Aaron Renn’s latest book is Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture.

As Renn writes in his book, this “negative world poses a profound challenge to American evangelicals and their churches, and it also helps to explain why there’s been so much turmoil and conflict within the evangelical world.”

Renn sat down with Denison Forum Podcast host Dr. Mark Turman to discuss his latest book. They delve into the historical transition of Christianity's societal perception from positive to neutral to negative, the impact of societal changes on evangelical adaptability, and strategies for Christians to engage meaningfully in a skeptical society.

Key topics include the importance of trustworthiness in Christian institutions, the state of marriage and family, and the need for Christians to cultivate excellence and adaptability while staying biblically grounded.

You will be both challenged and inspired by this interview with author Aaron Renn.

(00:33): Introducing Aaron Renn

(01:09): Exploring Life in the Negative World

(01:46): Understanding the Shift: From Positive to Negative World

(02:38): The Evolution of American Christianity: A Historical Perspective

(05:33): Navigating the Negative World: Strategies and Expectations for Christians

(09:18): Adapting to Change: The Evolution of Evangelical Strategies

(17:41): The Future of Christianity: Challenges and Opportunities

(19:37): The Political Landscape and Its Impact on Evangelicalism

(27:36): The Church's Response to a Changing Culture

(29:00): Navigating the Intersection of Christianity and Politics

(29:49): The Future of Christian Institutions Amidst Societal Shifts

(30:51): Embracing Exploration and Adaptability in Uncertain Times

(31:33): The Call to Personal Excellence, Obedience, and Resilience

(32:30): The Importance of Excellence in Christian Life

(46:25): Addressing the Crisis of Competence and Trust in Institutions

(52:21): Confronting Challenges in Gender and Sexuality

(56:05): Finding Hope and Opportunity in a Negative World

Life in the Negative World: Confronting Challenges in an Anti-Christian Culture by Aaron Renn

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Podcast episode transcript

Aaron M. Renn is a consultant and writer in Indianapolis. He is a Senior Fellow at American Reformer, a former Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Public Research and former partner at Accenture. He has written extensively on cities, culture, the future of the evangelical church, and men's issues.

Dr. Mark Turman is the Executive Director of Denison Forum and Vice President of Denison Ministries. Among his many duties, Turman is most notably the host of The Denison Forum Podcast. He is also the chief strategist for DF Pastors, which equips pastors and church leaders to understand and transform today’s culture.

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.