Faith and the future

October 24, 2012

Writer

"If I didn't have faith, I would have thrown myself off the top of a building a long time ago," Glenn said on radio this morning.

"If I didn't know the history of our country, if George Washington were just, you know, a cartoon figure like he is for most people, if Abraham Lincoln, if I didn't really know who Abraham Lincoln was and I didn't know how the Republic came to be and all the times that we had been in these kinds of jams and how God played a role, I would just have no faith ‑‑ I would have absolutely no faith."

"Somebody said to me the other day, 'So why do you think Romney's going to win?' I said God. They're like, okay, I got it. But, like, why do you think? And I said, uh, God.'Well..."' and I said, look, you've got to go back to ‑‑ I'm sorry, but you've got to go back to the times when people said in documents, with firm reliance on the protection of divine providence. I know that phrase. I believe that phrase. My only question is whether we have done enough to be on his side. God's never on man's side. He's never on anybody's side. He's always on man in the general sense, he's always on man's side. But he's on freedom's side. He's on the truth side. Now, have we restored enough truth in our own lives to be able to afford to ask him for that divine providence? Have we done that? That's the only thing that remains out there."

"I keep going back to people like Ralph Reed and all the pastors and the preachers. I mean, look what just happened with Billy Graham. Billy Graham took the cult status of the Mormons off of his website. Billy Graham. That is ‑‑ I mean, a few years ago Billy Graham didn't want to meet with me. Then we meet and we have a heartfelt conversation about Christ, and he really questions me on it. Sounds to me like you understand Christ. Now, that wasn't endorsement of my religion, but we had an open conversation about it. A good conversation. I mean, I like ‑‑ I mean, like how many times in the last six months, in the last six months I've corresponded with Billy or his daughters, you know, just in, 'How's your dad?' 'Hey, Dad was talking about you today,' things like that. I mean, it's bizarre. And then Mitt Romney comes in and meets with Billy Graham. And Billy Graham takes that off of his website. I'm sorry, but I think that's pretty miraculous. That's pretty miraculous to show how people have changed."

"I've had people in all faiths say, and Graham included, 'Look, I don't agree with your faith, but it's time we come together not to merge our faiths but to stand together and to stand with him.' This is what happened in the American Revolution. I can't tell you how many preachers and pastors and rabbis have said something's happening. God is absolutely involved. And we've never seen people of faith act like this before. I know I haven't. I've seen ‑‑ in five years I've seen a massive change in people of faith. Massive."

"Now the question is, 'Is that enough?' I'm like, I have no idea. Does he believe us this time? We don't have a good track record of saying, 'No, this time's going to be different, God.' But there are millions crying out to him. Millions. We're going to have to pay for the mistakes of the past. He's not going to punish us. We punish ourselves. Our actions punish ourselves."

"You know, people will cry out, why are ‑‑ why don't we have enough food? Why can't I afford this? Because that's the choice we made as a society. You know, how many Americans now will listen and dismiss the warnings of inflation, real true, frightening inflation? And they will mock and ridicule anybody who says 'Food storage'" Well, God's not going to punish you for that."

"But your actions will punish you and your family down the line. And then they'll cry out, 'Where is...' what are you talking about? He's been here the whole time. You can turn to Him and He'll help ease your heart but it may not ease your pain. We've got pain coming in front of us."

"How many Americans really, truly even understanding that, that what's happened to us in the last four years is the beginning. Romney's not going to get in and everything's going to be rosy. This is the beginning. And we're lucky. We're fortunate. Because we will be the leaders of this next phase. If we hold true to our principles and our values. When Romney gets in, we can either watch his back or if he decides to play more of the same with, you know, the GOP and Washington, if that's who he turns out to be, then we have to do the Tea Party against him. Have to. If they're coming after him because he is doing the right things, we have to stand with him. One way or another I don't know how it's going to turn out, but we can't change."

"Because I do believe in the protection of divine providence. I do believe those words. Because we're talking about man's freedom. You can talk about democracy all you want. Democracy, God doesn't care about democracy. God cares about man's freedom. That's what He cares about. And while we're not perfect, we are the best that the world has to offer. We've screwed things up you so royally and we are becoming less and less free every day. But we are still the best in the world for freedom. We are also the only ones that truly understand where our rights come from. And a lot of our citizens don't understand that anymore. What is there? But we're really willing to die for? My rights come from God. Not from anyone else. What do you think that is? 20%? Maybe? The rest haven't been taught. They don't know."

"When you think that only about 20% of this country really understands where their rights come from and are willing to really stand, in the end really stand for them and then you take that and you reduce that number? That's 20% of this country. Tell me Canada really understands rights come from God. Tell me Mexico understands that. Tell me Russians, anybody else. This is it. This is a very, very small number of people that really, truly understand it.

"You can't tell me that those people, if they live righteously, will not find themselves under the blanket of divine protection. It doesn't mean that things are going to go well for you. It doesn't mean that your business is going to prosper. It doesn't mean that your family's not going to go through trouble. It doesn't mean any of that stuff. It just means in the end you will be victorious. Remember God usually defines the end differently than man does. But in the end you are victorious. And that's all that matters. But it's a very small number of people, which makes the responsibility on our shoulders so profound. Because He will, as Bonhoeffer said, He's not going to hold you guiltless. You're going to be judged, and you know, you know the truth sucks. I hate this. This is the part I hate about God. It's like, 'Oh, well, then why did you tell me?' Have you ever had like ‑‑ we have fast Sunday in our church. It was like this with lent when I was growing up Catholic and it was like, you know, I'm having a chicken sandwich and I've got one bite in my mouth and somebody would say, 'no, no, it's Friday. You're not supposed...' and you'll be like, 'Why did you tell me? Now I can't eat it. I could have been fine. You could have waited 10 minutes and told me after and I went, oh, crap, I didn't know. Now I have to stop. That's the bad thing about God is once you know, oh, crap. Couldn't you tell me? There's parts of ‑‑ that are just like, 'I don't want to know.' Please."

"But it's an honor to serve at this time. It's an honor."

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is Gen Z’s anger over housing driving them toward socialism?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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