In the Market with Janet ParshallOn In The Market with Janet Parshall we kicked off the week with an important discussion meant to help you better contend for your faith. We spoke with a pastor who explained 7 important things that we all need to know about God’s word including a better understanding of what inspiration is, how the Bible was put together and why we can trust that what God’s word says is true. Once the honeymoon is over, the real marriage begins. The melding of two individual’s lives and experiences comes with many challenges especially for believers seeking to live out God’s model for marriage. A highly respected author and expert on the 5 languages of love, explained the different types of intimacy and how to develop them in your marriage, how to follow Christ’s example in how you love your spouse, and the biggest misunderstandings people make about marriage. Whether we like it or not we are now living in a post-Christian world. Our guest broke down the different types of postmodern thoughts taking root in our country and world today and how to use God’s word to defend against them and better contend for our faith. Parents who do not subscribe to the trans agenda in our modern schools have found themselves the subject of derision and contempt across the country. They have been told that their God-granted authority over their children is second to the guidance of the directives of the school system. But parents are fighting back and standing up for the welfare of their children. Our guest shared some of their important stories with us. What is it like to bring to life the story of one of the most important people in biblical history? We spoke to the filmmaker behind the series that is retelling the story of David including his confrontation with Goliath. Here at the end of the week we continue to prepare you to enter in the marketplace of ideas by continuing to show you how to use God’s unchanging truth to better understand the news of the week.
Hi friend, thank you so much for downloading this podcast of In the Market with Janet Parshall, and I sincerely hope you hear something that will encourage you, edify you, enlighten you, equip you, and then we'll get you out the door into the marketplace of ideas. But before you go, let me tell you a little bit about this month's truth tool. It's written by a man who was a chronic doubter. Doctor Bobby Conway was a Christian, and after years, he began doubting his own faith. As a result of that, he's come out now stronger, fully committed to the validity and the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, but keenly aware of the kinds of questions that chronic doubters ask. So in his book, Does Christianity Still Make sense? Doctor Conway does a superb job of telling us how we can answer 20 of the most difficult questions you and I will ever be asked about Christianity. Questions like why are there so many scandals in the church? And aren't Christians just a bunch of hypocrites? And why does God allow evil in the world? Is there really reliable evidence for the existence of God? This is a must read for everyone who wants to know how to contend for the faith when they get out there in the marketplace of ideas. This is this month's truth tool, and it's my way of saying thank you. When you give a gift of any amount to in the market with Janet Parshall, just call 877 Janet 58. That's 877 Janet 58 and ask for your copy of Does Christianity Still Make sense? And I'll gladly send it off to you as my way of saying thank you for financially supporting this program. You can also give online just go to in the market with Janet Parshall. Scroll to the bottom of the page. There's the cover of the book. Click on Make Your Donation online and likewise you'll also get a copy of Does Christianity Still make Sense? While you're there, consider becoming a partial partner. Those are my group of friends who give every single month at a level of their own choosing. They always get the truth tool of the month every month, as long as they're a partial partner. And they will also get a weekly newsletter from me that includes some of my writing and an audio piece just for my partial partners. So pray about it. Consider a one time gift or an ongoing contributor to the program by becoming a partial partner. 877. Janet 58. That's 877. Janet 58. Or online at In the Market with Janet Parshall. Thanks so much. And now please enjoy the broadcast. Important.
Welcome to In the Market with Janet Parshall. Today's program is where Janet and her husband, Craig, take some of the stories making headlines this week and offer their insight and analysis. Before they get started, let's take a quick look back at some of the highlights from the week.
The last Naep scores and AP scores we just saw out put American literacy in math and English at about 30%. 30% of American children, and 90% of them go to public schools. 30%. Literacy and math and English. That is unconscionable. And it shows you that for $3 trillion of federal expenditure since 1979. We have gotten absolutely nothing for our return.
Christians can sort of compartmentalize our minds so that we're in our hearts, but we're trying to live our faith in the world, in a world that's becoming increasingly hostile to our faith. And we're going to to feel that, and our kids are going to feel that. And we need to know what the climate of the times is, so we can both avoid being deceived by it, but also in the long run, so that we can impact it again as we used to.
