[BONUS] Debating Miracles (with Paul Rinzler)

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 Studies 1997-2019. He earned his doctorate in theory/composition with a secondary emphasis in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Colorado. He recently gave the keynote address at the first conference on jazz and philosophy. His talk outlined a humanistic philosophy of jazz. ==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 Enterprise Institute, and a columnist for the Washington Examiner. He is also the author of Alienated America: The Big Ripoff. ==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 specializes in metaphysics. After completing his M.A. in Philosophy here at Talbot, he found himself in Austin at the University of Texas, where he earned his Ph.D. in 2008. He is thrilled to be a part of Biola and Talbot, contributing to the development of Christian philosophers who want to impact our culture in various venues, from academia to their churches to their personal friendships. ==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 Primary — Scott and Thaddeus examine the growing support for socialism among Gen Z and millennials, and how it may intersect with our biblical mandate to love others.10 Years After Obergefell — Reflections on the legalization of same-sex marriage and how the rise of transgender ideology, especially with minors, has led to cultural backlash and renewed concern about protecting children.Listener Questions:Work as an Idol? — How to balance ambition and calling without making work your identity.Pronouns and Christian Integrity — Can using “they/them” be a faithful alternative in gender conversations?Cohabitating Before the Wedding Party — Is it OK for a couple to cohabitate after a courthouse wedding, but before celebrating with their family? ==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 earned his Ph.D. at the University of Aberdeen and he currently is a professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He is the best-selling author of multiple books including The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. ==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 boundaries further. Can Moms Really Have It All?: A new wave of voices—this time from the political right—encourage women to pursue careers and motherhood. Listener Question: Can Biola Be Trusted?Listener Followup on AI Chatbots in MedicineListener Question: Should I Be Worried That My Teen Is Drawn to Catholicism?==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 Evangelical Seminary. Brent will be a plenary speaker at the national conference of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, June 26-28. See cbhd.org/conference for more information.Guest Bio: Brent Waters is the Emeritus Jerre and Mary Joy Professor of Christian Social Ethics, and Emeritus Director of the Jerre L. and Mary Joy Stead Center for Ethics and Values at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois. He came to Garrett in 2001 and retired in 2022.Waters is the author or co-editor of 11 books, including most recently, Common Callings and Ordinary Virtues: Christian Ethics for Everyday Life.==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 The Marshall Project details how some U.S. prisons deprive inmates of sunlight and fresh air.Honoring the lives and legacies of Jennifer Lyell, a courageous abuse survivor, and Walter Brueggemann, a groundbreaking Old Testament scholar.Listener Questions: Bible translation preferences, defining God’s sovereignty, and how Christians should think about taxes in light of American history.==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 client's assets. He is the author of several books including, Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It, and Mis-Inflation: The Truth About Inflation, Pricing, and the Creation of Wealth. ==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].

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 – The hosts unpack a call for a 10-year global ban on heritable human genome editing, highlighting concerns over unintended consequences and ethical boundaries in germline modifications.Planned Parenthood Closures – With clinics closing across several states, they examine what this trend says about abortion access, cultural shifts, and the growing use of abortion pills over surgical procedures.==========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. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. 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].