The post Faith and Family Under Fire: Why Apologetics is Failing in the 21st Century; a Front Line Report appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>Email Anthony at director@athanatosministries.org
I have been analyzing trends related to the rise and decline of Christian faith for some time. My own apologetics ministry has roughly coincided with the dramatic drop in the number of Christians since 1990 and the astonishing ascent of the religiously unaffiliated in the same time (as of this writing, almost 25-30% of adults now say they have no religion, and an increasing share of these call themselves atheists).
About a year ago, I decided it was time to gather up my research and start drawing some conclusions from it. Not long after that, I was asked to give some presentations on apologetics at a pastor’s conference. The two ideas came together over the summer of 2016 as I delved more deeply into understanding why there appears to be a precise moment in time when the trend began (about 1992; see chart below). I realized I needed to write up a report calling attention to this trend and offering my own explanation for it.
I did not finish the report in time to distribute at the pastor’s conference, although I basically made the case that is in the report. I also made the case in a series of presentations at St. John’s Lutheran Church in West Bend, WI, but the actual report was not yet finished. Many people told me that my proposed explanation lined up very well with their own experiences. A draft of the report was read by Dr. Ryan MacPherson, a scholar who is knee-deep in data related to these issues who indicated that my findings are consistent with his own.
A summary of conclusion of the report:
The transmission of the faith from one generation to the next is intimately tied to one’s family life.This is borne out in the Scriptures and it is also borne out in sociological research. People growing up in broken homes are less likely to be receptive to the Gospel of Christ. The truth of Christianity, even when presented powerfully and persuasively, will struggle to overcome attitudes that are established while one is growing up. The highest quality Christian education is no match for the absence of godly parenting. The influence of the father, in particular, is decisive.
The reason the rise of the ‘religious nones’ begins so dramatically in the 1990s is because it is right about that time that the children born during the ‘sexual revolution’ of the 1960s and 1970s are themselves finally coming of age. The take away: any attempts to deal with this issue without making ‘family ministry’ the controlling context for those attempts will fail. Meanwhile, it must be understood that many of the factors that undermined happy, healthy, intact families during the ‘sexual revolution’ are still very much with us today. Christians must get their own house in order, or else, in America at least, there won’t be much ‘house’ left within a generation.
This report is hereby submitted.
In Christ,
Anthony Horvath, PhD
Because I consider this information to be very important, I am making the report available via download. Permission to re-distribute it is hereby granted. Bulk discounts on the print edition are available, as well. However, if you consider it so important that you want to share it widely, I hope you will also recognize how important it is to support the ministries of Athanatos Christian Ministries. Please take a moment to make a donation–not so much to pay for the download and the costs of producing such a report, but to help equip us to continue to carry out our work. This work includes calling attention to the findings included in this report! Click here to view donation options.
Download the report: FaithUnderFireReportAnthonyHorvath
The video below is ‘part 3’ in my series delivered at West Bend, where, having wrapped up my case in the previous two parts, am offering recommendations on how they ought to proceed. To have me present for your church or organization, email me at director@athanatosministries.org.
The ‘rise of the religious nones’ chart, mentioned above (and addressed in the report)
The post Faith and Family Under Fire: Why Apologetics is Failing in the 21st Century; a Front Line Report appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post Anthony Horvath Presents at St. John’s Lutheran in West Bend, WI appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>I had the pleasure of presenting on three consecutive Sundays at St. John’s Lutheran Church in West Bend, WI in January of 2017.
My topic: how the transmission of the faith is intimately tied to happy, healthy families–the very thing that has been under attack in American society since the sexual revolution of the 1960s.
During the month of January I was compiling the research that informed these presentations into a report which had not been finished yet. It is now finished and available. Learn more about my Faith and Family Under Fire: Why Apologetics is Failing in the 21st Century.
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
The post Anthony Horvath Presents at St. John’s Lutheran in West Bend, WI appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post 2016 Festival Recap appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The schedule was packed with authors, musicians, bands, speakers, filmmakers and even a comedy act. There is too much to say and too much to show, but we have some video clips below that give the flavor of it. As we have more uploaded, we’ll update this page with links to them.
