6 A.M. to 9 A.M.

What did Jesus mean, exactly, when he warned of casting "pearls before swine" or urged believers to "turn the other cheek?"

In a special three-hour GodTalk, Brent dissected some of Jesus's "hard" sayings, which are frequently misapplied or misunderstood without consideration to proper cultural context.

"You're a heretic," a caller said last week. "What you're saying is heresy."

6 A.M.

Why do some people shout heresy when their personal theology is questioned? What exactly is heresy, anyway? Brent focused on four major heretical groups in the first two centuries of Christianity to shed light on the origin of this concept and more accurately define the term.

7 A.M.

He then claimed the title with pride, noting that he was in excellent company. Jesus Christ, himself, would have been considered a "heretic" in his lifetime, and medieval "heretics" like Martin Luther spurred the Proestant Revolution that reshaped the landscape of Christianity forever.

8 A.M.

What does it mean to be a "heretic" today? Pope Benedict XVI asserts that all contemporary Protestant denominations are "heretical" and haven't the right to call themselves "churches." Brent considered some differences between Catholics and Protestants, and the criteria used to justify such derisive statements.

6 A.M.

Brent separated fact from fiction relative to the Mayan calendar, which features prominently in the hit apocalyptictic fantasy film 2012.

7 A.M.

Brent reviewed Paul's writings specifically on this topic in his letters to the church at Thessalonica.

8 A.M.

Due to listener interest, Brent stayed with this theme to reveal the manipulations of various texts used to promote such doomsday predictions throughout history. He then reviewed some of the most popularized - and sometimes believed - versions of our time.

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Apart from Jesus, no one has made a greater impact on Christianity than Paul. His theological system remains unrivaled to this day, and yet he is the most misunderstood and misapplied of all early church writers. Thirteen epistles of Paul have survived, most of which he wrote to churches that he founded or to their leaders. One letter in particular contains the most complete treatment of his theology—that addressed to Rome—for he had not visited the capital and wanted to present systematically his understanding of the gospel prior to his arrival. The apostle composed this epistle when he was about to depart for Jerusalem, where he anticipated danger and was ultimately arrested. The date was 57 CE, during the early years of Nero’s reign.

The material is difficult to comprehend outside its original setting, and for that reason we dedicated this week’s show to its contents.

Hour One—After a brief profile of Paul, we summarize the first three chapters of the epistle; they contain his treatment of the human condition for both Jews and Gentiles.

Hour Two—We begin with an introduction to the formative years of Paul’s life and then discuss chapters five through seven concerning his views on sin and redemption.

Hour Three—The early conflicts the apostle faced with both Jews and Christians is described as well as chapters eight and nine containing the apostle’s understanding of Jesus’ accomplishment and the restoration of humanity.

On a special GodTalk, Brent spent all three hours of the program this morning answering some of the hundreds of emails he's received from KGO listeners.

6 A.M.

Brent discussed the conundrum surrounding Jesus as either man, or God, or something in between that led to doctrinal "adjustments" - including the whole concept of the trinity - which many mistakenly assume originated in Jesus' time.

7 A.M.

With calls flooding in, Brent stuck with this topic, reviewing the writings of four prominent, early Christian thinkers on this subject. If they, and other early church leaders did not consider Jesus "divine," would this be a faith "deal breaker" for many Christians today?

8 A.M.

With so much emphasis on what church or religion is "right" these days, have modern believers developed greater "faith" in their respective churches and doctrines than they have in God?

6 A.M. to 9 A.M.

Brent devoted the entire show to an exploration of Islam, with many callers eager to weigh in.

6 A.M.

Brent showed how “The Prayer of Jabez," a national best seller in 2000, and other pop theology texts written to gain notoriety, manipulate readers.

7 A.M.

Responding to the volume of email he received last week after discussing Mormonism, Brent takes on the LDS church and Book of Mormon once again.

8 A.M.

Brent takes a look at the Church of Scientology. The calls flooded in, so Brent will follow up on this controversial religion that many consider a cult.

6 A.M.

Brent discusses two influential, but controversial religious groups, "The Way" and "The Family."

