Podcasts

The Podcast

Predestination or Choice? Dinesh D’Souza on Calvinism Did God choose you—or did you choose God? Larry Alex Taunton and Dinesh D’Souza dive into one of Christianity’s most difficult and debated questions: How do God’s sovereignty and human responsibility fit together? The conversation was sparked by D’Souza’s reaction to an R.C. Sproul lecture on predestination, leading to a deeper discussion about Calvin, free will, original sin, salvation, and the nature of human choice. Taunton argues that Scripture presents a real tension between God’s sovereign purposes and human responsibility, while D’Souza pushes back, emphasizing the meaningful choices people make throughout Scripture. Together, they explore: Predestination and human choice Calvin vs. hyper-Calvinism Original sin and the limits of human freedom Assurance of salvation God’s sovereignty and human responsibility Romans 5, John 6, Romans 8, Acts 2, Job, and John 17 Calvin’s “accommodation” principle A thoughtful conversation on one of theology’s biggest questions: If God is sovereign, what does it mean for us to choose?
Larry Alex Taunton channel avatar Larry Alex Taunton 155K
Predestination or Choice? Dinesh D’Souza on Calvinism
Larry Alex Taunton 3 hours ago
Did God choose you—or did you choose God? Larry Alex Taunton and Dinesh D’Souza dive into one of Christianity’s most difficult and debated questions: How do God’s sovereignty and human responsibility fit together? The conversation was sparked by D’Souza’s reaction to an R.C. Sproul lecture on predestination, leading to a deeper discussion about Calvin, free will, original sin, salvation, and the nature of human choice. Taunton argues that Scripture presents a real tension between God’s sovereign purposes and human responsibility, while D’Souza pushes back, emphasizing the meaningful choices people make throughout Scripture. Together, they explore: Predestination and human choice Calvin vs. hyper-Calvinism Original sin and the limits of human freedom Assurance of salvation God’s sovereignty and human responsibility Romans 5, John 6, Romans 8, Acts 2, Job, and John 17 Calvin’s “accommodation” principle A thoughtful conversation on one of theology’s biggest questions: If God is sovereign, what does it mean for us to choose? Predestination or Choice? Dinesh D’Souza on Calvinism
Dr. Jay Smith on Islam’s Origins: Sources, Mecca, Muhammad, and the Quran Larry interviews Dr. Jay Smith, a Christian Islamicist and polemicist, who presents a visual, source-based critique of Islam’s origins focused on four areas: the reliability and timing of Islamic sources, the historical plausibility of Mecca, early evidence for Muhammad, and the compilation and preservation claims of the Quran. Smith argues that key Islamic biographies, hadith, tafsir, and histories appear 200–300 years after Muhammad and were produced far from Mecca and Medina, that early external and geographic evidence does not support Mecca’s centrality or even early existence, that early inscriptions and coinage suggest a later development of distinct Islamic identity and the term “Muhammad” as a title, and that multiple qira’at and manuscript variants challenge the claim of a single unchanged Quran. He concludes by urging Christians to use this material to point Muslims to Jesus and the Bible. Islamic origins • early Islam • Muhammad • Mecca • Quran history • Quran manuscripts • qira'at • hadith • tafsir • sira • Islamic historiography • early Islamic inscriptions • Islamic coins • Dome of the Rock • Birmingham Quran folios • Quran preservation • Christian apologetics • Jesus and Islam • Bible and Quran #Islam #JaySmith #Muhammad #Mecca #Quran #IslamicHistory #ChristianApologetics #QuranHistory #EarlyIslam #Jesus Dr. Jay Smith DISPROVES the Origins of Islam, the Quran and Mecca | Shocking Historical Evidence
Eric Metaxas interviews Larry Taunton about a viral Oxford Union debate on the motion “the West should be suspicious of Islam,” featuring Lawrence Fox and Tommy Robinson. Taunton explains he helped Fox prepare by treating the event as performance, recounts attempted cancellation pressure from the Bishop of Oxford, police, media, and a hostile crowd, and says the Union delayed releasing video. They discuss a Muslim student’s opening remarks referencing a mob outside, and Fox’s envelope “prop” that implied a Muhammad cartoon but revealed a caricature of an opposing MP, triggering laughter and procedural objections. The conversation then shifts to the Democratic Socialists of America meeting in Chicago, its platform proposals, and Taunton’s claim that Muslims advance influence in the West via socialism as a “Trojan horse,” alongside criticism of socialist economics and “democratic socialism.” Laurence Fox Silenced a group of Oxford union Islamists | Eric Metaxas Show
Larry Taunton, Author and Columnist, shares key takeaways from the Democratic Socialists of America summit in Chicago, how the DSA’s anti-capitalism and anti-individual freedoms clash with our Constitution and democratic institutions, and the threat socialism poses to religious freedom. The Rise of Democratic Socialists
Should the West Be Suspicious of Islam? In this episode, Larry Alex Taunton breaks down Laurence Fox's appearance at the Oxford Union, where he argued in favor of the motion: "This House Believes the West Should Be Suspicious of Islam." The discussion explores the distinction between criticizing an ideology and criticizing individuals, the state of free speech on university campuses, and the broader debate surrounding Islam, integration, and Western values. Larry also examines claims made during the debate, reactions inside and outside the Oxford Union, and why this discussion has become one of the most controversial conversations in modern public discourse. In this episode: Laurence Fox's Oxford Union debate Ideology vs. individuals Free speech and self-censorship Public attitudes toward Islam and integration The Charlie Hebdo controversy Reactions from Oxford students Why these debates matter for the future of the West Should the West Be Suspicious of Islam? | Oxford Union Debate
Why Musk’s DOGE Targeted USAID: Fraud Allegations, Covert Ops Claims, and On-the-Ground Encounters The episode argues Elon Musk’s brief work leading DOGE was most important for exposing USAID, citing examples of spending such as $2 million for gender-related care in Guatemala and $87.9 million for Afghan farming that allegedly included poppy cultivation. It contrasts Senator John Cornyn praising Musk and Trump’s actions against USAID with Cornyn later blocking nominees to restore PEPFAR funding, noting over $100 billion has gone to PEPFAR since 2003. The host describes DOGE activity after Trump’s 2024 election win, Trump’s Executive Order 14169, and USAID shutdown actions in early February 2025, while claiming USAID functioned as a corrupt, lightly overseen vehicle for covert operations and mass migration facilitation via NGOs. He recounts two confrontations at USAID Cairo, subsequent viral videos, alleged harassment including swatting and pizza orders, and references comments by Mike Benz, Samantha Power, Musk, and an African Union official about USAID’s role and impact. 00:00 Musk vs USAID Bombshells 02:03 Cornyn Flip Flop 04:05 Why USAID Must Stay Closed 05:58 DOGE Shutdown Timeline 13:00 Bannon Show Human Trafficking 20:40 Cairo Visit Goes Viral 25:01 Rogan Clip CIAID Claims 29:23 Cairo Standoff and Escape 37:09 Swatting and FBI Theory 42:11 Samantha Power vs Musk 50:00 Globalist Agenda and Faith 55:20 Trillions Untraceable Wrap Up The Most Important Thing Elon Musk Ever Did
Subscribe