Christianity Archives

February 10, 2026February 8, 2026

Looking for Answers in the Wrong Places

What do the Shroud of Turin, the statues on Easter Island, UFOs, and demon possession have in common? They keep appearing in the media because they are all money-makers for those who promote them, and because people are looking for answers in the wrong places.

The Shroud of Turin is a 14-foot linen cloth with an image of a man burned into it. It is kept in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy, and has been used by the Catholic Church as a relic to attract Christian pilgrims to Turin. Facts about the shroud show it is not a supernatural object. The image on the Shroud is too tall for the time of Jesus. The cloth dates back to the 1300s and is a single piece of fabric, yet the Bible mentions two cloths—one for the head and one for the body.

The large statues called the “moai” on Easter Island were visited by Norwegian explorer Thor, who provided a clear explanation for them and how they were erected. This led to a book and a movie, and now they are a popular tourist attraction. Many books have been sold claiming that UFOs and demon possession are real. There are countless claims about Noah’s Ark, many of which have been major money-makers, including a replica in Kentucky. In Texas, a religious group trying to prove the Earth is only thousands of years old has claimed that human and dinosaur footprints are found in the same rock layers.

The problem is that unsupported claims can weaken young people’s faith as they learn about the true evidence. This website aims to show that scientific evidence supports what the Bible actually says. We often spend time and effort countering false claims made by people who lack understanding or are trying to deceive others who are looking for answers in the wrong places.

We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we do have extensive experience and support from people with academic credentials who can address many of the faith-related questions people have.

January 19, 2026January 17, 2026

The Curse of Minimalism

OK, you may not find “minimalism” in your dictionary, and Alexa didn’t like it. However, it is a problem in today’s world and an issue that Jesus Christ addressed. In Matthew 22:37, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:5: “Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, soul, and mind.” In today’s world, that kind of statement is frowned upon by many people. We hear things like: “Do I have to go to church to be saved?” “How much do I have to give when the collection plate passes?” “Am I going to hell if I drink a beer?” etc. Questions like these show a very poor understanding of what Christianity is all about and a great ignorance of what the Bible teaches. That is what I mean by the curse of minimalism.

Minimalism can also be destructive in other areas of our lives. How many of us would think or say, “What is the least I can do to have a happy marriage?” What would be the result if a parent does the minimum required in parenting? What happens in the workplace when employees do only what’s necessary to get by? Every manager or business owner knows how harmful attitudes like that can be.

The biblical teaching is very clear about the importance of avoiding minimalism. In ancient Israel, everyone was expected to set aside one day each week for prayer, study, and worship. The Sabbath was not a day of sleep, but a day away from the demands of everyday life. Imagine the impact of a person spending one-seventh of their time in service to others. We all have 168 hours each week, and one-seventh of that is 24 hours, or nearly 4 hours each day dedicated to serving others. The remaining 20 hours could be used for work, sleep, eating, and doing things we enjoy.

Most of us don’t really know what we do with our time. Try budgeting your time for a week. Set aside time to serve God and others, and make sure you get enough sleep, eat well, work, do chores, and enjoy your hobbies. You will find great rewards in escaping the curse of minimalism and in appreciating the gift of time that God has given us.

January 16, 2026January 14, 2026

The Ignorance of Modern Churchgoers

Postmodern America is searching for answers in all the wrong places, and this is evident both in churches and in the secular world. The Family Research Council (FRC) and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) surveyed 1,000 churchgoers, adults who attend Christian church services at least once a month. The survey found that the ignorance of modern churchgoers is significant.

Only 54% of churchgoers said they believe that the Bible is the true, inspired, and error-free Word of God. Only 61% can say that they believe in the God described in the Bible. Only 51% said the Bible speaks clearly on abortion, and only 47% said it is clear on homosexuality. When asked whether they prefer capitalism or socialism, 32% of churchgoers favored socialism.

