Martin Tanner's Religion Today

Finally, a show on all aspects of religion from a fact based perspective, not a proselyting one. Topics include, Science and religion; Biblical archaeology; Near-Death Experiences and religion; Beliefs of the Early Christians; Where did the books in the Bible come from?; How reliable is the Bible?; Have the beliefs of the world's religions changed over time?; and, hundreds of other topics.

Was There an Apostasy? 06/06/2025

Was There an Apostasy? Critics of the LDS Faith claim there could not have been an apostasy because virtually all Christian denominations believe in the Bible, in Jesus, and can trace their history back to the first century AD. But Religion Today podcast host Martin Tanner explains that the core doctrines of Christianity have all dramatically changed since the first century to the point they are unrecognizable. A few of Martin's most notable examples include: (1) the nature of God and Jesus; (2) What it takes to be saved in God's Kingdom; (3) Whether the Canon of scriptures closed; (4) Whether baptism is necessary, what kind of baptism and at what age; and (5) the ultimate potential of mankind. These dramatic changes strongly indicate an apostasy has taken place. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36885445

Was Jesus Married? 05/30/2025

Was Jesus Married? In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner provides information from scripture, early Christian writings and tradition, Jewish writings and traditions, and other sources, to lay out a compelling argument for the idea that Jesus was, in all likelihood, a married man with children. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36780125

Palestine and Israel - Conflicts and History 05/23/2025

Palestine and Israel - Conflicts and History In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner provides a brief history of Israel, from 120,000 years ago to the present, showing that Israelites or Jews, have continuously occupied the land of Israel from at least 1,202 BC and likely much earlier, to the present. Since 1947, the internationally accepted and designated name for that land is the Country of "Israel." The name "Palestine" comes from a cruel joke made by a Roman General in circa 120 AD, renaming Israel to "Phlistinia" after the extinct Philistines. The current Palestinian chant "From the [Jordan] river to the [Mediterranean] sea, Palestine must be free" is a thinly disguised call for the genocide of the Jewish people and termination of the State of Israel. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36643570

The Origins of the Four Gospels 05/16/2025

The Origins of the Four Gospels In this Religion Today episode, host Martin Tanner describes the original oral sources that were apparently used by John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, which was likely the first written of the Gospels. Martin describes when, how, for what purpose and by whom the other three Gospels were written. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36538715

Archaeological Evidence that Third Nephi Chapter Eight is Genuine History 05/09/2025

Archaeological Evidence that Third Nephi Chapter Eight is Genuine History In this Religion Today episode, host Martin Tanner outlines the archaeological evidence that 3 Nephi 8 is genuine history which happened in present day Guatemala. The volcanic activity described in 3 Nephi 8 has never happened in the United States anywhere east of western Texas, making a North-American setting for Book of Mormon event in North America impossible. However, volcanic activity in the first century AD, as described in 3 Nephi 8, did happen in and around present day Guatemala, including a number of cities that were destroyed in earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and hurricanes, including recent archeology that demonstrates a first century city, as described in 3 Nephi 8, sunk into the "sea" a very short time, perhaps in just an hour or two. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36442585

Angels: Their Origin, Purpose and Meaning 05/02/2025

Angels: Their Origin, Purpose and Meaning In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes the Jewish and Christian beliefs in angels. He gives Biblical examples from the Old and New Testaments. He explains the meaning of the English word "Angel" derives from the phrase "God's Messenger" in both Hebrew and Greek. Ancient and modern examples of angel intervention in the lives of people to provide help and comfort are described. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36393110

The Alma Richards Story: A New Motion Picture by T.C. Christensen 04/25/2025

The Alma Richards Story: A New Motion Picture by T.C. Christensen Martin Tanner interviews renowned Film-maker T.C. Christensen about his new film which tells the remarkable story of Alma Richards, who, as a high school student from southern Utah, won the Olympic Gold Medal in the funning high jump. This is a must see film. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36286435

Easter, Celebration of the Gift of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus 04/18/2025

Easter, Celebration of the Gift of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes the meaning of the atonement, as reconciliation between God and Man, and how it works, as the point in time when Jesus acquired a complete, perfect understanding of the entire life of each person, and then took upon himself our sins, because of his love for each of us. Martin also describes the meaning of the resurrection, as a complete restoration of our physical body, exactly as it was when we died, from which point we grow to physical perfection, perhaps over years, during which period of time, parents will have the opportunity to raise their children who died before becoming an adult. Martin explains how we each have unique DNA, which is a complete blueprint of our physical body. Thus, no matter how obliterated one's physical body has become, DNA makes resurrection for all assured. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36218820