One of the things that I really have realized through making this project is that we never had to read all these Psalms. You know, they say that history is written by the victor. Um, so the incredible honesty of the Psalms, he was a king. And kings don't have to write the words that he wrote that we still sing. He was so honest about his failures and his shortcomings and his feelings, and I think that's why the Psalms are so relatable.
This is what I think inspiration means. God directs the minds, uh, the thoughts of authors to use their personality, to use their experience to compose a text that conveys his message to the people of God. So it's it's not it's not like divine dictation. Uh, but it's not merely, you know, someone looks at a rose and thinks, oh, yeah, God is love. I'll write something like that.
Two humans are going to always disagree on some things, and in a marriage, there's probably more than there is than just a friendship because you're spending so much time together. And hopefully if you are talking and building intimacy, you're going to have these differences. And so it's recognizing it's good that we have differences. It means we have two perspectives on things. You know, two, two minds are better than one mind. So take the advantage of both your ways of thinking and your perceptions and your ideas, and put them together. And you're probably going to come out at a much better place than you would if you just get your way.
To hear the full interviews from any of those guests, go to In the Market with Janet Parshall and click on Past Programs. Here's some other stories making headlines this week.
Sirens wailed throughout south and central Israel as another Houthi missile sent people into bomb shelters.
Hopes of a new golden age for U.S. airlines are fading, as worries continue to grow over the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs on the economy.
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa dismissed a senior general Tuesday amid growing fears of a possible coup by former allies.
Gold prices climbed back towards last week's record high on Thursday.
Janet and Craig have lots to share, and they'll put the first story on the table when we return. To get more information or to download the podcast of any of the interviews, go to. In the market with Janet Parshall.
Sometimes people question Christianity when they see leaders fall in hypocrisy, overshadowing authentic Christian living. That's why I've chosen does Christianity still make sense? As this month's truth tool explore 20 common challenges to Christianity brought by those skeptical of biblical truth. As for your copy of Does Christianity still make sense when you give a gift of any amount to in the market, call eight 7758. That's 877 Janet 58 or go to in the market with Janet Parshall. Happy Friday to you friends. This is in the market with Janet Parshall. Mr. Craig Parshall is joining me as he does every Friday. And that's because what we do together as a team is we take a look at some of the stories making headlines. But we put on those glasses, you know, the ones that have the lens of Scripture so we can understand what's being bought and sold in the marketplace of ideas and find out if God is rendered an opinion, if there's a moral underpinning, if there's a biblical answer, if there's a way in which we as followers of Christ can respond to what's being bought and sold. So fasten your seat belts. It's going to be an interesting ride. And we're going to start with this. Well, you know, those companies you see on TV. Well, you know, just give us a little swab inside your mouth, you know, just a little of your DNA. Send us your DNA, and we're going to tell you everything you've ever wanted to know about your great, great, great great grandfather and where you came from. Now, every one of us is curious because we all want to find our roots. We want to know who we are. There are television shows that bear both of those names, and it's because there's a natural curiosity to know, whose people am I? Where did I come from? What is our background? What is my history? And that's been going on, quite frankly, since the beginning of time. It's white. Familial records are so important in the scriptures. Well, one of those companies is now a well, it's on a bumpy road. So it raises an interesting, interesting question. What happens to all of those DNA swabs? They did. Here's a news story. Have a listen.
After DNA testing firm 23 and me filed for bankruptcy this week. Experts say users need to take action to protect their data. The firm was booming only a few years ago, but its reputation suffered after a huge tech breach in 2023 that exposed the data of some 7 million customers. Now, Cyberscout founder and data protection expert Adam Levin says people need to realize how valuable their DNA data is.
If this information gets in the wrong hands, if it gets in the hands of a criminal with all the deep fakes that we have, deepfake audio, deepfake video, and all the different ways that people are trying to be in a position to convince someone else that they're you if they have their hands on your DNA, That is a big step toward becoming you in the eyes of someone else.
Levin says California's state attorney general has recommended that customers go to their 23 and me account, download their data, and delete it. Meanwhile, the future of the firm remains uncertain. Founder and co-CEO Anne Wojcicki has stepped down for now, but says she intends to make a new takeover bid after she failed in several previous offers. Her last bid valued 23 in me at about $11 million below its current value of $50 million and a far cry from its $6 billion peak in 2021. Whoever takes over, they'll acquire the data held by the company. However, Pearson Ferdinand lawyer Mariam Messiha says a new owner would be bound by existing terms and conditions.
