All Rise with Abdu Murray

You’re the jury as attorney and apologist Abdu Murray puts the claims for and objections against the Christian to courtroom-level scrutiny.

Burning Questions on Hell, Islam, Sexuality, and More Answered (NYC Q&A) | Ep 89 09/08/2025

My Dialogue with a Hindu on Creation, Evil, Reincarnation and Much More! | Ep 88 08/25/2025

My Dialogue with a Hindu on Creation, Evil, Reincarnation and Much More! | Ep 88 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 Instagram Twitter TikTok Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at . 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 . /episode/index/show/141b6393-15cb-4150-9961-5e315002453e/id/37947785

Beyond the Binary? What the Bible REALLY Teaches with Kyla Gillespie | Ep 87 08/18/2025

Gender Confusion and Finding Faith w/ Kyla Gillespie (Pt. 1) | Ep 86 08/04/2025

100 Years Later: The REAL STORY Behind the ‘Monkey Trial’ w/ Dr. Rick Townsend | Ep 85 07/21/2025

100 Years Later: The REAL STORY Behind the ‘Monkey Trial’ w/ Dr. Rick Townsend | Ep 85 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 . Dr. Townsend's recent article in Salvo Magazine, "Still Unrefuted," about the anti-evolution arguments of William Jennings Bryan: . Salvo Magazine's most recent issue, which includes Dr. Townsend's articles along with several others', can be accessed here: (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 . 🎙️ 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 Instagram Twitter TikTok Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at . 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 . /episode/index/show/141b6393-15cb-4150-9961-5e315002453e/id/37483055

PROOF Junk DNA was NEVER Junk! Science Finally Caught Up … with Fuz Rana | Ep 84 07/14/2025

PROOF Junk DNA was NEVER Junk! Science Finally Caught Up … with Fuz Rana | Ep 84 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: 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 Instagram Twitter TikTok Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at . 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 . /episode/index/show/141b6393-15cb-4150-9961-5e315002453e/id/37406135

The Untold Story of the Quran's Formation with Quran Scholar Andy Bannister | Ep 83 06/30/2025

The Untold Story of the Quran's Formation with Quran Scholar Andy Bannister | Ep 83 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, Andy Bannister, shorter article on Oral-Formulaic Study () Digital, Critical version of the Qur'an: Oral formulae from the digital version: 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: 🎙️ 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 Instagram Twitter TikTok Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at . 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 . /episode/index/show/141b6393-15cb-4150-9961-5e315002453e/id/37228280

Rebuilding Faith: Doubt, Scripture & "A Teachable Spirit" with AJ Swoboda | Ep 82 06/16/2025

Jesus in Islam: Prophet, Messiah … But Not God? | Ep 81 06/02/2025

Why Didn't the Virgin Birth Convince Jesus' OWN Family? | Ep 80 05/19/2025

Who is Allah? Understanding the Islamic View of God | Ep 79 05/05/2025

BONUS DEBATE: Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead? Abdu Murray vs. John Loftus | Ep 78 04/17/2025

Former Muslim Responds: Why Ayaan Hirsi Ali Left New Atheism for Jesus | Ep 77 04/14/2025

Are We Witnessing the Abolition of Humanity? With Stuart McAllister | Ep 76 04/04/2025

Are We Witnessing the Abolition of Humanity? With Stuart McAllister | Ep 76 The Christian world is finally awaking to the reality of the technological captivity of humanity. But one man who has been thinking about this from the beginning is Stuart McAllister. Gleaning wisdom from CS Lewis and many other authors, Stuart helps us navigate the technological world by first helping us understand the underlying problems and what is at stake. Stuart is the Director of Ministry for Thinking Out Loud (featuring Cameron McAllister and Nathan Rittenhouse) and the Director of Leadership and Deployment for Restoration Presbyterian Church in Dacula, Georgia. Stuart is an in-demand speaker, author, and thought leader who has contributed chapters to several books and co-wrote Faith That Lasts: A Father and Son on Cultivating Lifelong Belief (InterVarsity Press, 2021). We mentioned a lot of resources in this episode! If you're interested in this topic, we recommend you check them out. Here is a list of the works referenced, which are all books unless otherwise noted: CS Lewis, The Abolition of Man Jacques Ellul, The Technological Society Peter Berger, Brigitte Berger, and Hansfried Kellner, Homeless Mind Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust Neil Postman, Technopoly Norbert Wiener, The Human Use of Human Beings Shoshana Zuboff, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism Rod Dreher, Living in Wonder Gerard Manley Hopkins, God's Grandeur (poem) Robin Phillips and Joshua Pauling, Are We All Cyborgs Now Kevin Kelly, What Technology Wants Paul Kingsnorth, The Cross and the Machine (article) Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok Keep in touch with Abdu and be notified when he is in a town near you by signing up for his monthly newsletter at . 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 . /episode/index/show/141b6393-15cb-4150-9961-5e315002453e/id/36010235