The Three Nephites 04/11/2025

The Three Nephites Martin Tanner describes why, from Book of Mormon passages, Latter-day Saints believe in three Nephites who were "translated" and allowed to remain on earth until the Second Coming of Jesus. He provides several stories of intervention by one or more of the Three Nephites, and what their purpose seems to be. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/36043400

The Pre-Existence 04/04/2025

The Pre-Existence Catholics believe life begins at conception. Most others believe in a pre-earth life, pre-existence or a reincarnation into the current life. Martin Tanner describes the pre-existence from scripture, history and belief, from the perspectives of Judaism, Early Christianity, Catholicism, the Orthodox Church, Protestant faiths and from the Latter-day Saint perspective. Citing scriptures and examples from Near-Death Experiences, he provides compelling evidence for a pre-existence. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35949530

In What Way are We God's Children? In What Way is God Our Father? 03/28/2025

In What Way are We God's Children? In What Way is God Our Father? Host Martin Tanner explores how literal or figurative these descriptions are, from scriptures, doctrines, traditions, near-death experiences, and other sources. He discusses what it means that humans are the children of God, and, what it means that God is our father. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35779870

Modern Day Miracles that Defy Scientific Explanation. 03/21/2025

Modern Day Miracles that Defy Scientific Explanation. After describing some Bible miracles, host Martin Tanner asks whether miracles still happen? He then answers his own question, "yes" and describes eight specific, well documented miracles, from 1965 to 2015, in which someone should have died, but for reasons that defy any scientific explanation, the person lived. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35779760

Jesus - The Lost Years 03/14/2025

Jesus - The Lost Years What happened in Jesus's life from the time he was born until his earthly ministry? In this episode of Religion Today host Martin Tanner explains the various theories and the evidence for and against each, including, did Jesus visit India, Nepal, England or Japan? How did Jesus interact with those in his hometown of Nazareth? Martin explores the few, but significant New Testament verses that give us a clue to Jesus's life before his public ministry. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35656670

Three Extraordinary Near-Death Experiences - Elane Durham, John Hernandez and David Chevalier 03/07/2025

Three Extraordinary Near-Death Experiences - Elane Durham, John Hernandez and David Chevalier In this episode of Religion Today Martin Tanner gives details of the Near-Death Experiences of Elane Durham, who saw major verified events in the future; John Hernandez, who simultaneously with other fire-fighters, had all an NDE in which they all stood above their bodies in the flames of a forest fire; and, David Chevalier, who survived a point-blank shotgun blast to his chest, resulting in an NDE, in which he was shown by Jesus the events immediately prior to the Second Coming, the Resurrection of the Dead, and, the Redemption. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35570805

Is the Shroud of Turin Real or Fake? 02/28/2025

Is the Shroud of Turin Real or Fake? Martin gives a short history of the Shroud of Turin. He explains how the latest evidence shows the Shroud is a painted image, on a linen sheet, inconsistent with the Gospel record, of a man who does not look like the real Jesus. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35467245

Book of Abraham, Facts and Fallacies 02/21/2025

Book of Abraham, Facts and Fallacies Host Martin Tanner explains why critics who claim the eleven papyrus scraps the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints obtained in 1967 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art are the documents from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Abraham, are demonstrably wrong. Martin describes what is on the eleven Joseph Smith Papyri, why they cannot be the papyri from which the Book of Abraham was translated, and what happened to the papyri from which the Book of Abraham was translated. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35270030

The Five Books of Moses 02/14/2025

The Five Books of Moses Host Martin Tanner describes the traditional belief that Moses himself wrote the first five books of the Bible, with evidence from archaeology, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and internal documentary evidence. He also describes the new so-called "scholarly" approach which suggests the five Books of Moses were written and compiled by many others, who attributed their work to Moses for credibility. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35269975

Why Latter-day Saints Are Fascinated by Near-Death Experiences 02/07/2025

Why Latter-day Saints Are Fascinated by Near-Death Experiences In this episode, host Martin Tanner describes how Near-Death Experiences confirm Mormon doctrine. He also describes the Near-Death Experiences of ten prominent Latter-day Saints, including Church Presidents Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and Apostles David B. Haight and Jeffrey R. Holland. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35165240

The Doctrine & Covenants 01/31/2025

The Doctrine & Covenants In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner shares little known facts about the D&C, including that a committee decided which of Joseph Smith's revelations would be included and which would be excluded. The D&C is by far the most historically accurate series scriptures ever recorded. Why? All revelations in the D&C were written down as they were received, or within a day or two after. That cannot be said of the Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament, Pearl of Great Price, or any other scripture. /episode/index/show/e68f312d-fea9-4cdb-a927-713895e738b1/id/35102915

Martin Tanner's Religion Today

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