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.
Episodes
451 episodes
When Your Calling Leads to Burnout (with Arianna Molloy)
What does it mean to have a healthy calling? Why are people who view their work as a calling more vulnerable to burnout? How do you know when your work has given way to idolatry? We’ll discuss these questions and much more with our Biola commun...
•
34:39
Cultural Update: Religion at the Inauguration; Liberal Atheist Grappling with the Sanctity of Life
Scott is joined by Erik Thoennes to discuss: Religious Elements in Presidential Inaugurations: A discussion on the profound
•
58:45
Christians in the TV & Film Industry (with Tom Halleen)
How can Christians think biblically about TV and movies? What kinds of entertainment should Christians consume? And can Christians survive and thrive in Hollywood today? These are the kinds of questions Sean and Scott ask their special guest, B...
•
59:11
Cultural Update: Making sense of the fires; Anti-Semitic views on the rise; Pharmacists prescribing abortion pills
This week, Scott & Sean discuss: Biblical Perspective on Southern California FiresExploring the theological implications of natural disasters, addressing questions about God's sovereignty and goodness amidst trag...
•
1:00:05
Engaging Jesus with Our Senses? (with Jeannine Hanger)
What does it mean to engage Jesus with our senses? What is an embodied approach to studying the life of Jesus as opposed to the way we normally read the gospel accounts? How could this change the way we encounter Jesus in the gospels? We’ll dis...
•
30:56
Cultural Update: Atheist Says Christianity Is Key to Saving America; Right to Die for Mental Decline; AI Choosing Embryos
For the first week of the new year, Sean & Scott discuss:Update on the wildfires in Southern California.Atheist author
•
56:32
Have We Lost Our Minds? (with Stan Wallace)
What does it mean to say that we are body and soul both? Have the neurosciences done away with the soul? Are we little more than our physical stuff that is reducible to chemistry and physics? We’ll answer these questions and much more in our co...
•
33:47
Focusing on the Family Today (with Jim Daly)
What new challenges have emerged to the family in the past few years? How is the family doing today versus in the past? What biblical principles must Christians keep in mind when thinking about the family today? These are a few of the questions...
•
30:57
We Who Wrestle with God: Book Review
Jordan Peterson is one of the leading intellectuals of our day. He is a mega-selling author, psychologist, and popular influencer. In this discussion, Sean and Scott review his latest book
•
56:57
Cultural Update: Ethics of psychedelic treatments; Child labor powering batteries
Topics this week: Veterans are increasingly exploring psychedelic treatments in Mexico for trauma and brain injuries, raising medical, ethical, and spiritual questions.Syrian Christians face uncertainty and displacemen...
•
58:55
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Discipleship (with Brant Himes)
Who was the "real" Bonhoeffer and why has he left such an enduring legacy? What can we learn from his life today? And is the new film about his life, Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin, accurate? In this interview, we talk with Dr. Brant Himes, ...
•
38:47
Cultural Update: AI video generator; designer babies are now teens; UK bans puberty blockers for children
This week, Sean & Scott discuss: UK bans puberty blockers for children, citing insufficient evidence of safety and efficacy, sparking international comparisons and debate.OpenAI's new AI video generator, ...
•
57:47
Eye-Opening New Study on Porn
The Barna Group has released a new alarming study about the extent and impact of pornography in the culture and the church. Some of the findings are truly eye-opening and ...
•
35:59
Cultural Update: IVF Mix-Up; Assisted Suicide Legislation; Faith Amid Chaos; Hunter's Pardon
This week, Scott and Erik Thoennes discuss: IVF Mix-Up Drama: A heartbreaking in vitro fertilization mix-up forces two families to navigate ...
•
59:04
Best-selling Evangelistic Book Update
What makes Jesus so different than other religious leaders? How can you prove Christianity is true? How should we evaluate the claim that “Jesus changed my life.” We’ll answer these questions and much more as Sean and I discuss the revision tha...
•
48:42
Thanksgiving and Gratitude (with Stacy Eltiti)
With the Thanksgiving season upon us, we thought it fitting to do some theological and psychological reflection on gratitude. Join us for this stimulating conversation with Rosemead Professor Dr. Stacy Eltiti, as we explore dimensions of gratit...
•
27:21
Cultural Update: Constitutional bans on physician-assisted suicide; Teaching the Bible in public schools
This week, live from the Evangelical Theological Society Conference in San Diego, Scott & Sean discuss: West Virginia amends ...
•
50:53
Pro-Child Policies (with Katy Faust)
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...
•
34:58
Cultural Update: Genetic discrimination; Banning social media for minors; Listener questions
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 mino...
•
50:47
How to Think Biblically about Morality and Ethics (with Dave Horner)
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 ...
•
37:20
Cultural Update: Living together post-election; balancing grace & truth in conversations
Topics this week include: Reflecting on living with one another post-election, focusing on maintaining relati...
•
56:50
Sola Scriptura (with Ben Witherington)
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 Withering...
•
33:38
Cultural Update: Resurrected as a chatbot; Young men falling behind; IVF followup
This week, Sean and Scott discuss: A murdered teenager was resurrected as a chatbot, raising ethical and theological concerns about AI misuse.A Ha...
•
55:39
Is IVF Morally Permissible: A Dialogue, Part 2
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...
•
31:18
Cultural Update: Can AI be blamed for suicide?; Religious comeback?; Political word games
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 i...
•
43:51