ACM’s festival is essentially the distillation of all of the activities it carries out as an organization. It’s basic mission is to promote and defend the Christian faith (ie, work to have as many people enjoy eternal life as we can), but has an emphasis on carrying out this defense through the arts.
Thinking through how that actually looks for an artist or apologist is something we do all year long. At the festival, we show how it looks.
ACM is the only Christian apologetics organization that focuses on defending the faith through the arts.
Please enjoy the videos below. We hope to see you next year!
Watch:
Links to reactions to the 2016 Athanatos Festival:
Christian Arts Festival: The Athanatos Experience
by Jamie D. Greening
On the Athanatos Christian Arts and Apologetics Festival
by Medieval Otaku
Post-Festival Thoughts
by Bernard Bull
Check out the hashtag #AthanatosFest2016 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Some pics:
The post 2016 Festival Recap appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post “Defending the Faith” Apologetics Boot Camp for junior and high school students appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>
Event: Apologetics Boot Camp: Defending the Faith
Date/Time: February 20, 9 am-3 pm.
Location: ACM’s offices at 105 S. Main St., Greenwood, WI.
Short Description: A survey of the evidence for Christianity and tips on how to integrate that evidence into one’s own life–geared to teenagers.
Cost: $30 for the day, limit 20 participants. Lunch included (pizza and subs–subtract $5 if bringing own lunch).
Description: Is Christianity true… really? What about contradictions in the Bible? Isn’t the resurrection just a story? Designed with Christian middle school and high school students in mind, this event will present some of the strongest arguments for the existence of God and the truth that Jesus rose from the dead, while also handling some of the objections and criticisms that they are likely to hear in the media or in their school. They may even have their own questions about their faith. Each section of the seminar will end with a period of questions and answers. Participants will be given guidance on how to further investigate the foundations of their faith and how to talk to others about the Christian faith in a way that respects the questions of others. Ideally, a youth director or Christian education director will attend this event along with the students in their youth group or high school class, if not to expand their own knowledge, then as a way to learn more about the views and perspectives of their own students.
Registration Information: Email Dr. Anthony Horvath at director@athanatosministries.org or call 202-697-4623 to confirm your attendance and make payment arrangements.
Join and share the Facebook event.
Download bulletin inserts, posters, flyers, etc:
http://athanatosministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Apologetics-Boot-Camp-flyer-5_5x8_5.pdf
The post “Defending the Faith” Apologetics Boot Camp for junior and high school students appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post Fault Lines Series: “First Principles: Life and Family” appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>This Seminar: “First Principles”
Part One: Life
Part Two: Family
ACM hosts regular conversations and seminars on deep religious, philosophical, and political issues. Each session lasts about an hour, with plenty of time for discussion. There is no cost for these events.
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20th, ACM will host a lecture/discussion titled “First Principles: Life.” Why some people vehemently support abortion and euthanasia while others vehemently oppose it.
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17th, the next in the series will be “First Principles: Family.” Explored will be the underlying reasons why secularism always leads to the destruction of the institution of the Family over time, and why the defense of the Family must be paramount for the concerned Christian.
Join and share the Facebook event.
FREE
Date/Time: Part One: Jan. 20 6-8pm; Part Two: Feb. 17 6-8pm
Location: ACM’s offices at 105 s. Main St., Greenwood WI.
Registration Information: Email Dr. Anthony Horvath at director@athanatosministries.org or call 202-697-4623 to confirm your attendance.
The post Fault Lines Series: “First Principles: Life and Family” appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post “Inspired Scribe” Writing Workshop appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>
Date/Time: January 16 @ 8:30-5 pm.
Location: ACM’s offices at 105 S. Main St., Greenwood, WI.
Short Description: A day-long writing workshop geared for Christians, hosted by ACM (Dr. Anthony Horvath and instructor and writing contest judge, Debbie Thompson).
Cost: $100, Lunch included (pizza and subs).
Description: This workshop will provide the author with opportunities to refine their writing ability and consider what it means to be a ‘Christian’ author. The workshop will include practical guidance on story elements, such as plot and character development. It will also feature thought-provoking principles for Christians who desire that their stories do more than entertain. Attending authors will submit in advance a writing sample that is no longer than 3,000 words, which they will also evaluate throughout the workshop, both privately and in small group discussion, in light of what is learned throughout the workshop. The workshop concludes with tips on writing for publication. The workshop is hosted by Athanatos Christian Ministries, which is known internationally for its Christian writing contests and online writing workshops.
