triune God has to say about gambling. Their guest is Mr.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: “When Reason Isn’t the Reason”

Written by David Smith

Now, perhaps more than ever before, Christians must be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is in us. (1 Peter 3:15) If you need to brush up on or strengthen your defense of the faith, or if you are new to the realm of apologetics, this highly informative and humorous edition of Spotlight is for you!

In his presentation at IFI’s 2017 Worldview Conference, Dr. Frank Turek shares the one question to ask a non-Christian.… Continue Reading

“Making the Christian Case Against Homosexuality” (Illinois Family Spotlight #228)

Making the Christian case against homosexuality has always been a great challenge in our engagement with the world, going all the way back to Genesis and the account of Sodom and Gomorrah. The biblical opposition to homosexual practice is especially relevant in light of the new ruling by Circuit Judge Britt Grant of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals regarding “reparative therapy,” whereby individuals with homosexual attractions willingly seek out pastoral or professional counseling to help them fight that specific sin.… Continue Reading

Don’t Put Your Light Under a Basket!

Written by Dr. Michael Brown

Whenever I hear Christian leaders talk about the inevitable collapse of the church of America (or elsewhere) I ask myself, “But hasn’t Jesus risen from the dead? Didn’t He ascend to the right hand of the Father? Hasn’t all authority in heaven and earth been given to Him? And aren’t we commanded to go and make disciples in His name and by His authority?”

If so, how then we can speak of any inevitable collapse of the church (or, specifically, of Christian society), regardless of how inevitable that collapse appears to human eyes?… Continue Reading

Survey: Liberal Millennials Outnumber Conservatives, Less Religious than Older Generation

Written by Spencer Irvine

The American Faith and Culture Institute published the results of a survey comparing Millennials and the older demographic of Americans and they are eye-raising:

The Worldview Measurement Project, conducted by the American Culture and Faith Institute, reveals that Millennials are, by far, the generation least likely to possess a biblical worldview. While 16% of those in the Boomer and Builder generations possess such an outlook, and just 7% of Baby Busters have a biblical worldview, only one-quarter as many Millennials have a biblical worldview – just 4%!

Five Key Findings on Religion in the U.S.

Written by Frank Newport

Religion remains an integral part of most Americans’ lives, but Gallup’s ongoing research shows how this has changed over time. The following are five important findings about religion in the U.S.:

1. America remains a largely Christian nation, although less so than in the past. Seventy-four percent of Americans identify with a Christian religion, and 5% identify with a non-Christian religion. The rest of the U.S. adult population, about 21%, either say they don’t have a formal religious identity or don’t give a response.… Continue Reading

Islam Is Not a Civilization

Written by Paul Eidelberg

We need a politically incorrect and radically new multi-disciplinary and multinational understanding of Islam.

To speak of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as the “three Abrahamic faiths” or as the “three religions of the Book,” or, more significantly, as the “three monotheisms,” obscures rather than illuminates. These familiar tropes, says theologian George Weigel, ought to be retired.

The eminent French scholar Alain Besançon agrees. He writes, “The Abraham of Genesis is not the Ibrahim of the Qur’an; Moses is not Moussa.… Continue Reading