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

Latest Episodes:

Christians and Preferred Pronouns: A Dialogue (with Tim Muehlhoff) Jul 23, 2024

Show notes

Should Christians use preferred pronouns? What is at stake in this question? How can Christians navigate relationships when people want them to use preferred pronouns? In this longer-than-usual podcast, Sean and Biola communications professor Tim Muehlhoff discuss these questions and more. In co-writing their book End the Stalemate, Sean and Tim realized they have much in common, but also some practical and biblical differences about how and when to use (and not use) preferred pronouns. They aim to model a healthy dialogue about a contentious issue.
This episode is also available as a video on Biola's YouTube channel.

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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.

Saving Civilization with Marriage (with Brad Wilcox) Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

Why are healthy marriages so vital for a flourishing society? What factor best predicts a high-quality marriage? What are some of the most common myths people believe about marriage today and how can Christians make a difference to encourage a marriage-friendly culture? These are just a few of the questions Sean discusses with sociologist Brad Wilcox regarding his new book Get Married. Dr. Wilcox brings his years of studying marriage to respond to some of the biggest myths about marriage, but also give some practical insights about how to help create a marriage-friendly culture.
Brad Wilcox is Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, Future of Freedom Fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, and a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. The author of Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization (Harper Collins, 2024), Wilcox studies marriage, fatherhood, and the impact of strong and stable families on men, women, and children.

Bridging Beliefs: A Dialogue Between Christian and Atheist Perspectives Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

This week, we have an excerpt of a recent event that Sean participated in with atheist journalist Adam Davidson. The two dialogued about their perspectives on issues like cancel culture, perceptions of evangelicals, and the importance of civil discourse. Highlighting areas of both agreement and disagreement, this episode demonstrates the value of thoughtful dialogue between differing worldviews.
This discussion was moderated by Sean's "End the Stalemate" co-author, Tim Muehlhoff.

12 Crucial Truths of Christianity Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

What are the essential truths of the Christian faith? How do we know they are true, and how do we live them out in relationships? In this episode, Scott interviews Sean about his recent book 12 Crucial Truths of the Christian Faith. They discuss the core issues of Christianity, how we know they are true, and why they matter for our relationship with God and others.

Cultural Update: Pro-Life Momentum; Pronouns in Private Schools; Anti-Semitism on Campuses; Listener Questions Jun 28, 2024

Show notes

This week, Scott & Sean discuss:

Current struggles and internal conflicts within the pro-life movement after the Dobbs decision
Implications of a New York bill that could impact private and religious schools' policies on gender expression
The rise of anti-Semitism on elite university campuses and its effects on Jewish students
Incident involving Venezuelan migrants in Texas and its impact on the immigration debate
Listener Question: Women's Roles in Church Leadership
Listener Question: God's Moral Character
Listener Question: CRT and Diversity Training

Scheduling Note: Our Friday "Cultural Update" episodes will be on hiatus during the month of July, as we enjoy a bit of a summer break. Our regular episodes will continue to publish on Tuesdays.

Reclaiming the Historic Christian Faith (with Carl Trueman) Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

Why is it so important that we reclaim the historic Christian faith in a culture dominated by individualism and identity politics?
Join Sean for an interview with Carl Trueman, as they discuss how believers can use the traditional creeds to evaluate modern cultural questions.
Carl's new book is Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity.

Cultural Update: Ten Commandments in Schools; Title IX rules; Warning Labels for Social Media Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

Louisiana mandates public schools to display the Ten Commandments, sparking legal debates and opposition.
A federal judge in Kentucky blocks Biden's Title IX rules, arguing gender identity and sex are distinct.
The U.S. Surgeon General advocates for warning labels on social media to protect adolescents' mental health.
Listener question: Navigating self-defense as a Christian in light of Jesus' teachings on non-retaliation.
Listener question: Ethics of IVF and alternatives for pro-life couples concerned about genetic conditions.
Listener question: Ethical considerations of using a pen name for publishing controversial religious content.

Navigating Minefield Conversations (with Tim Muehlhoff) Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

Why do conversations today so often descend into unhealthy arguments and cancellation? Is it possible to have meaningful, positive conversations on difficult topics with people who see the world differently? And if so, how do we do it? Sean talks with Tim Muehlhoff, Biola communications professor, about these questions and more. They discuss their latest co-written book End the Stalemate and offer some biblical insights for effective conversations across worldview divides.
Tim Muehlhoff (Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) is a Professor of Communication at Biola University in La Mirada, California where he teaches classes in conflict resolution, apologetics, gender, and family communication. He is co-director of Biola’s Winsome Conviction Project that seeks to reintroduce compassion and civility into our disagreements. He’s the co-host of the Winsome Conviction Podcast where people with differing viewpoints are brought on for engaging dialogue.

Cultural Update: Canada's Online Harms Act; Compassionate Transfer in IVF; Toxic Masculinity Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean & Scott discuss:

Canada's Online Harms Act: Potentially draconian free speech restrictions and the debate on its implications for political activism and public discourse.
Compassionate Transfer in IVF: Addressing the moral dilemma of excess embryos through a controversial medical procedure aimed at unsuccessful pregnancies.
Toxic Masculinity and Boys: Exploring the cultural impact of toxic masculinity on boys, including gender disappointment and the need for meaningful human connections.
Listener Questions: Insightful discussions on the ethical considerations of contraception in Christian marriages and the age of the Earth debate among Christians.
Upcoming Book: Sean McDowell and Tim Muehlhoff's new book, "End the Stalemate," focusing on building bridges and understanding in a polarized culture.

Who is an Evangelical? (with Thomas Kidd) Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

What does it mean to be an evangelical? What do non-Christians think about the evangelical movement? Is it a movement worth saving? These are some of the questions Sean discusses with our guest Thomas Kidd, Research Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. They briefly discuss the history of the evangelical movement and its core beliefs. Whether you are part of an evangelical movement or not, this episode will help you understand one of the most significant religious movements in American history.
Dr. Thomas S. Kidd serves as Research Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has written multiple books including Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh (Yale University Press, 2022), Who Is an Evangelical? The History of a Movement in Crisis (Yale University Press, 2019), Benjamin Franklin: The Religious Life of a Founding Father (Yale University Press, 2017). Kidd has written for media outlets including the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, and he also blogs at “Evangelical History” at The Gospel Coalition website.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/who-is-an-evangelical.

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