Registration Information: Email Dr. Anthony Horvath at director@athanatosministries.org or call 202-697-4623 to confirm your attendance and make payment arrangements.
Join and share the Facebook event.
Promotional Materials (posters, bulletin inserts, images):
http://athanatosministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Scribe-flyer-8_5x5_5-in-8_5x11.pdf
http://athanatosministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Scribe-flyer-8_5x5_5-in-8_5x11.jpg
http://athanatosministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Scribe-flyer-5_5x8_5.pdf
The post “Inspired Scribe” Writing Workshop appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post Fault Lines Registration appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>There will be an option on the Paypal payment form to leave an alternate email address or phone number, which is strongly advised.
You can also pay by one of our other payment methods. Just send an email after you submit payment to make sure that we can connect with you.
After you pay, login instructions will be sent to you the Thursday or Friday before the event.
The post Fault Lines Registration appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post “On Death’s Door” Presentation, Rally for Life, Jan. 25, 2015 appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>
Rally for Life
Jan. 25th @ 2pm.
Peace Lutheran Church, located at 501 E. Fillmore Ave. in Eau Claire, WI.
Sponsored by the Eau Claire chapter of Wisconsin Right to Life
“On Death’s Door: How America Embraced the Culture of Death and Why it Matters.”
Dr. Horvath began researching the ‘culture of death’ in earnest about eight years ago when he and his wife were informed at the ultrasound that their daughter had spina bifida, and then were asked if they wanted an abortion. He was disturbed that such a question would be posed in such circumstances and sought to understand how that could happen. It soon became clear that the high abortion rates of children diagnosed with birth defects is in fact an extension of eugenics programs that had their origins in the early part of the 20th century. On top of that, children with birth defects was just one component of what turns out to be a comprehensive agenda that can best be described as ‘population control.’ Adding insult to injury, while many of these programs are funded by private organizations, many more are funded by the US government–that is, the American taxpayer!
Outline and Research/Resource Material
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Download bulletin insert (in black and white for easy printing):
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Download post card sized fliers:
Black and white:
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Color:
Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Bulletin Insert Blurb (Copy and Paste into your bulletin)
“On Death’s Door: How America Embraced the Culture of Death and Why it Matters.” Rally for Life on Jan. 25th @ 2pm. Peace Lutheran Church, located at 501 E. Fillmore Ave. in Eau Claire, WI. Sponsored by the Eau Claire chapter of Wisconsin Right to Life Speaker: Dr. Anthony Horvath. About eight years ago, Anthony and his wife were informed at their ultrasound that their daughter had spina bifida, and were asked if they wanted an abortion. Disturbed that such a question would be posed so abruptly, Horvath sought to understand how that could happen. It soon became evident that it is not an accident that disabled children are aborted at such high rates. Efforts to eliminate ‘defectives’ began in earnest in America a century ago, and persist to this day–often at tax payer expense.
The post “On Death’s Door” Presentation, Rally for Life, Jan. 25, 2015 appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The post Statement on the State Department Apology for Muslim Violence: A Resignation Please appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>Watching the Obama administration try to get their messaging right regarding whether or not Christians are to blame for Muslim violence or if the Muslims are to blame for Muslim violence admittedly serves as a form of entertainment for me. Unfortunately, this time, people were seriously–fatally–harmed. Nothing entertaining about that.
I have been involved in Christian apologetics for nearly twenty years, and I’ve seen this type of thing many, many times. Here is the apology:
The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.
I hereby call upon whomever wrote this release to resign immediately, or barring that, be fired. No person this out of touch with reality should be permitted to represent our country in such an important role.
But that is not the main reason for issuing this statement.
