Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Most people recognize Michael Jackson’s 1983 mega-hit “Billie Jean,” but few know the human story behind the headlines. In this episode of Think Biblically, Sean sits down with Biola and Talbot graduate and educator La Nej Garrison, whose mother was a partial real-life inspiration behind the famous song.
La Nej Garrison is a dedicated family woman, editor, senior writer, and minister deeply passionate about her faith, family, and fostering meaningful conversations around religion and ethics. She holds a degree in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology.
Professionally, she serves as an editor for one of the largest African American publishing houses in the United States and as a senior writer for Women In Apologetics. You can read more of her work and stay connected by visiting her website at lanejgarrison.org or by following her on Instagram @la_nejg.
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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 thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Peter Singer critiques the Pope on Human Dignity: Scott and Erik discuss philosopher Peter Singer’s reaction to the Pope’s recent encyclical, analyzing how a purely functional definition of human value leads to terrifying ethical conclusions. 
The Neurobiology of Fatherhood: Discussing a recent New York Times piece, Scott and Erik break down the scientific evidence showing how active fatherhood positively rewires and protects a man’s brain as he ages. 
Gene Editing and the Genetic Caste System: Analyzing a recent article on "base editing" technologies, the hosts explore the bioethical boundaries between curing diseases and pursuing human enhancements that threaten to create a permanent disparity between medical haves and have-nots.
Gen Z Men Resisting Temptation: Highlighting an encouraging cultural trend reported in an article, the hosts discuss how young Gen Z men are actively navigating and resisting the omnipresent temptation to sexual sin enabled by modern technology through the power of community and fellowship. 
Audience Question: Is it Acceptable to Listen to AI-Generated Worship Music? A listener asks if it is morally or spiritually compromising to listen to classic, human-written hymns that are fully performed by AI voices and instruments. 
Applying Biblical Accountability (1 Corinthians 5) at Home: The hosts offer nuanced advice to a listener navigating how to handle the apostle Paul's strict instructions regarding unrepentant believers when that person is an immediate family member living under the same roof. 
What Alternative Careers Would the Hosts Choose? In a light-hearted closing segment, ethicist Scott Rae and theologian Erik Thoennes share what completely different career paths they might have pursued—such as athletics or screen printing—if they hadn't entered academia and ministry.

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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 thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

Has Western culture merely forgotten God, or is the problem even deeper? In his remarkable new book The Desecration of Man, Dr. Carl Trueman argues that we have reached a new point in which culture has not only rejected God, but now desecrates Him. We can see this in the "shout your abortion" movement or the reveling in the mistreatment of immigrants. In this episode, Carl discusses the common thread of dehumanizing people that we see in the Sexual Revolution, technology, and how Christians approach death.
Dr. Carl R. Trueman is Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania. He earned an MA in Classics from the University of Cambridge, and a Ph.D. in Church History from the University of Aberdeen. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books, and is the co-host of “The Mortification of Spin” podcast.
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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 thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

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 thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

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 thinkbiblically@biola.edu.