TMR 250 & 251 : Michael Flournoy : A Mormon Apologist Stumbles into Christianity

MichaelFlournoy

For this special two-part interview we are joined by ex-Mormon apologist Michael Flournoy for a detailed and highly-personal conversation on his new autobiographical book, Falling into Grace : How a Mormon Apologist Stumbled into Christianity, published in August 2020.

Brought up in the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", Michael Flournoy spent three decades as an ardent follower of the LDS religion. After serving as an LDS missionary in Anaheim California, where he gained experience in publicly debating Evangelical Christians, Michael went on to publish a book entitled, "A Biblical Defense of Mormonism", and continued to debate Christians online and in public. In 2015 he decided to devote himself to studying the subject of "grace" in the Bible in order to become a more effective advocate for Mormon beliefs, only to find his world turned upside-down by the very God of Grace he sought to understand.

TMR is very pleased to welcome Michael back to the show, who joined us back in 2015 for an online debate in his then role as a Mormon apologist.

   

TMR 233 : R. L. Solberg : TORAHISM

RLSolbergIs Christmas a pagan festival? Must Christians keep the Law of Moses?

We are joined by R. L. Solberg—author of the excellent new book TORAHISM : Are Christians Required to Keep the Law of Moses?—for a conversation on his book-length critique of the so-called Hebrew Roots Movement and the ways in which he seeks to engage, rather than to alienate, those affected by its teachings.

"R. L. Solberg (www.RLSolberg.com) is an author, speaker, teacher and theologian based in Nashville, Tennessee where he lives with his wife of 27 years, Debra, and a big German Shepherd named Thor. They are stakeholders at the Church of the City, Spring Hill and have two spectacular daughters who are out making their mark on the world. Solberg has been pursuing theology, apologetics and philosophy, formally and informally, for more than two decades. He studied at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Theological Studies at Williamson College in Nashville, TN. He strives to communicate on complex topics with clarity and grace, bringing a creative perspective to the conversation."

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LISTEN / DOWNOAD :TMR 233 : R. L. Solberg : TORAHISM

TMR 215 : K. Gordon Neufeld : Stories of Extreme Beliefs

KGordonNeufeldWe welcome once again the author K. Gordon Neufeld, one-time member of the so-called Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon, who joined us in 2014 to speak about the history, beliefs and practices of the Moonies, and to share with us from his experiences of joining, serving and eventually leaving that organisation.

This time he joins us to speak about his new book, Prophet and Loss : Stories of Extreme Beliefs, a collection of short fiction that effectively illustrates the painful dilemmas and heart-rending sacrifices of people who adopt extreme beliefs, and of those who know and love them.

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Read more: TMR 215 : K. Gordon Neufeld : Stories of Extreme Beliefs

TMR 179 : Laura Maxwell : From Luciferian Spiritualism to Christ

LauraMaxwellWe welcome the spiritual counsellor and radio host Laura Maxwell, who joins us to share her dramatic testimony of coming to faith in Jesus Christ after having once been involved in Luciferian spiritualism.

"As a spiritual counsellor, Laura is honoured that her work is shared worldwide via satellite TV, radio, books, magazines and online. She and her mother were taught that Lucifer is god when involved in New Age spiritualism. She now exposes the Globalist Agenda—the elite NWO cabal—from her inside knowledge of Luciferianism and Theosophy. She hosts a show on Eternal Radio, interviewing ex-occultists about their Christian conversion stories and their outreach to those still involved in the New Age, cults and the Occult. She is the founder of the international ministry Our Spiritual Quest, based in Scotland."—Laura Maxwell

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 179 : Laura Maxwell : From Luciferian Spiritualism to Christ

TMR 153: Mike Hopkins : A Survivor of the New Apostolic Reformation

MikeHopkins"It is not new, it is not apostolic, and it is not a reformation"—John MacArthur *

This week we welcome Mike Hopkins of Fight The Lies Radio, who joins us to discuss the so-called "New Apostolic Reformation", a new religious movement within Christianity that combines (among other things) hyper-charismatic worship, ostensibly-authoritative "apostles" and "prophets", and dominionist teachings.

In the second half Mike shares with us his, and his wife Kelli's, experience of having once been heavily involved in a NAR congregation—an experience characterised by increasing discomfort, leading to their eventual decision to leave in search of a different, more biblically-faithful, church.

"Mike Hopkins was born and raised in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, in the USA. In 2005, he accepted Messiah Yeshua. He has a thirst for truth and for bringing that truth to all who are willing to hear. He and his wife Kelli have recently begun hosting their own podcasts. Mike currently works in the tech industry. He currently lives in Virginia Beach with his wife and Kayla, their Boston Terrier."