So essentially what that means is the acquiring company has to uphold the same standards to the information that 23 and me has already put in place. But users should be cognizant that there likely might be a transfer of that information and understand who that third party acquirer is meant to be.
Now, 23 and me says it will keep operating while it tries to find a buyer, though it didn't say whether there were other interested parties besides Wojcicki. On Monday, its shares lost nearly half their value following the bankruptcy news.
Well, what could possibly go wrong? I mean, this is such an amazing story. This is why, among many reasons, I'm so grateful that I'm married to you. Because, you know, our kids have said to us, hey, wouldn't it be fun to do that? Let's just do that little saliva swab inside the mouth and send it off. And your DNA is now in a third party hands. Let me just talk. First of all, about the uniqueness of who we are made by God, who created us individually and every one of our DNA is singularly exceptional. In other words, your DNA, Craig, is not my DNA. And no one else's. It's that that idea that out of all the people that walk on the planet and talk to me again about evolution, right. If there's evolution, we'd have this kind of blurred stuff all over the place. But we still have a very distinctive, we might say, oh, look, I've got a gene back there from 1783. That means I'm related to Queen Elizabeth the First. Okay. But your DNA is never going to replicate jot and tittle. Who Queen Elizabeth the First is. And so you have said to me, no way. You. They can't take your DNA. If you're possibly looking at criminal charges without your saying, I'm going to do it. I mean, it is that individualistic that you don't want to give it away. And yet this lure and it's it's just a hunger in the human heart. It's why we go back to the book of Matthew starts, for goodness sakes, with nothing but a genealogical record. So there's something important about knowing whose people we are, where we come from, what our background is. You know, all of us want to be related to Shakespeare, or we want to have, you know, some important printing in the background, not just a person who was a farmer in a village in west of England. You know, I mean, it's interesting, but it's not worth surrendering your information. And so now all of these people are being told, because this company went belly up financially. So. And that was a possibility. But all of that stuff now is on their server. That's why I laughed in the news story when they said every person is supposed to go in, find your account and delete it like it's not on a master server somewhere. It's out there now. You ain't never getting it back. So give me your thoughts.
Well, uh, imagine rather than signing an agreement. And by the way, you and I haven't done it. Never will. So I'm flying a little bit blind on this, but I'm assuming that there was a terms of service agreement that was probably entered into signed on online between all these millions of people and 23 and me, where they, uh, set the conditions of privacy and how they were going to protect those things. Now, let's assume that you say, uh, we trust 23 and me because you've done some research into who runs it and their reliability. And, uh, the you've sort of authenticated, uh, you know, the kind of values that they use and the legitimacy of the people who run this organization with your data. Now, let's switch screens and go over to, let's say, building your home. You enter in an online agreement with a contractor. You've done your research. The contractor is loyal. He's, uh, expeditious. Uh, he's got, uh, or she has plenty of recommendations from other people that you know and respect about the integrity of the construction project that's done. But in the contract, there's nothing saying that this contract can only be between these two parties, and implies that perhaps this contractor could sell his interest to somebody else. So now suddenly, you're about to break ground and you find out that ABC contractor has come in and taken over that company. And you look at the the background of ABC as opposed to your contractor originally, and you go, boy, I see some bad reviews here. I see some untrustworthiness here. And now you're roped into something very intimate, which is your house, the building of your house for your family, and with a party or a corporation or a company that's perhaps not trustworthy. Now let's go back to the DNA. You talk about intimacy, not just a home, which is a very intimate piece of property. Perhaps the most personal thing that we'll ever own physically is, is a home, if you're blessed enough to have one. But now you're talking about your very genetic material that identifies who you are genetically.
Singularly identifies you.
So that is highly personal. And a third party now is going to come in perhaps the lowest bidder or the highest bidder, uh, in a bankruptcy. It's the highest bidder. And then he comes in and says, yeah, I provided the cash. Well, what do you know about the integrity and trustworthiness of how they will use that information? Well, they they have to assume. Now we just heard the clip. They have to assume the obligations of the other corporation. Yes, but but performing a contract is not just something on a piece of paper. It's the likelihood that the person or the corporation or the company will really do what they've promised to do. And you don't know that in a bankruptcy where it's a kind of a fire sale to the highest bidder.
