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

Latest Episodes:

Cultural Update: Parental stress; Does Christian persecution exist in the US?; Selective moral outrage Aug 30, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean & Scott discuss:

The U.S. Surgeon General addresses the overwhelming stress faced by parents and the need for community and governmental support.
The debate over whether Christian persecution exists in the U.S., comparing American religious freedoms with global persecution.
A discussion on selective moral outrage, highlighting underreported global injustices.
Examination of recent immigration policies and their implications for families and merit-based systems.
Listener questions on moral outrage, mixed-faith marriages, and the implications of socialism from personal experiences.

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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.

Unnatural Death (with Richard Weikart) Aug 27, 2024

Show notes

What can we learn from the history of euthanasia? What was the view of suicide and euthanasia in the ancient world of the Bible? How did the early church introduce a new ethic of life into that context? How did the modern euthanasia movement begin and what was the rationale for permitting it? How did the Nazi experience of euthanasia affect the movement? How has it regained traction today? We’ll answer these questions and more with our good friend and eminent historian, Dr. Richard Weikart, around his new book, Unnatural Death: Medicine’s Descent from Healing to Killing.
Dr. Richard Weikart is Emeritus Professor of History at California State University, Stanislaus. He is Senior Fellow at the Center for Science and Culture at the Discovery Institute.

Cultural Update: Western Civilization's Need for Christianity; Abortion as a Social Good; Designer Babies Aug 23, 2024

Show notes

This week, Scott & Sean discuss:

Western civilization's need for Christianity
The rising celebration of abortion as a social good reflects a dangerous shift in societal values
Concerns grow over designer babies and the ethical implications of gene editing
Listener question: Mixed-faith marriages
Listener question: Navigating difficult family situations

Human Nature: A Vital Doctrine (with Katie McCoy) Aug 20, 2024

Show notes

Humanity is perhaps the most pressing doctrinal issue today. Katie McCoy, co-author of the new book Humanity, believes that a proper understanding of humanity has massive implications for science, sexuality, race, economics and more. She and Sean discuss why God originally made us male and female, if the Bible teaches corporate responsibility for sins our ancestors committed, the state of the debate over evolution, and much more.
Katie McCoy serves as director of Women’s Ministry at Texas Baptists (Baptist General Convention of Texas). She holds a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she previously served on faculty. She is the author of To Be A Woman and the co-author of Humanity.

Cultural Update: Olympians Share Their Faith, Vatican's New Stance on Patients in a Vegetative State, Updates on the Gender War in Britain, Choices of a Reverend Puts a Man on Death Row Aug 16, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

Olympians Who Share Their Faith
The Vatican Loosens Their Stance on Care for Patients in a Vegetative State
Britain's Labor Party Changes Their Stance on Trans Rights, Ending the Country's Gender War
Choices of a Pastor Puts a Man on Death Row
Listener Question: How Do We Prepare Our Children for Emotional Stress
Listener Question: Are Humans Mostly Good?
Listener Question: How Should School Chaplains Approach Kid's Pronouns?

AI and the Future of Porn (with Christopher Lind) Aug 13, 2024

Show notes

How is AI transforming human sexuality? How will AI change the way people create and consume pornography? And is the church ready? We talk with businessman, AI specialist, and podcaster Christopher Lind about these questions and more. Prepare yourself, because some radical changes are coming in how our culture approaches questions of sexuality.
Christopher Lind is a Tech Analyst and Industry Advisor. He is the Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed. He Hosts the Future-Focused podcast. Christopher is a devoted husband and father of 7. He lives at the intersection of business, technology, and the human experience.

Cultural Update: Birth rate decline, resurgence of syphilis, pregnancy resource centers Aug 09, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

Birth rate decline: Is it a conservative or a progressive issue?
Resurgence of syphilis in the U.S.
Harassment of pregnancy resource centers by the New Jersey Attorney General
Nature of biblical inspiration and the imputation of Christ's righteousness
How to respond biblically to real-world situations, like interacting with transgender individuals at community events
Balancing conservative perspectives with biblical principles

Why the Bible Began (with Mike Thigpen) Aug 06, 2024

Show notes

Usually we ask the question of how we got our Bible, but we rarely consider the question of why we got the Bible? Why did the various Biblical authors commit their contributions to writing and preservation? We’ll answer these questions and more and will look at a controversial new book, Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and Its Origins, by Professor Jacob Wright, of Candler School of Theology at Emory University — we’ll discuss with this with our former colleague and good friend, OT scholar, Dr. Mike Thigpen.
Dr. J. Michael Thigpen is Professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary and former Executive Director of the Evangelical Theological Society.

Cultural Update: What Everyone Else Is Wrong About Aug 02, 2024

Show notes

We're back with our Friday Weekly Cultural Updates. This week, Scott and guest co-host Rick Langer discuss a series of recent New York Times opinion pieces, including:

Faith vs. Conduct: Will the American church's destiny be defined by beliefs or actions.
Sexual Orientation: Challenging the "born this way" narrative.
AI Optimism: David Brooks argues that AI is an ally, not a rival, and highlights its potential to complement human capabilities.
Market Fallibility: How the market doesn't always get it right, with a focus on universities and media prioritizing customer desires over quality.
Listener Question: Christian Commitment: How to respond to those who follow Christianity only when convenient.
Listener Question: Rights vs. Obligations: Discussion on prioritizing obligations over rights from a Christian perspective, advocating for a love-centered approach.
Listener Question: Mental Health and Salvation: Consideration of the salvation of those with mental illnesses.

While Time Remains Jul 31, 2024

Show notes

What was it like for a teenage girl to escape from North Korea and make it to the US? How did she adjust to life in the US as compared to North Korea? How was her criticism of China received in the US? How did her experience at an elite Ivy League university remind her of life in North Korea? We’ll answer these questions and more as we discuss the new book from Yeonmi Park, While Time Remains.