Although 30% of those surveyed claimed to have a biblical worldview, the survey shows that only 11% actually do. CRC research director George Barna remarked, “This generation of churchgoers is increasingly unsure of what they believe—or why.” The challenge for church leaders is how to modify their education programs to confront this ignorance. Currently, the tendency is either to deny the problem or to offer a simplified, outdated explanation that doesn’t meet the needs of today’s young people.

The FRC findings indicate that there is “widespread confusion about the most basic truths of the Christian faith—about who God is, what sin is, and how someone is saved.” I would add to this list confusion over WHAT God is. The ignorance of modern churchgoers is troubling, and clearing up this confusion is what this ministry is about.

References: frc.org and arizonachristian.edu

January 9, 2026December 31, 2025

The Unchurching of America?

American news website Axios featured an article by Russell Contreras titled “The Great Unchurching of America.” It begins with the statement, “The U. S. is undergoing its fastest religious shift in modern history.” The article notes a “rapid increase in the religiously unaffiliated” and “numerous church closures nationwide.” Is there an “unchurching of America?”

The article points out that “nearly three in 10 American adults today identify as religiously unaffiliated” (Also called “nones “). That figure rises to four in ten among Americans aged 18-29. According to a Gallup survey, 57% of Americans “seldom or never attend religious services, ” up from 40% in 2000. According to the article, 15,000 churches will shut their doors this year, while only a few thousand are expected to open. This results in empty buildings that were once community gathering places for AA meetings, town halls, or voting precincts. These abandoned buildings are difficult to sell.

It seems to me that many of the abandoned church buildings are affiliated with liberal denominations that have abandoned the gospel message. The article mentions that megachurches remain stable. Perhaps that is because they can offer more for families than small, aging churches. As we have said before, the church is not a building.

Are we witnessing the unchurching of America, or is this a shift away from religious liberalism toward more conservative, biblical Christian values? Could this also signal a return to political conservatism? Axios notes that only 12% of Republicans identify as religiously unaffiliated, compared to 34% of Democrats.

Axios asserts that “There is no widespread academic or mainstream evidence of a large-scale national religious awakening.” Time will reveal whether this so-called “unchurching of America” reflects a genuine loss of faith or an abandonment of hollow churches that have become mere social clubs, lacking belief in basic biblical truths. A return to fundamental biblical Christian faith and a renewed focus on evangelism and sharing that faith may be on the horizon.

Reference: Axios.com

December 19, 2025December 15, 2025

Happiness Comes from Giving, Not Possessing

One in every 10 households in the United States rents a self-storage unit. The big question is whether having that much stuff has made Americans happier than people in other cultures. Happiness comes from giving, not possessing.

Brenda and Mark Young, writing in the August 6, 2025, issue of Power for Today, describe their work in Honduras and how much happier the people there are compared to typical Americans. Those Hondurans didn’t have electricity, toilets, or running water in their homes, yet they amazed visitors with their joy. Their happiness came from the time they spent with family and friends, building strong, rich relationships. Their wealth comes from their relationships with people, not with things.

In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus is sitting opposite the temple treasury, watching as people make their donations to the temple. The wealthy are making a show of giving large amounts, but Jesus sees a poor widow who puts in two mites. That is not even enough to buy a sparrow, so two mites are insignificant as far as material goods are concerned. The poor widow gave wholeheartedly of all she had. God isn’t impressed by the amount a person gives. He looks for the heart behind it.

We overestimate the importance God places on our giving. If every Christian on the planet were to stop giving entirely, God’s work would still get done. Our giving is not for God’s benefit, but rather for ours. Our giving enriches our marriages, our kids, our friends, and our jobs when we have a heart to give. My parents were atheists, and to them, the material goods they acquired were the most important things in life. They were not happy people, and our family was in constant conflict because of their obsession with acquiring things.