Yeah. Which is interesting. The highest bidder and the only bidder at this point, according to that story, is the person who was the CEO. That's it. Here's the other problem, too, Craig. And you looked at it from contract law. No surprise there being a lawyer. And you looked at the, um, the lack, the potential, the highly potential lack of continuity between parties. When you have that change, I'm more concerned about the fact that one of the concerns raised by this story is that now, potentially millions of people's DNA is on the dark web. Who in the world would want that? China.
Well, that and that is that presents the hacking issue.
Exactly.
So the bankruptcy, I think, was part and parcel of the fact that the public suddenly became aware, oh my heavens.
I'm out.
There. All my genetic data is now all over, and not just over the web. It's in the dark web where criminal elements flourish. That's the whole purpose. Why a vast majority of those on the dark web are there in darkness, because they're running all kinds of criminal enterprises, from illegal weaponry to human trafficking. And from there it gets even worse.
Well, Bloomberg is reporting that 23 Andme says that health data was included in a hack that compromised Compromise 6.9 million users. Now let's just flesh out this business about China. Our wonderful conversations with Bill Gertz remind us that China's goal is hegemony. It's this wonderful word that means total control of everything. And so just like, uh, Iran wants to have total Islamic, the Islamization of the globe. China likewise wants total domination of the world vis a vis a Marxist, Leninist form of communism with Chinese characteristics. If you want the 50 cent term for what they're looking at. And so without even firing a bullet, they can bring in fentanyl and kill Americans. They can penetrate businesses and university. They can throw money at politicians and entertainers and universities and begin to infiltrate in a myriad of ways, not the least of which is they can also and they are working, according to Bill Gertz. And a lot of the security community here in DC talk about that. They do a lot of work with biological weapons. So just think how advantageous to their stated goal would be, having knowledge about DNA of the biggest obstacle to their goal for hegemony America. That'll keep you up for a while.
And that's a practical, realistic scenario considering what they what their plans are and how they could execute it.
Right. Well, again, this is where you friends have to individually make your own decision. But as for me and my household, there will never be a DNA swab. You know, I could be related to Christopher Columbus and George Washington. I'll find that out in glory. We'll be back. Okay. Put on your Indiana Jones hat, because this story goes right to the core of Indiana Jones movie number one and the Ark of the covenant. You cannot make this up. Okay? All right. I'm going to go slowly. So you get all of this, and I will try to read it with a straight face because it is stunning. It's the stuff of a Hollywood movie, but there's a transcendence to this I think we should pay attention to. The CIA claimed to have confirmed the existence of the Ark of the covenant by way of remote viewing, aka ESP or extrasensory perception, alleging the mysterious and sacred object is guarded by entities with an unknown power. Those words in quote, a recently resurfaced declassified document claims. I'm looking at the document, by the way. In a remote viewing session on December 5th, 1988, remote viewer number 32 was tasked with identifying a target that, unbeknownst to him, ended up being the storied Ark of the covenant, the Ark of the covenant. According to a document which was declassified August 8th, 2000. And apparently it's swirling around now on social media. I'm reading part of the report. It says target is a container. This container has another container inside it. The target is fashioned of wood, gold and silver. The target is similar in shape to a coffin and is decorated with seraphim. The target is located somewhere in the Middle East, as the language spoken by individuals present seemed to be Arabic. Visuals of surrounding buildings indicating the presence of mosques domes. Individuals in the area were clothed in virtually all white, had black hair, dark eyes. One figure I honed in on was wearing a mustache. This is all in the CIA report. So moving forward in the story. Logistically, apparently, when a remote viewer is tasked with searching for a target, the desired object is written down on a piece of paper and put into an envelope. This sounds like something out of the Johnny Carson show, the great Carnac, but I digress. The remote viewer does not know what is written and is guided through the process by another person, Some retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant John Mcmoneagle explained. And so apparently, this information collected under this protocol is the only information that can be identified as remote viewing. So they're using this, ESP in and of itself questionable. And this remote viewer apparently does this psychic phenomena experience or experiment for the CIA. And this remote viewer envisioned again this Middle Eastern location? I read part of the report to you and the target is hidden, he said. This is what the remote viewer saw looking into the envelope. Underground, dark and wet were all aspects of the location of the target. The purpose of the target is to bring people together. Now he's philosophizing. The