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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Talbot School of Theology at Biola University / Sean McDowell & Scott Rae
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture
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621 episodes

  • Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

    Weekly Cultural Update: Is Scripture Outdated? The Rise of Polyamory; Worldview and AI Safety: UK's Assisted Dying

    2026-09-25 | 1h 1 mins.
    Are Biblical Truths Becoming Outdated? Sean and Scott analyze recent Lifeway research revealing that a growing number of younger churchgoers view certain biblical teachings as outdated, highlighting the need to help the next generation understand how Scripture promotes human flourishing.
    The Rise of Polyamory: An article in The Christian Century addresses the rise of consensual non-monogamy, spurring analysis of how alternative relationship structures affect personal fulfillment, emotional stability, and the social frameworks supporting mutual care.
    AI Safety and China's Worldview: While Western nations debate whether AI poses systemic risks to society, China approaches AI safety around protecting Communist Party control and embedding state ideology into algorithms. 
    Defeating the UK's Assisted Dying Bill: The discussion turns to how Christian advocacy helped defeat proposed assisted dying legislation in the UK, standing up for the vulnerable and affirming the value of human life.
    Audience Question: Flock License Plate Cameras: Sean and Scott evaluate the ethics of widespread Flock surveillance cameras, balancing the benefits of crime prevention against concerns regarding personal privacy and government overreach.
    Audience Question: Can we choose evil in heaven? Responding to an audience question, the hosts clarify how free will is maintained in heaven, yet sin would still not be present.
    ==========

    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 make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
  • Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

    The Centrality of Gratitude to our Spiritual Lives (With Kent Dunnington)

    2026-09-22 | 35 mins.
    Is gratitude to God the heart of our spiritual formation? What do we make of the notion of a debt of gratitude? How was grace and gratitude viewed in the world of the New Testament? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, our Biola colleague in philosophy, Dr. Kent Dunnington, around his new book, Gratitude to God: The Heart of spiritual Formation.
    Kent Dunnington is Professor of Philosophy at Biola University. He teaches and writes in the areas of virtue ethics, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of addiction. He is the author or editor of four books and numerous journal articles.
    ==========

    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 make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
  • Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

    Cultural Update: Free speech on college campuses; Does AI make kids worse at thinking?

    2026-09-18 | 1h 2 mins.
    Is free speech disappearing on college campuses? A new report gives nearly half of surveyed colleges an “F” for free speech, raising bigger questions about intellectual diversity, disagreement, and why Christians should value persuasion over coercion.
    Could AI make kids worse at thinking? Early research suggests generative AI may help students get answers faster while short-circuiting the difficult mental work needed to actually develop critical-thinking skills.
    A two-year-old was euthanized in the Netherlands. How did we get here? Sean and Scott examine this tragic case and the crucial ethical distinction between relieving suffering, allowing natural death, and intentionally causing death.
    Are “designer babies” becoming more acceptable? A surprising study finds prospective parents may care as much about avoiding traits like low intelligence or antisocial behavior as they do about certain medical risks when choosing embryos.
    Listener Question: Could legalizing something harmful actually reduce the harm? A listener pushes Scott on whether his harm-reduction argument applies not only to pornography but also to dangerous drugs such as fentanyl.
    Listener Question: Can trauma-informed ministry go too far? The hosts explore how churches can take trauma seriously without allowing it to become someone’s defining identity—and how truth, compassion, healing, and personal agency can fit together.
    Listener Question: Are we reading modern psychology back into the Apostle Paul? Responding to their recent conversation with Scot McKnight, Sean and Scott ask how confidently we can apply concepts like trauma, emotional regulation, and PTSD to a biblical figure living 2,000 years ago.
    ==========

    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 make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
  • Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

    10 Prophecies for Jesus? (with Jeff Morgan)

    2026-09-15 | 1h 24 mins.
    What are the best Old Testament prophecies pointing to Jesus? In this episode, Sean talks with Jeff Morgan, who came to Christ out of a secular Jewish home, about his top ten prophecies that point to Jesus. We discuss how pointers to Jesus from a range of books in the Old Testament and how they are uniquely fulfilled in the person of Jesus.
    Jeff Morgan is a Jewish believer in Yeshua, living in Israel, known for his bold and compassionate evangelism. Formerly with Jews for Jesus, Jeff is the founder of Highway 53 Ministries, a popular YouTube channel and outreach ministry.
    ==========

    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 make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
  • Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

    Weekly Cultural Update: 25th Anniversary of 9/11; Ukraine Legalizing Porn; Weaponizing Abortion Pills; The Insanity Defense

    2026-09-11 | 57 mins.
    25th Anniversary of 9/11: Sean and Scott discuss Douglas Murray’s Free Press article marking 25 years since the September 11 attacks and examining the dangerous rise of 9/11 conspiracy theories. They highlight how fading historical memory among younger generations fuels postmodern skepticism, emphasizing the importance of preserving truth and naming evil. 
    Ukraine Legalizing Pornography to Fund War: The hosts analyze reports that Ukraine is considering legalizing and taxing online adult content, such as OnlyFans, to help finance its defense against Russia. They evaluate the moral versus legal dimensions of sex work, raising critical concerns regarding systemic exploitation, corruption, and wartime desperation. 
    Abortion Pills Weaponized by Abusers: Sean and Scott examine a Free Press report detailing how abusive men covertly administer mail-order abortion pills to pregnant women. They discuss how deregulated telehealth policies and state shield laws have led to dangerous unintended consequences for women's safety. 
    Lindsey Clancy Mistrial: The hosts address The New York Times coverage of a mistrial declared in the high-profile Lindsey Clancy triple murder case. They outline the complex legal and social conversations surrounding postpartum mental health crises and courtroom proceedings.  
    Audience Question: Thinking Biblically About the Insanity Defense: Building on the Lindsey Clancy discussion, Sean and Scott answer a listener question about how Christians should evaluate the legal plea of insanity. They reflect on how to biblical worldview principles balance personal moral accountability, justice for victims, and genuine mental incapacitation. 
    Audience Question: Antisemitism and Jewish Uniqueness: In reflection on a past discussion Sean had with Shabbos Kestenbaum, the hosts respond to an audience query asking whether God uses historic and modern antisemitism as a divine tool to keep the Jewish people distinct. They break down covenant theology, distinguish God's sovereign providence from human sin, and affirm the clear moral imperative against anti-Jewish hatred.

    ==========

    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 make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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About Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture
A weekly podcast that offers Christian perspectives on some of the most significant issues facing today's church and culture. In each episode, hosts Scott Rae and Sean McDowell — professors at Biola University's Talbot School of Theology — draw upon biblical wisdom and insights from guest experts as they explore how Christians can thoughtfully and faithfully engage with cultural trends and current events.
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