Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Our host Scott Rae recently donated a kidney to his brother, Mark. It was a long, arduous journey in which God was clearly present along the way. How did it affect each of them spiritually? How did it affect their relationships with family? And how can we think biblically about a life-saving medical procedure such as this? Sean interviews both Scott and Mark to hear about their emotional journey.

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Think Biblically...

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

• Tennessee Legislation on Armed Teachers: The controversial decision by Tennessee lawmakers allowing teachers to carry concealed handguns in schools, prompted by a tragic school shooting. 
• Generational Views on Israel: A  poll suggests that nearly half of Gen Z views Israel's actions against Hamas as unjust due to its power, painting it as the oppressor. 
• Innovations in Gene Editing: The inte...

What is polyamory and why is it bursting on the scene right now? Is there such a thing as Christian polyamory? Will polyamorous relationships work? While relying on Scripture and social science research, Sean and Scott discuss these questions and more. You can also find this discussion on video through the Biola YouTube channel.

Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/polyamo...

This week:

• Exploring Shifts in Religious Identification: Dive into the latest trends in religious affiliations in America. Discover why the religiously unaffiliated are the fastest growing group and how different faith groups are retaining their followers.
• The Power of AI in Persuasion: Uncover the surprising findings of a new study comparing the persuasiveness of AI to human argumentation. Learn how AI is shaping the way we thin...

Who is the Holy Spirit? How does the Holy Spirit work in our lives? What are some common misconceptions about the Holy Spirit and what are some vital truths to know to live in the power of the Spirit? Sean and Scott speak with fellow Biola professor Fred Sanders about these questions and his new book The Holy Spirit: An Introduction.

Fred Sanders (PhD, Graduate Theological Union) is a professor of theology at the Torrey Ho...

Today, Scott and Sean discuss:

• Solar Eclipses and Intelligent Design: Discussion on how solar eclipses demonstrate intelligent design, including the precise conditions necessary for a habitable planet and the unique positioning that allows for the observation of solar eclipses.
• Racial Bias in Hiring: Insights from a study where researchers sent 80,000 fake resumes to gauge racial bias among large U.S. companies. The study found a...

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 Ganssle (Ph.D. Syracuse Univer...

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 agendas.
• Social Costs of De-Churching in A...

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 Langer represents the Winsome Convict...

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, emphasizing the health ...

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 University College Program. Ing...

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-sovereignty. 
• Artificial Intelligence and ...

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 that helps pastors and churches addres...

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 rights of children to be safe from drugs

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 helping students and other...

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: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/thi...

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-of-humanism.

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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 narratives around transgender care.
• Gen...

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 For Good, a nonprofit advocat...