How do Christians stay human in an age of AI, anxiety, and division?

Dr. Mark Turman is joined by Dr. Ryan Denison, Jen Abohosh, and Alex Kondratev to open season five of Faith and Clarity with a thoughtful roundtable centered on what it means to remain fully human in an age of cultural confusion. Together, they reflect on Scripture, fear, hope, and the often-overlooked spiritual discipline of waiting on God, especially when the world feels loud, divided, and uncertain.The conversation moves across timely and challenging terrain, including the influence of media narratives, the growing role of AI, and the weight of political polarization. Rather than reacting to headlines, the group models a slower, more faithful posture, one rooted in wisdom, humility, and trust in God’s presence and purposes.The episode also introduces a new segment, Since You Asked, where the hosts share personal reflections, hopes, and intentions for the year ahead. It’s a meaningful and grounding start to 2026, offering listeners space to breathe, reflect, and rediscover faith, hope, and clarity beyond the noise.Topics(00:00): Welcome to season five of Faith and Clarity(00:38): Roundtable discussion: Reclaiming our humanity(01:58): Exploring cultural reflections and media(03:05): The magic of walking with grief(04:25): Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and representation(06:39): Gavin Newsom on bridging political divides(09:01): Finding humanity in our interactions(15:49): Faith, community, and belonging in 2026(19:08): Scripture, fear, and hope for the new year(30:47): Waiting on God: Unanswered prayers and hope(43:28): The complexity of our modern world(58:55): Resolutions for 2026Resources​​The 'magic' of walking with griefTaylor Swift - The End of an Era - Disney+The Contradictions of Gavin Newsom2025 YouVersion Verse of the YearYouVersion Announces 2025 Verse of the Year as Bible Engagement Reaches New Heights GloballyTom Friedman Says We’re in a New Epoch. David Brooks Has Questions.'Architects of AI' named Time Magazine's Person of the YearDenison Forum Artificial Intelligence ArchivesAsk Us Anything: [email protected] has Denison Forum impacted your faith?The Focus newsletterAbout Alex KondratevAlex Kondratev serves as the Chief Content Officer at Denison Ministries. With experience in creating and aggregating media from hundreds of Christian ministries, she leads the Denison Ministries brands in getting relevant and transformative content to the world.About Dr. Ryan DenisonRyan Denison is the Senior Editor for Theology at Denison Forum, where he contributes writing and research to many of the ministry’s productions. He holds a PhD in church history from BH Carroll Theological Institute after having earned his MDiv at Truett Seminary. Ryan has also taught at BH Carroll and Dallas Baptist University. He and his wife, Candice, live in East Texas and have two children.About Jen Abohosh Jennifer Abohosh serves as the Chief Development Officer at Denison Ministries, leading the Development division with strategic oversight of fundraising, donor cultivation, and major gift initiatives. She advances the organization’s mission through vision-driven generosity strategies and collaborative leadership across all ministry brands.About Dr. Mark TurmanMark Turman, DMin, serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of The Denison Forum Podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries.Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco.Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for 35 years, including 25 years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas.Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren.About Denison ForumDenison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, the Faith & Clarity podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.