7 A.M.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad believes in an Islamic Messiah, known as the Mahdi, who will promote Islam, defeat its enemies, cleanse humanity and bring justice to the world. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, calls for Muslims to mobilize against America and Israel. What is the religious basis for such views? Should Westerners take this kind of rhetoric seriously?

8 A.M.

Charismatic cult leader Harold Camping predicted that Christ would return and the world would end in 1994.

So he was a little off.

Now he's sure it's 2011. Brent exposes the outrageous "theology" Camping's used to divide families and drive fear into the hearts of his misguided flock.

6 A.M.

Brent took on "gospel of prosperity" promotors Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, currently under investigation by the Senate Finance Committee. Should churches promising salvation in return for donations remain tax-exempt when the money's used to build multi-million dollar fortunes for their founders?

7 A.M.

Since so many Americans are enthralled by end-of-the-world dramas and "2nd Coming" theories, Brent focused on Paul's specific descriptions of the events that would presage Christ's return. The apostle, Brent contends, would have dismissed the modernized, pop-cultural versions of this narrative as "heretical."

8 A.M.

Christians looking to identify the "Anti-Christ" in their lifetimes have most often named political tyrants and/or charismatic leaders. Fringe attempts to implicate President Obama as the Anti-Christ are no exception and simply defy scriptural support. What, exactly, does scripture tell us about this frightening, enigmatic figure?

Every culture develops stories and legends that reflect its social mores, beliefs, and customs. No religious myth is better known than the story of Adam and Eve, which reveals the fundamental realities and insights of ancient Jewish culture.

This morning, Brent returned to Eden to interpret the lessons taught there, focusing on the symbolism and meaning of Adam, Eve and the serpent. Part two of this discussion will take place next Sunday!

6:00am
Brent asked the listeners to help compile a list of vices for our modern age, and explores the definition, causes and consequences of alcoholism.

7:00am
The discussion of alcoholism continued, and Brent introduced the topic of music in the church.

8:00am
In ancient times, magic - or sorcery - was central to the culture. Brent presented some of the similarities and differences among magic, science and religion and asks if Western religion has drifted too far from science.

6:00am
Brent took a close look at each of the Ten Commandments, exploring what they really mean and the various versions referenced in the Bible. Listeners shared opinions on what's missing from the Ten Commandments.

7:00am
The discussion of the Ten Commandments continued into the 2nd hour.

8:00am
What is the definition of the Sabbath and when did a Sunday day of rest become the norm? Is there value in taking a day to tend to spiritual and family matters and does attending weekly church service serve that function?

6 A.M.

The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus's death was essential for Gentiles' salvation, but the Abrahamic covenant prevails for Jews. Anti-Semitism did not emanate from the apostolic church, and its writers are still frequently overlooked or misinterpreted on this topic.

7 A.M.

Last week, the U.S. Senate in a unanimous vote apologized to African-Americans for slavery and racial discrimination. Brent asked whether or not the church should follow-suit, and also apologize for its enabling role.

8 A.M.

Brent reviewed early references to slavery in the Ancient Near East and classical world, and its practice in ancient Judaism. He also discussed Paul's writings on this topic, to reveal how his epistles have been misused for centuries to justify slavery, even though no early church writer, especially the apostle, condoned it.

6 A.M.

Brent took on "gospel of prosperity" promotors Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, currently under investigation by the Senate Finance Committee. Should churches promising salvation in return for donations remain tax-exempt when the money's used to build multi-million dollar fortunes for their founders?

7 A.M.

Since so many Americans are enthralled by end-of-the-world dramas and "2nd Coming" theories, Brent focused on Paul's specific descriptions of the events that would presage Christ's return. The apostle, Brent contends, would have dismissed the modernized, pop-cultural versions of this narrative as "heretical."

8 A.M.

Christians looking to identify the "Anti-Christ" in their lifetimes have most often named political tyrants and/or charismatic leaders. Fringe attempts to implicate President Obama as the Anti-Christ are no exception and simply defy scriptural support. What, exactly, does scripture tell us about this frightening, enigmatic figure?