Advertise on podcast: Hank Unplugged: Essential Christian Conversations

What would life in Western civilization look like under Islamic law (sharia)? In Part Four of his series on sharia, Hank Hanegraaff looks to Islamic Spain, where religion was law, and sharia governed both public and private life. He examines the consequences for religious freedom, women, art, music, intellectual inquiry, and those who lived as non-Muslims under Islamic rule.  Hank also considers the modern West, where calls to accommodate aspects of sharia have raised fundamental questions about religious liberty, free speech, equality before the law, and the preservation of Western jurisprudence. Can Western civilization accommodate sharia practices that conflict with its own legal and cultural foundations? Understanding the history and implications of sharia is essential to answering that question. For a more comprehensive treatment, see Hank Hanegraaff’s MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Religion.  https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion-0926va/ Dig Deeper with Hank Unplugged — Hank Unplugged is a podcast brought to you by the Christian Research Institute, where Hank Hanegraaff takes you beyond the sound bites and into thoughtful, in-depth explorations of the critical issues confronting Christians today. Drawing on Scripture, history, theology, and culture, Hank equips listeners to think Christianly about the questions that matter most and to contend for “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on

In Part Three of his series on sharia law, Hank Hanegraaff examines what sharia has historically taught about jihad and warfare. Hank argues that Islamic jurisprudence has given warfare against non-Muslims a central place within sharia. He considers Qur’anic texts concerning fighting, the traditional division between the “house of Islam” and the “house of war,” and the rapid military expansion of Islam following the death of Muhammad. Hank then traces Islamic conquest from the Middle East and North Africa into Spain and Europe and challenges the popular portrayal of medieval Andalusia as a golden age of peaceful religious tolerance. Drawing on the work of historian Darío Fernández-Morera, he points instead to the persecution and killing of Christians under Muslim rule and asks why this history is so often minimized or recast. While jihad can refer to inward spiritual struggle, Sharia made armed expansion a religious duty. This is Part Three of an ongoing series on sharia. In the next podcast, Hank plans to examine the impact of sharia on Western civilization. For a more comprehensive treatment, see Hank Hanegraaff’s MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Religion.https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion-0926va/ Dig Deeper with Hank Unplugged — Hank Unplugged is a podcast brought to you by the Christian Research Institute, where Hank Hanegraaff takes you beyond the sound bites and into thoughtful, in-depth explorations of the critical issues confronting Christians today. Drawing on Scripture, history, theology, and culture, Hank equips listeners to think Christianly about the questions that matter most and to contend for “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

In Part Two of his series on Islamic law (Sharia), Hank Hanegraaff examines the status and treatment of women under Sharia and contrasts Islamic law with the biblical worldview. Hank considers Qur’anic teachings concerning marriage, polygamy, divorce, and relations between husbands and wives, arguing that the inequalities embedded within Sharia have profound consequences for Muslim women. He also responds to former President Barack Obama’s criticisms of biblical law concerning slavery and rebellious children, contending that such criticisms badly misconstrue the historical and literary context of Scripture. Against claims that Sharia may be favorably compared with Christian canon law or biblical ethics, Hank argues that the contrast could hardly be more consequential—particularly when it comes to the dignity and treatment of women. This is Part Two of an ongoing series on Sharia. In the next podcast, Hank turns to the Sharia perspective on war and the traditional distinction between the “house of Islam” and the “house of war.” For a more comprehensive treatment, see Hank Hanegraaff’s MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Religion. Dig Deeper with Hank Unplugged — Hank Unplugged is a podcast brought to you by the Christian Research Institute, where Hank Hanegraaff takes you beyond the sound bites and into thoughtful, in-depth explorations of the critical issues confronting Christians today. Drawing on Scripture, history, theology, and culture, Hank equips listeners to think Christianly about the questions that matter most and to contend for “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

