Lighthouse Faith

Following the landmark 7 to 2 Supreme Court ruling in his favor,  62-year-old Jack Phillips is probably the most famous cake baker in the world. In 2012 he declined for religious reasons, to make one of his artistic wedding cakes for a same-sex couple. Now five years later, the nation's highest court says he has the right. Hear from Jack himself, exactly what happened that day that set off a nationwide debate and court battle.

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We live in tempestuous political times where respectful discourse has been replaced by virulent name-calling. Enter George Weigel, Distinguished  Senior Fellow of Washington's Ethics and Public Policy Center, who talks about his most recent book, Today, says Weigel, "order is especially vulnerable under the cultural conditions of a postmodern world unsure about its grasp on the truth of anything." Weigel, one of the foremost experts on Catholicism today in the world,  looks at Pope Francis' challenges as well as looking back on the heroic actions of Pope John Paul II."The Fragility of Order: Catholic Reflections on Turbulent Times.

We live in tempestuous political times where respectful discourse has been replaced by virulent name-calling. Enter George Weigel, Distinguished  Senior Fellow of Washington's Ethics and Public Policy Center, who talks about his most recent book, Today, says Weigel, "order is especially vulnerable under the cultural conditions of a postmodern world unsure about its grasp on the truth of anything." Weigel, one of the foremost experts on Catholicism today in the world,  looks at Pope Francis' challenges as well as looking back on the heroic actions of Pope John Paul II."The Fragility of Order: Catholic Reflections on Turbulent Times. 

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The future of religious freedom around the world weighs heavily on U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback. Since February of this year the former Kansas Governor, U.S. Senator and congressman has been the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.  Thousands of people in the world today are being persecuted for their faith, and much of it is done legally through government anti-blasphemy and anti-conversion laws; case in point, the trial of American Pastor Matthew Brunson. The ambassador talks about the latest on him as well as the upcoming Ministerial on Religious Freedom, which he and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will lead. It's the first of its kind in the world; an international gathering of leaders from around the globe in Washington, D.C. that will promote religious freedom as a path to economic empowerment.

The future of religious freedom around the world weighs heavily on U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback. Since February of this year the former Kansas Governor, U.S. Senator and congressman has been the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.  Thousands of people in the world today are being persecuted for their faith, and much of it is done legally through government anti-blasphemy and anti-conversion laws; case in point, the trial of American Pastor Matthew Brunson. The ambassador talks about the latest on him as well as the upcoming Ministerial on Religious Freedom, which he and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will lead. It's the first of its kind in the world; an international gathering of leaders from around the globe in Washington, D.C. that will promote religious freedom as a path to economic empowerment.

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What people believe is a powerful part of being human, beliefs shape our thoughts and our actions. But what if those beliefs are not based on what's true and good? Christian author Abdu Murray says we actually live in what's called a "post-truth" world, one that puts feelings ahead of facts. In his new book, "Saving Truth," Murray says that because we've lost sight of truth, we actually live in a culture of confusion. He says, "What happens if my preferences conflict with someone else's preferences? And if truth doesn't decide who's right and who's wrong, what decides who's right and who's wrong won't be truth, it will be power."

What people believe is a powerful part of being human, beliefs shape our thoughts and our actions. But what if those beliefs are not based on what's true and good? Christian author Abdu Murray says we actually live in what's called a "post-truth" world, one that puts feelings ahead of facts. In his new book, "Saving Truth," Murray says that because we've lost sight of truth, we actually live in a culture of confusion. He says, "What happens if my preferences conflict with someone else's preferences? And if truth doesn't decide who's right and who's wrong, what decides who's right and who's wrong won't be truth, it will be power."

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With the recent celebrity suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain,  Lauren takes a look at suicide from a religious point of view with College of Holy Cross religion professor, Mathew Schmalz. He wrote an article called, "Why the Religions of the World Condemn Suicide", which basically explains why the vast majority of faiths, even with their differences in doctrine, agree on this subject that your life is not your own. But then the question remains, why the increase in suicides? Is it because of a corresponding rise in the number of people with no faith? We take a look at the issue of how our fractured, fast-paced and goal-oriented lives have contributed to the rise in suicides, which has become epidemic, and why faith communities can help turn the tide.

With the recent celebrity suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain,  Lauren takes a look at suicide from a religious point of view with College of Holy Cross religion professor, Mathew Schmalz. He wrote an article called, "Why the Religions of the World Condemn Suicide", which basically explains why the vast majority of faiths, even with their differences in doctrine, agree on this subject that your life is not your own. But then the question remains, why the increase in suicides? Is it because of a corresponding rise in the number of people with no faith? We take a look at the issue of how our fractured, fast-paced and goal-oriented lives have contributed to the rise in suicides, which has become epidemic, and why faith communities can help turn the tide.

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Are we closer to the End Times? Fascinating, yet scary if true. Biblical prophecy of the End Times and warnings of a coming judgment are a big part of what draws people to and away from the Bible. It's one of the most questioned parts of the Judeo-Christian Holy Scriptures. Some of the signs are wars, terror, murder, general tumult. But how bad does lawlessness and disorder have to be to signal that we are living in the End Times? Phil Hotsenpiller is a noted theologian whose specialty has been talking about End Times. We talk about his recent book that takes a look at whether or not these are the worst days.

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