Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Topics this week: Women's Basketball Player Embraces Her Faith The UK Supreme Court Rules on Gender France's Law on Anonymous Sperm and Egg Donation Richard Dawkins' Blog Post on Christianity Listener Questions: Further questions concerning the life of MLK jr. How should someone approach talking with parents in the midst of deconstruction? Is there continuity of life between now and...

Michael Heiser is one of the most influential Old Testament scholars over the past decade. In this video, Sean is joined by Talbot Old Testament professor Charlie Trimm to discuss Heiser’s best-selling book “ The Unseen Realm. ” They discuss these questions and more: Why has Heiser been so influential? Are his ideas orthodox? Should Christians read his works? What does it mean to biblically embrac...

Topics this week: An Atlantic article on Elaine Pagels' new book, "Miracles and Wonder." Is she downplaying the supernatural? This episode dives into her controversial take on New Testament miracles. Florida teacher fired for using a student's preferred name without parental consent. Where do parental rights collide with student support?  Scientists have brought back the dire w...

What should apologetics look like for this generation? What does it mean that apologetics is for everyone, not just specialists? How is the gospel good news, especially for women? We’ll discuss these questions and more with Sean around his new book Apologetics for an Ever-Changing Culture .  ========== Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology...

This week's topics: Polygany Found to Cause Lower Birthrates than Monogamy AI Chatbots can Allow People to Talk with Deceased Relatives New Tech allows for more Control Over Embryo Selection. Listener Questions: A Listener shares their experience working in secular spaces and using preferred pronouns. Should christians identify as gay? Are near death experiences biblical? ========== Think Bib...

What is the state of the intelligent design movement today? How is it faring in the scientific realm, the church, and in the public? How has the strategy of the ID movement shifted, and what has it learned over the past 20 years? Our guest today is Biola University Biology professor Doug Axe . Douglas Axe is the Maxwell Professor of Molecular Biology at Biola University, the founding Director of B...

This week's topics:  The Ethics of Embryo Research : The abortion debate is shifting toward the status and treatment of embryos—especially in light of new scientific experimentation pushing past the 14-day research limit. Science vs. Philosophy : Scott and Sean discuss the crucial distinction between biological life and personhood—and why science can’t answer moral questions about human ident...

What is the enduring legacy of MLK?, why has the culture neglected the theological basis for his civil rights work?, what assumptions to white and black people have about each other that are inaccurate or unhelpful? We'll discuss these questions and more in a joint podcast with the Biola Winsome Convictions Podcast and my co-host Tim Muehlhoff. Our guest is Pastor Chris Brooks, pastor of Wood...

Decline of Romantic Relationships Among Young People – Dating among high school and college students is decreasing due to emotional intimacy fears, digital distractions, and safety concerns, highlighting the theological importance of relationships. Rise of Pornography Over Real Relationships – Many young men now prefer pornography over romantic relationships, leading to emotional desensitization,...

Should Christians identify as gay? Is this a secondary issue that should not divide Christians, or is more at stake? Sean and Preston Sprinkle continue the dialogue from last week and focus on the question of whether homosexuality can be one part of Christian identity. Preston Sprinkle is Biblical scholar, speaker, and the head of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender. He is the best-selling...

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:  New Study on Gender Affirming Surgery – A major peer-reviewed study finds increased psychological distress post-surgery, sparking discussion on long-term mental health effects and the importance of pre-surgical mental health assessments. The Future of Faith in America – Pew data suggests the rise of the “nones” (religiously unaffiliated) has plateaued, but exper...

Should Christians use preferred pronouns? Is it wise and biblically permissible, or not? While Sean has had this discussion before on the Think Biblically podcast, this episode features a conversation with Preston Sprinkle, and they go even deeper. They also discuss how the LGBTQ conversation has shifted in the church over the past decade. Preston Sprinkle is Biblical scholar, speaker, and the hea...