In a recent exchange with Jesse Watters, Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed compared Sharia law to Christian canon law, arguing that Muslims should simply be free to practice their faith just as Christians practice theirs.1 But are Sharia and Christian canon law really comparable? In this episode of Hank Unplugged, Hank Hanegraaff examines that claim and explains the fundamental differences between Sharia, Christian canon law, and the Mosaic law of the Old Testament. He considers the scope of Sharia as a comprehensive system governing religious, political, social, and private life; the historical and theological purpose of Mosaic law; and the Christian understanding that the Mosaic covenant finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Hank also looks at the contemporary application of Sharia in nations such as Brunei and explains why understanding what Sharia actually teaches and how it functions matters enormously in the modern world. This is Part One of Hank’s examination of Sharia law. In the next episode, he turns specifically to the impact of Sharia on women. For a more comprehensive treatment, see Hank Hanegraaff’s MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Religion.https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion-0926va/ “El-Sayed GRILLED: ‘I Don’t Think You’re Very Good at Math’” Jesse Watters Primetime, Fox News video, 25:25, August 24, 2026, relevant discussion at 10:56–13:40, https://youtu.be/9j0e6Ur7S6g?si=HWkda5fqfZI0snQD&t=656. Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

As America seeks an agreement with Iran amid the current war, Hank Hanegraaff asks a crucial question: How should we understand the thinking of Iran’s Islamic leadership? In this episode of Hank Unplugged, Hank looks back to the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Muhammad’s ten-year truce with the Meccans in A.D. 628, and examines its enduring significance in Islamic history and political thought. From Muhammad’s eventual conquest of Mecca to Yasser Arafat’s invocation of Hudaybiyyah during the Oslo peace process, Hank argues that the past provides an important lens through which to assess negotiations with Iran today.   Hank also considers the historic expansion of Islam through conquest and migration, the transformation of formerly Christian centers such as Constantinople, and the profound differences between the examples set by Muhammad and Jesus Christ.   Jesus commanded His followers to love their enemies, pray for those who persecute them, and be peacemakers. Ultimately, He gave His life so that others might live.   As Hank often says, “Contrast is the conduit to clarity.” And in this episode, he contends that the contrast between Christ and Muhammad—and between Christianity and Islam—could hardly be more consequential.   Topics include Iran, the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah, Muhammad, jihad, Yasser Arafat and the Oslo Accords, Islam in Europe, Constantinople and Hagia Sophia, Christianity and Islam, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.   For more information on Islam please see Hank’s book MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Religion. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion-wa0426/ Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Fr. Stephen Freeman is one of the best there is when it comes to calling out our contemporary world and the false and flattened view of reality which he calls a two-storey universe. The truth is this—we live in a one-storey universe. And it is enchanted. This is a preview of an episode of Commitment to Reality, where Fr. Stephen Freeman joins Dave Hanegraaff to explore how we can recover a a right vision of the universe in an age that has taught us to see reality as cold, secular, and disenchanted For more information on Fr. Freeman’s book Everywhere Present: Christianity in a One-Storey Universe please click here. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-everywhere-present-christianity-in-a-one-storey-universe/ To hear the full conversation, search for Commitment to Reality wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode.  You can also watch full episodes and clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ACommitmenttoReality

Martin Shaw is one of those people who challenges you by asking provocative questions like “what part of you has come here to die?”   Shaw offers these kinds of provocations to a world where Christianity has been domesticated and desperately needs to recover its wildness. This is a preview of an episode of Commitment to Reality, where Martin Shaw joins Dave Hanegraaff to explore how to recover a wild Christianity in a world where faith for many has become cold, abstract, and domesticated. To hear the full conversation, search for Commitment to Reality wherever you listen to podcasts and subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode. You can also watch full episodes and clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ACommitmenttoReality