purpose of the target is to bring people together. It has something to do with ceremony, memory, homage, the resurrection. There is an aspect of spirituality, information, lessons and the historical knowledge far beyond what we know now. And then Remote viewer 32 then expounded on the more mysterious, mysterious aspects of what he saw. The target is protected by entities and only can be opened by those who are authorized to do so. This container will not cannot be open until the time is deemed correct. Once it is a time to open the container, the mechanics of the locked system will be found to be fairly simple. And this is. Again, there's apparently a warning that's added to this as well. Individuals opening the container by prying or striking are destroyed by the containers protectors through the use of a power unknown to us. Now remember, this is. This is the CIA using ESP about the Ark of the covenant. The intersection here is just as bizarre as it gets. So the channeler Remote viewer 32 also described what they look to be a devotional aspect of the object. The purpose of the target is to bring people together, as I just said before, and it has something to do with ceremony and we don't know exactly what it's all about. The declassified document also included several pages of drawings that depict one of the four seraphim that stand out on the corners of the Ark, as well as drawings of mummies lined up along a wall. So, Craig, it how do you unpack this? I mean, first of all, I find it interesting that the CIA wanted to use ESP. That really puts a lot of faith in the CIA. From where I'm sitting, just saying. Second of all, that they would pick an object like the Ark of the covenant. We don't know where that is right now, by the way, but a guy looking at an envelope is writing down everything that he's seen.
Or he saw Indiana Jones.
Well, yeah. You know, early in my law career. After graduating from law school, I joined a really good trial law firm and did a lot of courtroom work. And I learned very quickly that the whole process of particularly jury trials, but also trials to the court as well. It's a matter of explaining in a proven way, in a way that is compelling and persuasive what really happened. Did the crime really happen? Did it happen? Did my client commit it? Did that person really run the red light? Did the two parties really agree on this contract at the time it was signed? What really happened? So I looked at this and the document from the CIA is dated, I think, December, uh, of the year 1988. But when you put a chronology together of what may have really happened, Indiana Jones, the very first one, Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981, seven years before. So is it possible that the person in this unscientific testing lab because, by the way, there was no, uh, double blind experimental structure to this test, apparently because the tester knew what the mission was to. Find out about. It just was the person being tested didn't know, but he may have seen the movie and some of the things being asked. He went, hey, that sounds like, yeah, I got it. I know what I'm thinking.
So the critic of this study by the CIA said, currently, the Ark of the covenant covenant is a legendary tale. If they can produce the actual Ark based on the information, it will be a surprise to me as well as to many others. Well, I have news for you. Innate Hollywood, innate fiction. It's out there. Let me give a big shout out to our partial partners. Thank you friends, partial partners are becoming the backbone of this ministry. Their generous monthly gifts allow us to provide relevant, compelling programming every day. When you become a partial partner, you'll receive private emails directly from me. A weekly audio message only You will hear in special behind the scenes updates as well. Become a partial partner today by calling eight 7758 or go to in the market with Janet Parshall. You know, before we go to our next story, I just got to put a capstone on that business with the CIA. So the CIA is using a cultic practices to who knows what. Maybe they were going to figure out how to use it somehow in warfare. And then it ends with some expert saying, basically, even the Ark isn't out there. So you're willing to rely on the occultic to give you information. And the reality of the existence of the Ark of the covenant is something that you completely dismiss. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise. That's the verse that just came to my mind when I was thinking about first Corinthians 127. And so who's foolish now? The CIA, having people look at an envelope and tell you where the Ark of the covenant is, or the reality that there is an ark of the covenant, we don't know where it is. And I'm going to tell you my $0.02. Craig. And then we'll get to the next story. I think God doesn't want us to be hung up on relics. I think he doesn't want us to be so impressed with a box that allegedly holds the Ten Commandments as sacred. As important as it was in the Old Testament, we have the one who came to fulfill the law, and it is so easy for us to give homage to an object rather than to a king. So did it exist? You got a Bible? Read it. Absolutely. Positively exist. Are we meant to find it? I don't know any more than we're meant to find Noah's Ark. I mean, those would be interesting archaeological finds, but I think it is very, very crucial that we don't get hung up with trinkets and relics as somehow being far more the objects of our affection than Christ himself. My $0.02.
