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 both onli...
Oct 29, 2024•31 min
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 fr...
Oct 25, 2024•44 min
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 from Talbot ...
Oct 22, 2024•36 min
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 with se...
Oct 18, 2024•59 min
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 along...
Oct 15, 2024•34 min
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 churc...
Oct 11, 2024•1 hr
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 truth and c...
Oct 08, 2024•38 min
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 futur...
Oct 04, 2024•50 min
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 Universite...
Oct 01, 2024•36 min
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. ...
Sep 27, 2024•1 hr 1 min
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 inno...
Sep 24, 2024•33 min
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 disturbing fin...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 3 min
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 a ...
Sep 17, 2024•41 min
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 cy...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 1 min
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 Ne...
Sep 10, 2024•38 min
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 libe...
Sep 06, 2024•1 hr 4 min
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, ...
Sep 03, 2024•38 min
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 recent immigration policies and their implications for families and merit-based systems. Listener que...
Aug 30, 2024•1 hr 2 min
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 answer these questions and more with our good friend and eminent historian, Dr. Richard Weikart, arou...
Aug 27, 2024•38 min
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: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University , which offer...
Aug 23, 2024•1 hr 4 min
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 debate over evolution, and much more. Katie McCoy serves as director of Women’s Ministry at Texas Bapti...
Aug 20, 2024•37 min
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 Good? Listener Question: How Should School Chaplains Approach Kid's Pronouns? ========== Think Biblically: Conver...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr
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 Advisor. He is the Chief Learning Officer at ChenMed. He Hosts the Future-Focused podcast . Christopher i...
Aug 13, 2024•36 min
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 community events Balancing conservative perspectives with biblical principles ========== Think Biblically: Conve...
Aug 09, 2024•59 min
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 School of Theology at Emory University — we’ll discuss with this with our former colleague and good...
Aug 06, 2024•33 min
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 a rival, and highlights its potential to complement human capabilities. Market Fallibility : How the market doesn't alwa...
Aug 02, 2024•1 hr
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 . ========== Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of The...
Jul 31, 2024•38 min
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 practical and biblical differences about how and when to use (and not use) preferred pronouns. They ai...
Jul 23, 2024•58 min
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 brings his years of studying marriage to respond to some of the biggest myths about marriage, but a...
Jul 16, 2024•34 min
This week, we have an excerpt of a recent event that Sean participated in with atheist journalist Adam Davidson. The two dialogued about their perspectives on issues like cancel culture, perceptions of evangelicals, and the importance of civil discourse. Highlighting areas of both agreement and disagreement, this episode demonstrates the value of thoughtful dialogue between differing worldviews. This discussion was moderated by Sean's " End the Stalemate " co-author, Tim Muehlhoff. ========== Th...
Jul 09, 2024•47 min
