Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

To kick off 2026, Sean and Scott discuss:The Top 5 Religious Trends to Watch in 2026A federal judge's ruling about teachers' rights to inform parents about a child's gender identity.Arguments for allowing organ donation prior to deathA New York Times feature on near-death experiencesListener followup on our recent episode about alcohol==========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 [email protected].

What is alternative medicine? What does the Bible have to say about it? What is the connection between one’s faith and one’s health? We'll answer these questions and more with our guest, Ohio State University Professor Dr. Donal O'Mathuna, around his book, Alternative Medicine: The Christian Handbook. Dr. Donal O'Mathuna, a native of Ireland, is Professor in the College of Nursing at Ohio State University. He is the author or co-author of nine books, and has served on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Ethics Research Review Committed and has contributed to several ethics initiatives for WHO. ==========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 [email protected].

What does the Bible say about the use of alcohol? How is alcohol both God’s gift and a curse at the same time? What does the use of wine in the Eucharist say about acceptability for other uses? We’ll address these questions and more with our guest Dr. John Anthony Dunne around his book The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine. Dr. John Anthony Dunne is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary. He's a Talbot grad, twice over, and his research interests lie primarily in the New Testament, the life and letters of Paul (esp. Galatians), Christian origins, and second temple Judaism. ==========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 [email protected].

America has a religious landscape unlike any other country on earth. But it is rapidly changing. In this episode, we interview Ryan Burge, a leading demographer on religious trends in America. We discuss the present state and future of evangelicalism. And we explore the growth and status of other religious groups such as Jews, Muslims, Latter-day Saints, Black Protestants, Secularism, and more. Finally, we ask Dr. Burge for his insights on how Evangelicals can best pass on their faith to the next generation. Ryan's latest book is The American Religious Landscape: Facts, Trends, and the Future.==========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 [email protected].

Stories this week:A woman in Japan “marries” an AI chatbot, raising serious questions about the nature of marriage, human relationships, and how emerging technologies blur the line between real and artificial intimacy. An Atlantic article suggests physics may be reaching the limits of reductionism, as living systems exhibit emergence, self-organization, and information that can’t be explained by particles alone. A New York Times piece sparks discussion on when military personnel are morally obligated to disobey unlawful orders, drawing on just war theory and biblical principles of higher law. Ross Douthat’s analysis of the rightward shift among young men argues that perceived institutional discrimination and lost opportunities are fueling resentment and radicalization. Listener question: Should churches use AI generated worship music?Listener question:  Should woman receiving abortions be charged as criminal "masterminds"?Note: Our Weekly Cultural Update episodes will be on hiatus during Christmas & New Years. We'll return in 2026!==========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 [email protected].