Digital Public Square

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Felicia Wu Song, cultural sociologist and author of a recent book entitled Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age. Today, we talk about how technological devices form us and how to gain control over them.Meet Dr. Song: Felicia Wu Song earned her PhD from the University of Virginia and currently serves as professor of sociology at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Her publications include Virtual Communities: Bowling Alone, Online Together and articles in such scholarly journals as Gender & Society and Information, Communication & Society.Resources:Restless Devices by Felicia Wu SongPower Failure by Albert BorgmannLiturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison WarrenThe Common Rule by Justin EarleyThe Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Adonis Vidu, professor of theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and author of a new book called The Same God Who Works All Things: Inseparable Operations in Trinitarian Theology. Today, we talk about the doctrine of the trinity and inseparable operations.Meet Dr. Vidu: Dr. Vidu earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nottingham and came to Gordon-Conwell from his native Romania, where he previously taught at Emmanuel University and the University of Bucharest. He is a constructive theologian who is involved in a recovery of the patristic and medieval Trinitarian theology for the contemporary church. He is also the author of Atonement, Law, and Justice: The Cross in Historical and Cultural Contexts, Theology after Neo- Pragmatism, and Postliberal Theological Method: A Critical Study.Resources:The Same God Who Works All Things by Adonis ViduContemplating God with the Great Tradition by Craig CarterThe Deep Things of God by Fred SandersSimply Trinity by Matthew BarrettWhich Trinity? by Thomas McCallThe Trinity by AugustineDelighting in the Trinity by Michael ReevesThe One, the Three and the Many by Colin GuntonGod For Us by Catherine Mowry LaCugnaThe Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Tony Reinke, a non-profit journalist and author of numerous books including God, Technology, and the Christian Life. Today, we talk about a biblical theology of technology and how it affects the Christian life.Meet Tony: Tony Reinke also serves as senior teacher and host of the Ask Pastor John podcast at Desiring God. He is the author of Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books, Competing Spectacles, and 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You.Resources:God, Technology, and the Christian Life by Tony ReinkeCommon Grace by Abraham Kuyper12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony ReinkeAs a special treat for newsletter and podcast subscribers, we have partnered with Lexham Press to offer 30% off the newly completed Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham Kuyper in hardback or Logos editions.Use code DPSFEB22 or visit lexhampress.com/digitalpublicsquare to learn more. This special discount expires on March 15th.The Digital Public Square is an audio production of Owens Productions. It’s produced by Jason Thacker and production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Benjamin Gladd, associate professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary and editor of a series of volumes on biblical theology with InterVarsity Press. Today, we talk about biblical theology and the image of God.Meet Dr. Gladd: Dr. Gladd earned his PhD from Wheaton College and prior to joining the RTS faculty, he served as an adjunct faculty member at Wheaton, teaching New Testament exegesis and interpretation, Greek, and introductory courses on the Old and New Testaments. In addition to his work at RTS, Dr. Gladd has been a member of the editorial board for the online journal, Themelios, since 2019. He is the author of numerous works and serves as the series editor for Essential Studies in Biblical Theology, which includes his work From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God.Resources:From Adam to Israel by Benjamin L. GladdEssential Studies in Biblical Theology edited by Benjamin L. GladdCreated in God’s Image by Anthony HoekemaAs a special treat for newsletter and podcast subscribers, we have partnered with Lexham Press to offer 30% off the newly completed Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham Kuyper in hardback or Logos editions.Use code DPSFEB22 or visit lexhampress.com/digitalpublicsquare to learn more. This special discount expires on March 15th.The Digital Public Square is an audio production of Owens Productions. It’s produced by Jason Thacker and production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by my Drs. Jessica and Robert Joustra, co-editors of a new volume called Calvinism for a Secular Age: A Twenty-First-Century Reading of Abraham Kuyper’s Stone Lectures. Today, we talk about Kuyper’s influence and a Reformed approach to our secular age.Meet Jessica: Jessica Joustra (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary and the Free University of Amsterdam) is assistant professor of religion and theology at Redeemer University and an associate researcher at the Neo-Calvinist Research Institute at the Theological University of Kampen (NL). She