PODCAST · religion
AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra
by Voice of Prophecy
Casual, transparent conversations about life, spirituality and God. AUTHENTIC is a deep-dive into the nature of love, relationships, emotions and self-awareness. Host Shawn Boonstra answers real existential questions—stuff that everybody wonders about: the meaning of life, living with purpose, and understanding how the great philosophers still impact the way you live today.
Episodes
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Lessons from Cicero
It can be incredibly hard to trust in others. Over and over, the world and its people fail us. How would God be any different? Shawn Boonstra explores how we truly judge our judges.
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Sting in an Elevator
Some people are worth every bit of ridicule and disgust you can give ’em, right? After all, they stand for something you abhor. Maybe they stand for the wrong politics. Or maybe they chose the wrong religion. And to top it off, they're rude! But wait a sec... Who gave you the right to determine...
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The Prince
A lot of people don't like organized religion—and for good reason. History is full of atrocities in the name of Christianity. But are they throwing out the baby with the bathwater? Shawn Boonstra makes a case for closer examination.
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History of the Bible, Part 2
This week on Authentic, Shawn gets to the heart of what exactly "inspired by God" means when it comes to Scripture—writing it, compiling it, interpreting it. And what about all those "extra" books of the Apocrypha? Are they Scripture? Join us for part 2 of our series on how the Bible came to be....
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Answers for a Skeptic: Our Choice to Sin
Why was a tree that led to DEATH placed in paradise in the first place? Was God setting up Adam and Eve for temptation and failure? In part 6 of his "Answers for a Skeptic" series, Shawn Boonstra explores God's choices, our choices, and the troubling mystery of sin. Don't miss this fascinating...
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Answers for a Skeptic: Slavery and the Bible
In this thought-provoking episode, Shawn Boonstra confronts the challenging topic of slavery in the Bible and its relevance to a modern audience. Join us as we focus on God’s efforts to mitigate the consequences of human choices. This is part 5 in Shawn’s series called “Answers for a Skeptic."…
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Answers for a Skeptic: The Problem of Hell, Part 2
This week Shawn continues investigating the common idea of hell and comparing it with Scripture. Where IS hell, exactly? Is it burning in the bowels of the earth? Is hell really everlasting? And is it a truly just punishment? Be sure to catch last week's Part 1 if you haven't already.
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Answers for a Skeptic: The Problem of Hell, Part 1
Join host Shawn Boonstra for a compelling two-parter as he tackles the age-old misconceptions surrounding hell and eternal punishment. This week he'll explore the origins of these beliefs, the very purpose of hell, and how God's character relates to it all. This is part 3 in Shawn's series called...
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Answers for a Skeptic: Bible "Mistakes"
On this week's episode of Authentic, host Shawn Boonstra continues his series called "Answers for a Skeptic" by focusing on the claim that the Bible is full of mistakes and contradictions.
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Answers for a Skeptic: Why God Isn't Silent
Join Shawn Boonstra on Authentic as he begins tackling some truly tough questions posed by skeptics about faith, God, and the Bible. First up: why does God stay silent and hidden? The answer may be closer than you think...
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The Temptation of Christ, Part 3
In the devil’s final temptation to Jesus, he offers to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world in return for worshipping him. Host Shawn Boonstra highlights the vital message that there are no shortcuts to glory—that is, to a meaningful relationship with God.
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The Temptation of Christ, Part 2
Doubt can be useful—healthy, even!—but it can also be poisonous. Saints and skeptics alike have wrestled with suspicions about God, His character, and His words and promises. In "The Temptation of Christ, Part 2," Shawn Boonstra looks at the sharp impulse to doubt that confronted Jesus and…
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The Temptation of Christ, Part 1
Times of desperation can often tempt us to shift our values—make us consider things we’d never consider under any other circumstances. Shawn Boonstra talks about why you can trust Jesus to help you overcome Satan's temptation just like He did.
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The Pagan Jesus
Have you ever heard someone say that the stories in the Bible are just a rip-off of older pagan documents? On this week’s Authentic episode, host Shawn Boonstra explores some of those claims comparing the Jesus we find in the Bible to the heroes and gods of the pagans.
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In Pursuit of Justice
What makes us think that life should be fair? Why do we feel that someone owes us something when they do something wrong to us? We all seem to have a profound sense of justice. Shawn Boonstra says it's because we are the work of a profoundly just Creator.
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Ode to Cincinnatus
It's a fact you'll find all throughout history: people who unwittingly become leaders by accident or in times of sudden crisis quite often make better leaders than people who spend their lives trying to gain power. On this week’s episode of AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra takes a look at…
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Speak of the Devil
What do you imagine when you think of the devil? A lot of people think he's a red-skinned monster with horns, sharp teeth, and a pitchfork. But it turns out that image is rooted in pagan mythology—not the Bible. In this episode, AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra talks about what the devil really…
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Lessons from Dead Friends
Losing someone to death can be heartbreaking, especially if that person was young. And it's far from rare: studies show young Americans are TWICE as likely to die as their counterparts in other developed nations, like Germany, France, and Japan. The mortality rate for U.S. babies is scarily high,...
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The Nature of Evidence
If you didn't see it, hear it, or feel it yourself—did it REALLY happen? Learn how your experiences and the way you rely on them can trick you when it comes to miracles. Join Shawn Boonstra as he takes a closer look at famous philosopher David Hume, who didn't believe in miracles. This week's...
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David Hume and Miracles
Is it possible for miracles to be scientifically proven? Join Shawn Boonstra on this week's episode of AUTHENTIC as he explores one of history's most influential philosophers, David Hume, and his controversial view on miracles. There's plenty to discuss at this fascinating intersection of...
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Marketing God
Churches risk losing their way when they prioritize business and marketing strategies over their core mission. They may be filling the pews, but in the process they're unintentionally compromising the message they stand for. This episode of AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra explores the dangers of...
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The Strange Case of Free Will
Do you really control every decision you make? There’s an increasing number of people who believe that free will is only an illusion—that the decisions you make today are solely caused by events from your past. In this episode, AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra discusses research from neuroscientist...
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Infinity and Beyond
Your life is finite: you'll live and die, having occupied a limited space for a limited amount of time. But in the end, we all seem to sense that there’s something infinite to grab hold of. Where does it take us? This week on AUTHENTIC, Shawn Boonstra peers into the beyond.
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Signs and Wonders
Lots of people talk about Jesus' miracles—whether they did or didn't happen. Christians believe they were real. But what's important is that the miracles are not the reason one believes. They're not the foundation of Christian faith. AUTHENTIC host Shawn Boonstra explains how the story of Jesus…
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Freedom and the Bible
More and more people in North America seem to believe the Bible is a book that oppresses humans and shuts down personal freedom. On this week’s program, Shawn Boonstra argues that the opposite is true—that many freedoms Americans enjoy today are largely inspired by the Bible itself.
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Immanuel Christmas Special
Back in the earliest years of Christian history, a lot of deep thinkers struggled to wrap their minds around the concept of Jesus being not just a man, and not just God, but instead BOTH things at the very same time. 🤯 How could the eternal Almighty Himself come to this earth as a real...
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No Other Gods
Lots of people are cool with Jesus, and even Yahweh...except for that pesky claim of exclusivity. What’s His deal? Some have diagnosed God as an egomaniacal control freak. This week Shawn Boonstra analyzes the first commandment—“no other gods before Me." Yet what IS a god to us? An idol? It all…
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An Authentic Life
True freedom or lawful obedience? In the human mind, these concepts are at war, just as modern Christian thought severs our lives today from the Old Testament era: the age of the law (many claim). Join Shawn Boonstra as he unearths the truth—it has ALWAYS been an age of grace—and the ensuing...
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A Moral God
Standing as mortals at the foot of Mount Olympus, what would we see as we gazed up at the gods? How would it compare with the view of God at Mount Sinai? Join Shawn Boonstra this week for a study in divine character. In the world of our ancestors and their gods, Yahweh was shockingly unique—and...
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The Art of Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving holiday gives us an incredible opportunity to practice real gratitude AND quit living with brutal anxiety. Watch this episode to find out why Shawn Boonstra thinks Thanksgiving is the most important holiday of the year.
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The Ten Commandments
Public schools required to display the Ten Commandments? Such a rule sounds surprising, but recently lawmakers made it real in Louisiana. (Update: And in Texas, as of the airing of this encore show.) If you’ve kept up with the news, you know there's an active lawsuit challenging it. Shawn…
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Family Feud
Enacting someone’s last will and testament is a sacred duty. Still, inspired by a “gut feeling,” some like to redefine the deceased’s last wishes…often erupting familial wars. Is it possible that YOU, right now, are responsible for executing Someone’s will? Shawn Boonstra suggests you could be…
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The James Effect
As a dark wave of fatalism and existentialist despair rolled over from Europe in the nineteenth century, one brilliant American thinker dared to stem the tide. What if we are MORE than machines? he asked. What if our choices actually matter? Join us as we explore the impact of...
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Lord of the Flies
Imagine for a minute that you’re an ambassador of Earth to an alien civilization. You’re asked, “What’s this RELIGION thing all about? Why do you all believe something’s WRONG with your world?” Be honest: would you have answers? In this episode of Authentic, Shawn Boonstra pursues a coherent...
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Who Do You Think You Are?
"You can't tell me what to do!" From crib to nursing home, we all bristle like porcupines at claims of authority. Something in us HATES being commanded. Is it any surprise the Most High God gets massive pushback? But what if, Shawn Boonstra asks, this target is a painted one? Scripture reveals...
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Outside the Box
Thinking outside the box isn't just for artists and engineers. We can all benefit from challenging assumptions that hold us back. But what happens when "radical = good" becomes an assumption itself? Shawn Boonstra ponders the consequences for a society obsessed with erasing all the lines,...
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Do You Really Exist?
It takes a skeptic to prove reality. Shawn Boonstra revisits an old "friend," René Descartes, and his groundbreaking decision to doubt everything and how he concluded, "I think, therefore I am." The way Descartes starkly split mind from matter, though, should trigger our own skeptical instincts.
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Dealing with Anger
What causes YOU to lose your cool? The roots of our anger are deep and varied, but Shawn Boonstra suggests it's usually less about cosmic justice and more about personal injury. So, how to name and tame this dragon of rage? A centuries-old Christian practice may be the key.
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The Problem with Anger
Wrath. It's known as one of the seven deadly sins—and yet Scripture is filled with descriptions of God getting wrathful. So what IS the problem with anger? Shawn Boonstra explores this dynamite emotion and how our personal experiences with anger can cloud our view of heaven's righteous outrage.
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Off the Edge
Some today say that for centuries Christians believed in a flat earth. So what does the evidence say? Join Shawn as he looks into the fascinating history of the connection between the flat-earth theory and the Christian church. The story may be just a tad different from what you’ve learned to...
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Holy Dishes
Join Shawn Boonstra for the story of one remarkable redemption at the hands of one VERY unlikely redeemer. All hope and holiness seemed lost when God's people and Temple fell to Babylon. But God had a wild card to play, a king to inspire, and some precious vessels to protect...
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Year of the Rooster
Whether you identify as a total Gemini, take a passing interest in the Chinese zodiac, or regard all horoscopes as ripe for mockery, you can't deny their massive popularity. This week Shawn Boonstra dissects the appeal of astrological signs. Are we seeking a cosmic destiny? Guidance? Order?...
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The Prison Yard of Life
Tick. Tock. The clock of life is running out. The shadow of the Reaper’s scythe darkens every minute and every year. Sure feels like we’re all sitting on death row... But what if there was a way to escape that tyrannical clock? What if you could make every moment count—could make sure even the…
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Your Moment on Stage
Many today struggle to understand their true significance and where they fit into this world. Out of this struggle has flowed untold sadness and tragedy. In this week's episode of Authentic, Shawn Boonstra explores how our understanding of our cosmic origins affects the value we place on…
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Questioning the Reich
This week we're discussing the disturbing legacy of a different Reich in the 20th century. The sexual liberation movement promised to cast off the chains of oppressive morality—to let "free love" reign and hearts fully flourish. In the radical new thinking of figures like Wilhelm Reich,...
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The Heartache of Beauty
Have you ever been stopped in your tracks by something so incredibly beautiful, it leaves you with a twinge of sadness? Shawn Boonstra explores this perplexing paradox of how experiencing beauty can produce joy and sadness, all at the same time.
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History of the Bible, Part 4
Translating ancient Hebrew and Greek scriptures is hard enough WITHOUT the monarchy and Church coming for your head! Shawn Boonstra relates the astonishing journey of the English Bible, from radical idea to royal-approved release.
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History of the Bible, Part 3
Say you've got a set of well-established Scriptures. How exactly do you come along and add a whole NEW set to it? In this week's encore episode, Shawn Boonstra investigates the origins of the New Testament. Did its authors think they were writing Scripture? And what role do councils play in...
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The Nature of Evil
In a pain-choked world, we see the face of evil everywhere. And there's plenty of blame to fling around, which we do. Constantly. But maybe it's time, Shawn Boonstra says, for a good long look at the face in the mirror—half in light, half in shadow.
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In the Beginning
The book of Genesis is widely perceived as myth—on the same shelf as Gilgamesh and Zeus. So let's line them up side by side, shall we? Shawn Boonstra weighs the differences and charts strikingly separate worlds of meaning.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Casual, transparent conversations about life, spirituality and God. AUTHENTIC is a deep-dive into the nature of love, relationships, emotions and self-awareness. Host Shawn Boonstra answers real existential questions—stuff that everybody wonders about: the meaning of life, living with purpose, and understanding how the great philosophers still impact the way you live today.
HOSTED BY
Voice of Prophecy
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra have?
AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra currently has 185 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra about?
Casual, transparent conversations about life, spirituality and God. AUTHENTIC is a deep-dive into the nature of love, relationships, emotions and self-awareness. Host Shawn Boonstra answers real existential questions—stuff that everybody wonders about: the meaning of life, living with purpose, and...
How often does AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra release new episodes?
AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra publishes regularly with 185 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra?
You can listen to AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra?
AUTHENTIC with Shawn Boonstra is created and hosted by Voice of Prophecy.
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