Well-read? Well, that’s dead. But is it true? Are Americans really reading far less today than in the past? According to recent polls, the answer is yes. Research shows that the current median for American adults is reading five books per year, with half of adults reading less than that. But why are we reading less? And why does it matter? On today’s episode, fellow bookworms Keith and Patrick give a quick cultural analysis of the ways that lower literacy rates are impacting both the culture and the church. They describe oral cultures of the past, citing that America is neither an oral nor a literary culture, but that the digital era has forever changed the way that we take in information. And how should the church respond, particularly Christian leaders? The two end with some practical tips, giving suggestions for why, what, when, and how to read more. Listen now! 

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Why Americans Read Less (& Why We Should Care More)

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If you grew up in the U.S., you’ve probably believed (and maybe you still do!) that advantage should be earned through ability and effort. You get ahead in this world based on your accomplishments. Right? Well, not so fast. What if this foundational American axiom is all a myth? Daniel Markovits, a professor at Yale and author of “The Meritocracy Trap,” joins Keith on the pod today to discuss. He starts by pointing out the problems with modern-day meritocracy: It feeds inequality, dismantles the middle class, and gives an unfair advantage to the elite. But what other options do we have as a country if our achievement-oriented society isn’t working? And does Markovits attribute his own successes to hard work and good choices or sheer luck? Plus, considering the claims of figures like Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and singer Oliver Anthony, does he believe that more and more Americans are “waking up” to the meritocracy myth? Listen now!

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The Meritocracy Myth with Daniel Markovits

If your faith was affected by the Left Behind series, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Not really, but can we talk about how many Americans have been impacted by the teachings of dispensationalism? That’s what happens today when Daniel Hummel, author of “The Rise and Fall of Dispensationalism,” joins Keith on the pod! First, Daniel breaks down the three key components to this theological system: its view of the Church and Israel, its teaching on End Times, and its literal interpretation of Scripture. And why is it problematic? What denominations hold to dispensationalism? How did it get thrust into politics? Plus, Daniel shares why its power and influence have waned, now making it more of a marginalized tradition. But does he believe there will be a revival of dispensationalism in the future? Listen now!

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The End of End Times Theology with Daniel Hummel

What’s happening to Gen Z? Since 2010, this generation has seen a 150% increase in depression. One in four teen girls reports experiencing a major depressive disorder in the last year. 37% of college students report feeling anxious “all the time.” New research shows that social media is no longer just a correlation to this problem, but the root cause. Drawing data from Jonathan Haidt’s latest book, “The Anxious Generation,” Keith and Patrick team up on the pod to examine Gen Z’s current mental health crisis. Hear how smartphones and social media *literally* rewire a child’s developing brain and how this leads to negative outcomes such as less sleep, higher rates of major depressive disorders, loneliness, suicidal tendencies, poor education, eating disorders, and more. Plus, when is the worst time to give a boy and a girl a smartphone, and how does gender play a distinct role? Are we all, adults included, addicted to our phones? And what about parental pushbacks to withholding smartphones from children? Shouldn’t kids have a phone in case of an emergency? Listen now and learn some practical next steps you can take to protect your children from these devices that are destroying their mental health.

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Is a Smartphone a Dumb Idea for Kids?

There’s no doubt that abortion will take center stage in this year’s election. From Roe v. Wade’s overturning to IVF controversies to Trump’s recent abortion stance to surprising state laws surrounding the issue, abortion is all over the news right now and Josh Brahm joins us this week to discuss. But he’s not the stereotypical pro-lifer. In fact, he claims that one of the main goals of his organization, Equal Rights Institute, is to “help make pro-lifers less weird” by bringing more apologetics to the movement. Hear him explain why he wasn’t surprised by conservative states passing more permissive abortion laws post-Roe. And what common ground can pro-lifers find with Trump, given his recent abortion stance? How should pro-life people feel about exceptions to abortion, like rape, incest, and the health of the mother? What are his thoughts on IVF? Josh also addresses our recent episode with Bradley Pierce and why he isn’t an abortion abolitionist. Plus, is the pro-life movement doomed to decline with religious decline? Listen now!

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Making Pro-Lifers Less Weird with Josh Brahm

Have you ever wished you could get inside the head of a Christian going through a deconstruction journey? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Today, we’re joined by Abigail Favale, a Professor of Women’s Studies and author of “Into the Deep: An Unlikely Catholic Conversion,” to hear how she went from an evangelical upbringing to postmodern feminism to a proud member of the Catholic Church. Follow along her journey as she shares with Patrick how her views developed, what she wishes she would have known before and during her deconstruction years, and how she navigated her fears. How have her views on gender and feminism changed? Why is it so important for Christians to live with, not resolve, the tension in the Bible? How did she become a Catholic? And what does she recommend we must do as the Church to support those living in deconstruction land? Listen now!

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Why Americans Read Less (& Why We Should Care More)

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