Restorative Faith

Each season of Restorative Faith revolves around a specific theme that has caused people to walk away from the Christian faith. Season 4 is about science.  We will be discussing the science of evolution, climate change, free will, disease, healing, memory and consciousness. Each episode includes human interest stories along with experts in history, biology, physics, astrophysics, medicine, addiction, sociology and psychology, and biblical scholars. Join us as we explore the ways in which the Christian faith needs to change and adapt to the scientific discoveries driving the 21st century.

In the final episode of Season 4, we discuss the science of consciousness and what it reveals about life on our planet, life in our universe and life beyond death. We start with Dr. Eben Alexander III, a Harvard trained neurosurgeon who had a remarkable Near-Death Experience after falling into a coma due to bacterial meningitis. From there, we discuss how consciousness might be a fundamental property of the universe with Dr. Gregory Matloff, professor of physics at New York City College of Technology. Next, we interview Dr. Avi Loeb, professor of science at Harvard University, who is leading the charge in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and extraterrestrial technology near Earth. Finally, we spoke with Dr. James Bernat, professor of neurology at Dartmouth University, who was instrumental in developing the medical definition of brain death that has been adopted by legislatures and physicians all around the world. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Dr. Eben Alexander III Dr. Gregory Matloff Dr. Avi Loeb Dr. James Bernat

In episode 5 of Season 4, we explore the science of memory in connection with the accounts of Jesus' resurrection. We start with Meredith Maran, an activist and journalist, who found herself at the center of the recovered memory movement in the late 1980s. We then interview Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, an experimental psychologist and distinguished professor at UC Irvine who is responsible for conducting ground-breaking studies in the reliability of human memory. Tying the episode together, we talk to Dr. Dale Allison, professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, one of the foremost scholars on the history of the resurrection about what likely happened after Jesus' death. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Meredith Maran Dr. Elizabeth Loftus Dr. Dale Alison

In episode 4 of Season 4, we discuss the inherent skepticism that many Christians still maintain towards modern medical treatment. We speak with Lauren Hunter who was raised as a Christian Scientist, a denomination of Christianity that, rather ironically, does not acknowledge the science of disease. We also interview Dr. John Horgan, assistant professor of history at Concordia University in Wisconsin who specializes in the history of diseases and epidemics, about the genesis of germ theory. Finally, we sit down with Dr. Mark Lewis, a gastrointestinal oncologist who describes the role of faith and prayer when his patients undergo treatment for cancer. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Lauren Hunter Dr. John Horgan Dr. Mark Lewis

In episode 3 of Season 4, we explore the science of free will and to what degree God exerts control over our lives. We begin with Mike Genna, a prominent musician in the 1980s who spiraled into drug addiction after tragedy. Helping us to fully understand the science of addiction, we interview Joseph Caravella, an addiction specialist at the Betty Ford Clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota. From there, we delve into what physics tells us about free will with Dr. Robert Bishop, Professor of Physics and Philosophy at Wheaton College. Finally, we caught up with Dr. Raymond A. Blacketer, a scholar in the area of biblical exegesis, about the Christian perspective on free will and suffering. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Mike Genna Joseph Caravella Dr. Robert Bishop Dr. Raymond Blacketer

In episode 2 of Season 4, we consider how the science of climate change has become one of the key issues defining the evangelical mindset. We speak with Jon Peerbolt, an international aid worker for the NGO Novi who was raised among onion farmers in Michigan by parents who were deeply entrenched in the conservative Christian ecosystem. We also interview Dr. Ryan Juskus, assistant professor and faculty director at Notre Dames' Institute for Social Concerns who walks us through the historical roots of environmentalism within the evangelical movement. Finally, we talk with Dr. Paul Thagard, distinguished professor of philosophy emeritus at the University of Waterloo, who spent his career working in the cognitive sciences, explaining why the human mind is so susceptible to misinformation. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Jon Peerbolt Dr. Ryan Juskus Dr. Paul Thagard

In our opening episode of Season 4, we explore how the theory of evolution sparked the modern schism between science and Christianity. We speak with Hannah Pynn and Leah Davis, sisters who grew up in the anti-science fundamentalist movement, People of Praise. We also talk with Pulitzer Prize winning author Dr. Edward Larson about the history of Darwin's journey to the Galapagos Islands, his development of the theory of evolution and its impact on the church. Finally, we interview Dr. Anne Stone, Regents professor at Arizona State University in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change about the modern science surrounding evolution and what it has to teach us about the propagation of life on our planet. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Hannah Pynn Leah Davis Dr. Edward Larson Dr. Anne Stone

Each season of Restorative Faith revolves around a specific theme that has caused people to walk away from the Christian faith. Season 3 is about discrimination. We will be discussing sexism, patriarchy, mental illness, racism, antisemitism, Christian Nationalism and defrauding the poor and destitute. Each episode includes human interest stories along with experts in sociology and psychiatry, and biblical scholars. Join us as we explore the ways in which the Christian faith needs to change and adapt to the social ethics the 21st century.

In the final episode of Season 3, we discuss the predatory practices of the prosperity gospel in targeting poor and desperate individuals. We hear the story of Lawrence Fardette who gave tens of thousands of dollars to televangelists over decades only to be rejected by them when his family was in desperate need. We interview Dr. Phillip Lucas, professor emeritus of religious studies at Stetson University, about the history of the prosperity gospel. Lastly, we speak with Pete Evans, the director of the Trinity Foundation and Barry Bowen, a staff investigator for Trinity, about their work to uncover the unethical and often illegal tactics employed by the ministries of prosperity gospel preachers. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Lawrence Fardette Dr. Phillip Lucas Barry Bowen Pete Evans

In episode 5 of Season 3, we explore the connection between Christianity and nationalism. We begin by speaking with Nick Stutzman, a radio host who found himself sucked into the underground world of the QAnon conspiracy. We also interview Dr. Leigh Ann Perry, associate professor of psychology and behavioral science at the United States Naval War College, who explains the psychological factors undergirding the belief in conspiracy theories. Tying the episode together, we talk to Dr. John Wilsey, associate professor of church history at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, who discusses the connection between Christian Nationalism and Manifest Destiny. Featured Guests (in order of appearance): Nick Stutzman Dr. Leigh Ann Perry Dr. John Wilsey