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

Latest Episodes:

Immigration, Islam and Women's Rights (with Ayaan Hirsi Ali) Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

Since mass migration from Africa and the Middle East into Europe since 2015, there has been a marked increase in the sexual assault and harassment of women, especially in public in Europe. Women's rights activist and best selling author Ayaan Hirsi Ali addresses this in her new book entitled, Prey: Immigration, Islam and Erosion of Women's Rights. Join Scott and Sean for a provocative discussion of this controversial subject.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is founder of the AHA Foundation in New York City, devoted to protecting the rights of women around the world. She was raised in a devout Muslim family in Somalia, emigrated to the Netherlands, where she was eventually elected to the Dutch Parliament. She later came to the US where she began her foundation for women’s rights. She is the author of numerous books including her best-seller, Infidel, describing her personal story.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/immigration-islam-womens-rights

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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.

Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible (with Michael Bird) Jul 17, 2021

Show notes

What are the most common mistakes Christians make when approaching the Bible? Seasoned biblical scholar Michael Bird takes on seven of the biggest ones, including how the Bible was put together, how to interpret the Bible, and how we know it is true. This episode offers helpful background information, but also some practical steps for engaging and applying the Bible to life.
Dr. Michael Bird is a lecturer in Theology at Ridley College (Melbourne). He is also a visiting professor at Houston Baptist University, and an Anglican Priest, and is the author of numerous books including 7 Things I Wish Christians Knew about the Bible.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/seven-things-i-wish-christians-knew

[Bonus] Latest Research on Gen Z (with Jonathan Morrow) Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

In partnership with the Barna Research Group, Impact 360 has commissioned a massive new study on Gen Z. It focuses on caring for young people, and is a second volume to the initial 2018 study. In this interview, I talk with Jonathan Morrow about some of the unique findings and their implications for ministry to young people today. This is a bonus episode that first appeared on Sean's YouTube channel, which is in partnership with the Talbot Apologetics program.
Jonathan Morrow is the Director of Creative Strategies for Impact 360 Institute where he teaches in the college “Gap Year” program and high school summer Immersion experience. He is the author of Questioning the Bible, Welcome to College, and is the co-author of Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists. He is an adjunct professor at Talbot School of Theology.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/bonus-latest-research-on-gen-z

[Bonus] What Purity Culture Got Right and Wrong (with Rachel Joy Welcher) Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

"Purity culture" has a complicated legacy. Some is positive and some needs biblical correction. Rachel Joy Welcher has written an excellent book critiquing purity culture, but also offering a hopeful, biblical way forward. Her story is powerful and instructive for the church. This interview was recorded on Sean's YouTube channel, which is in partnership with the Talbot Apologetics program.
Rachel Joy Welcher is a columnist and editor at Fathom magazine. She is the author of two books on poetry and the author of the recent book Talking Back to Purity Culture. She lives in Glenwood, Iowa, with her husband, Evan.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/bonus-what-purity-culture-got-right-wrong

New Data On Same Sex Parenting (with Walter Schumm) Jul 01, 2021

Show notes

The conventional wisdom concerning same sex parenting is that it is not substantively different from oppoosite sex parenting-the notion that children simply need to be loved and it doesn't matter by whom. Dr. Walter Schumm, a specialist in family studies challenges the conventional wisdom with new empirical data. Join Scott as he as Dr. Schumm discuss this important topic that is highly counter-cultural in today's environment.
Dr. Walter Schumm is Professor Emeritus in the School of Family Studies and Health Services at Kansas State University. He is a fellow at the National Council on Family Relations and has been the editor of the journal Marriage and Family Review since 2010.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/new-data-on-same-sex-parenting

[Bonus] How Archaeology Supports the Bible (with Joel Kramer) Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

Is there actually good archaeological evidence supporting the Bible? Sean interviews archaeologist Joel Kramer about his recent book Where God Came Down. They discuss some of the evidence for the Patriarchs as well as positive evidence that supports the Gospels. This interview was recorded on Sean's YouTube channel, which is in partnership with the Talbot Apologetics program.
Joel Kramer serves as an adjunct professor of biblical archaeology at Shepherds Theological Seminary. He is the creator of multiple Films, such as DNA vs the Book of Mormon and Jericho Unearthed. He is the author of the recent book Where God Came Down.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/bonus-how-archaeology-supports-the-bible

The Anatomy of Deconversion (with John Marriott) Jun 27, 2021

Show notes

We hear an increasing number of stories — tragic ones — of recognizable Christian leaders abandoning their faith. What contributes to these accounts of de-conversion? Join Scott and Sean as they interview Dr. John Marriott-a specialist in the subject of de-conversion. He will talk about the factors involved in deconversion and what churches and Christian universities can do to prevent these tragic stories from happening.
Dr. John Marriott serves on the research staff at the Center for Christian Thought at Biola University, and adjunct professor in the department of philosophy.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/anatomy-of-deconversion

Why You Matter (with Mike Sherrard) Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

Does life really have any meaning? Are all human beings actually equal? These are some of the big questions of life, which we wrestle with in this episode. At its core, these are deep worldview questions that have powerful and practical implications for how we live our lives. Embracing a biblical perspective on these questions, as opposed to a secular worldview, helps us love our enemies and find joy in hardship.

Why You Matter: How Your Quest for Meaning is Meaningless without God
Mike Sherrard is senior pastor at Crosspoint Community Church and faculty member at Summit Ministries. He is the author of Relational Apologetics and a national speaker specializing in biblical worldview, ethics, and evangelism. He lives in Peachtree City, Georgia, with his wife and five kids.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/why-you-matter

The Return of the God Hypothesis (with Stephen Meyer) Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

Is the scientific data pointing towards a universe of design or towards a universe that needs no supernatural explanation? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with leading intelligent design proponent Stephen Meyer about his latest book The Return of the God Hypothesis. Dr. Meyer argues that cosmology, physics, and biology all point to the existence of a transcendent mind and that God is making a comeback in both academia and the wider culture.
Stephen C. Meyer received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. A former geophysicist and college professor, he now directs Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture in Seattle. He has authored the New York Times best seller Darwin’s Doubt: The Explosive Origin of Animal Life and the Case for Intelligent Design (HarperOne, 2013), Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design (HarperOne, 2009), which was named a Book of the Year by the Times (of London) Literary Supplement in 2009, and now, The Return of the God Hypothesis (HarperOne, 2021).
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/return-of-god-hypothesis

Them Before Us (with Katy Faust) Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

From certain reproductive technologies to divorce and to same-sex marriages, our culture focuses far more on the desires of adults than the rights of children. In her book Them Before Us, Katy Faust argues that we need a movement that restores the rights of children to be raised by their mom and dad in a stable home. In this interview, she discusses how the rights of children is an issue that Democrats and Republicans can both agree on.
Katy Faust is the founder and director of Them Before Us, an organization committed to advancing social policies that encourages adults to actively respect the rights of children rather than expecting children to sacrifice their fundamental rights for the sake of adult desires. She is the author of the book Them Before Us.
Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2021/them-before-us