Know Why Podcast

Can Gen Z be effectively evangelized through social media, religious apps, and digital media? In this episode of the Know Why Podcast, Liberty reacts to a recent article by Gen Z writer Freya India on “The Commodification of Christianity.” When using digital tools like short-form videos and apps to reach young adults, Christians should be mindful of how those mediums might be changing the message—and how those on the receiving ends of evangelistic efforts are being formed. In the end, where’s the line between planting a seed to draw someone from social media into a physical church…and planting an obstacle to them ever leaving the internet? More Resources: The Commodification of Christianity https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/the-commodification-of-christianity Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business https://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Ourselves-Death-Discourse-Business/dp/014303653X

Should Christians use chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok? Is AI simply a neutral tool that humans can use for either good or evil? How does the book of Genesis offer clarity to the AI conversation? Kicking off Know Why's 2026 season is Doug Smith, longtime software engineer, lifelong student of the Bible, and author of [Un]Intentional: How Screens Are Secretly Shaping Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, and the forthcoming [Un]Intelligence: The Lies Behind Today's AI and the Truths You Need to Thrive. In this deep-dive interview, Doug helps us think through the following topics: What epistemology means and how it helps us understand AI How large language models (LLMs) fundamentally differ from other search engines Whether the "neutral tool" trope applies to AI Why Big Tech founders use spiritual terms to talk about AI And much more. Listen to this fascinating conversation for a unique perspective on AI and chatbots that is thoroughly informed by a biblical worldview and relevant for every human being. More Resources: https://thatdougsmith.com/ https://www.estherlightcapmeek.com/ How People Are Really Using AI (Harvard Business Review) Empire of AI by Karen Hao That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis How Bad Are AI Delusions? We Asked the People Treating Them (The New York Times) Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth

At the beginning of the Know About Family Formation Series, we asked why marriage is good. In today’s episode with Andrea Crum, we wrap up the series talking once again about marriage—specifically the God’s design for marriage and sex that is articulated in the Bible. Andrea addresses questions such as… Why do Christians often avoid talking about sex? Why is biblical marriage described as a covenant between one man and one woman? What would happen if everyone followed a biblical sexual ethic? How does healthy marriage represent God to the world? Despite secular cultural narratives, there is spiritual significance to God’s design for sex and marriage. Listen to know why. More Resources: AndreaCrum.com GenuineFamilyMinistries.com

"It takes a village." Parents often hear this old adage, and having a community to help with childcare or call on during emergencies sounds nice. But the reality for many parents today is that their "village" is nowhere to be found. Author, academic, and homeschooling mother Nadya Williams joins the Know Why Podcast to discuss an overlooked village source that historically played a major role in more Americans' lives—the local church. Reflecting on the state of parenthood today, Nadya offers practical advice for building a village right where you are. She reminds parents that villages are about more than "insurance friends" to call during an emergency...they're about thriving. More Resources: What's a Village For? A Response to Olga Khazan by Nadya Williams (IFS) Nadya Williams on Substack The Gospel Comes With a House Key: Practicing Radical Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World by Rosaria Butterfield Scruffy Hospitality — Google Search

News outlets have reported Harvard University's students' reactions to the threat of stricter academic standards, after a commission found that grades were massively inflated despite a decline in academic involvement at the college. Some reacted by worrying they wouldn't find their classwork enjoyable or fulfilling if academic standards were raised. Beyond Harvard, is there an underlying assumption in modern culture that life is to be enjoyed? Liberty examines that assumption, identifies why it's problematic in everything from education to relationships, and recalls research that points to what makes humans more deeply fulfilled. More Resources: All A's at Harvard (World) https://wng.org/opinions/all-as-at-harvard-1762387132 The Perverse Consequences of the Easy A (The Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/harvard-college-grade-inflation/684021/ Does This Study Reveal the Key to Human Flourishing? (Know Why Podcast) https://youtu.be/g3tobGiNVvM?si=iTTyLQRqobwWKmGQ