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 153: Mike Hopkins : A Survivor of the New Apostolic Reformation

TMR 123 : David Conn : Jim Jones & The Jonestown Cultic Horror

ATJCThis week we welcome to the programme David Conn of TruthSleuth.net for an in-depth discussion on the so-called Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ and its manipulative founder Jim Jones, under whose "leadership" over nine hundred people were killed in a mass "suicide/murder" on the 18th of November 1978 in northwestern Guyana.

David Conn, who investigated Jones for eight years prior to the Jonestown Massacre, shares with us his own story of how he tried to expose and warn people about Jim Jones, and helps us to form some kind of understanding of the charismatic-yet-dangerous Jones and the psychological, spiritual and social factors that allowed such a man to rise to a position of power and influence.

David Conn is author of the book The Pleasure of Fiends : An Orthodox Study of Evil and the Meaning in the Jonestown Cultic Horror (2013).

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TMR 110 : Debate : Bobby Gilpin Vs Michael Flournoy : Mormonism & The Gospel

BobbyGilpinMichaelFlournoyWe are joined by UK Christian evangelist Bobby Gilpin and US Mormon apologist Michael Flournoy for a thoughtful and friendly transatlantic debate on the subject of Mormonism and the Gospel.

Does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) preach the biblical Gospel? Or are many of its key teachings at variance with the Good News in Jesus Christ as contained in the Bible? Arguing in favour of the motion - "The Mormon Church teaches a different gospel to the Bible" - is Bobby Gilpin, who opens the debate ; arguing against the motion is Michael Flournoy, who speaks from his own conviction that the Bible is compatible with LDS teachings.

Bobby Gilpin is Mission Co-ordinator for UK Partnerships for Christ, a ministry aimed at equipping and motivating UK Christians to reach out to Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and others with the biblical Gospel. Michael Flournoy is author of the book A Biblical Defense of Mormonism, and a passionate advocate of Mormon/Evangelical dialogue.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD :TMR 110 : Debate : Bobby Gilpin Vs Michael Flournoy : Mormonism & The Gospel

TMR 102 : Natalina : Be Anxious for Nothing - A Testimony

NatalinaOur guest this week is the one and only Natalina, host of Beyond Extraordinary Radio and blogger at ExtraordinaryIntelligence.com, who joins us to share her unique and moving testimony.

Once an adherent of various New Age philosophies, Natalina began the Extraordinary Intelligence website as a place to chronicle her search after truth, which at the time she was pursuing through investigations into the New Age and the Occult. But, although her website gained considerable attention in alternative and paranormal circles, everything changed for her when she had a remarkable encounter with God, since when she has devoted her life to Jesus Christ, and her website changed to become a ministry devoted to exposing the New Age and helping people to understand the world from a Christian worldview perspective.

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Read more: TMR 102 : Natalina : Be Anxious for Nothing - A Testimony

TMR 099 : Dr. James Wanliss : Resisting the Green Dragon

JamesWanlissWhat is "Green Religion"? Is it having an impact on modern environmentalism? And what effect is it having on the way people think and behave? Joining us to discuss these issues is Dr. James Wanliss, Associate Professor of Physics at Presbyterian College, Clinton, South Carolina, and author of the book: Resisting the Green Dragon; Dominion, Not Death.

Dr. Wanliss holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and Physics (from the University of Cape Town), a Master's in Geophysics (from the University of Witwatersrand) and a PhD in Physics (from the University of Alberta, Canada). His scientific interests centre in plasma physics, nonlinear dynamics, and space weather; he has published over 60 peer-reviewed scientific articles, mainly in the Journal of Geophysical Research and Geophysical Research Letters; and he has also published in psychology and medical areas, and popular Christian journals.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 099 : Dr. James Wanliss : Resisting the Green Dragon

TMR 093 : Pete Griffiths : Fall of the House of Xenu

PeteGriffithsWe welcome again Pete Griffiths of Ex-Scientologists Ireland who joins us for an informative, entertaining and surprisingly musical update on the current state of the so-called Church of Scientology.

Covering everything from Lord Xenu and his frozen alcohol and glycol, through Arpen Polo's first song 3 million years ago, to an improbable music album featuring John Travolta and L. Ron Hubbard, Pete Griffiths guides us through the bewildering world of Scientology and its founder, and shares with us from his experience as an activist working to alert people to the dangers of this fast-declining organisation.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 093 : Pete Griffiths : Fall of the House of Xenu

TMR 090 : K Gordon Neufeld : A Writer's Creative Journey Through an Extreme Religion

KGordonNeufeldOur guest this week is once again the author K. Gordon Neufeld, one-time member of the so-called Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon, who joined us earlier this year to speak about the history, beliefs and practices of the Moonies, and to share with us from his experiences of joining, serving and eventually leaving that organisation.