Popularized in the 19th century, the pre-tribulational rapture is the idea that millions of Christians will suddenly vanish before a future seven-year tribulation. This is one of the most widely held beliefs in modern Christianity—but is this teaching actually grounded in Scripture? Hank Hanegraaff examines the case on this episode of Hank Unplugged.    Drawing from key biblical passages—including John 5, Matthew 24, 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 15, and Revelation 21—Hank argues that the Bible presents a very different picture:  One unified resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteousOne visible, final return of ChristOne redeemed creation, liberated together with the people of God  Hank also explores:  The historical roots of rapture theologyThe meaning of the “abomination of desolation” and first-century tribulationWhether Scripture supports a future seven-year tribulation or rebuilt templeMisconceptions surrounding “replacement theology”The true nature of the Church as one covenant people in Christ Rather than a secret rapture or a divided plan for Israel and the Church, Hanegraaff presents the biblical hope of resurrection, restoration, and the renewal of all things.   Timestamp below: 0:00 Introduction: The Imminent Rapture Belief 0:35 What the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Teaches 3:25 Is the Rapture Biblical? 4:25 One Resurrection of All (John 5:28–29) 5:35 The Real “Great Tribulation(s)” in History 9:00 No Future Seven-Year Tribulation or Rebuilt Temple 10:50 No Second-Chance Salvation after Christ’s Second Appearing 11:20 One Redemption: Creation and Our Bodies (Romans 8) 12:40 What 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Actually Teaches 16:00 Misreading John 14 and the “Mansions” Passage 19:15 What about “Replacement Theology”? 24:15 Reaffirming 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 27:00 Christians Must Test All Things, Holding to What’s Good and True.   For further study, see The Apocalypse Code: Find Out What the Bible Really Says About the End Times and Why It Matters Today https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-the-apocalypse-code-for-gift/   See also the many related articles at www.equip.org, including:    “Apocalypse When? Why Most End-time Teaching Is Dead Wrong” https://www.equip.org/articles/apocalypse-when/   Which generation is “this generation”? https://www.equip.org/bible_answers/which-generation-is-this-generation/   Modern Israel in Bible Prophecy: Promised Return or Impending Exile? https://www.equip.org/articles/modern-israel-in-bible-prophecy-promised-return-or-impending-exile/ Does the Bible Make a Distinction between Israel and the Church? https://www.equip.org/articles/does-the-bible-make-a-distinction-between-israel-and-the-church/   Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website (www.equip.org) and available wherever you listen to podcasts.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review.

