Episodes

  • Burning Questions on Hell, Islam, Sexuality, and More Answered (NYC Q&A) | Ep 89

    Burning Questions on Hell, Islam, Sexuality, and More Answered (NYC Q&A) | Ep 89
    Sep 8 2025
    What do you say when someone asks, “If God is so loving, why do people end up in hell?” In this special Q&A at Times Square Church in New York City, Abdu Murray tackled some of the hardest questions about faith, truth, and the hope found in Christ. From challenges about the Bible’s trustworthiness to how Christians can minister to friends in the LGBTQ community, these questions cut to the heart of what it means to follow Jesus in today’s culture. Thanks to the efforts of Times Square Church, this evening brought together hundreds of seekers and believers for an honest, unfiltered dialogue. Other questions asked in this episode include: Why trust an old book like the bible? How do we minister to our LGBTQ friends? What's the big difference between Islam and Christianity? Outside of eyewitnesses, what evidence is there for the resurrection? Who were the Nephilim? And more! 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    51 mins
  • My Dialogue with a Hindu on Creation, Evil, Reincarnation and Much More! | Ep 88

    My Dialogue with a Hindu on Creation, Evil, Reincarnation and Much More! | Ep 88
    Aug 25 2025
    In this episode of All Rise, we are bringing you a wide-ranging dialogue between Abdu Murray (a former Muslim who is now a Christian) and Fred Stella (a former Catholic who is now Hindu) on life’s deepest questions. How did the universe come to be? Why is there evil and suffering? What happens after death—and what role do reincarnation and karma play? Together, in front of a packed audience at Compass Church in Naperville, Illinois, they engage candidly on the Hindu and Christian views of creation, the problem of suffering, the caste system, and the hope of the afterlife. With honesty and respect, this conversation highlights where these two great worldviews differ, but also where they challenge us to think more deeply about truth, justice, and ultimate meaning. Whether you come from a Hindu background, a Christian background, or are simply seeking answers to life’s biggest questions, this dialogue will give you fresh insight into how faith traditions wrestle with what it means to be human. This event also includes audience Q&A. Fred Stella is ordained as an Outreach Minister by his local Hindu temple. He also serves as a member of the National Leadership Council of the Hindu American Foundation, an advocacy group based in Washington, DC, and is an in-demand voice actor. 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Beyond the Binary? What the Bible REALLY Teaches with Kyla Gillespie | Ep 87

    Beyond the Binary? What the Bible REALLY Teaches with Kyla Gillespie | Ep 87
    Aug 18 2025
    In this episode of All Rise, Kyla Gillespie joins us to explore the deeper theological debates surrounding gender and Scripture. Some voices argue that the Bible supports transgender identities—but what do those arguments really say? And how should we think about them in light of creation, redemption, and identity in Christ? With clarity and compassion, Kyla and our hosts explore what Scripture really teaches about gender, creation, and identity in Christ. Far from being a message of exclusion, the Bible offers a vision of wholeness, truth, and redemption that speaks to every human heart. Whether you’re wrestling with questions yourself or engaging with friends who are, this conversation will help you see both the strength of the biblical witness and the hope it offers. You can keep up with Kyla and her ministry, Renewed & Transformed, at https://kylagillespie.com/. 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    45 mins
  • Gender Confusion and Finding Faith w/ Kyla Gillespie (Pt. 1) | Ep 86

    Gender Confusion and Finding Faith w/ Kyla Gillespie (Pt. 1) | Ep 86
    Aug 4 2025
    What happens when the identity you built your life around suddenly collapses—and Christ steps in to rebuild it? Kyla Gillespie is a survivor. In this episode of All Rise, we sit down with Kyla, a woman who once identified as transgender but ultimately found truth, freedom, and a new identity in Jesus Christ. Kyla shares her raw and powerful story, not as a political argument, but as a deeply personal journey through pain, searching, and redemption. With honesty and grace, she unpacks what drew her into a false identity, what shattered her illusions, and how God patiently led her back to the truth of who she really is. Her story challenges cultural assumptions around gender, identity, and authenticity. And even more so, it points to the healing love of Christ that meets us when we’ve come to the end of ourselves. #Identity #Gender #sexuality #Christianity #JesusTransforms You can keep up with Kyla and her ministry, Renewed & Transformed, at https://kylagillespie.com/. 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 100 Years Later: The REAL STORY Behind the ‘Monkey Trial’ w/ Dr. Rick Townsend | Ep 85

    100 Years Later: The REAL STORY Behind the ‘Monkey Trial’ w/ Dr. Rick Townsend | Ep 85
    Jul 21 2025
    Was the Scopes “Monkey Trial” ever really about science—or was it a staged showdown with a hidden agenda? In this episode of All Rise, we talk to Dr. Rick Townsend, a historian of ideas whose groundbreaking dissertation uncovers the real story behind one of the most famous courtroom dramas in American history: the 1925 Scopes Trial. For a century, we’ve been told it was the moment science defeated religion. But what if the real battle wasn’t evolution vs. creation—but parental rights vs. elite control? Dr. Townsend walks us through how the trial was orchestrated, how William Jennings Bryan became a media caricature, and how a false narrative took root that still shapes educational debates today. We also explore Mahmoud v. Taylor, a 2025 Supreme Court decision that echoes the same themes 100 years later. Are we still fighting the same battle—just with different labels? Whether you're a believer, skeptic, or just someone tired of being told a one-sided version of history, this episode will change the way you think about the “Monkey Trial”—and what’s really at stake in the classroom. Dr. Rick Townsend's PhD Dissertation, "Reconsidering Bryan: William Jennings Bryan's Advocacy of Causes Using Rights-Based Arguments," can be accessed at https://utd-ir.tdl.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/3aa73f5e-5985-4a20-8a04-7131c391dffb/content. Dr. Townsend's recent article in Salvo Magazine, "Still Unrefuted," about the anti-evolution arguments of William Jennings Bryan: https://salvomag.com/article/salvo73/still-unrefuted. Salvo Magazine's most recent issue, which includes Dr. Townsend's articles along with several others', can be accessed here: https://salvomag.com/issue/current (note that this link will only go to the correct issue while it is the "current" issue. For future reference, this is issue #73 from Summer 2025). You can keep up with Dr. Townsend through his LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/in/rick-townsend-271b2920. 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • PROOF Junk DNA was NEVER Junk! Science Finally Caught Up … with Fuz Rana | Ep 84