This time he joins us for a frank and deeply personal discussion of the more psychological aspects of his experience, with reference to his creative writing over the years, as contained in his new book, Cult Fiction : One Writer's Creative Journey Through an Extreme Religion.

 

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 090 : K Gordon Neufeld : A Writer's Creative Journey Through an Extreme Religion

TMR 089 : Vince McCann : Ouija - Spiritual Russian Roulette

VinceMcCann"Just a bit fun!", as the phrase goes, what could possibly be harmful about playing with a painted board and a wooden "planchette"? Friends, spooky laughs, bottle of wine - a good time to be had by all!

In the run-up to Halloween we are joined once again by Vince McCann, Director of Spotlight Ministries here in the UK, for an intriguing, challenging and entertaining conversation on the subject of the Ouija Board. Speaking from his experience of having once been involved in the Occult, Vince explains why the Ouija Board is far from "just a bit of fun". Characterising it, rather, as "spiritual Russian roulette", Vince warns that its use has frequently been associated with mental illness and spiritual oppression.

We invite you also to listen to Vince's dramatic testimony. Once involved in the Occult and oppressed by evil spirits, God led him, through prayer and exorcism, into a new life of freedom and faith in Jesus Christ, and called him to a ministry reaching out to those caught in the darkness of spiritual oppression.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 089 : Vince McCann : Ouija - Spiritual Russian Roulette

TMR 085 : Carl Teichrib : Transformational Festivals and the Myths of Oneness

CarlTeichribCarl Teichrib, Chief Editor of Forcing Change, joins us for an in-depth discussion on the burgeoning phenomenon of Transformational Festivals.

Each year many hundreds of thousands of people travel from all over the world to participate in these mind-altering events, temporarily immersing themselves in hypnotic, alternative 'realities'. Stunning locations, dramatic staging, electronic dance music, flamboyant clothing (or none), surrealist art, reimagined pagan myths, co-created rituals, communal living, and much more besides, variously combine to create participatory spaces in which people aim to experience 'new realities', thereby hoping to bring about personal and, ultimately, global transformation.

But, as Carl Teichrib explains, at the core of these experiences lies the age-old deception of Oneness, that worldview in which all distinctions are subsumed, and all truth relativised, in the ineffable One; a collectivist and falsely 'tolerant' worldview in which the message of Jesus can never be tolerated.

Reminding Christians of the mistakes of the past (in which countercultural movements tended to be either ignored or assimilated), Carl urges us now to engage as salt and light, with love and truth, so that the Gospel of Christ can be heard, and the cultural drift towards a One-World System be exposed.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 085 : Carl Teichrib : Transformational Festivals and the Myths of Oneness

TMR 078 : J. P. Holding : Hitler's "Christianity"

JPHolding

Was Hitler an atheist? Was he an occultist? Was he a Christian, as some allege today? ("This murderous, genocidal psychopath, one of the most evil men in history, was a devout Christian. Deal with it!") Or was he, perhaps, something else altogether?

Joining us this week is J. P. Holding, President of Tekton Apologetics Ministries and author of the book Hitler's Christianity, who maintains that Hitler was indeed something else altogether: an adherent of so-called "Positive Christianity." Rejecting large portions of the Bible as too Jewish, despising biblical teaching, and even claiming that Jesus was really a blue-eyed and blonde-haired Aryan, Postive Christianity was an influential New Religious Movement in Germany during the first half of the Twentieth Century that distorted Christianity by combining it with ideas of racial purity and Nazi ideology. It is here, argues J. P. Holding, that we get the closest glimpse of Hitler's religious views.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 078 : J. P. Holding : Hitler's "Christianity"

TMR 070 : Russ Wise : A Course In Miracles - A Christian Worldview Evaluation

RussWise"Christ waits for your acceptance of Him as YOURSELF, and His Wholeness as YOURS" (A.C.I.M.)

This week our guest is Russ Wise, vice president of Christian Information Ministries and long-time researcher into New Religious Movements, who joins us to discuss the highly-influential "A Course in Miracles". Beginning (humanly-speaking) with Helen Schucman in the mid-1960s who claimed that the Course was dictated to her by the "voice" of Jesus, and popularised in more recent times by Oprah Winfrey and Marianne Williamson, the Course claims to offer the key to understanding reality that brings spiritual freedom and joy. But is it true?

