Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

The most fundamental question that our polarized culture faces is this — Who should be included in the human community? And on what basis? Should embryos, fetuses, the severely demented or the persons in a vegetative state? What does our view of a person suggest about how we care for people at the end of life? Taking Persons Seriously connects philosophy and bioethics—it’s a bit more technical dis...

Topics this week:  Growing concerns about the rising potency and health risks of marijuana use , with increasing reports of psychosis and addiction. China reverses its one-child policy, now promoting larger families in a dramatic policy shift to combat declining birth rates. AI technology is advancing with automatically-generated podcasts , raising ethical questions about its impact on emotions, i...

Why should Christians care about the conflict between Israel and Palestine? Why is there such a gap between Gen Z and other generations on viewing the conflict? Is Israel committing a just war, or is it genocide? In this episode, Sean and Scott address these questions, and more, with Dr. Jeff Myers, author of the new book Should Christians Support Israel?   Jeff Myers, Ph. D. is the president of S...

This week, Scott and special guest Erik Thoennes discuss:  Hillsdale College wins an important Title IX court decision on religious freedom. A new gender divide emerges in Gen Z: men seeking traditional roles, women pushing for progress. Elite college students struggle to read an entire book , raising concerns about deep reading skills. Discussion on how loving God with your mind relates to readin...

Why is it often difficult to find pleasure and joy in God? If the chief end of man is to know and enjoy God, why do so many of us fall short? In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Biola professor Thaddeus Williams about these questions and his new book Revering God . Dr. Williams argues that a deep-dive into the theological understanding of the reverence of God can transform our relationship w...

This week:  Are conservative Christians losing political influence in America? The growing trend of children struggling to make friends raises alarming health concerns. Gen Z women are increasingly unaffiliated with religion —what's behind this shift? A Missouri man’s execution sparks questions about the fairness of the death penalty. Is working from home a moral issue, as Elon Musk claims? L...

Are there non-Christians who are genuinely open to hearing about the Christian faith? According to Mark Matlock, author of Faith for the Curious , there is a large segment of people who are genuinely spiritually curious. But, the key is to understand them accurately and to engage them in the right way. In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Mark about how to understand and engage those today wh...

This week's topics:  The Taliban imposes new, harsh restrictions on women in Afghanistan, raising concerns about women's rights and human dignity. Some Christians in Oklahoma and other states push back against mandatory Bible teaching in public schools, questioning its place in public education. Gen Z expresses significant regret over the invention of social media, with many users experi...

How should we approach the political arena as Christians? What exactly does the Bible give us when it comes to politics? How can we make sure that our conversations about politics are civil and respectful? Sean and Scott will answer these questions and more as they discuss the connection between Christian faith and politics. It's National Voter Registration Day! Visit vote.gov to register to...

This week Scott & Sean discuss:  Are political opponents really our enemies? We dive into a Wall Street Journal op-ed challenging partisanship and urging love across political lines. The ethics of emerging reproductive technologies like in-vitro gametogenesis (IVG) and the potential societal impacts. A New York Times article about humanity’s readiness for a world beyond IVF , asking if we&apos...

What people and events led Paul Newby to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina? What historical evidence originally led him to become a Christian, and how does he uniquely practice his faith as a Chief Justice? And what advice would he give to young Christians who want to serve God through the law? We had the unique opportunity to talk with Chief Paul Newby to hear him ad...

This week, Scott & Sean discuss: The funding disparity between baby boomers and younger generations in America. The ethical and moral concerns surrounding physician-assisted suicide and its rise in Canada . The emerging societal trend of " sologamy ," or self-marriage, and its reflection of extreme individualism. The dangers posed by AI, including bots mimicking human intimacy and in...

What does it mean to submit your finances to the Lordship of Christ? What does that involve on a daily basis? What does it mean to baptize your money and treat tracking your spending as a spiritual discipline? How does your upbringing influence your attitudes toward money? We’ll answer these questions and more with our Crowell School of Business colleague, Shane Enete around his new book, Whole He...

