Why does it feel like no one agrees on reality anymore?

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I speak with veteran religion reporter Terry Mattingly. He writes the nationally syndicated On Religion weekly column and he's joined me to unpack the collapse of objective media—and how the rise of the subscription economy is reshaping truth itself.

We explore how the old model of journalism, which was built on fairness, accuracy and reaching broad audiences, has been replaced by a system that rewards bias, outrage and "preaching to the choir."

The result? A fragmented culture where people live in completely different information worlds.

We also dive into what Terry calls the "religion ghost"—the media's inability to accurately report on faith—and why this blind spot is fueling deeper cultural division between those who believe in absolute truth and those who see truth as subjective and evolving.

This isn't just about news bias. It's about the future of truth, culture and how we understand reality itself.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• Am I seeking truth—or just consuming content that confirms what I already believe?

• How has my information diet shaped the way I see the world?

📌 In this episode, I discuss:

✅ Why objective journalism is disappearing

✅ The shift from advertising to subscription-driven media

✅ How media now profits from reinforcing bias

✅ What "information silos" are doing to our culture

✅ The rise of alternative media voices like podcasts

✅ The "religion ghost" and why faith is misrepresented in news

✅ The deeper cultural divide over the definition of truth

✅ How elite media frames "good" vs. "bad" religion

✅ The role of Big Tech in controlling visibility and influence

✅ How AI and technology are shaping the next generation

📢 TAKE ACTION:

🧠 Evaluate your information sources—are they forming or informing you?

📖 Seek out perspectives that challenge your assumptions

🗣 Have real conversations with people outside your "information bubble"

📱 Be intentional about how technology shapes your family and worldview

🔗 Connect with Terry Mattingly:

On Religion column: https://tmatt.net

Rational Sheep Substack: https://tmattingly.substack.com

Acton Institute article, Evolving Religion of Journalism - https://www.acton.org/religion-liberty/volume-33-number-1/evolving-religion-journalism

GetReligion: https://www.getreligion.org

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#PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #MediaCrisis #TruthMatters #TerryMattingly #Journalism #MediaBias #FaithAndCulture #InformationWar #BoldNotBelligerent

Can the media be trusted anymore? And what happens when news is replaced with camouflaged opinions?

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I sit down with Jennifer Nohelty of the Washington Policy Institute to talk about the growing crisis in modern media—and what it will take to restore truth in journalism.

We unpack how media has shifted from factual reporting to opinion-driven narratives, the role of advertisers and consolidation in shaping what stories get told and how alternative voices—like podcasters and independent journalists—are stepping in to fill the gap.

Jenny shares how the Washington Policy Institute is working to create a "revolution of common sense" by bringing together lawmakers, media and firsthand experts to highlight stories the mainstream often ignores.

This conversation is about more than media. It's about truth, influence and the future of public discourse.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• Where am I getting my information—and is it shaping my worldview more than truth?

• Am I consuming headlines… or actually seeking understanding?

📌 In this episode, I discuss:

✅ Why modern media has shifted from facts to opinion

✅ The impact of media consolidation and advertiser pressure

✅ How "clickbait culture" is shaping public perception

✅ What shadow banning is—and who it's affecting

✅ The role of Big Tech in controlling information flow

✅ Why independent media voices are rising

✅ How policy makers actually respond to public pressure

✅ The importance of hearing from firsthand sources

✅ The connection between media narratives and public policy

✅ What it will take to restore trust in journalism

📢 TAKE ACTION:

🧠 Be intentional about where you get your news

📣 Engage with your elected officials—your voice matters more than you think

🔍 Look beyond headlines and seek primary sources

🤝 Support platforms and organizations committed to truth

🔗 Connect with Jenny Nohelty / Washington Policy Institute:

Website: https://washingtonpolicyinstitute.org

Washington Times: https://www.washingtontimes.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifernohelty/

🔗 Follow Peter Demos:

Website: https://www.peterdemos.org/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterdemosofficial

Twitter/X: https://x.com/peter_demos

🙌 SUBSCRIBE for bold conversations at the intersection of faith, freedom, and truth in a world gone mad.

#PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #MediaBias #JournalismCrisis #TruthMatters #WashingtonPolicyInstitute #FreeSpeech #MediaReform #FaithAndCulture #BoldNotBelligerent

Is patriotism biblical? And what does it actually look like for Christians to engage the culture without compromising their faith?

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I talk with Ryan Helfenbein, Executive Director of the Standing for Freedom Center at Liberty University, about faith, freedom and the responsibility Christians have in today's "negative world."

