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

Latest Episodes:

Cultural Update: Falling U.S. Fertility Rates; Campus Protests; Marijuana Reclassification; Listener Questions May 03, 2024

Show notes

This week, Scott & Sean discuss:

Falling Fertility Rates: Discussion on the continuous decline of fertility rates in the U.S., with women delaying childbirth, leading to economic and social implications.
Campus Protests Escalate: Coverage of widespread campus protests across the U.S. and Europe, reflecting deep-seated ideological battles and a decline in civil discourse at universities.
Marijuana Reclassification: Debate on the DEA's proposal to reclassify marijuana, exploring its potential impacts on society, economy, and the legal system.
Listener Question: Birth Control
Listener Question: Problem of Evil/Suffering
Listener Question: HPV vaccine for children

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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.

The Gift of Kidney Donation (with Mark Rae) Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Our host Scott Rae recently donated a kidney to his brother, Mark. It was a long, arduous journey in which God was clearly present along the way. How did it affect each of them spiritually? How did it affect their relationships with family? And how can we think biblically about a life-saving medical procedure such as this? Sean interviews both Scott and Mark to hear about their emotional journey.

Cultural Update: Armed Teachers; Gen Z's Views on Israel; AI + CRISPR; Listener Questions Apr 26, 2024

Show notes

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

Tennessee Legislation on Armed Teachers: The controversial decision by Tennessee lawmakers allowing teachers to carry concealed handguns in schools, prompted by a tragic school shooting.
Generational Views on Israel: A poll suggests that nearly half of Gen Z views Israel's actions against Hamas as unjust due to its power, painting it as the oppressor.
Innovations in Gene Editing: The integration of generative AI with CRISPR technology, with the potential to revolutionize medical treatments by rapidly developing tailored therapies.
Listener Questions: The intersection of faith and public policy, the distinction between gender and sex, and the personal struggle of witnessing to non-believing family members.

Polyamory: A Biblical Response Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

What is polyamory and why is it bursting on the scene right now? Is there such a thing as Christian polyamory? Will polyamorous relationships work? While relying on Scripture and social science research, Sean and Scott discuss these questions and more. 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/polyamory-a-biblical-response.

Cultural Update: Shifts in Religious Identification; Persuasive AI; Rethinking Gender-Affirming Care; Listener Questions Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

This week:

Exploring Shifts in Religious Identification: Dive into the latest trends in religious affiliations in America. Discover why the religiously unaffiliated are the fastest growing group and how different faith groups are retaining their followers.
The Power of AI in Persuasion: Uncover the surprising findings of a new study comparing the persuasiveness of AI to human argumentation. Learn how AI is shaping the way we think and the potential implications for the spread of information and misinformation.
Rethinking Gender-Affirming Care: Get insights from a groundbreaking report in England challenging widely accepted practices in gender-affirming care for youth. This segment contrasts approaches in the U.K. and the U.S. and discusses the broader implications for healthcare and society.
Listener Question: Human Souls vs. God's Image
Listener Question: Ethics of prescribing medications for lifestyles you don't morally agree with

Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/cultural-update-shifts-in-religious-identification-persuasive-ai-rethinking-gender-affirming-care-listener-questions.

Encountering the Holy Spirit (with Fred Sanders) Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

Who is the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit work in our lives? What are some common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit and what are some vital truths to know to live in the power of the Spirit? Sean and Scott speak with fellow Biola professor Fred Sanders about these questions and his new book The Holy Spirit: An Introduction.
Fred Sanders (PhD, Graduate Theological Union) is a professor of theology at the Torrey Honors College at Biola University. Sanders is the author of multiple books including The Deep Things of God. He blogs regularly at fredfredfred.com.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/encountering-the-holy-spirit.

Cultural Update: Solar Eclipse and Intelligent Design; Racial Bias in Hiring; Vatican on Gender Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

Today, Scott and Sean discuss:

Solar Eclipses and Intelligent Design: Discussion on how solar eclipses demonstrate intelligent design, including the precise conditions necessary for a habitable planet and the unique positioning that allows for the observation of solar eclipses.
Racial Bias in Hiring: Insights from a study where researchers sent 80,000 fake resumes to gauge racial bias among large U.S. companies. The study found a 9.5% higher contact rate for presumed white applicants over black ones, suggesting ongoing racial bias, despite improvements over the past decade.
Vatican's Stance on Gender and Surrogacy: Vatican's declaration that gender fluidity, transition surgery, and surrogacy are affronts to human dignity, arguing for the irrevocable nature of sex as a gift from God. This section also touches on the implications for church teachings and societal views on sexuality.
30th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide: Reflects on the genocide's 30th anniversary, focusing on reconciliation efforts and the personal stories of victims and perpetrators.
Listener Questions: Answers to audience questions on topics like determinism vs. libertarian free will, and practical advice for a listener planning to teach young adults how to think biblically about cultural issues.

Is Free Will a Myth? (with Greg Ganssle) Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

Are humans physical machines determined by the laws of chemistry and physics? Has science shown that free will is a myth? Sean and Scott invite Biola professor Greg Ganssle to discuss the recent book Determined by Robert Sapolsky. They discuss the nature of free will, respond to common arguments in favor of determinism, and talk about why this issue matters so much for human flourishing.
Greg Ganssle (Ph.D. Syracuse University) is a professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Dr. Ganssle has worked in campus ministry at a variety of campuses including Yale University. He is the author of multiple books including Our Deepest Desires and Thinking about God.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/is-free-will-a-myth.

Cultural Update: Dawkins is a Christian?; Social Costs of De-Churching; Spiritual Parenthood Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

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

Richard Dawkins Identifies as a Cultural Christian: Dawkins expresses shock over Ramadan lights in the UK, highlighting his value for Christian heritage despite his atheism.
Debate on "Sex Assigned at Birth": An opinion piece in The New York Times challenging the terminology, emphasizing biological facts over socio-political agendas.
Social Costs of De-Churching in America: An article in The Atlantic by an agnostic author explores the negative impacts of declining church attendance, particularly on community and social engagement.
Listener Question: Doctoral Program in Engaging Mind and Culture: The podcast mentions Talbot School of Theology's program aimed at fostering thoughtful and winsome cultural engagement.
Listener Question: Spiritual Parenthood in the Church: The importance of the church in providing mentorship and support, especially to young individuals without Christian familial backgrounds.

Defending Life Courageously (with Treneé McGee) Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

What is it like to be a pro-life Democrat in a state legislature? How does it work to be pro-life in the African American community? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, artist and state representative Treneé McGee. This is a joint podcast with Think Biblically and the Winsome Conviction Project, both from Biola University. Scott represents the Think Biblically podcast and Rick Langer represents the Winsome Conviction podcast.
Treneé McGee is an artist and Connecticut state representative who has been serving in office since 2021. Representative McGee is uniquely situated as a pro-life member of the Democratic party. Her faith guides her to a strong conviction to conduct politics with truth, honesty and sincere care for people, and motivates her to preserve life by opposing abortion and seeking ways to support women and mothers experiencing poverty, homelessness, and many other situations that often drive them to abortion.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/defending-life-courageously.

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