Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

After centuries of anticipation, the ancient city of Colossae —the site of Paul’s letter to the Colossians—is finally being excavated. Dr. Clint Arnold , one of the world’s foremost experts on Colossians, joins Sean McDowell to share breaking news from the dig in modern-day Turkey. They explore why this excavation is historic, what discoveries could illuminate the New Testament, and how this proje...

Topics this week: Marijuana’s Real Impact: A new study finds 40% of fatal crash victims in one Ohio county had high levels of THC, sparking discussion on how far legalization has gone and why Christians must discern between what’s legal and what’s right .  AI and the End of “Seeing is Believing”: Sean and Scott unpack the dangers of AI-generated videos like OpenAI’s Sora , the flood of deepfakes,...

Why have so many “time saving” devices actually not saved us any time? How do you know if your devices work for you or you work for them? What guidance is there for an appropriate use of AI? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Trevor Sutton, pastor and professor specializing in the intersection of theology and technology.  A. Trevor Sutton is senior pastor at St. Luke Luthera...

Scott is joined by colleague Rick Langer to discuss:  Faith and Politics after the Kirk Shooting – A provocative article on whether Christians should see themselves as warriors or servants, contrasting combative approaches with Dallas Willard’s vision of gentleness in apologetics and civil discourse Abortion Statistics: Good News and Bad News – New data shows reduced abortions in some states with...

What is the state of assisted suicide/euthanasia in Canada today?; How significant are the financial pressures on the Canadian health care system and is that a reason that PAS/E is encouraged?; What is involved in a Christian response to PAS/E? We’ll address these questions and a few more with our guest Dr. Ewan Goligher, critical care physician and professor of medicine and physiology at the Univ...

Scott & Sean's topics this week:  Failed rapture predictions once again made headlines, fueled by social media hype, raising questions about biblical teaching, authority, and how Christians should respond with truth and compassion Reflection on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the role of faith in politics , with insights from David Brooks’ concerns about blurring Christianity and pa...

What does it mean to play sports for the glory of God? How do you keep someone from tying their identity to their success in sports? And why do parents sometimes have a greater interest in their child’s success in sports than the child himself/herself? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, our Talbot colleague in theology, Dr. Erik Thoennes.  Erik Thoennes is committed to teaching...

This week's topics: Police surveillance in New York – Sean and Scott discuss the rise of citywide tracking, privacy rights, and biblical perspectives on government power and personal freedom. Graphic killings on social media – They reflect on how viral videos of violent deaths, including Charlie Kirk’s assassination, can deaden our souls, dehumanize victims, and reveal troubling cultural valu...

What accounts for the dramatic growth of kids living without their biological father in the home? What are some of the social impacts of what is called “dad deprivation?” What is the effect of dads on the mental health of kids? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Anthony Bradley, well known scholar and author, current distinguished research fellow at the Acton Institute and...

This week, Sean and Scott discuss: How should Christians respond to the assassination of Charlie Kirk? Will the CDC recognize the suffering of individuals who've attempted to change their sex and regret it? A study across 5 continents finds that men and women with multiple sex partners are less desirable as long-term mates In an Atlantic essay, a high school student bemoans the effects of AI...

Whether in the occult, astrology, or New Age, interest in the supernatural has increased in the past few years. What can we learn about the spiritual realm, and spiritual warfare, from the letters of Paul? Talbot professor Clint Arnold is one of the leading New Testament scholars in the world. He joins the Think Biblically podcast to talk about his book Powers of Darkness and to answer some of the...

Scott is joined by guest co-host Erik Thoennes this week to discuss: Marriage: A New Atlantis essay argues tech and economics have “unbundled” marriage; the hosts counter that a Christian vision roots love, covenant, and fidelity amid today’s easy-in/easy-out norms. Women’s happiness: An Atlantic/IFFS survey finds married mothers are about twice as likely to report being “very happy”; the conversa...