Well, if you look particularly at the Old Testament prophets, that God inspired to give some strong medicine to not only those that lived at that time, but also to us as we read those pages. Because after all, the Old Testament is a prelude to and connected with the New Testament. Jesus continually refers back to the Old Testament as Scripture. So do the apostles. Uh, and uh, there's some, uh, strong verses, particularly in Isaiah, about worshiping objects rather than the creator of the objects of nature. So, um, yeah, I think that we have to be humble and really a humble and contrite spirit. That's what brings us to the Lord, rather than viewing ourselves as little gods. Small g.
Exactly. Well, um, speaking of objects, let's talk a little bit about artificial intelligence, shall we? You know, I really respect the business nature and acumen of Bill gates. He is an American businessman. He's a philanthropist. He co-founded Microsoft. He's known for his business strategies, his technological innovations when it comes to computers, his aggressive tactics that helped build Microsoft into the world's largest software company. He was at Microsoft, the CEO. He was the chairman. He was the president. He was the chief software architect. But I draw the line at his being a prophet, and he's being rather prophetic of late about what the future will look like, whether it's climate change, whether it's whether you should eat beef, whether it's too many people on the planet. And now he's recently made some interesting comments about human flourishing and the jobs that will be performed in the future, not by humans, but by AI. Have a listen.
The era that we're just starting is that intelligence is rare. You know, a great doctor, a great teacher. And with AI over the next decade, that will become free, commonplace. You know, great medical advice, great tutoring. And it's kind of profound because it solves all these specific problems. Like we don't have enough doctors or, you know, mental health professionals, but it brings with it kind of so much change. You know, what will jobs be like? Should we, you know, just work like 2 or 3 days a week? Uh, so I love the way it'll drive innovation forward, but I think, you know, it's a little bit unknown. Will we be able to shape it? Uh, and so legitimately, people are like, wow, this is this is a bit scary. It's completely new territory.
I mean, we still need humans.
Uh, not for most things. Uh, you know, we'll decide.
I mean, hosting a talk show. Definitely. You're going to need. Really? Well.
We'll decide. You know, like baseball. We won't want to watch computers play baseball. That's right. Yeah. And, you know, so there'll be some things that we reserve for ourselves. But in terms of making things and moving things and growing food, uh, over time, those will be basically solved problems.
Mm. I'm not sure I'd be peddling my wares on Jimmy Fallon. Okay, so this is not where you have the great cerebral conversations about the future. But apparently he is predicting advances to the point where human beings are going to work themselves out of a job. And so you heard him touch on the fact that teachers now and doctors are actually going to be replaced by artificial intelligence, because I know if I was struggling with a mental health issue, I'd want to talk to a robot. That'd be my first choice, right way to talk to a robot. And I'd really want a robot to tell me whether or not I needed open heart surgery. And I'd really want the teacher to be a robot, right? To teach me the alphabet and to teach me great literature and great ideas and philosophies out there. I'm going to have a robot which let the record reflect. Your honor, these are machines that have been programmed by human being. Why would you create a distant circle of intrusion vis a vis a machine? So let the person who, if the person who's programming has all that information, let the person who's programming be the doctor or be the teacher, not just programming a machine. Why are you distancing human connectivity? There's an interesting replacement of the term not talking about connectivity in artificial intelligence and computer usage connectivity with human beings. Why don't we want more community between human beings, not less community? So he talks about most jobs being replaced. Thank goodness I slid past the talk show host one few. At least I'm protected, thank goodness.
Well, actually, yeah. You know, I read a little bit deeper into this economic times came out with a, a more in detail description because, you know, Jimmy Fallon's program was kind of the public viewing of this, but he's been writing and speaking about this for a period of time. And apparently gates believes that there are three kinds of industries that will not be replaced by AI. One is biology, because we need biologists to show us how to have longer life and better quality life.
Let me stop right there. So if you think that I can be your doctor, why can't I be a biologist? This doesn't follow suit in his thinking.
And that's why I started with that one. Because it's internal. It's logically inconsistent. Yes, because we should have the magnum opus of genius power in a future AI system that's smarter and can analyze more data quicker and with greater accuracy than a single biologist or a group of biologists could. But he said, we need biologists to be able to to ensure our quality of life. But the other two categories, I think are, well, should I use the word self-serving? The two other industries were.
CEO of Microsoft.
