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

Latest Episodes:

Cultural Update: AI Virtual Companions; Sports Gambling; Fidelity Month; Housing Racism Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

This week, Scott & Sean discuss:

AI and Virtual Companions: Discussion on potential radical changes in AI, with OpenAI and Apple possibly announcing a partnership to integrate advanced virtual companions into devices.
Sports Gambling: Examination of the impact of legalized sports betting on the integrity of professional sports and the pressures it places on athletes.
Fidelity Month: Introduced by Professor Robert George, the concept encourages a renewal of commitment to faith, family, and community values.
Racial Discrimination in Real Estate: A story about a Black woman facing discrimination when attempting to purchase a condo, highlighting ongoing racial bias in housing.
Questions from Listeners: Answers to listener questions about managing relationships with people practicing polyamory, navigating workplace diversity groups, and the appropriateness of praying to saints in Christian practice.

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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.

Clarity on Cancel Culture Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

What is cancel culture and why has it burst on the scene so dramatically the past few years? How can Christians best navigate our current cultural moment of canceling people with whom we disagree? In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss the recent book The Cancelling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Rikki Schlott. You can also find this discussion on video through the Biola YouTube channel.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/clarity-on-cancel-culture.

Cultural Update: Marijuana Surpasses Alcohol in Frequent Consumption, How Hamas Refers to it's Female Captives, The Non-Religious Plateau in Number May 31, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

Marijuana has Surpassed Alcohol as the Most Frequently Used Drug
How Hamas Refers to Female Captives
The Non-Religous May Have Stopped Growing in Number
Listener Question: How Can I be a Fulfilled Christian if I Can't Have a Family
Listener Question: Should I publish Christian Media if it will affect my carreer?

People-First Leadership (with Jack Hollis) May 28, 2024

Show notes

Jack Hollis is the executive VP of Toyota North America. He loves to say: "I work for Jesus, but get paid by Toyota." How does he lead such a successful business and yet live out his faith? What leadership principles has he learned from Jesus? In this interview, Sean talks with Jack about his journey to becoming a Christian, his story of becoming one of the key leaders within Toyota, and how he integrates his faith into his work.
Jack Hollis is executive vice president of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). He is also president of Toyota Motor Sales. In his role, Jack is responsible for product planning, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service for the Toyota and Lexus brands in North America.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/people-first-leadership.

Cultural Update: Christian Ethics of Immigration, AI in Dating Apps, Nonconsensual Medical Examinations May 24, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

Christian Ethics of Immigration
AI in Dating Apps
Nonconsensual Medical Examinations
Listener Question: What determines the morality of our societies relational boundaries, like gay marriage?
Listener Question: What should be most meaningful when we reflect back on life?
Listener Question: What is the purpose of sex?

The Two-Parent Privilege May 21, 2024

Show notes

Although it may be surprising to some, having two parents in the home provides the greatest economic privilege kids can have. Thus, the decline in marriage has had disastrous cultural implications. In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss the recent book The Two Parent Privilege by Melissa Kearney. They discuss Kearney's 10-year study which shows the host of benefits that are passed on to children who grow up with two parents. While her argument is not biblically-based, it lines up with Scriptural values of the family.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/the-two-parent-privilege.

Cultural Update: Punishing Prostitutes for Refusing Sex, Deathbed Visions, Harrison Butker Speech Sparks Debate May 17, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

Sex Workers Punished by Law for Refusing Sex
What Deathbed Visions Teach us About the Afterlife
Kansas City Chief Kicker, Harrison Butker's Graduation Speech
Listener Question: Responding to Listener Feedback about Preston Sprinkle Episode
Listener Question: Does God still Discipline his Children?
Listener Question: Rwandan Genocide - is Humanity to Blame for Such Evil?

Christianity as a Strange Religion? (with Nijay Gupta) May 14, 2024

Show notes

What made the first Christians so different from their surrounding culture? How did their worship differ from the way the average Roman citizen viewed the gods? Why did the early church view themselves as a family and why is that so significant? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest Dr. Nijay Gupta around his new book, Strange Religion: How the First Christians were Weird, Dangerous and Compelling.
Nijay K. Gupta (PhD, Durham University) is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. He is cohost of the Slow Theology podcast, founder of the Crux Sola blog, and has written numerous books, including Tell Her Story, A Beginner's Guide to New Testament Studies, 15 New Testament Words of Life, and commentaries on Galatians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/christianity-as-a-strange-religion.

Cultural Update: Trends in Teenage Sex; Slogans in Israel/Palestine Conflict; Gender Affirming Care for Children; Listener Questions May 10, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and guest co-host Rick Langer discuss:

Troubling Trends in Teenage Sex
Slogans in Israel/Palestine Conflict
Debate Over Gender Affirming Care for Children
Listener Question: HPV Vaccine in Children
Listener Question: Should my beliefs be law?
Listener Question: Is America a "chosen nation"?

Living as Exiles Today (with Preston Sprinkle) May 07, 2024

Show notes

The Bible is clear that followers of Jesus are exiles in this world. What exactly does this mean and what does this mean for the way we view our political views and affiliations? How was going to church in the first century a politically subversive act? How was the cross a political image in the Roman world? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest and friend Dr. Preston Sprinkle around his new book, Exiles: The Church in the Shadow of Empire.
Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, a New York Times bestselling author, and is the co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007), and has taught theology at Cedarville University (OH), Nottingham University (U.K.), and Eternity Bible College (CA). He is the author of a dozen books and hosts the bi-weekly podcast, Theology in the Raw.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/living-as-exiles-today.