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
Is it time for the church to set aside theological differences about the morality of same sex unions and gender identity and find common ground in the Gospel? Is same sex marriage a disputable issue that should not divide us believers? According to a new book, the answer to both these questions is yes. The book is called Christlike Acceptance Across Deep Difference and is co-edited by Ron Pierce, a non-affirming scholar who worked ...
This week, Scott & Sean discuss:
- A massive new government study challenges common narratives about climate change
- A new study shows that markers of adulthood are occurring later and later for millennials and Gen Zers
- A terrible school shooting at a Catholic elementary school in Minnesota
- Listener Questions
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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theol...
What’s a business for? Why is there skepticism about business among younger generations today? What do we say to the notion that business is based on greed, that it creates consumerism and contributes to growing economic inequality? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest Dr. Jim Otteson, professor of business ethics at Notre Dame.
James R. Otteson is the John T. Ryan Jr. Professor of Business Ethics in the Mendoza Col...
This week, Sean and guest co-host Rick Langer discuss:
- A growing trend of men becoming single dads by choice sparks discussion on meaning, technology, and the impact on children when family design is redefined.
- New research shows American millennials and Gen Z are dying at 2.6 times the rate of peers in other wealthy nations—raising questions about loneliness, disordered loves, and deeper spiritual needs.
- Costco’s decision not to ...
How can Christian parents and other Christian leaders best navigate youth sports? What are some of the toxic elements of youth sports that Christians can avoid, or strategically use as an opportunity for ministry and growth? Our guest today, Ed Uszynski, is the author of a new book Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports. Ed joins Sean and Scott to discuss how our perspective of youth sports needs to s...
- AI's takeover of education leaves rising seniors as the last students to remember high school before ChatGPT, raising questions about AI’s lasting impact on education.
- A Supreme Court case seeks to overturn same-sex marriage, prompting discussion on how Christians should respond culturally and theologically.
- Demand for euthanasia in Canada now outpaces available providers, sparking ethical debate on life, suffering, and medi...
Why is fertility in decline around the world? What is the long term social impact of this decline? And why is marriage so central to fertility rates? We’ll discuss these questions and much more with our guest, University of Mississippi economist Dr. Clara Piano.
Dr. Clara Piano is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Mississippi. Her primary research areas are family economics, law and economics, and the...
- Teen use of AI chatbots is on the rise, prompting concern over emotional dependency, harmful content, and the loss of real human connection.
- Cash aid to low-income families lacks results, challenging assumptions about poverty and flourishing.
- Canada pushes to expand euthanasia to mental illness, raising ethical alarms about autonomy, consent, and the value of life.
- Designer baby hype falls short, exposing the limits of genetic scr...
Does God promise to always keep us safe? What does the Bible have to say about our pursuit of safety for ourselves and our kids? How can the pursuit of safety become a form of idolatry in our lives? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Talbot grad Jeremy Lundgren in his new book, The Pursuit of Safety: A Theology of Danger, Risk and Security.
Jeremy Lundgren (PhD, Wheaton College) is director of Nicolet Bible Inst...
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. Wheele...
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...
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 ...
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 Smi...
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 cul...
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 Dig...
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/w...
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 ...
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 intere...
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 s...
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 ...
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