Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture - Talbot School of Theology at Biola University / Sean McDowell & Scott Rae

Latest Episodes:

When Your Calling Leads to Burnout (with Arianna Molloy) Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

What does it mean to have a healthy calling? Why are people who view their work as a calling more vulnerable to burnout? How do you know when your work has given way to idolatry? We’ll discuss these questions and much more with our Biola communications colleague, Dr. Ariana Molloy, around her new book, Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work.
Dr. Arianna Molloy (Ph.D., University of Denver, CO) is an Associate Professor of Organizational Communication in the Division of Communication at Biola University. Dr. Molloy's research focuses on meaningful work, work as a calling, having published in premier journals such the International Journal of Business Communication, Communication Studies, Journal of Management, Spirituality, and Religion. She also works as a communication consultant for organizations such as Chick-fil-A, as well as business professionals, and ministries.

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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Cultural Update: Religion at the Inauguration; Liberal Atheist Grappling with the Sanctity of Life Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

Scott is joined by Erik Thoennes to discuss:

Religious Elements in Presidential Inaugurations: A discussion on the profound religious traditions embedded in the U.S. presidential inauguration, highlighting the inclusion of clergy, prayers, and hymns, and their connection to America's cultural and historical fabric.
Christian Players in the National Championship: Exploration of faith in sports, as prominent Christian athletes publicly credited God, raising questions about divine intervention and faith's role in competitive events.
Moral Intuitions of a Liberal Atheist: Reflection on a liberal atheist grappling with the sanctity of life, surrogacy, and prenatal ethics, demonstrating how moral intuitions often intersect with theological principles.
The Ethics of Hormone-Blocking Drugs: Tackling the complex issue of administering hormone-blocking drugs to sex offenders, balancing public safety with ethical concerns and the individual's dignity.
Hostage Negotiations and Just War Theory: A deep dive into the moral and theological principles surrounding hostage deals, weighing the sanctity of life against potential future consequences.
God’s Sovereignty in Human Affairs: Insightful discussions on God's role in both monumental and mundane aspects of life, encouraging trust in divine wisdom amid human uncertainties.

Christians in the TV & Film Industry (with Tom Halleen) Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

How can Christians think biblically about TV and movies? What kinds of entertainment should Christians consume? And can Christians survive and thrive in Hollywood today? These are the kinds of questions Sean and Scott ask their special guest, Biola professor and dean Tom Halleen, who has worked as an executive in Hollywood for over three decades.
Tom Halleen, former executive vice president of programming strategy, acquisitions and scheduling at AMC Networks, is the founding dean of Biola’s Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts. Through his nearly 30 years as an entertainment industry executive, Halleen has experience in all divisions of programming national television networks including acquisitions, scheduling, development, production, operations, viewer services, research, legal, standards and practices, and promo/media planning. Throughout his career, Halleen has negotiated for the acquisition of over $1 billion in series, specials and movies.

Cultural Update: Making sense of the fires; Anti-Semitic views on the rise; Pharmacists prescribing abortion pills Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

This week, Scott & Sean discuss:

Biblical Perspective on Southern California Fires
Exploring the theological implications of natural disasters, addressing questions about God's sovereignty and goodness amidst tragedy.
Rising Global Anti-Semitism
Report showing an alarming increase in anti-Semitic sentiments worldwide, especially among younger generations, and highlights the role of social media in spreading these views.
Pharmacists Prescribing Abortion Pills
Examines the new policy in Washington State and its broader implications, including ethical, medical, and biblical perspectives.
Listener Questions
On human rights, biblical definitions of flourishing, and the church's responsibility to address poverty and inequality.

Engaging Jesus with Our Senses? (with Jeannine Hanger) Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

What does it mean to engage Jesus with our senses? What is an embodied approach to studying the life of Jesus as opposed to the way we normally read the gospel accounts? How could this change the way we encounter Jesus in the gospels? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Talbot colleague Jeannine Hanger in her new book, Engaging Jesus with Our Senses.
Dr. Jeannine Hanger is Associate Professor of New Testament at Talbot. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, and is scholar in residence at Coastline
Covenant Church in Southern California.

Cultural Update: Atheist Says Christianity Is Key to Saving America; Right to Die for Mental Decline; AI Choosing Embryos Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

For the first week of the new year, Sean & Scott discuss:

Update on the wildfires in Southern California.
Atheist author argues that true Christianity is key to saving America.
The California Senate revisits expanding aid-in-dying laws to include dementia and Alzheimer's patients.
AI’s role in selecting embryos raises significant ethical and moral questions about life and reproduction.
Listener Response to Jim Daly on singleness
Listener Question: Responsibility to leave inheritance to a child living a life you don't agree with.

Have We Lost Our Minds? (with Stan Wallace) Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

What does it mean to say that we are body and soul both? Have the neurosciences done away with the soul? Are we little more than our physical stuff that is reducible to chemistry and physics? We’ll answer these questions and much more in our conversation with Stan Wallace around his new book, Have We Lost Our Minds?: Neuroscience, Neurotheology the Soul and Human Flourishing.
Stan Wallace is President and CEO of Global Scholars. He is a MA Phil graduate of Talbot School of Theology.

Focusing on the Family Today (with Jim Daly) Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

What new challenges have emerged to the family in the past few years? How is the family doing today versus in the past? What biblical principles must Christians keep in mind when thinking about the family today? These are a few of the questions we ask Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family. He discusses radical shifts in the modern family as well as gives practical ideas on how to pass on the faith and engage others in the culture who view the family differently.
Jim Daly is president of Focus on the Family and host of its daily show, heard by more than 6 million listeners a week on nearly 2,000 radio stations across the U.S. The show has been honored as Program of the Year by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB). In March 2022, he celebrated his 33rd anniversary with the ministry.

We Who Wrestle with God: Book Review Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

Jordan Peterson is one of the leading intellectuals of our day. He is a mega-selling author, psychologist, and popular influencer. In this discussion, Sean and Scott review his latest book We Who Wrestle with God. They discuss key lessons and insights from the book, but also help listeners think biblically about some of Peterson's psychological insights.

Cultural Update: Ethics of psychedelic treatments; Child labor powering batteries Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

Topics this week:

Veterans are increasingly exploring psychedelic treatments in Mexico for trauma and brain injuries, raising medical, ethical, and spiritual questions.
Syrian Christians face uncertainty and displacement following the rise of Islamist-led groups after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Over 1 million children in Nigeria are forced into hazardous lithium mining, sacrificing education and health for survival.
Listener question: balancing faith with worldly pressures.
Listener question: insights on identity, morality, and how to live out gospel values in a broken world.

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