Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

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 Gans...

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 agenda...

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 La...

This week, Sean McDowell and guest co-host Rick Langer discuss: Political Realignment and Identity Politics : A discussion based on a New York Times opinion piece by David French , exploring the potential shift in political alignment among voters of color towards the Republican party. The conversation delves into the implications of moving from identity-based divisions to idea-based disagreements,...

How can Christians best respond to the reality of evil and suffering? What does it mean to trust God through our pain? Sean and Scott interview Ingrid Faro about her new book Demystifying Evil . She shares some vulnerable and honest stories that can bring hope during suffering. Ingrid Faro (PhD, MDiv) is Affiliate Professor of Old Testament and Coordinator of the MA in Old Testament–Jerusalem Univ...

This week, Sean and guest co-host Thaddeus Williams discuss: Kanye West's Controversial Statements on Faith : Kanye West, now known as Ye, expressed disillusionment with Jesus in a recent interview, questioning the efficacy of prayer and Christian support. He controversially declared himself as "the God of me," sparking discussions on the nature of faith, idolatry, and self-sovereig...

How does a Christian view of mental health compare and contrast with a secular perspective? Are we in a mental health crisis today? And how do we best love our family and friends who are suffering from mental illness. In this video and podcast, Sean and Scott talk with Rosemead Professor Chris Adams about these questions and more. Dr. Adams shares about the new Flourishing in Ministry resource tha...

This week, Scott Rae and guest co-host Rick Langer discuss: China's Baby Bust France Enshrines Abortion in Constitution Disturbing Leaks from WPATH New Tech May Allow Embryo from Two Men Listener Question: AI Pornography Listener Question: How will doctors leaving abortion banned states affect quality of medical care? Listener Question: Balancing the rights of adults to do drugs vs. the right...

What exactly does it mean to say that we are in the image of God? How should that idea impact how we view things like our identity, our work, sexuality, body image, disability and transgender issues? We’ll talk about these and much more with our colleague Dr. Carmen Imes and her new book, Being God’s Image . Dr. Carmen Imes is Associate Professor Old Testament at Talbot .  She brings a passion for...

This week, Scott & Sean discuss: Four Ways of Looking at Christian Nationalism Over-the-counter abortion pills AI-generated deepfake nudes Political Divisiveness and Friendship Listener question: Should you politically advocate for all of your moral beliefs? Listener question: Are there moral differences between regulating drug use and regulating abortion?  Read a transcript of this episode at...

What is Humanism? How significant is the Humanist worldview today? And how can Christians best love their Humanist neighbors? In this podcast and video, Sean and Scott discuss the recent book Humanly Possible , written by Sarah Bakewell, which covers 700 years of Humanist thought up to the present. Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/the-legacy-o...

This week, Scott & Sean discuss: Artificial Intelligence and Truth : Discussion on how AI, through deep fakes and misinformation, challenges our ability to discern truth, potentially leading to an era of distrust.  Study on Gender Dysphoria : A Finnish study finding that gender dysphoria does not increase suicide risk and that gender-affirming care does not decrease it, challenging current nar...

How should we view the war on drugs? Is it a failure and should we try something different? Or are drugs so dangerous that waging war on them is the only appropriate response? We’ll discuss these and more with our guest Christina Dent around her new book, Curious: A Foster Mom's Discovery of an Unexpected Solution to Drugs and Addiction . Christina Dent is Founder & President of End It Fo...

Today's topics: Amazon's New AI Model : Amazon's AI model showing emergent language abilities, sparking debates on AI's human-like intelligence. Alabama Supreme Court Ruling on Embryos : Examined the ruling that embryos are human beings, affecting the infertility industry. Justice Alito's Prediction on Religious Dissenters : Addressed how a prediction by Justice Alito rega...

What is social justice and how does it compare and contrast with biblical justice? In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss the recent book by economist Thomas Sowell called Social Justice Fallacies . According to Sowell, many things thought to be true today about justice efforts do not line up with the facts. As a result, many social justice efforts have had catastrophic consequences. Join Sean an...

Today, Scott & Sean discuss: Duo euthanasia of the former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt and his wife, Eugenie, and its implications for the euthanasia movement. Critique of the soulmate model of romance , focusing on its sustainability and impact on marriages. The shooting at Joel Osteen's church in Houston, discussing various aspects including the shooter's background and the d...

What can and should we do about the evil of human trafficking? What is the church’s responsibility and what can the church do to help combat this worldwide phenomenon? We’ll discuss this with our guest, Talbot colleague Dr. Eddie Byun around his newly published and revised book on the subject — A Light In the Darkness . Read a transcript of this episode at https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblica...

This week, Sean and Scott discuss: A New York Times opinion piece on transgender treatments and the emerging concerns and regrets from those who have undergone such procedures. A story of anti-Semitism in the context of sperm donation in Australia, where a couple rejected a Jewish sperm donor due to ethical concerns related to his identity. An Atlantic magazine article advocating for a more balanc...

Step into the captivating world of faith and advertising with Talbot Dean Ed Stetzer in this Think Biblically podcast episode. Explore the groundbreaking " He Gets Us " campaign, a visionary effort by Christian business leaders and marketing experts to reshape contemporary views of Jesus, fostering curiosity and dialogue among skeptics and believers alike. Stetzer delves into the campaig...

This week, Scott & Sean discuss: After-school Satan clubs in South Orange County — has religious liberty gone too far? Ethical implications of law enforcement using DNA to predict suspects' facial features. A proposed bill in the Australia for voluntary assistance in dying (VAD) extending to children and people with dementia. Listener Question: Did homosexuality exist in biblical times? L...

What does it mean to assert that animals have rights? Can Christians consume meat? How concerned should Christians be about the treatment of animals? In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss these questions, and many more, as they review the influential book by Princeton philosopher Peter Singer: Animal Liberation Now . Book mentioned by Scott:  God, Humans, and Animals: An Invitation to Enlarge Ou...

In today's episode, Scott & special guest Rick Langer from Biola's Talbot School of Theology discuss these topics: Michigan School Shooting Case : Discussion on a case where parents were charged with involuntary manslaughter linked to their son's school shooting, highlighting the negligence in ignoring warning signs and the legal and moral responsibilities of parents and schools...

Even in the aftermath of the reversal of Roe v. Wade, making the case for life is just as important as before.  How do we make the case for life in the current cultural moment we’re in?  We’ll take up this critical question with our guest, Scott Klusendorf, around his new book, The Case for Life , the best single resource out there for engaging the abortion discussion.  We hope you enjoy this time...

In today's episode, Scott & Sean discuss these topics and articles: A recent issue of New York Magazine focused on the mainstreaming of polyamory. Potential advances in lab-grown human eggs. Church without God: How secular congregations fill a need for some nonreligious Americans New York Times Editorial Board piece on The Responsibility of Republican Voters . Listener Question: "Cou...

Why would an apologist write a book on friendship? What can we learn about friendship from the example and teachings of Jesus and Paul? How can we recover the lost art of friendship? In this interview, Sean and Scott talk with Rebecca McLaughlin about her new book No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision of Friendship . Rebecca McLaughlin holds a Ph. D. in Renaissance Literature from Cambridge Universit...