Church work suffers when we decide what God wants us to build, then mount an all-out campaign to raise enough money to build it. What we need to do is look for the doors that God opens for us and do what God provides for us to do. Building enormous structures and hiring talented preachers to entertain us while people in the neighborhood are without food, medicine, and adequate shelter is not what Jesus taught us to do. Happiness comes from giving. Read Mark 12:41-44 again and pray about how your giving shows God where your heart is.

December 15, 2025December 14, 2025

Expressing Biblical Beliefs

In the past, we have written about Christians who have been penalized by government institutions because of their faith. (For example, see Here and Here.) Now, we see that a University of Oklahoma student received a failing grade for expressing biblical beliefs. Samantha Fulnecky, a junior pre-med student, was assigned to read and give her opinion on an article dealing with “gender binary and mental health issues and gender stereotypes in early adolescence.” Her task was to give a thoughtful discussion of the article.

The grading standard for the assignment included three criteria totaling 25 points. Up to 10 points could be awarded for “does the paper show a clear tie-in to the assigned article?” The other 10 points depended on whether the paper presented a thoughtful reaction or response to the article rather than a summary. Finally, five points could be given for the clarity of the writing. The graduate teaching assistant who graded Fulnecky’s paper gave her a 0 out of 25.

The assignment required students to share their own subjective opinion on the article, which Ms. Fulnecky did, expressing biblical beliefs. She wrote that “God made male and female and made us differently from each other on purpose and for a purpose.” She also stated that “gender roles and tendencies should not be considered stereotypes.” She declared that “pushing the lie that everyone has their own truth and everyone can do whatever they want and be whoever they want is not biblical whatsoever.”

Her words did not sit well with Mel Curth, the graduate student who graded the paper and who uses she/they pronouns. She/they gave Fulnecky 0 out of 25 possible points and said that she was not showing empathy and was not providing evidence for her statements. Curth also said that the concept of only two sexes is not supported by science.

Samantha Fulnecky said that she thought nothing would have been done “if it had not blown up on social media the way it did.” Due to the attention, the university placed Curth on administrative leave and is supposedly reviewing the situation. To the university’s credit, they appointed a full-time professor as the course instructor for the rest of the semester.

Fulnecky encourages other students to stand up for what they believe. She said, “I would rather have my integrity and give my true opinion and get a zero on an assignment than to have to lie about what I really believe.” This is another example of the challenge to free speech and freedom of religion that are guaranteed in the United States Constitution. More than that, it is a challenge to Christians to not be afraid of expressing biblical beliefs even when it’s not popular or easy.

Reference: foxnews.com

December 11, 2025December 10, 2025

If Christianity Became Illegal

Skeptics argue that Christianity is merely a large money-making scam that should be illegal. They particularly complain about religious tax exemptions and the activities churches claim as religious work, such as operating retirement centers and camps. However, these criticisms overlook what would actually happen if Christianity became illegal.

The Giving Institute reports that Americans donated $392 billion to U.S. charities in 2024. Churches support many hospitals, women’s shelters, nursing homes, food pantries, counseling centers, adoption agencies, youth camps, and more. The range of beneficial programs run by churches is extensive. While it’s true that a few individuals have committed exploitative acts in the name of religion, they represent a small minority.

Think about the consequences if Christianity became illegal. Many hospitals and nursing homes would shut down, and the government would have to take over the vital services that churches currently provide. With every change in political leadership, programs initiated by the previous party could be eliminated.

Our culture largely depends on Christian principles. How many atheist charities are you familiar with? How many hospitals have been established and maintained by the skeptics who criticize Christianity? Why would someone with no religious beliefs donate a large portion of their income to help the less fortunate? If your sole moral philosophy is “survival of the fittest,” why would you give money to those whom you consider to be less fit?

If Christianity became illegal, it would not eliminate hypocrisy. While some hypocrites are in churches, the greatest hypocrisy is found in those who want to make Christianity illegal.

