Why has Pride Month become less about tolerance and more about forced celebration—and what can faithful churches do about it? In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Dr. Rosaria Butterfield—former lesbian activist turned pastor's wife—explains how LGBTQ ideology became a cultural idol and why the evangelical church's "winsome" approach has failed. She offers biblical guidance for churches and parents on how to faithfully respond during Pride Month by boldly proclaiming gospel truth rather than negotiating with idols.

Key Discussion Points:

- How the gay rights movement evolved from privatization to mandatory celebration

- Why LGBTQ ideology functions as an idol demanding worship and child sacrifice

- The evangelical church's failed strategy of compromise over truth

- Practical advice for parents of prodigals struggling with sexual sin

- What churches should do during Pride Month instead of staying silent

- Why Gen Z is hungry for bold truth over therapeutic excuses

Resources:

https://rosariabutterfield.com/

"The Lust of the Flesh: Thinking Biblically About Sexual Orientation" by Jared Moore

"The Enemy Within" by Chris Lundgaard

John Owen's works on indwelling sin

"From Transgender to Transformed" by Laura Perry Smalts

Decision Point (decisionpoint.org)

This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Copper Lodge Library 2025 New Releases

Explore the exciting new 2025 additions to the Classical Conversations Bookstore! From engaging philosophy studies with Reasoning Together to timeless classics in the Copper Lodge Library and innovative math resources like the four new domains of The Math Map and two unique math flashcard sets, these tools are designed to support classical, Christian education at every level. Visit classicalconversations.com/whatsnew/ to see all the new releases and take advantage of savings of up to $30 off in April.

What if the same skills that solve decades-old murders could prove the reliability of the Gospels? Cold case detective J. Warner Wallace was a committed atheist who thought Christianity was fiction—until he applied his investigative training to the New Testament. What he discovered changed everything. J. Warner Wallace, a featured cold case detective from NBC Dateline and author of the bestselling "Cold Case Christianity," shares his remarkable journey from committed atheist to Christian apologist. Wallace explains why evidential faith is like wearing a bulletproof vest in a gunfight—especially crucial for raising kids in today's increasingly hostile culture.
Key Themes:
• How detective skills reveal biblical truth through forensic statement analysis

• Why our culture shifted from positive to negative toward Christianity

• The difference between "belief that" and "belief in"

• Why parental passion about faith is more contagious than any program

This conversation will challenge how you think about faith, evidence, and raising the next generation of believers in an increasingly skeptical world.

Resources:
https://coldcasechristianity.com/

https://www.casemakersacademy.com/

This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by The Math Map: Monomials
The Math Map Monomials helps families practice introductory algebraic computation
together using classical skills that prepare students for the mathematical conversation of
the ages.
Visit https://classicalconversations.com/the-math-map/ today to transform your family's math experience!

Bitcoin just smashed through $112,000 while the bond market implodes and Japan's decades-old financial strategy unravels before our eyes. Is this the beginning of crypto's final moonshot to $500K+, or are we witnessing the setup for a devastating 70% crash? In this emergency market update, we break down three wildly different scenarios that could play out over the next 6 months - and why one week of market action might have changed everything we thought we knew about Bitcoin's relationship to traditional finance.

Key Topics Covered

• Bitcoin's new all-time high at $112,000
• US bond market struggles and rising interest rates
• Japanese yen carry trade unwinding
• Bitcoin decoupling from stock market
• Three future price scenarios for Bitcoin
• Investment strategies and dollar cost averaging
• Bitcoin lending opportunities and risks
• Altcoin market performance vs Bitcoin
• Government debt crisis implications

This episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing discussed should be considered financial advice.

Resources:

https://ccalumni.network/

This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by: Three Division Design and Animation

Three Division is a 3D art and animation studio with real industry experience, working with brands like Disney and Warner Brothers. Their 10-Week Cohort gives students hands-on training in the 3D software Blender, along with mentorship from industry professionals, and a Christ-centered approach to creativity. Equip your student with the skills to thrive in the future of digital art—apply before May 31 and receive a 20% discount at threedivision.com/cohorts.