Loving your country is not in conflict with loving God—if it's rightly ordered. Ryan explains how patriotism can be an extension of loving your neighbor, why disengagement is no longer an option and how Christians can develop a "working apologetic" for civic and political involvement.

We also dive into the cultural shift from a neutral society to one increasingly hostile toward Christian values—and why this moment demands prepared boldness, not silence or retreat.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• Have I confused comfort with faithfulness when it comes to engaging culture?

• Where is God calling me to show up—not just speak up—in my community?

📌 In this episode, I discuss:

✅ Is patriotism biblical—or is it idolatry?

✅ The proper hierarchy: loving God first, then country

✅ Why Christians must engage—not withdraw—from culture

✅ The mission of Liberty University & the Standing for Freedom Center

✅ What it means to live in a "negative world" hostile to Christianity

✅ The danger of "low T" evangelicalism and cultural compromise

✅ How to develop boldness before pressure hits

✅ Why presence (not just opinion) shapes the next generation

✅ Discipleship vs. secular indoctrination

✅ The slow drift happening in Christian institutions

📢 TAKE ACTION:

🇺🇸 Get involved locally—school boards, city council, or community initiatives

📖 Build a biblical foundation for your political and cultural views

🧠 Equip yourself to think clearly about faith and public life

🙏 Pray for courage to stand firm without becoming combative

🔗 Follow Ryan Helfenbein / Standing for Freedom Center:

Website: https://standingforfreedom.com

Liberty University: https://www.liberty.edu

Twitter/X: https://x.com/RyanHelfenbein

🔗 Follow Peter Demos:

Website: https://www.peterdemos.org/

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Twitter/X: https://x.com/peter_demos

🙌 SUBSCRIBE for bold conversations at the intersection of faith, freedom, and truth in a world gone mad.

#PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #FaithAndFreedom #ChristianWorldview #Patriotism #RyanHelfenbein #StandingForFreedom #BiblicalTruth #FaithInCulture #BoldNotBelligerent

What if the teachings of Jesus are far more radical—and far more demanding—than most Christians are willing to admit?

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I talk with Christian ethicist and theologian David Gushee to unpack the moral vision of Jesus and why it often feels so uncomfortable in today's culture.

We explore what it means to live according to the Kingdom of God—not as a vague spiritual idea, but as a daily reality that challenges our pursuit of status, security and approval. From loving our enemies to rejecting status-seeking to living for an "audience of one," Jesus' teachings flip all cultural assumptions upside down.

David shares insights from his work on the 40 core teachings of Jesus and explains why he thinks modern Christianity often softens or avoids these truths in favor of comfort, cultural alignment or even political identity.

This conversation isn't just theological—it's deeply practical. Because following Jesus isn't about fitting Him into our lives…it's about reordering our lives around Him.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• Where am I prioritizing comfort, status or security over obedience to Jesus?

• If I truly lived for an "audience of one," what would change in my daily decisions?

📌 In this episode, we discuss:

✅ What Jesus meant by the "Kingdom of God"

✅ Why His teachings feel "upside down" in modern culture

✅ The danger of reducing Christianity to ideology or comfort

✅ How status, wealth and insecurity shape our decisions

✅ The church's struggle to resist cultural pressures

✅ The difference between knowing Jesus' teachings and obeying them

✅ Why loving enemies and radical humility are central—not optional

✅ How Jesus fulfilled and clarified the purpose of Old Testament law

✅ The tension between grace, obedience, and real transformation

📢 TAKE ACTION:

📖 Revisit the actual teachings of Jesus—not just what you've heard about them

🧠 Identify areas where culture may be shaping your faith more than Scripture

🙏 Ask God for courage to obey even the most difficult commands

🗣 Engage others in honest conversations about what Jesus really taught

🔗 Follow David Gushee:

Website: https://davidgushee.com

Twitter/X: https://x.com/dpgushee

🔗 Follow Peter Demos:

Website: https://www.peterdemos.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterdemosofficial

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How does Christianity grow in one of the most hostile regimes in the world?

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I sit down with Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, to explore the powerful paradox unfolding inside Iran: while the regime tightens control, the underground church is growing faster than anywhere else in the world.

We talk about life under an oppressive government—checkpoints, surveillance, executions—and why, despite all of it, millions of Iranians are spiritually hungry and searching for truth.