It is pretty common in my experience to have people denounce all things religious, and Christianity in particular, because ‘religion is so violent’, only to have them then produce examples of specifically Islamic violence to demonstrate their point. A good illustration of this, is Richard Dawkins’ arguments in his book “The God Delusion” in a section titled ‘Undeserved Respect’ where he targets the specifically Christian concept of God and to ‘prove’ his point, proceeds to give case after case of Muslim atrocities. Apparently, in the atheistic mind, Christians filing lawsuits is equivalent to murdering filmmakers–and storming embassies and slaying American diplomats.
While some people are rightly denouncing the state department’s knee-jerk apologizing for ‘misguided individuals’ who ‘hurt the religious feelings of Muslims,’ I noted with particular interest the skewed notion of ‘respect for religious beliefs’ that their press release says is ‘a cornerstone of American democracy.’ No doubt, such respect really is a cornerstone of our democracy, but the idea that respect means remaining silent or that resorting to violence in response to an ‘abuse [of] the universal right of free speech’ is appropriate, is not only absurd, but is clearly out of touch with what respect for different beliefs has meant in America.
In America, ‘respect’ does not mean condoning, remaining silent, or even speaking kindly about someone. It may mean boycotting something, but it doesn’t mean blowing it up. There have been exceptions, but this is a case where the exceptions prove the rule.
The thing that gets me with this is that, once again, Muslims get a ‘pass.’ And of course, the media describes them as ‘ultra-conservative’ Muslims, playing into the sentiment that a conservative is anyone who actually believes what they say they believe. The idea that there is something within the particular belief system of Islam itself that drives such behavior never seems to register.
The whole attitude exhibits a profound lack of a sound sense of proportion. The press release by the embassy in Cairo exhibited the same distorted sense of proportion: the speech of some American Christians is ‘bad’ but the violence of the Muslims was understandable and forgivable. But as they say, ‘It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.’ It is reasonable to suspect that the latest ‘stop’ on the apology tour emboldened the assailants in Libya.
It is time for atheists, secular humanists, the media, and those who are tasked to defend us from real threats–the government–to exhibit a little common sense. Some people may be religious, but they aren’t Christians. Stop using the violence of Islamicists to argue against Christianity. In the meantime, it seems to me very likely that our cowardice on this point is leading us into even more danger.
But I don’t expect this to happen. After all, what am I going to do? I’m a Christian; the worst I’m doing is calling for someone’s resignation. The other folks may very well cut off their heads.
The post Statement on the State Department Apology for Muslim Violence: A Resignation Please appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>The sources I referenced in the presentation can be found here. The doc file for the note cards I was reading off of in the presentation is here: [download id="6"]
A short story that I wrote, inspired by the 'culture of death', can be read here. [download id="5"]
For a full length version of the video that you can post to Facebook, etc, click here. The full length audio is here, or you can download it here.
The post Culture of Death- Malthus, Sanger, Darwin, Singer appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>This presentation has now been given several times and in various formats and is the foundation for a petition project that is under way.
Below is the video and audio of a presentation I gave titled “The Culture of Death: What it is and How it Got Here.” It was delivered on Nov. 20, 2010, at an event sponsored by Nebraska Lutherans for Life at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska.
The sources I referenced in the presentation can be found here. The doc file for the note cards I was reading off of in the presentation is here: Note: There is a file embedded within this post, please visit this post to download the file.
Presentation Summary: Historically speaking, humans have always traded in death. What makes the ‘culture of death’ unique is that for the first time in history, the pervasive solution to humanity’s problems always leans in one direction: the elimination of humans. This Malthusian outlook accepts as a dogma that the ‘pie’ is only so big and there isn’t enough to go around. The ultimate solution, then, is to reduce the number of people vying for a piece of the pie. The ‘Culture of Life’, however, has a different solution: make a bigger pie. The Malthusiasts turn to the State as the proper administrator of ‘scientific’ principles in guiding our own evolution. The same way of thinking persists today. The only difference is that they think that this time they can implement it without it ending in a holocaust.
A short story that I wrote, inspired by the ‘culture of death’, can be read on Kindle.
For a full length version of the video that you can post to Facebook, etc, click here. The full length audio is here, or you can download it here.
Now, the video, embedded in three parts…
Part One – Direct Link
Part Two – Direct Link
Part 3 – Direct Link
The post Culture of Death- Malthus, Sanger, Darwin, Singer appeared first on Athanatos Christian Ministries.
]]>