Hank Hanegraaff addresses the popular claim that the present conflict in Iran is a direct fulfillment—or foreshadowing—of biblical prophecy. Some modern prophecy pundits suggest that current events point to an “Ezekiel 37 (or 38) scenario,” involving a future alliance between Iran and Russia against Israel. Hank challenges these interpretations by emphasizing the importance of historical and biblical context. He examines Matthew 24, arguing that commonly cited “rapture” passages are misunderstood when removed from their immediate setting—particularly Jesus’ reference to judgment in the days of Noah and His prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Turning to the book of Ezekiel, Hank observes that the prophet lived within the sixth-century BC Babylonian exile, highlighting that Ezekiel’s message was directed toward the restoration of Israel following the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. He warns against projecting these prophecies into the twenty-first century, including speculative claims linking “Rosh” with modern Russia. Throughout the episode, Hank underscores key principles of sound biblical interpretation: the necessity of historical context, the role of typology, and the unity of Scripture. He argues that the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in Christ and that the true temple is not a future structure in Jerusalem, but the living reality of Christ and His Church. Rejecting sensational end-time speculation, Hank affirms the central Christian hope: the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, resolution of the problem of sin and Satan, and the renewal of all creation. He concludes by pointing to the vision of the new heaven and new earth in Revelation—a future grounded not in geopolitical prediction, but in the promises of God. (Timestamps below.) 0:10 Is the Iran War Biblical Prophecy? — Framing the issue 1:10 The “Ezekiel 38 Scenario” Explained — Iran, Russia, and modern prophecy claims 2:00 Matthew 24 in Context — “One taken, one left” and the days of Noah—taken in judgment, not rapture 4:35 Much Modern Prophecy Speculation Misrepresents the Entire Olivet Discourse 4:55 “This Generation” and AD 70 — Jesus’ prophecy about Jerusalem’s destruction 8:15 Why This Matters Now — Influence of Christian leaders on politics and public opinion 9:25 Ezekiel in Historical Context — Babylonian exile and 6th-century BC setting 13:00 Ezekiel Yearns for the Rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple within His Near Future. 14:15 Not About the 21st Century — Ezekiel isn’t predicting modern geopolitics 15:00 The Jerusalem Temple Pointed to Jesus—the True Temple 15:50 Must Interpret Ezekiel in Light of the New Testament’s Teaching 18:10 Historical Context of Old Testament Prophecy—renders modern prophecy speculations null and void 19:55 “Rosh” is NOT Russia — Critique of a popular prophetic assumption 23:30 Significance of Scriptural Synergy 24:45 The Lord Jesus Will Return Bodily—to resurrect the dead and resolve the problem of sin and Satan 26:40 New Heaven and New Earth 28:10 Christ’s Resurrection Is Our Guarantee of the New Heaven and New Earth For further study, see The Apocalypse Code: What the Bible Really Teaches about the End Times and Why It Matters Today https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resources-the-apocalypse-code-find-out-what-the-bible-really-says-about-the-end-times-and-why-it-matters-today-ea0426/ See also the many articles on biblical prophecy and eschatology at www.equip.org, including:“Apocalypse When? Why Most End-time Teaching Is Dead Wrong”“ Is the pre-tribulational rapture theory biblical? ”Making Sense of Ezekiel’s Temple Vision Has Ezekiel’s Prophecy against Tyre Really Been Fulfilled “Biblical Response to Christian Zionism—Special Print Issue of the CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL” Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff reflects on his personal experiences in Tehran during the anniversary of the shah’s overthrow, remembering repeated encounters with the warmth, kindness, and hospitality of ordinary Iranians—from fellow travelers to late-night walks through the city. He sets these experiences alongside a broader argument distinguishing individual Muslims from the religion of Islam itself, raising the question of whether Islam is inherently a religion of peace and tolerance. Hank explains that Islam is the only significant religious system in the history of the human race with a sociopolitical structure of laws that mandate violence against the infidel. This graphic global reality makes Islam a religious ideology espousing terrorism as a permanent policy rather than as a temporary expedient. Such is historical reality, from the early seventh-century Medina massacres to the 9/11 twenty-first century Manhattan massacre and beyond. In the light of Qur’anic texts and historical reality, Hank challenges prevailing Western narratives and explores the implications of migration without assimilation, cultural change, and political denial. Ultimately, Hank calls for a clear-eyed understanding of Islam’s history and teachings while urging Christians to thoughtfully engage these realities as opportunities to communicate the grace and truth of Christ in a complex and rapidly changing world. (Timestamps below.) 0:45  War with Iran takes Hank back to Tehran and his first encounters with Iranians 2:45  Walking Tehran at night—What Hank discovered 3:40  A crucial distinction: Muslims vs. Islam 4:15  Is Islam more than a religion?   6:00  Is Islam truly a religion of peace and tolerance? 8:00  A sobering look at Islamic history and the massacre of Christians 9:15  Armenian genocide by the Ottomans and Hitler’s reference to it as an example of forgotten atrocities 12:30  Migration without assimilation and the future of Europe—Gadhafi’s prediction 16:45  The advance of the Ottoman Empire halted 17:30  Terrorism, truth, and the Christian response For further study:  MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest-Growing Religion. https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion-wa0426/ See also the many articles on Christianity and Islam at www.equip.org, including: Is Islam a Religion of Peace? https://www.equip.org/articles/is-islam-a-religion-of-peace/ Is Allah of Islam the God of the Bible? https://www.equip.org/bible_answers/is-allah-of-islam-the-god-of-the-bible/ Comparing the Central Figures of Islam and Christianity https://www.equip.org/articles/muhammad-messiah-comparing-central-figures-islam-christianity/ Five Differences between Sharia and Old Testament Law https://www.equip.org/articles/five-differences-sharia-old-testament-law/ Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff reflects on the significance of Holy Week and the transformational power of Christ’s resurrection.  Why do Eastern and Western Christians celebrate Easter (Pascha) on different calendars? And what happened as a result of the resurrection? In just a few centuries, a small band of seemingly insignificant believers turned an empire upside down, facing persecution, suffering, and death with unshakable conviction. It is conceivable they would suffer for what they believed to be true—but inconceivable they would die for what they knew to be a lie.  Quoting Simon Greenleaf, one of the greatest authorities on legal evidence in American history, Hank highlights a compelling case for the credibility of the apostles’ testimony. If the resurrection did not happen, what explains the rise and explosive growth of the early Church? As the apostle Paul declared, the resurrection is of “first importance”—the foundation on which the Christian faith stands or falls. For further study, see Resurrection   or The Third Day: The Reality of the Resurrection https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resources-fake-id-and-resurrection-and-third-day-wa/ Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Hank Hanegraaff reflects on the death of Iran’s supreme leader as a stark reminder of the reality of death and eternity.    Hank contrasts Islamic and Christian views of the afterlife, highlighting Islamic concepts such as barzakh and tantalizing descriptions of paradise that have been used as jihadist recruitment tactics, while also raising concerns about demographic shifts, cultural change, and the global influence of Islam.    Hank argues that neither military action nor political engagement alone can address the broader civilizational and spiritual crisis in the West. Ultimately, the only real solution to a disintegrating West and a resurgent Islam is the power of the gospel. A Christian church awakened from a diabetic coma brought on by a steady diet of fast-food Christianity.   The supreme leader of Iran is now absent from the body but continues to exist for all eternity. The question is: where?    The same will be true for each one of us. ”For further study:  MUSLIM: What You Need to Know about the World’s Fastest-Growing Religion https://www.equip.org/product/cri-resource-muslim-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-worlds-fastest-growing-religion-wa0426/ See also Hank’s letter here.https://www.equip.org/march-31st-2026-letter-from-hank-on-iran-and-islam/ Listen to Hank’s podcast and follow Hank off the grid where he is joined by some of the brightest minds discussing topics you care about. Get equipped to be a cultural change agent.Archived episodes are  on our Website and available at the additional channels listed below.You can help spread the word about Hank Unplugged by giving us a rating and review from the other channels we are listed on.