Lana shares how her team is using cutting-edge technology, including a custom AI tool called KairosChat.ai, to disciple believers and answer questions about Christianity in a country where access to truth is tightly controlled. Through secure VPNs and digital outreach, the Gospel is reaching people in ways that would have been impossible just a decade ago.

This conversation also dives into the future of Iran, the role of faith under persecution and why many believe a free Iran could one day become a missionary force across the Middle East.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• If my access to truth were restricted, how much would I pursue it?

• What does bold, faithful obedience look like when the cost is real?

📌 In this episode, I discuss:

✅ The reality of life under Iran's oppressive regime

✅ Why the underground church is rapidly growing

✅ The spiritual hunger among millions of Iranians

✅ How AI is being used for discipleship and apologetics

✅ The KairosChat.ai platform and its biblical foundation

✅ The role of secure VPNs in bypassing censorship

✅ The Iranian church's response to persecution and leadership

✅ Why believers pray for repentance—not revenge

✅ The future vision of a free Iran impacting the Middle East

✅ How the global church can support believers in Iran

📢 TAKE ACTION:

🙏 Pray for believers and leaders in Iran

📖 Support ministries bringing Scripture to restricted regions

🧠 Stay informed about global persecution

🗣 Use your voice to raise awareness

💝 Give to organizations providing aid and discipleship

🔗 Follow Lana Silk / Transform Iran:

Website: https://www.TransformIran.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformiran

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformiran

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformIran

🔗 Follow Peter Demos:

Website: https://www.peterdemos.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterdemosofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterdemosofficial

Twitter/X: https://x.com/peter_demos

🙌 SUBSCRIBE for bold conversations at the intersection of faith, freedom, and truth in a world gone mad.

#PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #IranChurch #PersecutedChurch #TransformIran #LanaSilk #FaithUnderFire #ChristianPersecution #AIandFaith #BoldNotBelligerent

Why is one of the deadliest religious persecution crises in the world barely discussed?

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I talk with Brad Brandon of Across Nigeria to examine the escalating violence against Christians in northern Nigeria. While governments and international media often frame the conflict as economic or tribal, experts on the ground describe the very different reality of a a systematic targeting of Christian communities driven by radical Islamist groups.

Brad shares firsthand insights into the scale of the violence, the rise of terrorist organizations like Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa (ISWA), and the devastating stories coming out of villages where entire families have been massacred.

But this conversation also explores something deeper.

We discuss how poverty, illiteracy and lack of opportunity create fertile ground for radicalization and how education, community development and "peace tours" are helping reduce violence and build bridges between Muslim and Christian communities.

Most importantly, we talk about the role of faith under persecution, why believers in Nigeria often demonstrate extraordinary courage, and what the global church can do to stand with those suffering for their faith.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• If my faith cost me safety or comfort, how would it change the way I live it?

• What responsibilities do believers in freedom have toward those under persecution?

📌 In this episode, I discuss:

✅ The 15-year wave of violence against Christian communities in Nigeria

✅ Why Christians are disproportionately targeted in northern Nigeria

✅ The role of Boko Haram, ISWA and militant Fulani groups

✅ Sharia law and the risks faced by converts to Christianity

✅ The socioeconomic forces fueling radicalization

✅ How education initiatives are reducing violence by up to 70%

✅ The impact of international policy and foreign investment pressures

✅ Why the Nigerian government denies the scale of the crisis

✅ Boldness, faith, and spiritual resilience under persecution

📢 TAKE ACTION:

🙏 Pray intentionally for persecuted Christians worldwide

📖 Educate yourself about religious freedom violations

🧠 Support organizations providing education and peacebuilding

🗣 Raise awareness about the crisis in Nigeria

💝 Give to ministries helping stabilize communities on the ground

🔗 Follow Brad Brandon / Across Nigeria:

Website: https://acrossnigeria.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acrossnigeria

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/acrossnigeria

🔗 Follow Peter Demos:

Website: https://www.peterdemos.org/

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterdemosofficial

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🙌 SUBSCRIBE for bold conversations at the intersection of faith, freedom, and truth in a world gone mad.

#PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #NigeriaPersecution #ChristianPersecution #ReligiousFreedom #BokoHaram #AcrossNigeria #FaithUnderFire #BoldNotBelligerent #GlobalChurch

What happens when a Hollywood actor refuses to stay silent about faith and culture?

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I sit down with actor and producer Kevin Sorbo—known for Hercules and God's Not Dead—to discuss the cost of standing for biblical truth in an industry increasingly hostile to it.