Reference: Thrivent Magazine, winter 2025, page 4, and thrivent.com

December 10, 2025December 9, 2025

Pseudoscience, True Science, and Faith

This website is dedicated to promoting science and faith as allies. Many people in religious communities believe that science opposes faith because of their denominational teachings that conflict with scientific evidence. The faith of many young people and members of the academic community has been weakened or broken by the ongoing clash between science and faith. Often, pseudoscience is the root cause of this conflict. Here are five reasons for the tension:

1) Some of the conflict’s promoters are religious leaders with no scientific background or understanding.

2) Many of the individuals claiming to be scientists hold PhDs in fields unrelated to the issues they discuss.

3) Some scientists harbor resentment against religion and refuse to support supporting evidence.

4) Many individuals on both sides are outdated and unaware of new discoveries and insights.

5) The viewpoints of both scientists and religious leaders are not reliable sources of information.

Webster’s Dictionary defines “pseudoscience” as “a collection of beliefs or practices mistakenly regarded as being based on scientific method.” Those promoting the conflict between science and faith are promoting pseudoscience. We urge parents, teachers, religious leaders, and young people to verify everything they read, hear, or see to ensure its accuracy.

This ministry strives diligently to avoid presenting anything that could be mistaken for pseudoscience. When we make an error, we issue a retraction. Our sources are academic journals that rely on the scientific method. In 1 Timothy 6:20, the Apostle Paul advised the young preacher Timothy to “turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called science.” That advice remains especially relevant today.

December 5, 2025November 30, 2025

Forgive and Forget

One of the most challenging teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount is the instruction in Matthew 6:12: “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” In verses 14-15, Jesus states, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” How can we forgive and forget when someone has hurt us?

An article in National Geographic titled “Why Learning to Forget Is an Underrated Skill” included this statement: “We start to forget as soon as we begin to remember – and this is a good thing.” Forgetting prevents our minds from being overwhelmed with useless information or emotionally painful memories. It turns out we have surprisingly good control over what we choose not to remember.

God has designed our brains to forgive and forget. Jesus knew that forgetting is essential for good mental health. It’s hard for us to understand how God can forget our sins, but God is the Creator and is perfect. Our imperfections make it difficult for us to do what Jesus calls us to do.

The design of our brains demonstrates God’s incredible creative wisdom. We need to remember useful information. For example, we avoid grabbing something hot because past experience shows it will hurt. We can forget the pain of a broken heart when falling in love again. We can work on forgetting what someone did by choosing not to dwell on the pain. Research shows that letting go of bad experiences is crucial to our well-being.

Forgive and forget go hand in hand. Jesus understood what gives us greater stability in life. How much less stress would we have if we simply followed His teachings?

Reference: “Why Learning to Forget Is An Underrated Skill” in the December 2025 issue of National Geographic, pages 102-103, and nationalgeographic.com

November 27, 2025November 23, 2025

Giving Thanks This Thanksgiving

One thing that sets Christianity apart is that we find Christians giving thanks for everything. Those who answer “None” when asked about their religion have no one to thank, and our modern American culture is characterized by taking everything for granted.

James 1:17 tells Christians, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” In the Old Testament, we see that Moses worried that when the people entered the promised land and were richly blessed, they might become proud and forget what God had done for them (Deuteronomy 8:11-20). Romans 1:21 tells us, “Although men knew that God exists, they have refused to honor him as God or render Him thanks. Hence, all their thinking has ended in futility, and their misguided minds are plunged into darkness.”

We are truly blessed both physically and spiritually. Outside the U.S., only 7% of the world’s population owns a car. The amount of food wasted in this country could feed all the underdeveloped countries in the world. But most importantly, as Christians, we are spiritually blessed.

Americans often see Thanksgiving as a time to enjoy turkey, hunting, and football. While we can enjoy any or all of these, 1 Timothy 2:1 encourages us with these words: “I am urging that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be offered for all mankind.” Make this Thanksgiving a time for giving thanks for the physical and spiritual blessings God has provided.