The Briefing with Albert Mohler

Episode Summary: Friday, October 17, 2025

Episode Overview

On this Friday episode, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. provides cultural commentary from a Christian worldview, addressing three main topics:

1. The rapid normalization of AI-generated pornography and the underlying moral issues,
2. California’s new anti-antisemitism law in public education (and its surprising controversy),
3. Nuanced explorations of nationalism, patriotism, and the emotional nature of God—prompted by listener questions.

Throughout, Mohler emphasizes vigilance regarding language, culture, and technology, and the necessity of viewing such developments through a biblical and theological lens.

1. AI Pornography and “Treating Adults Like Adults” (00:30–16:20)

Key Points

• OpenAI and AI Porn:
  • Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) announced that ChatGPT will soon permit the generation of "erotica" for verified adult users.
  • Justification centers on “treating adult users like adults,” with safeguards like “age gating.”
• Technological Determinism Exposed:
  • Mohler identifies a “technological imperative” in Silicon Valley culture—if it can be done, it must be done, and profit is a primary motivator.
• Linguistic and Moral Concerns:
  • Language shifts (“adult entertainment”) disguise or soften the reality of moral harm.
  • Mohler warns about the persistent use of euphemism and “moral discounts:”
    • “Mitigating issues by moral euphemism is something that has a very old history.” (06:20)
• No Such Thing as Morally Neutral Tech:
  • Technology, even as basic as the wheel, is always morally implicated in how it’s used.
  • “There is no technology which is morally neutral. That includes the wheel.” (13:10)
• Failures of "Age Gating" and Broader Corruption:
  • Mohler expresses deep skepticism about the effectiveness of age barriers.
  • He contends that even if barriers worked, children will be corrupted indirectly through adults’ use of such platforms:
    • “Children are corrupted because adults using this kind of online platform, they're going to be corrupted… The moral circle doesn't end with the age verified adult, even if there is such a thing.” (15:30)
• Cultural and Civilizational Decay:
  • The trajectory since the 1960s has seen the normalization and continual boundary expansion of pornography.
  • “Not only does porn become a corrupting influence in individual lives, it becomes a corrupting influence in the entire culture and the entire civilization.” (11:55)

Notable Quotes

• "A moral discount is when you say, this isn't drug abuse, it's a drug dependence phenomenon. … Mitigating issues by moral euphemism is something that has a very old history." (06:20)
• "There is no technology which is morally neutral. That includes the wheel." (13:10)
• "Christians can't buy the lie that some adequate system here is protecting children and minors. That's just a lie." (15:15)

2. California's Antisemitism Law: When the Left Faces Internal Controversy (16:20–21:00)

Key Points

• Governor Newsom’s Surprising Move:
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law outlawing antisemitism in public schools and creating an antisemitism prevention coordinator.
  • This puts him at odds with teachers’ unions and certain anti-Israel groups.
• Opposition’s Claims:
  • Critics, including the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), allege the law stifles discussion of “Israel’s ongoing campaign of genocide.”
• Focus on Factual, Standard-Aligned Curriculum:
  • The law requires that instruction must be “factually accurate and aligned with the adopted curriculum and standards” and not based on “advocacy, personal opinion, bias, or partisanship.”
• Commentary on Political Quandaries:
  • Mohler notes the significance of internal left-leaning resistance and the broader trend of anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment in the far left.
• Affirmation Amid Skepticism:
  • Mohler praises Newsom despite their ideological differences:
    • “When you see someone do the right thing, it's the right thing. And Gavin Newsom ... signing this legislation was the right thing.” (20:45)

Notable Quotes

• “This is a political quandary on the left. How in the world can he sign this legislation and keep peace with the teachers unions and ... the far left ... turning openly antisemitic ... and certainly anti Israel?” (20:30)
• "Why did it take so long?" — referencing the Wall Street Journal and echoing the incredulity at the legislative delay (20:50)

