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PODCAST

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Talbot School of Theology at Biola University / Sean McDowell & Scott Rae

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.

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

72:09

[BONUS] An Ex-Abortion Doctor Shares Her Story (with...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/08/01

Why would an abortion doctor change her mind about the morality of abortion and become a Christian? On this bonus episode of the Think Biblically podcast, Dr. Catherine Wheeler shares her compelling and powerful story of redemption and transformation from an abortionist to a pro-life activist. If you want to watch this episode in person, please visit Sean's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5kYzcQtlk8 Dr. Wheeler is an Ob/Gyn physician who practiced in Salt Lake City, Utah for...

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34:55

Scrolling Ourselves to Death (with Brett McCracken)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/29

Screens and social media have reshaped the world and our minds, bringing an appetite for distraction, loneliness, and increased rates of mental health challenges. It is time for Christians to rethink their relationship with screens and to consider what it means to live faithfully in our screen-dominated world. Our guest today, Brett McCracken, is the co-editor of a helpful and insightful new book Scrolling Ourselves to Death. Brett McCracken is a senior editor and director of communicat...

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90:59

[BONUS] Does the Church Need "Queering"? (with...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/25

Does the church need a "queer revolution"? Do we need a new reformation akin to the Protestant Reformation? In this discussion, Sean talks with author and progressive pastor Brandan Robertson about his new book Queer & Christian. They have a friendly debate about their different moral and theological frameworks and then discuss key biblical passages such as Genesis 2, Matthew 19, and Romans 1. If you want to see this discussion on video, visit Sean's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.c...

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33:00

Why Religion Went Obsolete (with Christian Smith)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/23

Has traditional faith become obsolete in America? And if so, what are the main contributing factors? Until now, there has not been a thorough sociological analysis of the various factors contributing to the demise of religion in America since the 1990’s. In this interview, rooted in his latest book Why Religion Went Obsolete, Dr. Smith offers a 30,000-foot analysis of why traditional religion has faded in America. Dr. Christian Smith is a highly influential sociologist and religious sch...

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87:48

Deadpool Creator Talks Faith and Comics (with Rob...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/18

What happens when a comic book legend sits down to talk about faith? Sean got to interview Rob Liefeld, creator of Deadpool, Cable, and many iconic Marvel characters, to explore the intersection of faith, creativity, and culture. Rob and I discuss his journey in the comic book world and the creation of Deadpool, how his Christian faith has shaped his life and career, what it’s like navigating Hollywood as a believer and how pop culture can open doors for deeper conversations about truth. &nbs...

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31:57

Living as Outsiders in Our Culture (with Patrick Miller)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/15

What does it mean that the Christian is an outsider in one’s community? How do we engage our divisive culture well and faithfully at the same time? What might your particular style for cultural engagement be? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, pastor Patrick Miller, around his new book, Joyful Outsiders: Six Ways to Live Like Jesus in a Disorienting Culture. Patrick Miller is a teaching Pastor and Director of Digital Relationships at the Crossing Church in Columbia, M...

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80:13

[BONUS] Debating Miracles (with Paul Rinzler)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/11

In this bonus episode, Sean discusses the possibility of miracles with atheist professor Paul Rinzler. This conversation was part of the Veritas Forum at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the spring of 2025. McDowell and Rinzler discuss the evidence for miracles and whether or not it is reasonable to believe in the supernatural today. If you want to watch this exchange live, please check out Sean's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdIA5Cw21eI Paul Rinzler was Cal Poly Director of Jazz...

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31:40

Family Unfriendly (with Tim Carney)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/08

Parents are spending more time with their kids than in the past, and yet kids are less happy and less healthy. Given that the population of children is shrinking at an alarming rate, we need to figure out what is going on. Could it be that our culture is making raising kids harder than it needs to be? That is the suggestion of our guest today, Tim Carney, parent of six kids, and the author of Family Unfriendly. Timothy Carney is a father of six children, a senior fellow at the American ...

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37:30

Engaging Controversial Issues Without Getting Too...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/07/01

How do we engage our friends, family and others around controversial issues, particularly those in science? Why do these controversial issues trigger emotional responses and how do we manage our emotions in these discussions? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Talbot colleague in philosophy, Dr. Tim Pickavance around some new research he and other Biola profs have been doing. Dr. Tim Pickavance is broadly interested in the core areas of analytic philosophy, though he...

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57:21

Cultural Update: Why Don't We Feel We're Thriving?;...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/27

This week, Scott is joined by Talbot professor Thaddeus Williams to discuss: Why Don’t We Feel We're Thriving? — Despite living in the most prosperous era of human history, many Americans feel anxious and discontent. The End of Rainbow Capitalism? — Major corporations are backing away from Pride Month sponsorships. The discussion unpacks “rainbow capitalism,” shifting public opinion, and the limits of associating brands with social causes. A Democratic Socialist Wins NYC Mayoral P...

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24:53

Understanding Critical Theory (with Carl Trueman)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/24

What is critical theory and why is it so vital for Christians to understand today? What are its historical roots and where do we see it manifest today? Carl Trueman is one of the leading Christian social critics today and he has a new book To Change All Worlds. Sean and Scott talk with him about the motivation behind the book, why it is so timely for Christians today, and offers ideas for navigating our cultural moment in light of this profoundly influential movement. Carl Trueman earne...

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61:05

Cultural Update: Regretting Smartphones; Can Moms...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/20

This week, Scott is joined by Erik Thoennes, Professor of Theology at Talbot School of Theology. Smartphone Regret Among Parents: A new survey reveals most parents regret giving their kids smartphones and social media too early—many now see platforms like TikTok and Snapchat as more harmful than alcohol or even guns. Assisted Suicide and the Slippery Slope: A New York Times op-ed warns that limiting euthanasia to the terminally ill won’t last; cultural emphasis on autonomy may push...

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29:19

Medicine’s Wrong Turn? (with Brent Waters)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/17

Despite medicine’s remarkable advances, has it actually taken a wrong turn and lost something pretty important? What is the dominant worldview of medicine and health care today and how has that affected both patients and health care providers? What are the virtues that should govern health care to get it back on track? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Brent Waters, emeritus professor and founding director of the Stead Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett Evangelica...

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56:35

Cultural Update: Selecting embryos; AI romantic...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/13

This week, Scott and guest host Carmen Imes discuss: Can AI romantic chatbots become dangerously addictive? Exploring the emotional and ethical consequences of these pseudo-relationships.What do couples do with leftover embryos after IVF? A Psychology Today article opens a discussion on grief, responsibility, and the image of God.New genetic screening allows parents to select embryos based on up to 900 traits—raising urgent questions about modern eugenics and human worth.A report from T...

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35:39

Work and the Meaning of Life (with David Bahnsen)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/10

How is work connected to one’s purpose and meaning in life? What can churches do to foster a biblical view of work? How do certain lower paying jobs contribute to a person’s sense of purpose? We’ll answer these and more with our guest David Bahnsen around his new book Full Time: Work and the Meaning of Life. David Bahnsen is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a wealth management firm based in Newport Beach, California. The firm oversees $4 billion in...

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64:33

Cultural Update: Is Therapy Causing Childlessness?;...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/06

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 – T...

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41:30

AI: Prospects and Perils (with Yohan Lee)

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/06/03

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 Heal...

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47:41

Answering Your Questions!

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/05/30

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! Join us for ANCH...

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31:00

The State of the Persecuted Church Today (with Brian...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/05/27

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-prof...

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60:34

Cultural Update: Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery;...

Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture ·

2025/05/23

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.Join us for ANCHORED: A Conference for Pastors, Church Leaders and the Community June 9-11, 2025. Hosted by Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in Southern...

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523 results

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