This week, Sean & Scott discuss: The U.S. Surgeon General addresses the overwhelming stress faced by parents and the need for community and governmental support. The debate over whether Christian persecution exists in the U.S. , comparing American religious freedoms with global persecution. A discussion on selective moral outrage , highlighting underreported global injustices. Examination of r...

What can we learn from the history of euthanasia? What was the view of suicide and euthanasia in the ancient world of the Bible? How did the early church introduce a new ethic of life into that context? How did the modern euthanasia movement begin and what was the rationale for permitting it? How did the Nazi experience of euthanasia affect the movement? How has it regained traction today? We’ll a...

This week, Scott & Sean discuss: Western civilization's need for Christianity The rising celebration of abortion as a social good reflects a dangerous shift in societal values Concerns grow over designer babies and the ethical implications of gene editing Listener question: Mixed-faith marriages Listener question: Navigating difficult family situations ========== Think Biblically: Convers...

Humanity is perhaps the most pressing doctrinal issue today. Katie McCoy, co-author of the new book Humanity , believes that a proper understanding of humanity has massive implications for science, sexuality, race, economics and more. She and Sean discuss why God originally made us male and female, if the Bible teaches corporate responsibility for sins our ancestors committed, the state of the deb...

This week, Sean and Scott discuss: Olympians Who Share Their Faith  The Vatican Loosens Their Stance on Care for Patients in a Vegetative State Britain's Labor Party Changes Their Stance on Trans Rights, Ending the Country's Gender War Choices of a Pastor Puts a Man on Death Row Listener Question: How Do We Prepare Our Children for Emotional Stress Listener Question: Are Humans Mostly Go...

How is AI transforming human sexuality? How will AI change the way people create and consume pornography? And is the church ready? We talk with businessman, AI specialist, and podcaster Christopher Lind about these questions and more. Prepare yourself, because some radical changes are coming in how our culture approaches questions of sexuality. Christopher Lind is a Tech Analyst and Industry Advis...

This week, Sean and Scott discuss: Birth rate decline: Is it a conservative or a progressive issue? Resurgence of syphilis in the U.S. Harassment of pregnancy resource centers by the New Jersey Attorney General Nature of biblical inspiration and the imputation of Christ's righteousness How to respond biblically to real-world situations, like interacting with transgender individuals at communi...

Usually we ask the question of how we got our Bible, but we rarely consider the question of why we got the Bible? Why did the various Biblical authors commit their contributions to writing and preservation? We’ll answer these questions and more and will look at a controversial new book, Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and Its Origins , by Professor Jacob Wright, of Candler...

We're back with our Friday Weekly Cultural Updates. This week, Scott and guest co-host Rick Langer discuss a series of recent New York Times opinion pieces , including:  Faith vs. Conduct : Will the American church's destiny be defined by beliefs or actions. Sexual Orientation : Challenging the "born this way" narrative. AI Optimism : David Brooks argues that AI is an ally, not...

What was it like for a teenage girl to escape from North Korea and make it to the US? How did she adjust to life in the US as compared to North Korea? How was her criticism of China received in the US? How did her experience at an elite Ivy League university remind her of life in North Korea? We’ll answer these questions and more as we discuss the new book from Yeonmi Park, While Time Remains . ==...

Should Christians use preferred pronouns? What is at stake in this question? How can Christians navigate relationships when people want them to use preferred pronouns? In this longer-than-usual podcast, Sean and Biola communications professor Tim Muehlhoff discuss these questions and more. In co-writing their book End the Stalemate , Sean and Tim realized they have much in common, but also some pr...

Why are healthy marriages so vital for a flourishing society? What factor best predicts a high-quality marriage? What are some of the most common myths people believe about marriage today and how can Christians make a difference to encourage a marriage-friendly culture? These are just a few of the questions Sean discusses with sociologist Brad Wilcox regarding his new book Get Married . Dr. Wilcox...