3. Listener Q&A: Nationalism, Patriotism, and Augustine’s Two Cities (21:00–34:50)

Key Questions

• Distinction between Patriotism and Nationalism (from a young man in Oklahoma):
  • “American patriotism seems rooted in gratitude, sacrifice, freedom, and a foundation for Christian morality... Nationalism, on the other hand, appears to be a kind of ultimate allegiance that seeks to preserve the nation at all costs. Is that a fair assessment?”
• Mohler’s Response: Definitions and Biblical Context:
  • Patriotism:
    • Rooted in gratitude, sacrifice, allegiance to the “land of our fathers.”
    • Properly Christian patriotism is thankful and loyal—but recognizes the limits of earthly allegiance.
    • “Christians are called to a proper patriotism, and that's one that's biblical, one that understands the state can't claim ultimate allegiance.” (26:50)
  • Nationalism:
    • Mohler opposes any idolatrous version but affirms nationhood as biblically recognized and necessary for human society and flourishing.
    • “I think there is a basic biblical principle, and it comes down to the Christian principle of subsidiarity…” (29:15)
    • He distinguishes between “rogue nations” and other groupings, reinforcing nations' moral responsibilities.
  • Proper vs. Improper Allegiances:
    • Affirms the Christian's ultimate citizenship is in God’s Kingdom, per Augustine’s "City of God," not the earthly nation.
    • “There can be an improper patriotism or a proper patriotism for the Christian, but I think a proper patriotism is actually required.” (34:10)
  • Pre-political Commitments:
    • The nation relies on pre-political realities such as marriage and family, which the government is meant to respect—not invent.

Notable Quotes

• "Patriotism is a good word. I'm not embarrassed by it. I think a proper patriotism ... is biblical." (26:40)
• “I think with respect to subsidiarity and creation order and God's plan ... I think it's very difficult to imagine how [flourishing] can be done efficiently at a level larger than a nation.” (33:00)

4. Listener Q&A: The Emotional Life of God (34:50–end)

Key Question

• How Can We Speak of God’s Emotions Without “Domesticating” His Holiness?
  • From a 19-year-old woman: “How can I rightly approach the topic of God’s emotions without demoting or domesticating his holy nature?”

Mohler’s Theological Response

• God’s Unchanging Nature:
  • Human emotions are changeable, but God does not change (“immutability”).
  • Anger (for us) implies loss of control; for God, it is “judicial,” flowing from holiness and righteousness.
  • “If I get angry, it's because I've lost control. And by definition, that's sin. God's anger is judicial. It is coming out of his holiness...” (35:35)
• Anthropomorphic Language:
  • Scriptural references to God’s emotions are “condescensions”—God stooping to our level so we can understand.
  • “He does reveal himself in language that helps us at the human scale to understand him, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm.” (37:30)
• No Change in God:
  • “God doesn’t change, therefore we’re saved. So if God changed, we are doomed.” (36:00)
  • “We can never interpret or use references to God's emotions as implying change.” (36:45)
• Gratitude for Inquisitive, Theologically Precise Listeners:
  • Mohler concludes with encouragement for deep biblical reflection and faithfulness.

Notable Quotes

• "Let's strive for faithfulness. Let's try to keep the theological categories straight." (38:10)

Memorable Moments & Tone

• Mohler’s “first” public praise of Gov. Newsom (19:40)
• Repeated warnings about trusting in technological safeguards:
  • “Christians can't buy the lie that some adequate system here is protecting children and minors. That's just a lie.” (15:15)
• Affirmation of the value and necessity of “proper patriotism” and the critical difference with nationalism (26:40–34:10)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• AI Pornography & Technology’s Moral Implications: 00:30–16:20
• California Antisemitism Law: 16:20–21:00
• Patriotism, Nationalism, and Augustine: 21:00–34:50
• God’s Emotions (Listener Q&A): 34:50–end

Conclusion

This episode of The Briefing delivers incisive analysis on the fusion of technology and morality, the complexity of public educational policy in a secular context, and a thoughtful theological engagement with both socio-political and doctrinal questions. Mohler urges vigilance, clear language, and biblical fidelity throughout, equipping Christians to discern and engage contemporary culture faithfully.