Author Frank Turek has released a new book, "The War on Reality: Recovering Truth in a World that Celebrates Lies," co-authored with Phoenix Hayes. The book, which Turek's late friend and mentee Charlie Kirk's wife Erika wrote the foreword for, argues that contemporary cultural views on family, gender, education, and politics defy logic. Turek, a spiritual mentor to the Turning Point USA founder, stated that Kirk's murder a year ago reinforced his conviction that a Christian worldview offers the most accurate explanation of reality.
Turek, who was present when Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University, said that Kirk's wife revealed in the foreword the source of his confidence during debates. "She writes that the reason Charlie would go to college campuses and not get flustered is because he knew that the foundation of his belief was true — that there is a God, he is not Him," Turek told Fox News Digital. "He has put us on this earth to know him and to make him known through Jesus. And everything else is really just details."
The book uses Christian apologetics, the practice of defending Christianity with evidence and reasoning, to address contemporary issues. Turek pointed to the debate over transgender issues as an example of the "war on reality," asserting it has caused significant harm. "It's a contradictory worldview that tragically is hurting children the most, because we have people now, politicians and mostly Democrats saying... what we ought to do is transition children that are confused about their sexuality," Turek said. "This is not care, this is child abuse. It's a war on women, by the way, because now women aren't protected in women's sports or in women's changing facilities."
Turek mentored Kirk, whom he described as having an intellect exceeded only by his humility, starting in 2020 in Christian apologetics. "We would get together and discuss questions he might get on a college campus, because I've been presenting on college campuses for about 20 years. And we would sharpen one another," Turek recalled.
At Kirk's memorial service, Turek reflected on his friend's faith. "Now, I want you to know that Charlie, right now, is in heaven," Turek said. "Not because he was a great husband and father, not because he saved millions of kids out of darkness on college campuses, not because he changed minds and chased votes to save the country, not because he sacrificed himself for his Savior. Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his Savior sacrificed himself for Charlie Kirk."
Turek hopes his book will encourage Christians and churches to engage more actively in public discourse and to uphold Kirk's legacy. He also emphasized the importance of political involvement for Christians to protect religious freedom and the ability to preach the gospel, citing that political decisions can impact these freedoms. "According to Romans 13, the government is supposed to punish wrongdoers. Why will we not put laws in place as Christians to punish people who are doing evil. We should," Turek stated.