Episodes
This week, live from the Evangelical Theological Society Conference in San Diego, Scott & Sean discuss: West Virginia amends its constitution to ban physician-assisted suicide, sparking a larger discussion on bioethics and cultural trends.Harvard's controversial "Sex Week" and a student's bold critique highlight the cultural longing for deeper meaning in human relationships.The Texas Board of Education backs an elementary school curriculum incorporating biblical content, raising ques...
Published 11/22/24
Is it really true that no area of culture, politics or economics where we prioritize what is best for children? What are some of the biggest cultural lies about masculinity and femininity that impact children? What are some of the main cultural misconceptions about the family that harm children? And how does green energy subsidization negatively impact children? We’ll answer these questions and much more with our guest Katy Faust, founder of the children’s advocacy group, Them Before Us, arou...
Published 11/19/24
Topics this week: Scott & Sean dive into genetic discrimination, exploring gaps in U.S. laws that leave people vulnerable to genetic privacy violations by insurers. Australia plans to ban social media for minors under 16, sparking debate on mental health vs. freedom and enforcement challenges. Justin Welby resigns as Archbishop of Canterbury amid allegations he mishandled abuse reports, raising questions of accountability in church leadership. Listener questions on vas...
Published 11/15/24
How should we think biblically about morality in today’s culture? What do we way to the skeptic who insists that morality is nothing more than a matter of one’s opinion? What is the moral argument for God’s existence? Why is God critical for a coherent view of morality? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, our colleague Dr Dave Horner around his new book with JP Moreland, (don’t let the title throw you) Metaethics—or how to think about morality and ethics. Dr. Dave Horne...
Published 11/12/24
Topics this week include: Reflecting on living with one another post-election, focusing on maintaining relationships amidst political differences.Discussion of a recent article exploring the challenges and necessity of unity within the church despite diverse political beliefs.Insights on balancing truth and grace in conversations, especially when discussing sensitive issues like abortion or differing political opinions.Analysis of a controversial U.S. startup offering embryo IQ screening...
Published 11/08/24
What do we mean by the phrase, sola Scriptura? What does it mean that the Bible is our authority for life today? How does that fit in a culture that emphasizes “my truth?” We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Dr, Ben Witherington around his new book Sola Scriptura: Scripture’s Final Authority in the Modern World. Bible scholar Ben Witherington is Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrew...
Published 11/05/24
This week, Sean and Scott discuss: A murdered teenager was resurrected as a chatbot, raising ethical and theological concerns about AI misuse.A Harvard study suggests that race matters less than it used to for achieving the American dream, with economic mobility improving for Black Americans.Young men in America are falling behind in education, employment, and mental health, facing a crisis of purpose and increasing isolation.Listener question: ethical dilemmas around IVF, including the ...
Published 11/01/24
This week Sean and Scott continue the conversation about the morality of IVF. Don't forget to listen to Part 1, last week, when they defined and explained the nature of IVF and began the conversation about the moral permissibility of practicing it. This week, we uncover further differences and clarify the moral issues beneath the debate. ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees bot...
Published 10/29/24
This week's topics: A tragic story about a 14-year-old's suicide raises questions about the role of AI in human relationships.Exploring the possibility of a religious comeback: Are we seeing signs of renewed interest in faith?Political word games and the language used by both sides to shape public perception.Listener questions on bridging ideological divides with family and engaging with differing religious views.==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast...
Published 10/25/24
Is IVF ever morally permissible for Christians? And if so, what conditions must be met? Is it ever morally justified to freeze embryos? These are just a few of the questions Sean and Scott discuss in this first part of a two-part discussion on the morality of IVF. If you are looking for a substantive discussion about the case for and against IVF, you will enjoy this first part. Join us next week for part 2. ==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast ...
Published 10/22/24
This week, Scott & Sean discuss: Italy criminalizes surrogacy abroad for its citizens, sparking controversy on LGBTQ rights and ethical surrogacy practices.The University of Michigan invests $250 million in DEI initiatives, but faces increased discord and skepticism over their effectiveness.A new prenuptial agreement feature introduces embryo clauses, addressing legal issues in the event of divorce or death.The Catholic Archdiocese of LA agrees to a record $880 million settlement wit...
Published 10/18/24
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 discussion so hang in there with us and the dots will connect and the light will come on as we go al...
Published 10/15/24
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, information accuracy, and human interaction.Listener questions on the challenges of politics in ch...
Published 10/11/24
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 Summit Ministries, which has trained hundreds of thousands of young leaders to embrace God's tru...
Published 10/08/24
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 reading Scripture deeply.Listener questions addressed on topics like censorship in education and the fu...
Published 10/04/24
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 with God and allow us to live in awe-inspired devotion. Thaddeus J. Williams (Ph.D., Vrije Uni...
Published 10/01/24
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?Listener questions on the return of Christ and how to approach political news from a biblical perspective...
Published 09/27/24
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 who are spiritually open and curious.Mark Matlock is Senior Fellow at Barna and a facilitator of inn...
Published 09/24/24
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 experiencing negative impacts on mental health and social well-being.DNA and ancestry testing uncover disturbin...
Published 09/20/24
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 vote or check your registration status. You can also find information on how and where you can vote as ...
Published 09/17/24
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're prepared for designer babies.How should we relate to "diverse intelligence" like AI, robots, and ...
Published 09/13/24
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 address these questions, and more, as well as talk about his personal journey to faith.Paul Martin ...
Published 09/10/24
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 influencing democratic processes.Thought-provoking listener questions on forgiveness, Christian beliefs in liberal e...
Published 09/06/24
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 Heart Finances.Dr. Shane Enete is Associate Professor of Finance at the Crowell School of Business,...
Published 09/03/24