Measuring its claims against the most reliable source of information we have about Jesus (the New Testament), Russ Wise shows why A.C.I.M. cannot have originated with the real Jesus of Nazareth, and why it is both false and spiritually damaging. Russ also shares with us how best to engage with people who are persuaded by its teachings.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD :TMR 070 : Russ Wise : A Course In Miracles - A Christian Worldview Evaluation

TMR 058 : K. Gordon Neufeld : On the Moonies and their True Parents

KGordonNeufeldThis week our guest is K. Gordon Neufeld, author of Heartbreak and Rage : Ten Years Under Sun Myung Moon, who joins us to discuss the so-called Unification Church.

Speaking from his ten-year involvement with the Moonies, Gordon gives us a fascinating overview of that organisation's history, beliefs and founder Sun Myung Moon, and shares with us his own experiences of joining, serving and eventually leaving the Moonies.

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LISTEN / DOWNLOAD :TMR 058 : K. Gordon Neufeld : On the Moonies and their True Parents

TMR 053 : Marcia Montenegro : The New Age - Beautiful Deception

MarciaOur guest this week is ex-professional astrologer Marcia Montenegro of Christian Answers for the New Age, who joins us to discuss the diverse teachings and practices of the New Age movement. Neither a religion nor a philosophy, but more precisely a worldview, the New Age offers a perceptive critique of many of the dehumanising features of modern life, but proposes a solution, which (though in many ways attractive) is nevertheless deceptive, harmful, and ultimately incapable of delivering on its promises. Marcia also shares with us her spiritual journey: from her initial rejection of Christianity, through her increasing involvement in the New Age to the point of becoming a professional astrologer and one-time president of the Metropolitan Atlanta Astrological Society, to her eventual coming to faith in Jesus Christ and subsequent work as a missionary reaching out to those involved in the New Age.

 

 [The New Age, spirit guides, astral travel, astrology, as above so below, the tarot, transcendental meditation, out-of-body experience, numerology, palm reading, theosophy, the Occult, demons, gnosticism, the One, New Thought, reincarnation, spiritual evolution, Age of Aquarius, Age of Pisces, Hinduism, Buddhism, logic, truth, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, the Holy Spirit, Jesus, God, the Calming of the Storm, Paul Tillich, John A. T. Robinson, David E. Jenkins]

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 053 : Marcia Montenegro : The New Age - Beautiful Deception

TMR 033 : Pete Griffiths : The Gospel According to L. Ron Hubbard

PeteGriffithsWe are joined by Pete Griffiths of Ex-Scientologists UK for an in-depth interview on the history, beliefs and practices of the so-called Church of Scientology, and on its founder L. Ron Hubbard. Once an active staff member of the Church of Scientology, Pete shares with us the many reasons why he came to reject the organisation and why he now considers it both deceptive and dangerous.

 

[L. Ron Hubbard, Church of Scientology, Dianetics, Thetan, Engram, Clear, Operating Thetan, Reactive Mind, Ruins, SP, Suppressive Person, PTS, Potential Trouble Source, Disconnection, mind control, psycho-analysis, Aleister Crowley, Freud, Utilitarianism, Oxford Capacity Analysis]

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 033 : Pete Griffiths : The Gospel According to L. Ron Hubbard

TMR 015 : Tony Brown : Jehovah's Theocratic Organisation?

TonyBrownPastor Tony Brown of Sunbridge Road Mission in Bradford (UK) and outreach advisor for UK Partnerships for Christ, joins me for the second interview on New Religious Movements; this time for a detailed look at the Jehovah's Witnesses. Speaking from his own experience of having once been involved with the Jehovah's Witnesses, Tony shares insights into their history and beliefs, and gives advice for Christians on how to engage in fruitful discussion.

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 015 : Tony Brown : Jehovah's Theocratic Organisation?

TMR 009 : Bobby Gilpin : Another Testament of Jesus Christ? Mormonism & the Art of Dialogue

Bobby GilpinChristian evangelist and specialist in outreach to Mormons, Bobby Gilpin, joins me on The Mind Renewed for an in-depth interview on the history and beliefs of the Mormon religion (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Bobby also shares from his experience valuable insights on how best to enagage in fruitful discussion with Mormon missionaries and regular LDS members.

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 009 : Bobby Gilpin : Another Testament of Jesus Christ? Mormonism & the Art of Dialogue

TMR 007 : Chris White : Zeitgeist & Close Encounters of the Absurd Kind

CWChris White, prolific producer of countless painstakingly-researched "debunkumentaries", joins me to discuss his work on 'Zeitgeist : The Movie', the teachings of David Icke, The History Channel's 'Ancient Aliens' series, and his documentary 'The New Age & Its Relationship to the Antichrist.' ...is Jesus a myth? ... are we all the products of extra-terrestrial genetic engineering? Chris White explains.

LISTEN / DOWNLOAD : TMR 007 : Chris White : Zeitgeist & Close Encounters of the Absurd Kind

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