Kevin shares how his outspoken Christian worldview led to being blacklisted in Hollywood and why he ultimately launched Sorbo Studios to create independent films outside the traditional studio system. We discuss the cultural shift inside the entertainment industry, the power of alternative media platforms and why faith-based storytelling is more important than ever.

We also talk about Kevin's upcoming biblical epic, The Flood and why ancient biblical stories remain deeply relevant to the moral challenges facing society today.

Beyond Hollywood, this conversation explores the breakdown of family structures, cultural confusion around truth and identity and why Christians must reject fear and speak boldly and clearly in a world drifting further from biblical foundations.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• Where have I allowed fear of cultural backlash to silence my convictions?

• Am I standing for truth with courage—or waiting for someone else to do it?

📌 In this episode, I discuss:

✅ Kevin Sorbo's journey from Hollywood star to independent filmmaker

✅ What it means to be "blacklisted" in the entertainment industry

✅ The role of faith-based storytelling in modern media

✅ His upcoming biblical film The Flood

✅ Why biblical narratives remain culturally relevant today

✅ The breakdown of the nuclear family and its cultural impact

✅ Social media censorship and the rise of alternative platforms

✅ Fear as a tool of cultural control

✅ Why Christians must rediscover courage in a "post-truth" culture

📢 TAKE ACTION:

🎬 Support films and media that promote biblical truth

📖 Stay grounded in Scripture rather than cultural trends

🧠 Think critically about the media shaping our worldview

🙏 Reject fear and pursue courage rooted in faith

🗣 Speak truth boldly—but with wisdom and humility

🔗 Follow Kevin Sorbo:

Website: https://SorboStudios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksorbs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ksorbo

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SorboStudios

🔗 Follow Peter Demos:

Website: https://www.peterdemos.org/

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Twitter/X: https://x.com/peter_demos

🙌 SUBSCRIBE for bold conversations at the intersection of faith, freedom, and truth in a world gone mad.

#PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #KevinSorbo #FaithAndCulture #ChristianMedia #BiblicalWorldview #HollywoodBlacklist #BoldNotBelligerent #ChristianFilm #TruthMatters

What does it actually cost to stand for truth today? Christian apologist Frank Turek knows. He was by Charlie Kirk's side on the day of his assassination.

In this episode of Uncommon Sense in Current Times, I sit down with Frank to discuss why authentic Christianity has always been a high-cost commitment—and why that reality is becoming more obvious in today's culture.

We talk about the difference between making believers and making disciples, the failures of the seeker-friendly church movement and why Jesus never softened His message to make it easier for people to follow Him.

Using recent cultural tensions and rising hostility toward Christian views as a backdrop, Frank explains why courage is the first virtue required for discipleship—and why Christians must be prepared both intellectually and spiritually to defend their faith in a skeptical world.

This conversation explores apologetics, persecution, freedom of speech and the practical strategies believers need if they're going to live boldly without becoming belligerent.

📘 Get my latest book "Bold Not Belligerent" on Amazon: 👉 https://a.co/d/eGTPSYS

💭 A different way to reflect this week:

• Have I embraced Christianity as a life of discipleship—or a lifestyle of comfort?

• Am I preparing my mind and character for courage before the pressure comes?

📌 In this episode, I discuss:

✅ Why Christianity is inherently a "high-cost" commitment

✅ The difference between making believers and making disciples

✅ The failure of the seeker-sensitive church model

✅ Why Jesus didn't soften hard teachings to keep followers

✅ Courage as the foundation for every other virtue

✅ Rising hostility toward Christian beliefs in Western culture

✅ The role of apologetics in a skeptical generation

✅ How believers can respond to accusations of "bigotry"

✅ The importance of small groups and Christian community

✅ Practical ways to engage culture with truth and wisdom

📢 TAKE ACTION:

📖 Study Scripture and the evidence for your faith

🧠 Develop apologetic confidence, not just opinions

👥 Build strong Christian community and support networks

🙏 Prepare spiritually before cultural pressure arrives

🗣 Speak truth clearly—with courage and humility

🔗 Follow Frank Turek:

Website: https://crossexamined.org

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CrossExamined

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankturek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrFrankTurek

🔗 Follow Peter Demos:

Website: https://www.peterdemos.org

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#PeterDemos #UncommonSensePodcast #FrankTurek #ChristianApologetics #CostOfDiscipleship #BiblicalTruth #FaithAndReason #BoldNotBelligerent #ChristianWorldview #DefendingFaith