Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

This week, we discuss: 
Rethinking Just War: Pope Francis’s comments on just war theory spark a timely conversation about self-defense, civilian harm, AI warfare, and whether Christian ethics needs fresh application in modern conflict.
Marriage Shapes Young Men: New research suggests that having marriage on the horizon can motivate young men toward work, maturity, commitment, and lower-risk choices.
Church And State Confusion: A debate over “separation of church and state” opens up deeper questions about religious liberty, political power, and why Christians should care about protecting the church from corruption.
Screen-Free Summer Reset: A radical family experiment in removing screens offers practical hope for helping kids rediscover books, outdoor play, creativity, and real-life community.
Listener Question: AI Fear Or Wisdom: A listener question about Anthropic’s AI blackmail test raises the need for Christians to avoid panic while still taking the risks of human-made technology seriously.
Listener Question: Sexuality And Church Leadership: A listener’s question about LGBTQ-affirming views in worship leadership leads to a nuanced distinction between disagreement among church members and qualifications for spiritual leadership.

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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].

Maybe you have heard some of these kinds of claims:
"Religious views don’t belong in politics." "Jesus said never judge–so don’t." "You can’t legislate morality." These are some of the most common moral slogans proclaimed today. But they are deeply misguided. Today, Sean interviews Scott to get his responses to the top ten misguided moral claims that need debunking! Scott deals with these objections in the first two chapters of his book Moral Choices, which is newly released in its 5th edition.
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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].

The Pope's New AI Encyclical: The hosts discuss a groundbreaking 250-page encyclical from Pope Leo XIV that explores the intersection of Catholic faith and artificial intelligence. The encyclical calls for AI to serve humanity rather than displace it, emphasizing that our inherent human limitations and vulnerabilities are actually a good design by God. 
Pew Research on Church Politics: A surprising new poll reveals how much churches actually address political and social issues like abortion, immigration, and environment from the pulpit. The hosts unpack how these subjects are fundamentally theological and ethical rather than purely political. 
Texas Creates First Clinic for De-transitioners: The discussion turns to medical developments in Texas, where a first-of-its-kind clinic has been established specifically to help individuals who are de-transitioning. Highlighting cases like advocate Chloe Cole, the hosts touch on the courageous public stance of young people addressing the lifelong impacts of early gender procedures. 
Audience Question: Navigating the Holy Spirit Differently: The hosts answer a listener's question about how cessationists and continuationists can maintain charity despite theological differences over miraculous gifts. They advise focusing on core doctrines like the Trinity, extending mutual grace across different denominations. 
Audience Question: Turning to AI for Spiritual Guidance: Responding to a Barna report about Christians using AI for spiritual direction, the hosts weigh the legitimacy of the practice. They emphasize that AI should only serve as an efficiency tool to point users back to Scripture and local community, rather than replacing relational human mentorship.
Audience Question: Critique of James Talarico's Theology: The hosts address a listener's question regarding guest-host Dr. Thaddeus Williams drawing a parallel between Texas politician James Talarico and Chinese communist state ideology. The hosts read a response from Williams and clarify that he was making a functional analogy about co-opting Scripture for state ideology, not directly comparing Talarico's personal character to a brutal totalitarian leader.

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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].

Why have we misunderstood what is normally involved in spiritual growth? What does it mean to say that our God is a withdrawing God?” And what do we do when the bible becomes boring and prayer seems pointless? We’ll discuss these questions and more with our guest Dr. Kyle Strobel around his new book When God Seems Distant.
Kyle Strobel (Ph.D. University of Aberdeen) is the director of Talbot's Institute for Spiritual Formation and Marriage and Family Therapy program. He is a systematic theologian interested in theological anthropology, Jonathan Edwards, spiritual formation and prayer. He writes both popular and academic books and articles, and is on the preaching team at Redeemer Church, La Mirada. Kyle writes regularly on kylestrobel.substack.com
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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].

The Financial Metric Threatening Christian Colleges: Rick and Erik discuss a new federal regulation requiring college degree holders to out-earn non-degree peers, explaining how it creates an "existential threat" by penalizing faith-based programs that prioritize service over high salaries.
The Collapse of Harvard's Reparations Initiative: The hosts explore why Harvard University’s $100 million plan broke down, detailing how a combination of resignations, researcher firings, and the sheer logistical nightmare of identifying descendants of American slaves halted the effort.
The Turning Tide on Campus Coddling: Rick and Erik examine how universities are shifting away from over-protecting students and are rediscovering traditional academic rigor and free speech due to mounting political and external pressures.
A Lesson in Political Shrewdness: Drawing from strategic advice given by the late Congressman Barney Frank, the hosts debate the ethics and effectiveness of achieving long-term cultural changes by starting where people can be easily moved rather than pushing ultimate goals first.
Audience Question: The Ethical Dilemma of Funding IVF: Responding to a listener's question, Rick and Erik explore whether choosing an ethical form of IVF inadvertently funds industry practices they don't support. They reflect on how Christians inevitably live in a fallen world where our money frequently flows into systems or corporations with values that don't match our own.
Audience Question: Reading vs. Listening to the Word: Rick and Erik break down a question regarding spiritual intake, analyzing the cognitive, devotional, and practical differences between actively reading Scripture versus consuming it audibly.

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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].