Is it time for the church to set aside theological differences about the morality of same sex unions and gender identity and find common ground in the Gospel? Is same sex marriage a disputable issue that should not divide us believers? According to a new book, the answer to both these questions is yes. The book is called Christlike Acceptance Across Deep Difference and is co-edited by Ron Pierce ,...

This week, Scott & Sean discuss:  A massive new government study challenges common narratives about climate change A new study shows that markers of adulthood are occurring later and later for millennials and Gen Zers A terrible school shooting at a Catholic elementary school in Minnesota Listener Questions ========== Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbo...

What’s a business for? Why is there skepticism about business among younger generations today? What do we say to the notion that business is based on greed, that it creates consumerism and contributes to growing economic inequality? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest Dr. Jim Otteson, professor of business ethics at Notre Dame.  James R. Otteson is the John T. Ryan Jr. Professor o...

This week, Sean and guest co-host Rick Langer discuss: A growing trend of men becoming single dads by choice sparks discussion on meaning, technology, and the impact on children when family design is redefined. New research shows American millennials and Gen Z are dying at 2.6 times the rate of peers in other wealthy nations—raising questions about loneliness, disordered loves, and deeper spiritua...

How can Christian parents and other Christian leaders best navigate youth sports? What are some of the toxic elements of youth sports that Christians can avoid, or strategically use as an opportunity for ministry and growth? Our guest today, Ed Uszynski, is the author of a new book Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports . Ed joins Sean and Scott to discuss how our pe...

AI's takeover of education leaves rising seniors as the last students to remember high school before ChatGPT, raising questions about AI’s lasting impact on education. A Supreme Court case seeks to overturn same-sex marriage , prompting discussion on how Christians should respond culturally and theologically. Demand for euthanasia in Canada now outpaces available providers , sparking ethical...

Why is fertility in decline around the world? What is the long term social impact of this decline? And why is marriage so central to fertility rates? We’ll discuss these questions and much more with our guest, University of Mississippi economist Dr. Clara Piano.  Dr. Clara Piano is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Mississippi. Her primary research areas are family e...

Teen use of AI chatbots is on the rise , prompting concern over emotional dependency, harmful content, and the loss of real human connection. Cash aid to low-income families lacks results , challenging assumptions about poverty and flourishing. Canada pushes to expand euthanasia to mental illness , raising ethical alarms about autonomy, consent, and the value of life. Designer baby hype falls shor...

Does God promise to always keep us safe? What does the Bible have to say about our pursuit of safety for ourselves and our kids? How can the pursuit of safety become a form of idolatry in our lives? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Talbot grad Jeremy Lundgren in his new book, The Pursuit of Safety: A Theology of Danger, Risk and Security .  Jeremy Lundgren (PhD, Wheaton Colle...

Why would an abortion doctor change her mind about the morality of abortion and become a Christian? On this bonus episode of the Think Biblically podcast, Dr. Catherine Wheeler shares her compelling and powerful story of redemption and transformation from an abortionist to a pro-life activist. If you want to watch this episode in person, please visit Sean's YouTube channel: https://www.youtub...

Screens and social media have reshaped the world and our minds, bringing an appetite for distraction, loneliness, and increased rates of mental health challenges. It is time for Christians to rethink their relationship with screens and to consider what it means to live faithfully in our screen-dominated world. Our guest today, Brett McCracken, is the co-editor of a helpful and insightful new book...

Does the church need a "queer revolution"? Do we need a new reformation akin to the Protestant Reformation? In this discussion, Sean talks with author and progressive pastor Brandan Robertson about his new book Queer & Christian. They have a friendly debate about their different moral and theological frameworks and then discuss key biblical passages such as Genesis 2, Matthew 19, and...

Has traditional faith become obsolete in America? And if so, what are the main contributing factors? Until now, there has not been a thorough sociological analysis of the various factors contributing to the demise of religion in America since the 1990’s. In this interview, rooted in his latest book Why Religion Went Obsolete , Dr. Smith offers a 30,000-foot analysis of why traditional religion has...