Jay Richards has made more appearances on Hank Unplugged than any other guest. As the longtime producer of the podcast, Dave Hanegraaff thought it would be fitting to have Jay be one of the first guests to join him on his new podcast, A Commitment to Reality.   In this preview from A Commitment to Reality, Jay and Dave explore the importance of listening to those we disagree with, how social media distorts our perception of reality, and why embodiment—simply going outside and being present—may be one of the most important disciplines we’ve forgotten. They also dive into the growing influence of artificial intelligence, why the debate over AI is ultimately a question of anthropology, and how our understanding of the human person will shape the future more than any technology. To hear the full conversation—including Jay’s reflections on fasting, discipline, and practices that reconnect us to reality—search for A Commitment to Reality wherever you listen to podcasts and follow the show so you never miss an episode. You can also watch full episodes and clips on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ACommitmenttoReality

Frederica Mathewes-Green was the very first guest on Hank Unplugged. As the longtime producer of the podcast, Dave Hanegraaff thought it would be fitting for Frederica to also be the first guest on his new podcast, A Commitment to Reality.   In this preview episode, Frederica Mathewes-Green and Dave Hanegraaff explore what it means to live in alignment with reality. To hear the full conversation, search for A Commitment to Reality wherever you listen to podcasts and follow the show so you never miss an episode. You can also watch full episodes and clips onYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ACommitmenttoReality

Hank Hanegraaff brings an important announcement about a brand-new initiative at the Christian Research Institute: a new podcast titled A Commitment to Reality, hosted by his son, Dave Hanegraaff.  This podcast is not only timely but extraordinarily relevant. Why? Because we live in an era of “reality rot.” To paraphrase Blaise Pascal, we live in an age in which truth is so obscure and falsehood so established that, apart from “a commitment to reality,” you simply cannot know it.   Our new podcast is a powerful complement to CRI’s other podcasts and publications, extending our ministry and mission to a whole new generation of change agents.   Please subscribe to A Commitment to Reality on YouTube for full episodes and clips, and follow wherever you get your podcasts. You can also help spread the word by rating, reviewing, and telling others about A Commitment to Reality.   And remember: Because truth matters, reality matters. That’s why we must remain committed to reality.