This week: Therapy Culture & Childlessness – Sean and Scott discuss a New York Times article suggesting that the rise in childlessness among Millennials and Gen Z may be linked to therapeutic culture and a fear of repeating parental mistakes. Charismatic Christianity's Growth – A look at why charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity is the fastest-growing Christian movement globally , and what this spiritual hunger reveals about secularism and modern culture. Gene Editing Moratorium – The hos...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 4 min
How should we think biblically about AI? What are some of the exciting prospects for AI in the future? What should make us nervous about some of the uses of AI that are growing rapidly? We'll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Yohan Lee , Associate Dean of Technology here at Biola. Dr. Yohan Lee holds the Promod and Dorcas Haque Endowed Chair of Technology and is Associate Dean of Technology and Professor of Computer Science in the School of Science, Technology and Health at Bi...
Jun 03, 2025•41 min
We got so many great questions from our listeners and we only have time for 2-3 in the Weekly Cultural Update. We have quite a backlog so we're devoting this episode entirely to your insightful questions. We'll cover things like How do we disciple our children? Was there animal violence before the Fall? What if education reform leaves behind kids that deserve better? What about Israel’s right to the land? We hope you enjoy this episode and that you keep your questions coming! ========== Think Bi...
May 30, 2025•47 min
What parts of the world are the most challenging for believers today? How has the relative comfort of American Christianity impacted spiritual growth, compared to communities experiencing persecution? What habits could American Christian adopt to more regularly remember and support our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world? We'll answer these questions and more with our guest, Brian Orme, CEO of Global Christian Relief . Brian Orme is CEO of Global Christian Relief, a non-profit organ...
May 27, 2025•30 min
New federal law targets the removal of deepfakes and non-consensual intimate imagery online. Colorado law sparks controversy over parental rights and biblical views on sex and gender. Georgia hospital keeps a brain-dead woman on life support due to state laws. The world's first gene-editing treatment used to heal a one-week-old baby. ========== Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University , which offers degrees both online a...
May 23, 2025•1 hr
Why would a pastor write a theological book on exercise? Would Jesus exercise if he were here bodily today? What does the Bible say about exercise and physical activity? And are Christians sinning if they don't exercise? These are a few of the questions Sean and Scott explore with pastor David Mathis, author of the new book A Little Theology of Exercise . David is senior teacher and executive editor of desiringGod.org, pastor at Cities Church (Saint Paul), and adjunct professor for Bethlehem Col...
May 20, 2025•35 min
This week: Are Young Men Lost or Returning to Faith? A deep dive into seemingly contradictory studies on young men: while many are falling behind in education and mental health, others are returning to church and discovering faith through the Bible, not institutional religion. The Role of Fathers and Masculinity Sean and Scott discuss how the absence of fathers, misapplied cultural expectations, and lack of male mentorship contribute to young men's struggles today. Exposing Pornhub’s Dark Secret...
May 16, 2025•1 hr
Is empathy being weaponized by Progressives to manipulate Christians into adopting certain ethical and political views? Is empathy a virtue, or merely an emotion that is sometimes a valuable and important means of loving people? There have been a myriad of Christians books and podcasts on this topic, and so Sean has invited Biola communications professor Tim Muehlhoff to discuss and debate these issues and more. Enjoy! Tim Muehlhoff received his Ph.D. in Communication Studies at the University o...
May 13, 2025•59 min
This Week's Topics: A New Pope has been chosen by the Catholic Church The Supreme Court hears a case about government funding for a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma a new successful argument against transgenderism that Christians need to be aware of A wild conversation about race on the Piers Morgan Show offers important lessons for Christians today This Week's Questions: How to hold Empathy and Biblical Teaching when talking with LGBTQ Neighbors Sunday Mornings and Youth Sports ========== Th...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Why does God allow disabilities? What is the point of someone's disability? What is disability theology, and what are the implications of this for the church? In what sense will disabilities be healed when we meet the Lord? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr Chris Ralston. Guest Bio: D. Christopher Ralston (PhD Rice University) served on staff at Joni and Friends International Disability Center from 2013 to 2020 and is also a fellow of The Center for Bioethics & Human D...
May 06, 2025•36 min
This week's topics: Abortion Pill Study : A massive study reveals serious health risks linked to the abortion pill mifepristone, with adverse events 22 times higher than FDA estimates—raising ethical and philosophical concerns about privacy, safety, and the personhood of the unborn. Fathers Post-COVID : New research shows American dads are spending more time with their young kids, a trend celebrated for its relational and societal impact—challenging cultural narratives that downplay the importan...
May 02, 2025•59 min
What does the Bible say, if anything, about living together before marriage? Given that 70% of Americans now cohabit before marriage, and roughly 2/3 believe it will improve the odds of relationship success, what does the data show about how effective it is? While this is a huge topic in the church and culture today, surprisingly, few people are discussing it. In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss a recent study on cohabitation from the Institute for Family Studies. Download the study: https:/...
Apr 29, 2025•38 min
Topics this week: Controversy after Christianity Today published an article questioning whether Jesus was crucified with nails. The Supreme Court is debating whether parents can opt their kids out of LGBTQ-themed books in elementary schools. The New York Times and USA Today published articles discussing the return to church, particularly among young men, and the increased interest in the supernatural in today's culture. Listener question on the ethical and theological implications of the rise of...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr
How many Americans are engaging the Bible today? And in what ways? How does Bible reading affect giving to charity, life flourishing, and experience with loneliness? Sean and Scott discuss these questions, and more, by analyzing the latest report from the American Bible Society . While some of the findings are expected, quite a few are eye-opening and unexpected. Read and download the report here . ========== Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of...
Apr 22, 2025•44 min
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 the new heavens and new earth? ========== Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from T...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr
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 embrace the supernatural realm? Charlie Trimm received his Ph.D. from Wheaton College in 2012, writing his...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 8 min
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 wolf . Is this a cool breakthrough or a recipe for disaster? We debate the ethics of de-extinction. Are embryos property? ...
Apr 12, 2025•1 hr
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 at Biola University , which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find al...
Apr 08, 2025•49 min
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 Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola Universi...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 3 min
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 Biologic Institute, the founding Editor of BIO-Complexity, and the author of Undeniable: How Biology ...
Apr 01, 2025•43 min
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 identity. Christianity’s Resurgence in Silicon Valley? : A Vanity Fair article highlights growing interest in C...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr
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 Woodside Bible Church in metro Detroit and host of the radio program, Equipped with Chris Brooks. Chris Brook...
Mar 25, 2025•50 min
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, weakened human connections, and the need for a biblical approach to sexual purity. Need for Digital ...
Mar 21, 2025•59 min
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 author of multiple books including People to be Loved and Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage ...
Mar 18, 2025•59 min
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 experts predict continued secularization due to generational shifts. The Nature vs. Nurture Debate Evolves...
Mar 14, 2025•56 min
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 head of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender. He is the best-selling author of multiple books in...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 7 min
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 Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically . To submit comments, ask questions, or mak...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr
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 of near-death experiences, and deathbed experiences, has shifted over the past 5 decades. Steve is ...
Mar 04, 2025•33 min
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 Christianity’s decline, showing signs of resilience and growth. Planned Parenthood Allegations : Reports reveal bot...
Feb 28, 2025•59 min
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 Seminary (TX), where she served on faculty for five years. Katie's research includes the patterns of justic...
Feb 25, 2025•37 min
