SEX

Sex and the Subjective Nature of Life In Faith

Shawn McCraney kicks off the episode by promoting The Great News Network Eschatology Conference scheduled for May 2-3, 2025, in Salt Lake City. He highlights that the event will feature speakers who have independently embraced fulfilled eschatology, challenging mainstream theological perspectives. Unlike traditional academic credentials, the speakers will share insights based on personal study and conviction. The invitation is open to all perspectives, including those who disagree, fostering an open dialogue.

Next, Shawn addresses the rise of Christian Liberalism, distinguishing it from the approach at The Great News Network. While many theological movements have emphasized personal experience over biblical authority, Shawn clarifies that his ministry is rooted in biblical support rather than modern liberal theology. He underscores that while personal interpretation plays a role, scripture remains foundational.

The episode also features the return of the Five Fives segment, covering recommendations in music, books, films, and influential figures. His selections include artists like Jethro Tull and Andy Bey, books such as Crime and Punishment and The Great Gatsby, and films like The Fall and The Butcher Boy. He also highlights influential figures like Thomas Sowell and Hannah Arendt, recognizing their intellectual contributions.

A major theme explored is “The Fading”—a thought experiment imagining a future where Christianity has been nearly forgotten. In this scenario, two teenagers rediscover the Bible without religious influence and come to understand its historical and spiritual message. Shawn uses this concept to illustrate the enduring truth of scripture beyond institutional religion and how faith will persist even as organized Christianity declines.

In the latter half of the episode, Shawn confronts the role of religion in governing sexuality. He examines how religious traditions have shaped views on sex, particularly within Abrahamic faiths, and how historical moral codes have evolved. He presents two options for believers:

1. Objective religious demands—adhering strictly to biblical laws while applying judgment to others.
2. Faith in Christ’s finished work—recognizing that every human failing is covered by grace, and individuals are responsible for their own spiritual growth.

Ultimately, Shawn argues that sexuality, like all aspects of human nature, falls under God’s jurisdiction alone. He asserts that religious policing of personal choices contradicts the essence of Christ’s message of grace and individual accountability.

The episode closes with a bold declaration: “It’s time for a change.” Shawn calls for believers to abandon legalistic judgments and trust in the personal, subjective relationship between God and the individual—a shift from external religious control to internal spiritual transformation.