    PROOF Junk DNA was NEVER Junk! Science Finally Caught Up … with Fuz Rana | Ep 84
    Jul 14 2025
    Was "junk DNA" ever really junk—or did science just need to catch up with design? In this episode of All Rise, we talk to Dr. Fazale Rana (biochemist and President & CEO at Reasons to Believe) to dive into one of the most groundbreaking scientific reversals in recent history: the 2024 Nobel Prize awarded for discoveries showing that so-called “junk DNA” is functional and essential. For decades, large portions of the human genome were written off as useless leftovers of evolution. But was that ever good science—or just bad theology in disguise? Fuz Rana walks us through the history of this idea, why many Christian scientists and intelligent design theorists questioned it from the beginning, and how new discoveries are forcing a complete rethinking of what our DNA says about purpose, design, and even God. Is this the death of the “junk DNA” myth? What does it mean for Darwinian evolution? And how should Christians respond to this scientific turning point? Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or just curious about what your genes are really saying, this conversation will give you a fresh look at the intersection of science, faith, and design. Resources mentioned in this podcast: George Haraksin and Krista Bontrager (eds.), Revealing God in Science: https://a.co/d/24u5RzX Other resources mentioned are forthcoming. 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • The Untold Story of the Quran's Formation with Quran Scholar Andy Bannister | Ep 83

    The Untold Story of the Quran's Formation with Quran Scholar Andy Bannister | Ep 83
    Jun 30 2025
    Is the Qur’an truly the perfectly preserved word of God—or is its history more complicated than many believe? In this episode of All Rise, Abdu Murray and Qur'an scholar Andy Bannister explore the turbulent early history of the Qur’an: from its oral roots to the compilation controversies that many Muslims have never been told about. Was there really just one Qur’an from the beginning? Did early Muslim leaders know what the Qur’an was? And what can the evidence of oral storytelling, variant versions, and missing passages tell us about how the Qur’an came to be? With wit, respect, and deep scholarship, Abdu and Andy cut through the myths to explore what Islamic, historical, and scholarly sources actually say about the formation of Islam’s central text. Whether you're a Muslim, a Christian, or just curious about the Qur’an’s origins, this conversation offers thoughtful insights that challenge assumptions and invite further investigation. #Quran #Islam #AndyBannister #Apologetics #IslamicHistory #TextualCriticism #Hadith #Christianity #ExMuslim #BiblevsQuran Resources mentioned in this podcast: Andy Bannister, An Oral-Formulaic Study of the Qur'an Andy Bannister, shorter article on Oral-Formulaic Study (https://www.academia.edu/9490706/Retelling_the_Tale_A_Computerised_Oral_Formulaic_Analysis_of_the_Qur_an) Digital, Critical version of the Qur'an: http://quran-tools.com/ Oral formulae from the digital version: https://qurantools.mst.edu.au/help/formulaic-analysis.php Gordon Nickel, The Quran with Christian Commentary (book) Gordon Nickel, The Gentle Answer to Muslim Accusation of Biblical Falsification (book) Patricia Crone, Meccan Trade (book) Jonathan Bernier, Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament (this popular-level book includes discussion of the early dating offered by non-Christians Maurice Casey and his student James Crossley). Shabir Ally admits there are fables in the Qur'an: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLuzyRurhm4 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    1 hr and 42 mins
  • Rebuilding Faith: Doubt, Scripture & "A Teachable Spirit" with AJ Swoboda | Ep 82

    Rebuilding Faith: Doubt, Scripture & "A Teachable Spirit" with AJ Swoboda | Ep 82
    Jun 16 2025
    What comes after deconstruction? In this episode, we talk with AJ Swoboda—pastor, professor, and author of After Doubt and A Teachable Spirit—about why doubt has become so common, why it shouldn't be the end of the story, and how real spiritual formation takes shape in our lives. We explore: The limits of “just me and my Bible” Christianity A fresh take on sola Scriptura from a Protestant perspective Why we all carry traditions—whether we admit it or not The value of humility and a teachable spirit Why formation is slower—but deeper—than deconstruction With humor, honesty, and pastoral wisdom, AJ offers a compelling vision for rebuilding faith that can last. AJ Swoboda is a pastor, theologian, and author who teaches Bible, theology, and Christian formation at Bushnell University. He is also co-host with Nijay Gupta of the Slow Theology podcast. Find out more about AJ's books, writing, and socials at https://ajswoboda.com/. Check out his latest, A Teachable Spirit, at https://a.co/d/3lBZxE4. 🎙️ All Rise is the podcast where truth is put on trial. In each episode, ideas are cross-examined and evidence is explored. 🔔 Subscribe for more thought-provoking conversations, debates, and interviews from the world of Christian apologetics and beyond. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/abdumurray Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abdumurray12 Twitter https://twitter.com/abdumurray TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@abdumurray Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at https://embracethetruth.org/sign-up/. Embrace the Truth is a donor-supported ministry that seeks to answer PEOPLE, not questions. Consider partnering with us in this important mission by visiting https://embracethetruth.org/donate.
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    54 mins