Uh, well, no, actually even closer than that. Uh, computer coders who are training the AI machines. And the other one is the energy industry, because AI systems now are devouring the need for huge amounts of energy to. Uh, you know, be useful in the kind of computations that they do. Remember the size of these? Huge computers. You know, early in the 20th century, they were the size of a small room, right? Uh, they were big. But as we've gotten smaller and smaller with our devices, the need for energy and. The sophistication of the energy sources has become overwhelming right now. And they're scratching their heads saying, where are we going to get the energy? So the two industries necessary for AI, they'll be protected.
Isn't funny how that worked out exactly. All right. So again, you know, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I'm welcoming the technology as it improves global communication. You and I love the fact that we can email a missionary when it would take us weeks to get a letter there before. But what I really take umbrage with and it is why, friends, we talk so frequently with Wesley Smith about human exceptionalism. The core of this is very much of a spiritual issue in all of creation. The only part made in God's image is you and me. I take umbrage with any one or any thing that feels it's their job to replace a human. There is a Mary Shelley aspect of that, the godlike need to create and replace that I have some caution with. I also want to see my brothers and sisters in the human race flourish, and so I want to encourage more teachers and more doctors, not people who program machines who will take that person's job. And by the way, that takes away the opportunity for someone to be able to flourish as a producer, not a polluter, but a producer and a person who can bring creativity to the table. You realize these machines, while they can sit there and talk mathematics until the cows come home. There is a cap on all the ones and O's that they can put together to come up with information. You don't have a soul and a machine. You don't represent Imago Dei in a machine. And so the more we talk about replacing people and they're going to be, look, I got to tell you right now, I will go to a doctor who's got warm blood coursing through his veins before I talk to a machine about my health.
There is a prophetic aspect to this, but it doesn't come out of Bill Gates's lips. It comes out of Matthew 24, where Jesus gave the prophecy as the Son of God, that in the latter days love will grow cold. And the more that we distance ourselves from human contact with humankind, the more it seems to me as a practical matter, love will necessarily grow cold. That is the future. I think there's still opportunities to do something about it now to help our flourishing together.
Back after this. Well, this will underscore why Dei is such a problematic idea, by the way, and really is the subtext of it. While its goal is to be diverse and provide equity, not equality and inclusion, it is really a very bigoted approach toward life. And let me give you a classic example. So a primary school, which is like an elementary school in England, has now cancelled its annual Easter Bonnet parade and Easter service. Why? They're citing, quote, respect for diversity as the reason behind the decision. The move, announced in a letter to parents, has sparked significant backlash online, with critics labelling it disgraceful and and accusing the school of eroding traditional celebrations. So the head teacher at this primary school, Stephanie Mander in Hampshire, informed parents in the letter that the decision was aimed at promoting inclusivity and ensuring that the school honors the diverse beliefs of its students and families. Quote, by not holding specific religious celebrations, we aim to create a more inclusive atmosphere that honors and respects the beliefs of all our children and their families, she is quoted as saying. Excuse me. The head teacher acknowledged in her letter that the decision to cancel the annual Easter events might be disappointing for some families, particularly those whose values those traditions are enshrined in Easter. We appreciate, she said, your understanding and support as we make this transition. Well, you can bet that there is some interesting pushback. One person commenting on the local Facebook group page said whether Christmas is going to be the next to be canceled quote Is Miss Mander preparing to cancel Christmas as well? Reads the comment. Another person expressed confusion over the decision, saying I don't get it personally. Parents have always been given the option to not attend. The school's always been diverse and accepting of all. Well, the decision to cancel Easter events contradicted the school's own policy on celebrating religious festivals according. And this is where it gets interesting. According to the school's website, important religious and cultural occasions include ID, Diwali, Christmas, Easter and they are marked and quote celebrated together. At these times, the school welcomes in members of the wider school community to lead assemblies and learning activities with the children to share their beliefs with them. So in other words, it's about as inclusive as it gets. The school it's a primary for kids ages 3 to 11. No religious affiliation. Got a good rating in most categories when it was inspected by the government. However, quote its outcomes for children and learners category was marked as requiring improvement. While Easter celebrations have been cancelled, the school plans to mark Refugee Week in June, an event that focuses on the experiences of refugees and promotes awareness of their challenges. One of the ways we will be celebrating inclusivity is by taking part in Refugee Week, which occurs in June, as well as beginning our journey to become an accredited school of sanctuary, the letter says. Well, no sanctuary for Christians who believe in the power and the importance of Easter. Craig. What do you think?
