The Briefing with Albert Mohler, Jr.
Episode Summary: August 26, 2025
Theme: Cultural Commentary from a Biblical Perspective
Overview
In this episode, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr. provides a biblically grounded analysis of recent cultural developments, focusing predominantly on a new Pew Research Center study about religion and spirituality among LGBT Americans. He explores the theological implications of the findings, the connection between evolving sexual identities and religious affiliation, the authority of science in contemporary culture, and the rise of scientific fraud. Mohler’s overarching aim is to challenge Christians to remain steadfast in scriptural truth and to critically assess claims made in the name of science or social research.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Pew Research Center: Religion and Spirituality Among LGBT Americans
- Main Finding: LGBT Americans are less religious than the general US population but self-describe as spiritual at similar rates.
- Statistics:
- 48% of LGBT adults identify with a religion (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, etc.).
- 73% of non-LGBT Americans identify with a religion.
(Timestamp: 02:08)
- Interpretation:
- The discrepancy is unsurprising, given that major scriptural religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) explicitly condemn homosexuality.
- Historical context: The rise of LGBT identity is linked to broader sexual and moral revolutions in the West.
- Quote:
"If you take the three religions mentioned here—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—every single one of them condemns homosexuality in every form, period." (03:04)
- Identification as LGBT thus correlates with reduced religious identity due to clear scriptural teachings.
- Liberal theology’s attempt to accommodate these shifts is critiqued as a compromise of biblical authority.
2. Attitudes Toward Religion within the LGBT Community
- Findings:
- 46% of LGBT adults believe religion does more harm than good.
- 17% say religion does more good than harm.
- 37% say it does equal amounts of both.
- Only 17% of non-LGBT Americans believe religion does more harm than good.
(Timestamp: 08:48)
- Mohler’s Commentary:
- This reflects a broader cultural shift, particularly among progressives, to view Christianity as not only outdated but dangerous.
- The fundamental disagreement is over biblical authority and the nature of truth and morality.
- Quote:
"The default position is not just to say Christianity is untrue, but... they have to go so far as to say that Christianity is dangerous, it’s harmful." (10:00)
- Theological root: The abandonment of scriptural truth does not leave a moral vacuum; instead, it often shifts people toward subjective spirituality or New Age beliefs.
3. The Authority and Abuse of Science in Culture
- Science as Modern Authority:
- 20th-century culture increasingly defers to scientific claims as ultimate, often supplanting religious authority.
- Mohler recognizes the genuine benefits of science but warns against its misuse.
- Quote:
"Science doesn’t say anything. Science doesn’t speak. Science never walks up to a microphone. It’s someone claiming the authority of science." (29:03)
- COVID-19 Example:
- During COVID, public officials frequently invoked “the science” with shifting and sometimes contradictory guidance, underlining the risks of treating scientific authorities as infallible.
- Critique of Scientific Consensus Claims:
- Alicia Finley’s Wall Street Journal article is cited to illustrate how institutions use "science says" to endorse ideological stances, e.g., abortion, race in medical schools, transgender treatments.
- The authority of science is shown to be contingent and at times politically motivated.
- Differences in approach between countries (e.g., the UK vs. US on puberty blockers) highlight that “the science” is neither monolithic nor immutable.
4. Rise of Scientific Fraud and Its Societal Impact
- Fraud in Science:
- Increasing prevalence of fraudulent, peer-reviewed studies, especially due to “paper mills” and overstretched peer review.
- Example: Harvard Business School’s Francesca Gino lost tenure over dishonest research about honesty.
Quote:"She has now lost tenure at Harvard and the accusation is that she presented dishonest research on what topic? You say, on the topic of honesty. Now there’s a parable for you." (41:23)
- Consequences:
- Scientific fraud, especially in fields related to medicine, can have immediate, even life-or-death, repercussions.
- Quote:
"When you have, say, research on a pill… and it turns out that the research behind that was fraudulent, in that case, you can understand immediately there’s an awful lot on the line, like life and death." (47:10)
- Systemic Problems:
- Scale and speed of fraudulent publications have made oversight almost impossible, risking public trust and health.
- Organized, criminal-like operations (“research paper mills”) threaten the credibility of the scientific enterprise.
- Christian Response:
- Affirmation that while science is a valid avenue for knowing, it is still a human endeavor, prone to sin and error.
- Frequent invocation that Christians must measure all claims, including those made “in the name of science,” against scriptural truth.
5. The Idolatry of Science and the Limits of Numbers
- Science and Social Research as Idol:
- Science can, like any human pursuit—including entertainment or sports—become an idol when it claims absolute authority.
- The “Pew research center study on LGBT identified Americans and religion” itself is a scientific/social study; its findings are important but not ultimate.
- The Christian Worldview’s Distinctive:
- Christians are ultimately concerned not with statistics or trends, but with the dignity and destiny of individuals made in God’s image.
- Quote:
"At least a part of the Christian worldview we always need to keep in mind is that we can’t reduce reality ever just to numbers." (56:29)
Memorable Quotes by Timestamp
-
On Religion and LGBT Identities:
"If you are constrained by Scripture, guess what? It’s a matter of obedience or disobedience. And we as Christians understand that it’s obedience or disobedience. Not just in such a way, just merely that our duty is to keep the law. But we understand that the law is good, that the law points to and creation order points to what is good for us." (13:44)
-
On Scientific Authority:
"One of the most frustrating things to me is when you have journalists say, experts say. Well, who’s an expert? Who decides who’s an expert?" (37:02)
-
On the Dangers of Scientific Fraud:
"Thousands of supposedly peer reviewed scientific reports that turn out to be fraud… some of these reports are from, say, the fields that are related to medicine." (46:34)
-
On Christian Perspective:
"We do believe that truth exists, and we believe that truth is knowable. But we believe that because we believe there is one true and living God who has made the entire cosmos..." (50:12)
Structured Timestamps for Key Segments
- Pew Research: LGBT and Religion — 00:00–14:30
- Attitudes Toward Religion (Harm vs. Good) — 08:48–14:30
- Rise of New Age and Subjective Spiritualities — 14:31–18:30
- Science as Authority; Cultural Shifts — 18:31–33:20
- COVID-19, “The Science,” and Expertise — 29:03–38:46
- Scientific Fraud: Examples and Consequences — 38:47–51:02
- Christian Approach to Truth, Science, and Idolatry — 51:03–End
Conclusion
Dr. Mohler urges listeners to:
- Recognize the real, scriptural reasons behind shifts in religious affiliation among LGBT-identified Americans.
- Exercise discernment regarding claims made in the name of science or expertise.
- Refuse to let human endeavors—science, polling, or anything else—usurp the authority of God’s Word.
- Remember that ultimately, Christian concern is for people as image-bearers, not mere statistics or movements.
For further information: