Transcript [00:01] [music] [00:02] life audio. [00:04] >> On today's episode of Timeless Wisdom, [00:07] there are four ideologies competing for [00:11] humanity's future. [00:14] And uh in no specific order they are [00:19] Islam, [00:22] the secular left, [00:25] American/Jude [00:28] Christian, [00:30] and chaos. [00:31] >> I disagree [00:34] with all of the [00:37] statements or positions or comments that [00:40] you made. Um, [music] I think the worst [00:43] of all is man's ego. [00:47] >> That's coming up on Timeless Wisdom with [00:49] Dennis Prager. [00:51] >> Have you ever gone through a season when [00:53] [music] God felt quiet? You pray, you [00:55] wait, but nothing seems to change. Bible [00:58] League International created a free [00:59] devotional called What [music] to Do [01:01] When God Seems Silent. This short 7-day [01:04] journey of faith [music] and hope walks [01:06] you through powerful scriptures that [01:08] remind you of something steady and true. [01:10] God's faithfulness doesn't disappear in [01:13] seasons of waiting. [music] If you need [01:14] encouragement today, this guide is for [01:17] you. Just text silent to 94878 [01:21] to get your free copy. [01:23] >> Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis [01:25] Prager. Here thousands of hours of [01:27] Dennis's lectures, courses, and classic [01:29] [music] radio programs. And to purchase [01:31] Dennis Prager's rational Bibles, go to [01:33] dennisprager.com. [01:38] [music] [01:41] To be or not to be, [01:45] that is the question. [01:47] >> Where was God? Isn't God supposed to be [01:50] good? Isn't he supposed to love us? And [01:52] does God want us to suffer? 10 years. [01:54] You're not finished yet. [01:57] >> Morty, [01:58] WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME? [02:01] >> WHO are you? [02:03] [music] Bruce, [02:06] I'm God. Bingo. Yatsi. Is that your [02:09] final answer? OUR SERVICE SAYS GOD. BING [02:13] DING DING DING ding ding ding. Well, it [02:15] was nice to meet you, God. Thank you for [02:17] the Grand Canyon [music] and good luck [02:19] with the apocalypse. [02:22] It's the ultimate issues hour on the [02:24] Dennis Prager show. Yes indeed. Every [02:27] week at this time, meaning the third [02:29] hour of the Tuesday show [music] is [02:31] devoted to some great issue of life. And [02:34] I often say what I am about to say, it [02:37] doesn't get greater than the following [02:38] issue because it doesn't. Is the future [02:41] of humanity a big enough issue? Does [02:45] that qualify? Well, if it doesn't, [02:47] nothing does. So, here we go. Uh you've [02:51] heard me say this but I have never [02:52] developed it to the best of my knowledge [02:55] uh at any length. I believe that the [02:58] world has four competing ideologies [03:02] under which more and more people will or [03:05] won't live. But there are four competing [03:09] well one of them is not an ideology. One [03:11] is is a non ideology but so be it. There [03:15] are four ideologies competing for [03:18] humanity's future. [03:21] And uh in no specific order they are [03:26] Islam, [03:29] the secular left, [03:32] American/JudeoChristian [03:36] and chaos. [03:39] I don't see any place I don't know of a [03:43] fifth possibility. If you do, I'm more [03:45] than happy to entertain it or at least [03:48] respond to it. What could there what [03:50] could a fifth be? [03:53] Let me uh let me begin with the fourth [03:55] chaos to explain that because the other [03:58] three are perhaps more inherently clear. [04:02] Chaos reigns when no ideology, none of [04:05] those three or any other ideology is [04:08] dominant. Simply there is anarchy. [04:11] Manarchy may be better than chaos. [04:14] Actually, an anarchy may be a more [04:16] precise term, but I I don't care which [04:19] term you use. Anarchy or chaos. Anarchy [04:21] or chaos is taking place right now uh in [04:24] a place like the Congo where more than I [04:27] believe it is, which is astonishing. [04:29] Most of you, unless you've heard me or [04:31] maybe one or two others, don't even know [04:34] about this because the press doesn't [04:35] find it interesting. Why they don't find [04:38] it interesting is a reflection on the [04:41] press. Uh but about three million people [04:44] have been slaughtered uh in all sorts of [04:47] civil war uh and just barbarity uh for [04:52] the sake of barbarity in the Congo in [04:54] the last few years. That's a lot of [04:56] people that is beyond belief number [04:59] 3 million. Uh you have the potential for [05:02] anarchy in Pakistan. [05:05] You have some degree of anarchy right [05:07] now uh in Mexico [05:11] with the vast numbers of people who are [05:14] simply kidnapped and never and never [05:16] found again or kidnapped and tortured or [05:18] or or or kidnapped and then let go even. [05:23] But it's still it's still chaos. It's [05:25] still an anarchy. Of course, it isn't [05:27] all of Mexico, but I'm saying uh [05:30] likewise Russia. Russia is doesn't fit [05:34] any of the above uh Islamic, American, [05:38] Judeo-Christian or uh or secular left. [05:43] It's closer to secular left, but it [05:45] isn't. It's not really an ideology at [05:47] all. It's just power. [05:50] Those are your four competitors. And [05:52] I'll tell you what isn't competing. So [05:54] So you'll understand how I came up with [05:56] this list there. I I I didn't mention [05:59] every religion. If I didn't mention [06:01] Buddhism or Hinduism, for example, and I [06:04] have great respect for both. Many of you [06:06] know how much I love going to India. [06:08] I've been there four times. I would go [06:10] tomorrow if I could for a fifth visit. [06:13] And Buddhism has a great deal to commend [06:16] to it. Uh it there there is a great deal [06:18] of profoundity in Buddhism. Uh but there [06:21] is no chance that Hinduism or Buddhism [06:24] will be a a transnational [06:28] dominant movement. Yes. Uh Hinduism is [06:31] essentially uh confined to the the blood [06:35] of the Hindu. Uh it's not a con it's not [06:39] a religion one converts to. In any event [06:42] uh nor does it have any proitizing [06:44] element within it. There's nobody to [06:47] proitize. You're either born it or [06:48] you're not like Zoroastrianism. [06:51] And Buddhism uh may may have some degree [06:54] of of proitizing in it but it is not [06:56] it's not particularly violent. uh and [06:59] and nor does it seek to proitize [07:01] particularly because you don't gain any [07:04] credits as it were by making somebody [07:05] else Buddhist. [07:08] So those two aren't possible. What else? [07:11] Let's look Africa is in Africa the [07:14] dominant religions are Islam and [07:16] Christianity. Christianity is so strong [07:18] in Africa that uh the the betting is [07:21] that the next pope whenever that will be [07:24] uh will be an African uh that uh by the [07:27] way that's Catholicism in Protestantism [07:30] it is in the Anglican church it is now [07:32] becoming a dominant force challenging [07:35] the the left-wing [07:38] movement of the Anglican church and of [07:40] other Protestants. [07:43] So Africa is not producing uh uh I would [07:46] say well it is producing it's producing [07:48] Christians but that's already covered in [07:50] in uh in the list of four Asia well Asia [07:57] has a Buddhism and and it has secular [08:00] leftism [08:02] so they Buddhism is not an an issue for [08:05] the world's future but but leftism [08:08] secular left as in China [08:11] which is the dominant force uh in uh uh [08:14] in Asia is secular left. [08:18] Uh then in Europe, Europe is is almost [08:21] all secular left [08:24] with pockets of of Christianity. [08:27] Uh South America is secular left or [08:30] Christian. [08:31] North America is secular left or [08:33] Christian. And that covers the world. [08:36] I've just covered the continents. [08:39] So those are uh uh except of course I [08:42] didn't cover well Asia of course is a [08:45] tremendous amount of of of Muslims. [08:47] Africa I as I said is divided between [08:49] Islam and and Christianity. Uh Asia the [08:53] the the country with the largest number [08:54] of Muslims is an Asian country. [08:56] Indonesia. [08:58] So, Indonesia and Malaysia uh are uh and [09:01] and India are huge uh areas of uh of of [09:06] Muslims and Muslim is Islam is growing [09:10] in Europe tremendously both by birth [09:13] rates and by conviction [09:16] because there's no religious competition [09:19] to Islam in Europe. None. Christianity [09:22] is more abundant in Europe. Secular [09:24] leftism has won in Europe, especially [09:28] Western Europe. So, let me review. The [09:30] world's future is either Islam, [09:33] American/Judeo-Christian [09:38] uh or uh secular left [09:42] or or anarchy. [09:45] Now, the uh the I believe anarchy is a [09:50] real possibility. However, anarchy leads [09:52] to tyranny. because people can handle [09:55] anarchy. The thing that people want more [09:58] than anything else before sex, before [10:01] television, [10:03] uh before almost before food, [10:06] uh is order. [10:09] The the human being and and totally [10:11] understandably I mean the thought that [10:12] you have there is no protection against [10:15] marauding raping bands [10:18] uh is what helped produce government in [10:20] the middle ages in Europe. read a [10:22] distant mirror by Barbara Tuckman and [10:25] you'll you'll see what I mean. There [10:28] were just b in the 13th century uh which [10:31] is what a distant mirror was about 13th [10:33] century Europe. There were just [10:35] marauding bands who would come and steal [10:37] from from every little uh hut in [10:39] villages. They they would often torture [10:42] the man to death by by roasting him on a [10:44] fire and uh rape the women. And uh this [10:49] helped create government. [10:51] People banded together to make order. So [10:55] I if the if the f wherever the future is [10:58] this sort of anarchy [11:01] uh chaos that will lead to tyranny [11:05] not to democratic government [11:06] necessarily. So let's talk about the [11:08] other three. Islam, [11:10] American/Judeochristian [11:13] and secular left. [11:16] those three. I I don't know. I don't [11:19] know who will predominate. I if I had to [11:21] bet I I would flip a coin. I have no [11:24] idea. I would say at this time [11:28] that the American Judeo-Christian value [11:30] system is the weakest of the three [11:34] between or among Islam, [11:38] secular left and American [11:39] Judeo-Christian. And what is American? [11:42] American uh is [music] two things. Uh it [11:45] is uh uh well America is is oh is three [11:50] things and God we trust e pluribus unim [11:53] and liberty that's the American trinity [11:57] and god we trust was the god the [11:58] Judeo-Christian god god of Israel and [12:01] his revealed laws such as the ten [12:04] commandments that is that is what is the [12:07] moral basis of American civilization [12:11] all right I'll take your calls and I [12:13] will explain much more when we come Back [12:14] on the Ultimate Issues Hour 18 Prager [12:16] [music] [12:17] 776. [12:19] >> This episode of Timeless Wisdom will [12:21] continue right after this. [12:23] >> For nearly 3,000 years, Homer's The [12:25] Iliad has shaped the Western [12:27] imagination. As one of the foundational [12:29] works of Western [music] literature, it [12:31] explores permanent questions about [12:33] honor, courage, leadership, friendship, [12:36] [music] justice, and what it means to [12:38] live a noble life. 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[13:29] >> And while I gave you four choices, [13:30] [music] [13:31] uh, and there are four, there really are [13:34] three that are dominant as ideologies. [13:36] and they are Islam, [13:38] American/Judeo-Christian [13:40] and secular left. If you think that [13:43] there is a fourth ideology, not what not [13:46] not one you're rooting for, one that has [13:49] a that is as strong as the others as [13:52] possibilities for the world's future, [13:55] obviously. I'd be curious to hear. I I [13:57] cannot I cannot think of any. And I [14:00] think I've reviewed the ideologies that [14:02] tend to predominate in the world at this [14:04] time. If I had to bet on one, did I say [14:09] this earlier? What What would I bet on? [14:11] What did I bet on? [14:14] >> No, you didn't say what you bet. You [14:16] said what was the [14:17] >> Oh, I said which was the weakest. Yeah. [14:21] Well, if I had to bet on one, [14:24] um, [14:26] uh, it seems to me that the secular left [14:29] and Islam are the dominant because I I [14:32] said the weakest was American, [14:34] Judeo-Christian [14:36] and [14:38] uh, I I would there would seem to be a [14:40] competition. The interesting thing or an [14:43] interesting thing is that right now the [14:46] left and uh uh and Islamic uh forces are [14:50] often united [14:53] in in the uh in the antipathy toward [14:57] American values. American values again [15:00] are on your coins in God we trust, e- [15:04] pluribus, unum and liberty. Those three [15:08] together, no other society has ever put [15:10] those three together. The United States [15:11] is unique in that way and the in God we [15:14] trust is a very big part of it. But that [15:16] is being fought by uh by [15:21] the secular left. The secular left is [15:23] fighting the [15:26] uh uh all three actually. It doesn't [15:28] believe in e- plurabus unum. It believes [15:30] in multiculturalism. It believes in [15:32] equality more than it believes in [15:34] liberty. And it believes that God is [15:37] unnecessary for morality. [15:39] So all three aspects of the American [15:44] trinity are being fought by the secular [15:46] left [15:48] uh both within America and outside of [15:50] America. [15:52] Uh uh Islam is gaining of course uh in [15:56] various parts of the world and of course [15:58] not all Islam is militant Islam or [16:02] violent Islam. Obviously not and I'm not [16:04] I haven't insinuated that it is. I'm [16:06] merely talking about what uh whether [16:09] violent or nonviolent, it's still under [16:11] the rubric of Islam and it is making [16:14] major headway in Europe. That's an [16:17] important factor uh in what I'm saying. [16:20] It's not making much of headway in the [16:23] United States, but it is in Europe, [16:24] which is even allowing [16:27] uh uh even allowing [16:30] uh for Sharia, Islamic law, and Islamic [16:33] law in the most fundamentalist way to be [16:35] implemented uh in places like Britain. [16:39] And of course, there are tens of [16:41] millions of Muslims in Europe. [16:45] You don't have tens of millions of [16:47] Judeo-Christians uh in in the Islamic [16:49] world in Islamic countries. [16:53] By the way, I keep saying [16:54] Judeo-Christian, not just Christian, [16:56] because America is founded by Christians [16:59] rooted in uh the Jewish scriptures. [17:02] That's why the Hebrew scriptures, they [17:04] they that that's why I mean the Liberty [17:07] Bell has a verse from the Torah and not [17:10] from the New Testament. And it was [17:12] Christians who put it there. [17:15] Okay, we go to [17:19] uh let's see, Houston, Texas, and Larry. [17:23] Hello, Larry. Dennis Prager. Yes, you [17:25] you mentioned uh how Christianity was [17:27] was was growing in Africa, but you [17:31] didn't make any mention of Asia and uh [17:34] it's still relatively small, but as a [17:37] percentage, Christianity is is bigger [17:41] here, but numerically there are more [17:43] Christians in China than there are in [17:45] the United States. They're near 100 [17:48] million Christians, and China's trying [17:50] to figure out how to deal with them. [17:52] They for decades they persecuted him, [17:53] but it's getting so big now that they're [17:56] trying to figure out how to to to [17:58] bargain with them, make give them some [18:00] legitimacy, but keep them a non threat, [18:02] >> right? But they're they're not strong to [18:05] the best of my knowledge, and I wish [18:06] they were. Believe me, I'm not saying [18:08] this with any happiness. I'm just trying [18:09] to be accurate. The this the strong is [18:12] the secular left in China. That's this [18:15] that's the strong ideology. If China [18:17] exports any ideology, it will be secular [18:20] left ideology. Obviously, not [18:22] Christianity, but I'm glad for the [18:24] demographic uh update. And let's go to [18:28] Westchester, Pennsylvania, and Don. [18:30] Hello, Don. Dennis Prager. [18:32] >> Yes, sir. Good afternoon. How are you [18:34] today? [18:34] >> I am well, thank you. [18:36] >> Good. I would like to modify if or [18:38] suggest a modification in how you're [18:41] phrasing the the the particular um [18:43] adjective when you describe the [18:46] Judeo-Christian American rather than uh [18:49] weakest. I would suggest it is the most [18:51] fragile. [18:53] We I I reject or suggest the weakest is [18:57] not appropriate because we have seen uh [19:00] six seven times in the 20th century how [19:04] when [19:05] push comes to shove the American uh/jude [19:10] Christian has defeated uh totalitarian [19:13] secular left communist fascist uh and at [19:17] least the first round of the um [19:19] >> yeah but since fascist [19:21] >> well you're right yeah go So I would [19:23] suggest that in its place the term [19:26] fragile. [19:27] >> Okay, fine. All right, I'll live with [19:29] it. I'll live with it. Since it means in [19:31] in it means the same thing in [19:34] uh in terms of what will happen. It's [19:37] fragility. I know fragile and weak are [19:40] not the same thing. You can be strong [19:41] and fragile, although it's a it's a a [19:44] very [19:46] very subtle distinction, I must say. Uh [19:49] uh I personally think that weak is in [19:53] fact an appropriate term. 15% of [19:56] Americans say they have no religion. It [19:58] is higher than ever before in American [20:00] history. Uh vast numbers have no [20:03] knowledge let alone conviction about the [20:06] Bible. I I mean a hundred years ago you [20:10] you made references were routinely made [20:13] in popular culture to Cain and Abel uh [20:16] to the the prodigal son to uh to to to [20:20] Jezebel to Ahab uh who becomes the a key [20:24] figure in Moby Dick but nobody knows why [20:27] because they don't know their Bible. [20:29] It's just it's it's Adam and Eve the [20:32] apple. [20:34] You if you said to a college kid today, [20:36] well, you know, ever since ever since [20:38] Adam ate from the apple or ate from the [20:41] tree, I don't know if many of them would [20:42] know what you're talking about. That's [20:44] weak, not fragile. [20:47] Okay. 18 Prager 776. [20:51] And uh we will continue in a moment. [20:56] And we have a call from a Muslim who [20:58] believes that ideologies should not [21:00] compete. Well, whether or not they [21:02] should, they do. [21:03] I mean [music] the they they all want to [21:08] be strong. [21:10] It's but anyway that'll be an [21:12] interesting call. 18 Prager 7776 is the [21:15] number which is 877243LE76. [21:20] >> Hi this is the message for Dennis Prager [21:23] at the happiness hour choosing to be [21:24] happy. I also have been very emotional [21:28] and very moody. I let myself for no real [21:31] reason in college. I thought the [21:34] artistic side of me being genuine to my [21:36] emotions [music] um spiral down into [21:40] depression and it was so bad. I mean [21:42] literally I got the point of almost [21:44] being like suicidal. But but what I [21:48] learned was it's a constant choice. You [21:51] do have to fight it, but all you got to [21:53] do is just one domino at a time. That's [21:56] Mike. And so I love Dennis Prager. Thank [21:58] you. I hope this will help and this is [22:00] one of the most important things I've [22:02] learned in my life to h going from an [22:05] emotional person to being people love my [22:08] positivity and happiness but I choose it [22:11] and I fight it. Thank you Dennis and [22:13] Jennifer and never love you guys. Bye. [22:14] >> Are you enjoying Timeless [music] [22:16] Wisdom? We'd love to hear from you. Call [22:18] 877-2437776 [22:21] and leave a review, share your thoughts, [22:24] or just even [music] an encouraging word [22:25] for Dennis. Your voicemail might just [22:28] make it on the show. That's 877-2437776. [22:29] [music] [22:33] That's 877-243LE766. [music] [22:38] Thanks for listening and for your [22:40] support. [22:41] My subject today is the future of [22:43] humanity. Nothing less than that. And it [22:46] will be either secular left, [22:48] second American Judeo-Christian, or [22:51] third Islam. Whether a militant or [22:53] non-militant is not my point here. These [22:56] are the three possibilities. The fourth, [22:59] as I mentioned in the very beginning, [23:01] was anarchy. But anarchy doesn't last [23:04] for all that long, as in the Congo now. [23:08] Uh it it it's usually replaced by [23:10] tyranny. [23:13] Alrighty. So, let's go to some more of [23:15] your calls. Claremont, California, and [23:17] Hannah. Hi, Hannah. Thank you for [23:19] calling. This is Dennis Prager. [23:20] >> Hi, Dennis. Good to talk to you. [23:22] >> Thank you. [23:24] uh I have no idea why all those four [23:29] element they should compete. I've I all [23:32] I know that since creation of [23:33] civilization those elements almost like [23:37] in order they existed for 1500 years [23:40] Islam existed 2,000 years Jud Christian [23:44] and Judaism it existed and since [23:47] creation of a human being nonbelie you [23:50] know non-believer existed and I my [23:53] feeling and what I learned in my book in [23:56] the Quran that they're going to keep [23:58] existing until the day of judgment. [24:01] It is in the Quran that God created us [24:04] different and so we could meet and learn [24:07] about each other and live together. It's [24:09] not supposed to be like only one. He [24:12] could have created only one element. So [24:14] why should we be [24:15] >> well actually ironically I think the the [24:17] Quranic view is that he did create one [24:20] true religion and it's called Islam. [24:22] >> Islam by itself what he meant by [24:25] creating Islam that submission to God. [24:27] >> Correct. Islam that you submit to the [24:30] God will doesn't have to be Islam is not [24:32] like actually what's understood right [24:35] now you are a Muslim if you are Jewish [24:37] and you submit to God we believe that [24:39] mean Islam that mean you're submitted to [24:42] God's will if you are Christian and [24:44] submitted to God's will you are a Muslim [24:46] because you submitted to God's will [24:48] that's what mean that [24:50] >> well then why then why are people who [24:52] convert from Islam to Judaism or [24:54] Christianity punished Actually, I think [24:59] that should be rethought and [25:02] >> Oh, okay. Okay. Wait, wait, wait. [25:03] Hannah, I agree. It should be rethought, [25:05] but what you're describing is Hannahism, [25:09] not Islam. And I love you, Hannah. I I [25:12] wish I wish that you were the the chief [25:16] theologian at Alazar University in in [25:21] Alqa in Cairo, but but you're not. [25:25] you're a wonderfully Americanized Muslim [25:28] and God bless you. But uh in fact uh [25:32] what you're saying has not been the [25:34] reality. And the reality in any event is [25:37] competition doesn't mean violence. [25:39] Competition doesn't mean hurt each [25:40] other. But there's an inevitability. [25:43] People in a free market of ideas, people [25:45] will choose. Now there it's not just a [25:48] free market. There's also there's also [25:50] uh violence. But that that's that's not [25:53] been my point. My point is the reality [25:57] and not in theory but in reality these [25:59] are the three competitors for humanity [26:02] at this time. [26:04] The problem is American Judeo-Christian [26:06] values don't export themselves. The [26:09] secular left exports itself and Islam [26:12] exports itself. American values do not [26:14] export themselves. [26:16] They used to we used to think that we [26:18] could we could do this and that we had [26:20] even a noble mission to do so. But we [26:24] can't even keep Americans [26:26] American/Judeo-Christian [26:28] in terms of values. The secular left is [26:30] is is more and more dominant in the [26:32] United States because they have taken [26:34] over the educational system and the [26:36] media [26:38] with the exception of talk radio. [26:43] Okay, let's uh thank you Hannah and as I [26:45] said earlier, God bless you. Uh [26:47] Washington DC and Terry, hello Terry. [26:50] Dennis Prager. [26:51] >> Hello Dennis. Um, I have an idea. I'm [26:55] not going to predict the future because [26:56] if I could, I'd have made a lot of money [26:58] in my life at the racetrack. [27:00] So, but what I would suggest is there's [27:02] a possibility that in Western Europe, [27:05] the clash is going to come between the [27:07] secular left and in Islamic [27:09] fundamentalism. And then what I think is [27:12] going to happen is you're going to have [27:13] a merging of the secular left and the [27:17] American Judeo-Christian [27:19] >> in in Europe or all over. No, that'll [27:21] that'll happen in Europe at some point, [27:24] but it will [27:25] >> Well, but there is no American [27:26] Judeo-Christian in Europe to begin with. [27:29] >> Yeah. Here's what I think could happen. [27:31] I'm not saying it will. That there'll be [27:33] a and this will probably start in [27:35] France. I think where that's going to be [27:37] the the real again, it's probably the [27:40] home of the secular left, but it's also [27:42] >> All right, hold on. We got to take a [27:43] break. You're [music] listening to the [27:44] Dennis Prager show. [27:45] >> This episode of Timeless Wisdom will [27:48] continue right after this. Artificial [27:50] intelligence is already changing the way [27:52] we work, communicate, and live. The [27:53] question isn't whether AI will shape our [27:56] future. The question is how. That's what [27:58] makes Carbon Zero such a fascinating [28:00] read. Author Craig W. Stanfel isn't just [28:03] a novelist. He's an AI pioneer who's [28:05] taken today's rapidly advancing [28:07] technology and imagined where it could [28:09] lead if we're not careful. I have my [28:11] copy and I got to tell you, I can't put [28:12] it down. Carbon Zero combines suspense, [28:15] believable technology, and [28:17] thought-provoking questions about [28:18] freedom, responsibility, and the [28:20] unintended consequences of letting [28:22] machines make decisions that affect all [28:24] of us. It's a great thriller with lots [28:26] of action. But it's also a story that [28:28] stays with you long after you finish the [28:30] last page. Carbon Zero, available for [28:32] pre-order now, and for a limited time, [28:34] the Kindle edition is just $2.99 for my [28:36] audience. Go to Amazon and search for [28:38] Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill. That's [28:41] Carbon Zero. Go get it at the discounted [28:44] rate during the pre-order time now. [28:46] Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill. Now [28:49] back to [music] more of Dennis Prager's [28:51] timeless wisdom. [28:54] Secular left Islam, American [28:56] Judeo-Christian. The three the three [28:57] possible ideologies compete competing [29:00] for humanity's future. Two of them are [29:03] proitizing. One is not. [29:06] And uh that is the uh Islamic proitizes. [29:11] The secular left proitize. American [29:14] Judeo-Christian doesn't. There are [29:15] Christians who proitize. They are a [29:17] small number. And uh I'm talking about [29:20] the combination of American and [29:22] Judeo-Christian values which constitutes [29:24] the American Trinity of in God we trust, [29:26] eurabus, unim and liberty. Those are the [29:30] three ideologies [29:32] competing for humanity's future. Terry [29:35] in uh Terry in Washington DC says the [29:38] secular left and Christianity will [29:40] merge. Right. Is that right, Terry? [29:41] >> Well, I don't say they'll merge. I think [29:43] they will ally themselves against uh [29:46] militant Islam. And the figure that I [29:49] think is key to this is someone like [29:51] Christopher Hitchens who could function [29:53] in America. He'd have a much harder time [29:55] in Western Europe. And I think what's [29:58] going to happen [29:58] >> Well, all right. So, well, he's he's [30:00] secular. Okay. Yeah. Though he's not [30:03] he's not he's left visav religion, but [30:05] he's not left visav international [30:07] politics. [30:08] >> Right. But see, he is a member of the [30:10] secular. [30:11] >> All right. So, fine. So, the point is [30:13] >> Well, the point is is that as as there's [30:16] the explosion, I think, is going to come [30:17] in France. And when the secular left has [30:21] to fight it out with Islam, with [30:22] militant Islam, they're going to look [30:24] for allies. And the allies are going to [30:26] be coming from the United States. And [30:27] it'll be the not only just the secular [30:28] left, but also the Judeo-Christian [30:31] um conservatives in America. That's what [30:34] I think may happen. [30:35] >> All right. Listen, it might. I I have [30:37] predicted civil war or the [30:39] Islamification of Europe for a number of [30:41] years now is that that's the future of [30:43] Europe. Either civil war uh or uh an an [30:48] actual [30:50] strongly uh Islamified Europe. All [30:53] right. I thank you for that call. And [30:55] let's go to uh let me see if I have the [30:57] city right. Is this Newark, Delaware, [30:59] Carl? [31:00] >> Yes, it is. [31:01] >> Okay. Thank you for calling. [31:02] >> How are you? [31:03] >> Good. [31:04] >> I'm good, too. [music] Um, [31:06] [clears throat] I disagree [31:09] with all of the [music] [31:12] statements or positions or comments that [31:15] you made. Um, I think the worst of all [31:20] is man's [music] ego. [31:22] >> Yeah. But but ego is not an ideology. [31:24] Ego is part of human nature. [31:26] >> But it is the basis for all of the [31:30] religion. [31:30] >> Well, you might as well say the basis of [31:33] all religion. [31:34] >> Yes. [31:35] Well, I would think that believing that [31:37] there is a God that is higher of you is [31:39] is [music] quite antithetical to a big [31:42] ego. [31:42] >> But what religion does God have? [31:46] >> Well, that's not the point. God the God [31:49] whatever. [31:50] >> No, no, no. Wait, wait. That's Carl, I [31:52] have to let you go because a terrible [31:54] hum unfortunately. [31:56] See, this was this was a nonsequittor. [31:59] What religion God has is irrelevant to [32:02] the first claim that ego is the basis of [32:04] all religion. [32:07] It's it's the basis of perhaps some but [32:11] not most because religion holds that [32:13] there's something higher than you. [32:16] So you might as well say that all [32:18] secularism is based on ego because it [32:20] says that there's nothing higher than [32:22] than yourself. [32:24] All right. I'm sorry though I would have [32:25] liked to continue but for that hum and [32:28] let's go to Dallas, Texas and Tim. Hello [32:31] Tim. Dennis Prager. [32:32] >> Hey Dennis. Thanks. Uh the way I see it [32:34] going down is that this elitist power of [32:38] Islamic ideology and I'm talking more [32:41] about the ideology itself is too [32:43] powerful for the west to fight with our [32:46] liberal tolerance type values that what [32:49] will happen is Russia is going to [32:51] support Persia of getting a nuclear [32:53] weapon such as through the UN security [32:55] council. So basically I'm saying that [32:58] your communist states are going to unite [33:01] I shouldn't say unite but facilitate [33:03] Islam to bring down the west and then [33:07] Russia is going to in a way be united [33:10] with uh China you know in communism that [33:13] workers of the world unite. [33:15] >> Yeah. But but Russia is not a communist [33:16] regime. [33:17] >> Oh it's going to be. [33:19] >> Oh I see. All right. That's all. All [33:20] right. That's your prediction. Okay. [33:22] It's not it's very No, no. I'm not [33:23] saying you're wrong [33:24] >> then. And they and it may be communism [33:26] without calling it such, [33:28] >> but I mean you all you know you after [33:30] all the most powerful man in Russia is a [33:32] KGB agent, a former KGB agent. [33:34] >> And they got oil to support themselves. [33:36] And we are [33:37] >> well right now there's a lot of truth to [33:39] what you say, Tim. Look, right now uh [33:42] the Islamists, I don't I don't mean [33:44] normative Islam, but the Islamists and [33:46] the left uh feel that they do have a [33:48] common enemy. It was George Bush, for [33:51] example. [33:53] The left fought George Bush much harder [33:55] than it fought the Islamists. It fights [33:57] Israel far more than it fights the [33:59] Islamists who want to crush Israel. [34:03] That's correct. That is absolutely [34:05] correct. Look, I I I'm not uh to use a [34:08] fancy word, I'm not saying when I'm not [34:10] optimistic. Uh because uh if there's no [34:12] renaissance in America of American [34:14] Judeo-Christian values, uh then we're [34:17] doomed. There's an article in the [34:18] American thinker to this effect and [34:19] we're going to have him on uh by uh one [34:22] of my uh one of my um favorite thinkers [34:27] >> Charles Murray and uh he he writes [34:29] exactly that Americans better realize [34:31] the exceptional values that Americans [34:33] have or we're doomed. [34:38] >> Oh, just the American. It wasn't the [34:40] American thinker. I said American [34:41] thinker. [34:42] >> Oh, it isn't the American thinker. Okay. [34:44] The the American. Anyway, that's [34:46] wherever it is. That's a Charles Murray [34:48] piece and that's exactly what I've been [34:50] arguing for for quite a long time. [34:53] Alrighty, we'll continue. We have more [34:56] uh challenges. What about places like [34:58] Denmark which are secular but happy and [35:00] moral? I'll answer that Hanan or Hanan [35:04] when we come back. [35:06] And uh let's see. Why has the left sided [35:08] with Islam? Good. Some good calls coming [35:11] up still. [music] If you have theories [35:12] on this, I'd love to hear from you. I [35:14] always love to hear from you and I do [35:16] remind you that you can subscribe to all [35:18] my shows at pragertopia which is located [35:21] at dennisprager.com or at prageradio.com [35:24] for $7 a month [music] or call [35:27] 8002258584 [35:30] [music] 8002258584. [35:32] Back at home [35:33] >> this episode of Timeless Wisdom will [35:36] continue right after this. Artificial [35:38] intelligence is already changing the way [35:40] we work, communicate, and live. The [35:42] question isn't whether AI will shape our [35:44] future. The question is how. That's what [35:46] makes carbon zero such a fascinating [35:48] read. Author Craig W. Stanfel isn't just [35:51] a novelist. He's an AI pioneer who's [35:54] taken today's rapidly advancing [35:55] technology and imagined where it could [35:57] lead if we're not careful. I have my [35:59] copy and I got to tell you, I can't put [36:00] it down. Carbon Zero combines suspense, [36:04] believable technology, and [36:05] thought-provoking questions about [36:06] freedom, responsibility, and the [36:08] unintended consequences of letting [36:10] machines make decisions that affect all [36:12] of us. It's a great thriller with lots [36:14] of action. But it's also a story that [36:16] stays with you long after you finish the [36:18] last page. Carbon Zero, available for [36:20] pre-order now. And for a limited time, [36:22] the Kindle edition is just $2.99 for my [36:25] audience. Go to Amazon and search for [36:27] Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill. That's [36:29] Carbon Zero. Go get it at the discounted [36:32] rate during the pre-order time now. [36:34] Carbon Zero by Craig W. Stanfill. Now [36:37] back to more [music] of Dennis Prager's [36:39] timeless wisdom. If you found the reason [36:43] to live on and not to die, you are a [36:45] lucky man. [36:48] [music] Preachers and poets and scholars [36:51] don't know it. Temples and statues and [36:54] people won't [music] show it. If you got [36:56] the secret, just try not to throw it. be [36:59] a lucky man. [37:03] A lucky man. [37:07] If you found the meaning of the truth in [37:09] your soul, [music] well, you are a lucky [37:11] man. [37:13] >> Boy, that is true. [music] [37:15] >> A lot of truth there. Hi everybody. [37:17] Dennis Prager. Ultimate issues hour. The [37:20] future of humanity. Islam, American, [37:23] Judeo-Christian or secular left. The [37:25] three competitors right now. Islam [37:29] uh at least expansionist Islam and uh [37:33] and secular left are are united. [37:37] Uh they fail that they have a common [37:39] enemy in American Judeo-Christian [37:40] values. [37:43] And let's go to Enino California and [37:46] Hanan. Hello Hanan. Dennis Prager. [37:48] >> Hi Dennis. Uh it's my first time [37:50] calling. I was just um thinking about [37:52] ultimately this is an issue of what is [37:54] the most moral society and um [37:57] >> oh Hanan Hanan that is so it's so so [38:01] sweet that you believe that but it's so [38:03] it's so sweet that you believe that. No, [38:06] wait, wait, wait, hold on. First of all, [38:07] I want to say I'm an observant Jew, but [38:09] I'm just looking at places like Denmark [38:12] and Norwegian that are ultimately [38:14] >> they're incredibly secular, but from [38:16] what I read that they are the most [38:18] happiest. [38:19] >> So what? So what what does that have to [38:21] do with whether you succeed? That's why [38:23] I said you're so sweet. [38:25] >> It's the naive t of young people that [38:27] you have. [38:28] >> Well, that's [38:29] >> good goodness doesn't prevail, Hanan. [38:32] >> Okay, [38:33] >> that's all. I mean, the fact that [38:34] they're happy in Denmark is as [38:36] irrelevant to what the future they're [38:37] they're happy in Thailand. [38:40] >> So what? [38:40] >> Right. But ultimately, isn't also the [38:42] question of moral? [38:44] >> No. [38:44] >> And if no, no, it isn't. I mean, you you [38:47] say you're an observant Jew. [38:49] >> Mhm. [38:50] >> You uh you know then how how often evil [38:55] has been victorious, [38:56] >> right? [38:57] >> Okay. So why should it be different in [38:58] the future if the if the good if the [39:01] good [39:01] >> in the future? I'm just talking about [39:02] right now. Now if the good if the good [39:04] don't fight [39:06] >> then uh and and by the way ironically [39:09] you happen to have picked a society [39:10] which did defend uh its cartoonists for [39:14] free for freedom of speech and [39:16] [clears throat] and went went pretty [39:17] much alone and and got clobbered and now [39:19] those cartoonists are in hiding. [39:21] >> Mhm. [39:22] >> So so so much for the happy Danes [39:25] [laughter] [39:26] who did a better job by the way. I I God [39:28] bless them. God bless them. And you know [39:31] how much premium in any of it I put on [39:33] happiness. But happiness doesn't doesn't [39:35] prevail without strength. [39:38] Since you're a Jew, just remember [39:42] God will give strength to his people. [39:44] God will bless his people with peace. [39:46] [music] No strength, no peace. Essential [39:51] doctrine of common sense as well as [39:53] Judaism. Mark, Ron, Tim, Tim. Two Tims. [39:57] Daniel, I wish I could have taken your [39:59] calls. [music] I hope this has been [40:00] provocatively importantly [40:02] thoughtprovoking to be redundant. This [40:05] is Dennis Prager. Thanks for listening. [40:07] >> Tomorrow on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis [40:10] Prager. Let me tell you an anecdote. An [40:13] anecdote is a personal story as opposed [40:16] to a statistic. [40:18] But it's an it's an anecdote that has an [40:22] element of statistic to it. [40:25] I first came out west in my later 20s to [40:30] direct a retreat institute where where [40:33] pe coup couples and singles would come [40:36] and study [40:38] and [40:40] I got to know very very many couples. [40:43] This was before I was ever married. And [40:46] I remember my dear friend who worked [40:48] with me at this institute [40:50] and uh that is Joseph Tulskin, [40:54] one of the most prolific Jewish writers [40:56] in America today now. And uh he made an [41:00] observation to me and he I found his [41:02] observations to be keen. He he he [41:06] is less inclined to generalized [41:08] observations than I am. So when he makes [41:10] them, I take them very seriously. [41:14] And he said to me and and of course we [41:16] were both very traditional in our values [41:19] and planned on getting married both of [41:20] us which in fact we did later on. He [41:24] said did you notice that uh it seems [41:28] that the happiest couples [41:30] tend to be those and we're talking we [41:33] were talking couples in their middle age [41:34] and later not in their 20s and 30s but [41:38] couples in their 40s 50s 60s. He said, [41:40] 'D did you notice that they are [41:42] disproportionately couples who don't [41:44] have children? [41:46] And the moment he said this to me, [41:49] I I said, "Oh, I think you're right." [41:55] I I I have images in my mind to this day [41:58] of the of couples that didn't have kids. [42:01] Now, there were very happily married [42:03] people who had kids, too. Of course. [42:07] Please understand that's not what his [42:09] comment was. His comment was that it [42:11] stuck out to him how many how [42:15] disproportionately it seemed that the [42:17] happiest couples and there weren't many. [42:21] There weren't that many. Most couples [42:22] have kids and I think you should have [42:25] kids. [42:27] I'm merely pointing out though that in [42:29] terms of the happiness of a couple look [42:32] uh if I if I'm wrong that the happiness [42:34] of a couple seems to uh decrease often [42:38] with kids that is one of the reasons so [42:40] many Europeans and others moderns don't [42:43] have kids [42:46] because they they are they are not [42:48] foolish. It's a terrible decision for in [42:52] the long run I believe for society but [42:55] it it it is not a foolish decision on a [42:58] on a selfish and I don't mean that as [43:00] just a negative statement on just their [43:03] own basis. It's not a foolish decision. [43:05] There are other reasons to have kids and [43:08] but but marital bliss is not one of [43:10] them. Join us tomorrow to hear more [43:12] [music] on timeless wisdom with Dennis [43:15] Prager. Visit dennisprager.com for [43:18] thousands of hours of Dennis's [music] [43:19] lectures, courses, and classic radio [43:21] programs and to purchase Dennis Prager's [43:24] Rational Bibles. [43:26] [music] [43:29] We want to take just a second to thank [43:31] the team at Life Audio for their [43:32] partnership with us on the podcast. Go [43:34] to lifeaudio.com to find dozens of other [43:37] faith center podcasts on their network, [43:39] including shows about prayer, Bible [43:41] study, parenting, and more. 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