Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Scott is joined by guest co-host Erik Thoennes to discuss:

Hostage Return in Gaza: Celebrating the return of all surviving Israeli hostages and discussing the theological and political complexities of the Israel–Gaza peace accord. 

Faith and Gen Z: Exploring new data showing a rise in Christian faith among Gen Z—even as suicide rates among the same generation reach record highs—and how both trends reflect a deep search for meaning in...

After centuries of anticipation, the ancient city of Colossae—the site of Paul’s letter to the Colossians—is finally being excavated. Dr. Clint Arnold, one of the world’s foremost experts on Colossians, joins Sean McDowell to share breaking news from the dig in modern-day Turkey. They explore why this excavation is historic, what discoveries could illuminate the New Testament, and how this project might finally unravel the mystery ...

Topics this week:

Marijuana’s Real Impact: A new study finds 40% of fatal crash victims in one Ohio county had high levels of THC, sparking discussion on how far legalization has gone and why Christians must discern between what’s legal and what’s right. 

AI and the End of “Seeing is Believing”: Sean and Scott unpack the dangers of AI-generated videos like OpenAI’s Sora, the flood of deepfakes, and what it means for truth and communi...

Why have so many “time saving” devices actually not saved us any time? How do you know if your devices work for you or you work for them? What guidance is there for an appropriate use of AI? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Trevor Sutton, pastor and professor specializing in the intersection of theology and technology. 

A. Trevor Sutton is senior pastor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Mich., and teac...

Scott is joined by colleague Rick Langer to discuss: 

• Faith and Politics after the Kirk Shooting – A provocative article on whether Christians should see themselves as warriors or servants, contrasting combative approaches with Dallas Willard’s vision of gentleness in apologetics and civil discourse
• Abortion Statistics: Good News and Bad News – New data shows reduced abortions in some states with restrictions, but also a troublin...

What is the state of assisted suicide/euthanasia in Canada today?; How significant are the financial pressures on the Canadian health care system and is that a reason that PAS/E is encouraged?; What is involved in a Christian response to PAS/E? We’ll address these questions and a few more with our guest Dr. Ewan Goligher, critical care physician and professor of medicine and physiology at the University of Toronto. 

Ewan C. Goligher...

Scott & Sean's topics this week: 

• Failed rapture predictions once again made headlines, fueled by social media hype, raising questions about biblical teaching, authority, and how Christians should respond with truth and compassion
• Reflection on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the role of faith in politics, with insights from David Brooks’ concerns about blurring Christianity and partisanship
• A discussion on artifici...

What does it mean to play sports for the glory of God? How do you keep someone from tying their identity to their success in sports? And why do parents sometimes have a greater interest in their child’s success in sports than the child himself/herself? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, our Talbot colleague in theology, Dr. Erik Thoennes. 

Erik Thoennes is committed to teaching theology so that he and his students...

This week's topics:

• Police surveillance in New York – Sean and Scott discuss the rise of citywide tracking, privacy rights, and biblical perspectives on government power and personal freedom.
• Graphic killings on social media – They reflect on how viral videos of violent deaths, including Charlie Kirk’s assassination, can deaden our souls, dehumanize victims, and reveal troubling cultural values.
• Cancel culture resurfaces – A ...

What accounts for the dramatic growth of kids living without their biological father in the home? What are some of the social impacts of what is called “dad deprivation?” What is the effect of dads on the mental health of kids? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest, Dr. Anthony Bradley, well known scholar and author, current distinguished research fellow at the Acton Institute and professor at Kuyper College. 

Anthon...

This week, Sean and Scott discuss:

• How should Christians respond to the assassination of Charlie Kirk?
• Will the CDC recognize the suffering of individuals who've attempted to change their sex and regret it?
• A study across 5 continents finds that men and women with multiple sex partners are less desirable as long-term mates
• In an Atlantic essay, a high school student bemoans the effects of AI on their generation

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Whether in the occult, astrology, or New Age, interest in the supernatural has increased in the past few years. What can we learn about the spiritual realm, and spiritual warfare, from the letters of Paul? Talbot professor Clint Arnold is one of the leading New Testament scholars in the world. He joins the Think Biblically podcast to talk about his book Powers of Darkness and to answer some of the most common questions about demons...

Scott is joined by guest co-host Erik Thoennes this week to discuss:

• Marriage: A New Atlantis essay argues tech and economics have “unbundled” marriage; the hosts counter that a Christian vision roots love, covenant, and fidelity amid today’s easy-in/easy-out norms.
• Women’s happiness: An Atlantic/IFFS survey finds married mothers are about twice as likely to report being “very happy”; the conversation explores why (connection, pu...

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...