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

Latest Episodes:

Cultural Update: College wins Title IX case; Gender Divide in Gen Z; Students can't read an entire book Oct 04, 2024

Show notes

This week, Scott and special guest Erik Thoennes discuss:

Hillsdale College wins an important Title IX court decision on religious freedom.
A new gender divide emerges in Gen Z: men seeking traditional roles, women pushing for progress.
Elite college students struggle to read an entire book, raising concerns about deep reading skills.
Discussion on how loving God with your mind relates to reading Scripture deeply.
Listener questions addressed on topics like censorship in education and the future of intimacy with technology.

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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.

Revering God (with Thaddeus Williams) Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

Why is it often difficult to find pleasure and joy in God? If the chief end of man is to know and enjoy God, why do so many of us fall short? In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Biola professor Thaddeus Williams about these questions and his new book Revering God. Dr. Williams argues that a deep-dive into the theological understanding of the reverence of God can transform our relationship with God and allow us to live in awe-inspired devotion.
Thaddeus J. Williams (Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) loves enlarging students’ understanding and enjoyment of Jesus at Biola University in La Mirada, CA, where he serves as associate professor of Systematic Theology for Talbot School of Theology. He has also taught Philosophy and Literature at Saddleback College, Jurisprudence at Trinity Law School, and as a lecturer in Worldview Studies at L’Abri Fellowships in Switzerland and Holland, and Ethics for Blackstone Legal Fellowship the Federalist Society in Washington D.C. He resides in Orange County, CA with his wife and four kids.

Cultural Update: Christians losing political influence; Is working from home a moral issue? Sep 27, 2024

Show notes

This week:

Are conservative Christians losing political influence in America?
The growing trend of children struggling to make friends raises alarming health concerns.
Gen Z women are increasingly unaffiliated with religion—what's behind this shift?
A Missouri man’s execution sparks questions about the fairness of the death penalty.
Is working from home a moral issue, as Elon Musk claims?
Listener questions on the return of Christ and how to approach political news from a biblical perspective.

Faith for the Curious (with Mark Matlock) Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

Are there non-Christians who are genuinely open to hearing about the Christian faith? According to Mark Matlock, author of Faith for the Curious, there is a large segment of people who are genuinely spiritually curious. But, the key is to understand them accurately and to engage them in the right way. In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Mark about how to understand and engage those today who are spiritually open and curious.
Mark Matlock is Senior Fellow at Barna and a facilitator of innovation and impact. He has been working with, and researching, young people for three decades. Mark is the Executive Director of the Urbana Student Missions Conferences. He attended Biola in the late 1980s.

Cultural Update: Christians against Bible in schools; Regrets about social media; Taliban restrictions on women Sep 20, 2024

Show notes

This week's topics:

The Taliban imposes new, harsh restrictions on women in Afghanistan, raising concerns about women's rights and human dignity.
Some Christians in Oklahoma and other states push back against mandatory Bible teaching in public schools, questioning its place in public education.
Gen Z expresses significant regret over the invention of social media, with many users experiencing negative impacts on mental health and social well-being.
DNA and ancestry testing uncover disturbing findings about the prevalence of incest in modern society, sparking difficult ethical and emotional questions.

Faith & Political Engagement Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

How should we approach the political arena as Christians? What exactly does the Bible give us when it comes to politics? How can we make sure that our conversations about politics are civil and respectful? Sean and Scott will answer these questions and more as they discuss the connection between Christian faith and politics.
It's National Voter Registration Day! Visit vote.gov to register to vote or check your registration status. You can also find information on how and where you can vote as a college student.

Cultural Update: Are political opponents really our enemies?; A world beyond IVF; Diverse intelligence Sep 13, 2024

Show notes

This week Scott & Sean discuss:

Are political opponents really our enemies? We dive into a Wall Street Journal op-ed challenging partisanship and urging love across political lines.
The ethics of emerging reproductive technologies like in-vitro gametogenesis (IVG) and the potential societal impacts.
A New York Times article about humanity’s readiness for a world beyond IVF, asking if we're prepared for designer babies.
How should we relate to "diverse intelligence" like AI, robots, and cyborgs?
Listener questions tackle sensitive topics such as retirement from a biblical perspective and the emotional and spiritual challenges of male infertility (book mentioned: The Infertility Companion).

The Supreme Court Chief of NC and Faith (with Chief Paul Newby) Sep 10, 2024

Show notes

What people and events led Paul Newby to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina? What historical evidence originally led him to become a Christian, and how does he uniquely practice his faith as a Chief Justice? And what advice would he give to young Christians who want to serve God through the law? We had the unique opportunity to talk with Chief Paul Newby to hear him address these questions, and more, as well as talk about his personal journey to faith.
Paul Martin Newby is the 30th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. In addition to his service on the Court, Chief Justice Newby is an adjunct professor at Campbell University School of Law, where he teaches courses on state constitutional law and appellate practice. He is the co-author of The North Carolina State Constitution with History and Commentary (2nd ed. 2013) with Professor John V. Orth of the University of North Carolina School of Law. And he is a father, husband, elder, and Sunday School teacher.

Cultural Update: Boomers vs. Younger Generations; Physician-Assisted Suicide in Canada; Sologamy Sep 06, 2024

Show notes

This week, Scott & Sean discuss:

The funding disparity between baby boomers and younger generations in America.
The ethical and moral concerns surrounding physician-assisted suicide and its rise in Canada.
The emerging societal trend of "sologamy," or self-marriage, and its reflection of extreme individualism.
The dangers posed by AI, including bots mimicking human intimacy and influencing democratic processes.
Thought-provoking listener questions on forgiveness, Christian beliefs in liberal environments, and navigating controversial roles in acting.

Whole Heart Finances (with Shane Enete) Sep 03, 2024

Show notes

What does it mean to submit your finances to the Lordship of Christ? What does that involve on a daily basis? What does it mean to baptize your money and treat tracking your spending as a spiritual discipline? How does your upbringing influence your attitudes toward money? We’ll answer these questions and more with our Crowell School of Business colleague, Shane Enete around his new book, Whole Heart Finances.
Dr. Shane Enete is Associate Professor of Finance at the Crowell School of Business, Biola University. His research interests include how new developments in Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) alter investment practice, the theology of financial planning, and how to reconcile the natural tension of a Christ follower between sacrificial giving and shrewd saving. Enete currently holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designations.