Yeah, I this is not just a UK issue. Unfortunately, you and I have seen the slow devolution of respect for the importance of Easter in a public way in public schools, as an example, in government offices and so forth. Now, first of all, there is a theological aspect about Easter because it isn't about, um, Easter eggs.
Although Cadbury would probably take issue.
Well, don't don't bring up Cadbury because I have a soft spot in my heart for that. The chocolate bunnies. But it's not. It's not the trappings of, you know, cartoon land and, um, uh, egg rolls, you know, and finding hidden gifts and things like that. Um, as believers in Christ, if you have any questions about the the primacy of the Easter resurrection, which is the it is intricately, intimately involved in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the whole purpose behind Easter and the history of it. Just go to the first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church, the whole chapter 15. If you have any question about the importance of the resurrection, uh, as a gateway to understanding who Jesus really was, because he kept his promise that he was who he said he was the Son of God, and that he would rise from the dead as the the forerunner for all of us who have embraced in faith who Jesus is and what he did on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. So that's we all know that as believers in Christ, do we expect the culture and the world to acknowledge it in the same way? No, and I think that's realistic. The world is the world. We expect the world to act like the world. But on the other hand, we don't expect the world to be hostile. The First Amendment of the Constitution and the the two religion components of the First Amendment. One is free exercise of religion. The other is the establishment of prohibition against government, establishing religion. But implicit in that the Supreme Court has noted time and time again, government should not be hostile to religious faith. How many public schools do we know who have become implicitly, if not overtly, hostile to the whole idea of the Christian importance of what Easter is? You know, you and I have noted that for years. So it isn't just over there or across the pond problem.
But isn't it interesting? It's always Christianity that's shoved outside the circle, right? Under the guise of being inclusive.
Is that because we're bullies? No no no no.
But that's a that's a really important point, though, when you think about it, Greg, because it's helping us to understand that our battle isn't against flesh and blood. Okay. This this is this is why I love talking about these conversations, because it's just all of these stuff that's being bought and sold in the marketplace really underscores the credibility and the reliability of the scriptures. This school isn't doing it to be diverse or inclusive, because there are more Christians in the world than any other following faith group out there. And by Christians, I realize that that can mean a broad, a broad swath of ideas. But those who recognize, at least in some form, who Christ is, uh, that makes up the largest component of faith views on planet Earth. So you're just basically saying, no, we're not going to do that because we want to be inclusive. And yet you talk about ID for the Muslims and Diwali for the Indians, and you've got no problems with that. So that's why it can't be that because you would get an F minus, minus, minus on logical thinking, because you've excluded Christianity. But you've embraced all these others under the name of being diverse. Well, in your inclusive, you know, a la carte, you'd have to include Christianity that gets shown the door.
Which is ironic because England still embraces, officially embraces on a government level, the Church of England.
Exactly. I was thinking.
Which is based supposedly on Christianity and Christianity is based on the resurrection reality of Jesus rising from the dead. Is the Son of God.
Exactly.
So no, you can't justify it by saying we want to be inclusive to 1%, and therefore we're going to exclude the 99%. Recognizing the reality of Christianity is not necessarily endorsing it. It's simply recognizing the fact of the importance of Christianity, not only in England, but to American history, to the founders who drafted the Constitution.
Well, and I think the one person who posted on the school's Facebook page was spot on. If you get rid of Easter, are you getting rid of Christmas? So the it should.
Follow.
Shouldn't it? Well, if you're going to be consistent in your bigotry. Uh, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is around Easter. His birth is what Christmas is all about. So if you're going to be inclusive, are you going to exorcise any acknowledgement of Christianity? And again, you realize that there is the Church of England. They've got this co-mingling between church and state that we don't have here in the United States. And so it doesn't even follow suit with the environment of how they put together their worldview, including government's relationship with religion. So, again, I take comfort in these stories as, as as as self-evident as the bigotry is the exclusivity under the name of inclusivity. Okay, this is Alice in Wonderland, the rabbit going down the hole. I think I take heart in recognizing that, you know, the battle isn't the primary school teacher or principal. It's really our enemy who hates the gospel message because it changes everything. We do this for another hour. I hope you can stick around. If not, have a great weekend.
