Cultural Update: Criminalizing Surrogacy; Do DEI Investments Pay Off?; Prenuptial Agreements

This week Sean and Scott continue the conversation about the morality of IVF. Don't forget to listen to Part 1, last week, when they defined and explained the nature of IVF and began the conversation about the moral permissibility of practicing it. This week, we uncover further differences and clarify the moral issues beneath the debate. ==========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's topics: A tragic story about a 14-year-old's suicide raises questions about the role of AI in human relationships.Exploring the possibility of a religious comeback: Are we seeing signs of renewed interest in faith?Political word games and the language used by both sides to shape public perception.Listener questions on bridging ideological divides with family and engaging with differing religious views.==========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].

Is IVF ever morally permissible for Christians? And if so, what conditions must be met? Is it ever morally justified to freeze embryos? These are just a few of the questions Sean and Scott discuss in this first part of a two-part discussion on the morality of IVF. If you are looking for a substantive discussion about the case for and against IVF, you will enjoy this first part. Join us next week for part 2. ==========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 & Sean discuss: Italy criminalizes surrogacy abroad for its citizens, sparking controversy on LGBTQ rights and ethical surrogacy practices.The University of Michigan invests $250 million in DEI initiatives, but faces increased discord and skepticism over their effectiveness.A new prenuptial agreement feature introduces embryo clauses, addressing legal issues in the event of divorce or death.The Catholic Archdiocese of LA agrees to a record $880 million settlement with sex abuse victims, pushing total payouts above $1.5 billion.Listener questions explore challenges of gender identity, relational dynamics, and the importance of seeing identity in Christ. ==========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].

The most fundamental question that our polarized culture faces is this — Who should be included in the human community? And on what basis? Should embryos, fetuses, the severely demented or the persons in a vegetative state? What does our view of a person suggest about how we care for people at the end of life? Taking Persons Seriously connects philosophy and bioethics—it’s a bit more technical discussion so hang in there with us and the dots will connect and the light will come on as we go along. It’s a book that Scott and Dr. Mihretu Guta edited together. Dr. Guta will be with us on this episode. Dr. Mihretu Guta is adjunct professor of philosophy in the Philosophy and Apologetics programs at Talbot.  He is the author of several high level philosophical books and numerous journal articles. ==========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].

Topics this week: Growing concerns about the rising potency and health risks of marijuana use, with increasing reports of psychosis and addiction.China reverses its one-child policy, now promoting larger families in a dramatic policy shift to combat declining birth rates.AI technology is advancing with automatically-generated podcasts, raising ethical questions about its impact on emotions, information accuracy, and human interaction.Listener questions on the challenges of politics in church and balancing celebration with sensitivity during holidays like Mother's Day.==========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].

Why should Christians care about the conflict between Israel and Palestine? Why is there such a gap between Gen Z and other generations on viewing the conflict? Is Israel committing a just war, or is it genocide? In this episode, Sean and Scott address these questions, and more, with Dr. Jeff Myers, author of the new book Should Christians Support Israel? Jeff Myers, Ph.D. is the president of Summit Ministries, which has trained hundreds of thousands of young leaders to embrace God's truth and champion a biblical worldview. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Denver and is the author of 18 books including Understanding the Times. ==========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 special guest Erik Thoennes discuss: Hillsdale College wins an important Title IX court decision on religious freedom.A new gender divide emerges in Gen Z: men seeking traditional roles, women pushing for progress.Elite college students struggle to read an entire book, raising concerns about deep reading skills.Discussion on how loving God with your mind relates to reading Scripture deeply.Listener questions addressed on topics like censorship in education and the future of intimacy with technology. ==========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].

Why is it often difficult to find pleasure and joy in God? If the chief end of man is to know and enjoy God, why do so many of us fall short? In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Biola professor Thaddeus Williams about these questions and his new book Revering God. Dr. Williams argues that a deep-dive into the theological understanding of the reverence of God can transform our relationship with God and allow us to live in awe-inspired devotion. Thaddeus J. Williams (Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam) loves enlarging students’ understanding and enjoyment of Jesus at Biola University in La Mirada, CA, where he serves as associate professor of Systematic Theology for Talbot School of Theology. He has also taught Philosophy and Literature at Saddleback College, Jurisprudence at Trinity Law School, and as a lecturer in Worldview Studies at L’Abri Fellowships in Switzerland and Holland, and Ethics for Blackstone Legal Fellowship the Federalist Society in Washington D.C. He resides in Orange County, CA with his wife and four kids. ==========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: Are conservative Christians losing political influence in America?The growing trend of children struggling to make friends raises alarming health concerns.Gen Z women are increasingly unaffiliated with religion—what's behind this shift?A Missouri man’s execution sparks questions about the fairness of the death penalty.Is working from home a moral issue, as Elon Musk claims?Listener questions on the return of Christ and how to approach political news from a biblical perspective. ==========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].