Maine Continues to Fight over Transgender Athletes A Bill to Recognise First Cousin Marriage Is America Becoming a Theocracy? A Bill in Washington Challenges Religous Liberty ========== 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...

How strong is the evidence for near-death experiences? How has the field of study changed over the past 50 years since doctors, academics, and other experts began studying them? And what do they reveal about the soul or the afterlife? In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Dr. Steve Miller, a near-death experience researcher and author, about these questions and more. They discuss how the study...

Humanoid Robots in the Workforce . AI-powered robots are becoming more common for tasks like stacking and sorting, though their abilities remain limited. Medically Assisted Suicide and Alzheimer's : Quebec now allows terminally ill patients to choose assisted death years in advance, sparking ethical debates. Christianity’s Resilience in America : New research challenges the idea of Christiani...

What are the sociological effects for women from trans ideology? How do we think biblically given our confused cultural moment about sex, gender, and identity? And what does all this mean for those who want to reach and disciple Gen Z? Sean and Scott address these questions and more with Katie McCoy, author of To Be a Woman .  Katie McCoy holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from Southwestern Semina...

In this episode, Scott Rae and guest co-host Dr. Tim Pickavance tackle key cultural issues through a biblical lens: Are Traditional Wedding Vows Disappearing? A discussion on the enduring significance of wedding vows and their role in shaping lasting marriages. Free Speech in the Digital Age – How platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta are handling (or not handling) hate speech, and the tric...

What is the state of Christian efforts to reach out to their Jewish friends and neighbors? What are the biggest barriers Jews have to considering the claims of Christ? And how can Christians lovingly engage their Jewish friends with the gospel? In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Mitch Glaser, from Chosen People Ministries, to discuss these questions and more. Dr. Glaser gives practical, his...

This week, Scott and Sean discuss:  Can AI feel pain? Scientists experiment with AI models simulating pain and pleasure to test for sentience—but are we just anthropomorphizing algorithms? AI relationships on the rise? One in four young adults believe AI could replace real-life romance , raising serious concerns about loneliness and human connection. Should AI make end-of-life decisions? Some expe...

What is the contribution of the neurosciences to our understanding of gender? How does the study of the brain help us understand transgenderism? How, if at all, are male and female brains different? And would it be possible to have a male brain in a female body? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Stephen Willing.  You can view a transcript of Dr. Willing's talk at the E...

This Week, Scott and Sean Discuss: Dating is Dropping among Teenagers AI Generated News Articles have been Published The Super Bowl Removes "End Racism" Slogan A New Zealand Mountain is Granted Personhood Listener Question: If God allows something, does that mean He causes it? Listener Question: How should we think about animal violence? Listener Question: How should we refute the secula...

What is the state of religious freedom in the US? What about those who claim that religious freedom is sometime seen as code for bigotry and discrimination, inconsistent with some trends toward justice? What are the main challenges to religious freedom in the West today? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest and good friend, Baylor University Professor Dr. Frank Beckwith.  Dr. Frank...

Topics of discussion this week: 80th Anniversary of Auschwitz’s Liberation – Reflecting on the horrors of the Holocaust, the importance of remembering history, and the moral lessons Auschwitz teaches us today. School Choice on the Rise – 2025 may be the tipping point for school choice in the U.S., as more states adopt policies that expand educational options for families. The Decline of DEI? – Rep...

What does it mean to have a healthy calling? Why are people who view their work as a calling more vulnerable to burnout? How do you know when your work has given way to idolatry? We’ll discuss these questions and much more with our Biola communications colleague, Dr. Ariana Molloy, around her new book, Healthy Calling: From Toxic Burnout to Sustainable Work . Dr. Arianna Molloy (Ph. D., University...

Scott is joined by Erik Thoennes to discuss:  Religious Elements in Presidential Inaugurations : A discussion on the profound religious traditions embedded in the U.S. presidential inauguration, highlighting the inclusion of clergy, prayers, and hymns, and their connection to America's cultural and historical fabric.  Christian Players in the National Championship : Exploration of faith in sp...