Author and Religion/Culture Expert Dr. Alex McFarland

Releases New Book and Malaise Index; Reflection of America’s

Lack of Time to Process Feelings Between Tragedies

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—A horrific terrorist attack in Nice, France, where families gathered for a summer celebration. Senseless deaths of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge. A bloody uprising in Turkey. Four violence-fueled attacks in Germany in just over a week. And, tragically, a priest beheaded in France during Mass.

Sadly, these are not the storylines of blockbuster action films, but real-life headlines that have impacted every corner of the world—this summer alone.

With daily occurrences of violence across the globe, Dr. Alex McFarland (www.AlexMcFarland.com), a nationally known pastor, religion and culture expert, radio and television host, and author of the new book “Stand Strong America,” says the world barely has time to grieve over the latest bout of violence before more tragic news pushes to the top of the heap.

“Our nation is in a spiritual vacuum of our own making, and the sooner leaders recognize the moral chaos and violence this causes, the better,” McFarland writes in a new op-ed titled “America, the Bloody” posted today on CNS News. “Just as serious as the now-regular terrorist attacks, killings of cops and other incidents of weekly-bloodshed-in-public-places have become, we should be equally concerned about the degree to which we have become comfortable with such things. The violence we are hearing reported in the news daily must not become the new normal, and (as my Malaise Index shows) we must never resign ourselves to the assumption that it is. Never! Gutless, mindless, satanically deluded assassins must not be permitted to control our culture.”

McFarland goes on to say that a two-decade-old political, cultural and artistic rigor mortis caused by political correctness makes it hard for young people to believe that there was once an America where ethical truth and God were welcome realities.

“It is challenging to try to convince twenty-somethings and younger that, yes, there was a time when America was safer, the lives of people were more stable and happy, and where economic prosperity was much more widely enjoyed,” writes McFarland, who interacts with tens of thousands of young people every year. “With only rare exception, this productive season lasted for the better part of two centuries. When I regularly talk with college students and high-schoolers about such things, they stare in near disbelief as I document how, for 200 years-plus, two basic entities guarded and guaranteed the success of this nation and the happiness of her people: The family and the church.”

Read more of Alex McFarland’s op-ed, “America, the Bloody,” here.

McFarland has also been gathering responses for the new “2016 Malaise Index,” an online survey that gauges Americans’ outlook on society. More than 200 responses have been submitted at www.AlexMcFarland.com/survey.

Although the survey is in its beginning stages, trends are evident. For example, when queried with the statement, “My outlook on the culture as a whole compared to 10 years ago is…” nearly 97 percent reported they felt “WORSE” about the culture, while about 1.4 percent reported they felt “BETTER” about the culture and an equal number feel the “SAME.” (A very small percentage did not answer the question.)

Additional findings from the eight-question survey include:

• Spiritually and morally, my outlook on society in general compared to 10 years ago is: BETTER—just over 5 percent; SAME—about 5 percent; WORSE—88.4 percent (about 1 percent did not answer)
• I feel that my children, or young people I know, will grow up in a better world than I did: TRUE—4 percent; FALSE—96 percent
• I consider myself a faith- or beliefs-driven person: TRUE—99 percent; FALSE—1 percent
• If great leaders from previous generations saw America today, would they approve or disapprove of the state of the culture today?: APPROVE—1.4 percent; DISAPPROVE—97.6 percent (about 1 percent did not answer)

“Headlines tell us that the culture is headed in a different direction than many would like,” McFarland said. “But there is wonderful and hopeful news out there as well. Those of us who can remember the general malaise and gloominess of the days of President Jimmy Carter can relate. Is there a similar feeling today? If so, is the negativity due to the same or different reasons? These questions—and answers—are important to those who wish to become the next leader of our great nation. We hope to uncover this and much more with the ‘2016 Malaise Index’ and paint a true picture of what Americans are thinking and how they are feeling about society in general.”

McFarland recently released his latest book, “Stand Strong America.” Co-authored with evangelist and apologist Jason Jimenez—McFarland’s co-host of the “Viral Truth” television program, which airs on the National Religious Broadcasters network—“Stand Strong America” addresses the idea that Americans are weary of the poor character and decisions of their leaders, including laws that may not coincide with their faith.

“Stand Strong America: Courage, Freedom and Hope for Tomorrow” provides Americans real answers and courage to stand strong in the midst of uncertainty and fear—offering a vision of hope that reignites the fervor and courageous faith that existed when the republic of America was created. Jimenez and McFarland chart the amazing story of how America became the greatest nation on earth and what Americans must do to regain that greatness. Readers will be encouraged and empowered by this clear and invigorating message that will challenge them to love God, cherish freedom, pray for a better tomorrow, make a difference and stand strong no matter the cost.

“Stand Strong America” is available at AlexMcFarland.com, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Christianbook.com.

McFarland is also the author of “The God You Thought You Knew: Exposing the 10 Biggest Myths About Christianity,” in which he dispels the myths and untruths about Christianity and replaces that with the truth of who God really is, as well as “10 Questions Every Christian Must Answer,” “10 Issues that Divide Christians,” “10 Answers for Skeptics” and the “Stand” series of devotions for teens. He is an expert in the field of apologetics—the practice of defending the Christian faith in a world where faith in Christ is plummeting at alarming rates.

McFarland has spent years working with young people and takes their questions to heart. He has preached in more than 1,300 churches and has been featured at conferences such as the Billy Graham School of Evangelism, Focus on the Family’s “Big Dig” and California’s “Spirit West Coast,” sharing the platform with Chuck Colson, Eric Metaxas, Josh McDowell and others. He also serves as Director for Christian Worldview and Apologetics at the Christian Worldview Center of North Greenville University (www.ngu.edu) in Greenville, S.C.

Part evangelist, part apologist, part educator and part broadcaster, McFarland focuses on communicating the message of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. He co-hosts the daily, live radio program “Exploring the Word” on American Family Radio’s Talk Network, heard on approximately 140 stations across the country, and the weekly television show “Viral Truth,” airing on the National Religious Broadcasters Network, which he co-hosts with Jason Jimenez.

For more information on Dr. Alex McFarland, visit www.AlexMcFarland.com or follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @AlexMcFarland.

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To book Dr. Alex McFarland for interviews, contact Beth Harrison at 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102.