is an editor and translator of Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Ethics and associate editor for the Bavinck Review.Meet Robert:Robert J. Joustra (PhD, University of Bath) is associate professor of politics and international studies and the founding director of the Centre for Christian Scholarship at Redeemer University College. He is the author of The Religious Problem with Religious Freedom and the coauthor of The Church’s Social Responsibility, The Persecuted Church, How to Survive the Apocalypse, and God and the Global Order.Resources:Calvinism for a Secular Age by Jessica and Robert JoustraCollected Works of Public Theology by Abraham KuyperAbraham Kuyper by James BrattAbraham Kuyper: An Introduction by Richard MouwTo Be Near unto God by Abraham KuyperHoney from the Rock by Abraham KuyperChrist and Culture by Klaas SchilderAs a special treat for newsletter and podcast subscribers, we have partnered with Lexham Press to offer 30% off the newly completed Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham Kuyper in hardback or Logos editions.Use code DPSFEB22 or visit lexhampress.com/digitalpublicsquare to learn more. This special discount expires on March 15th.The Digital Public Square is an audio production of Owens Productions. It’s produced by Jason Thacker and production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Chris Martin, the author of a recent book entitled Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media. Today, we talk about how technology is forming us and what to do about it.Meet Chris: Chris Martin is a content marketing editor at Moody Publishers and a social media, marketing, and communications consultant. He has led social media strategy at Lifeway Christian Resources and advised some of the foremost Christian leaders and authors on digital content strategy. He writes regularly at TermsOfService.social.Resources:Terms of Service by Chris MartinAmusing Ourselves to Death by Neil PostmanIrresistible by Adam AlterThe Attention Merchants by Tim WuNo Filter by Sarah Frier“Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change” by Neil PostmanThe Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian, the China reporter for Axios. Today, we talk about the Chinese communist party, the upcoming Winter Olympic games in Beijing, and state of global affairs.Meet Bethany:Bethany leads the weekly Axios China newsletter and she covers China’s role in the world. She was previously a staff editor and contributing reporter at Foreign Policy magazine, where she wrote investigations, deeply reported narratives, and analysis related to China. She is also writing a book about China for HarperCollins entitled Beijing Rules: Capitalism, the Coronavirus, and China’s Quest for Global Influence due to release in spring 2023.Resources:Red Carpet by Erich SchwartzelThe War on the Uyghurs by Sean R. RobertsThe Beautiful Country and the Middle Kingdom by John PomfretFreedom by Nathan LawAi Superpowers by Kai-Fu LeeThe Third Revolution by Elizabeth C. EconomyThe Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Matt Emerson, co-executive director of the Center for Baptist Renewal and editor of Baptists and the Christian Tradition: Towards and Evangelical Baptist Catholicity . Today, we talk about Baptists and their place amongst the Christian tradition.Meet Dr. Emerson: Dr. Emerson is dean of theology, arts, & humanities at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, as well as co-executive director of the Center for Baptist Renewal. His areas of interest include biblical theology, canonical interpretation, theological method, and Baptist theology. He is author of ‘He Descended to the Dead’: An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday, and an editor of Baptists and the Christian Tradition: Towards an Evangelical Baptist Catholicity.Resources:Center for Baptist RenewalCBR Reading ChallengeBaptists and the Christian Tradition edited by Matt Emerson, Luke Stamps, and Christopher MorganCredits:Podcast Coordinator: Cameron HaynerAudio Producer: Mark Owens, Owens Productions

In this episode, I am joined by my ERLC colleague Chelsea Sobolik who serves as our director of public policy in Washington, DC. Today, we talk about the ERLC’s public policy priorities in 2022 and how we engage government officials at both the state and federal levels.Meet Chelsea: Chelsea has worked on Capitol Hill on pro-life policies, domestic and international religious freedom, adoption, and foster care issues in a number of different roles prior to coming to the ERLC. She has been published at the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and others. She is the author of Longing for Motherhood – Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness, and a forthcoming book on women and work. She has a B.A. in International Relations from Liberty University, and lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Michael.Resources:ERLC Public Policy Agenda for 2022Every Good Endeavor by Timothy KellerThe Common Rule by Justin EarleyThe Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark ComerCredits:Podcast Coordinator: Cameron HaynerAudio Producer: Mark Owens, Owens Productions

In this episode, I talk about four of the top ethical issues in technology to watch out for this year and how Christians can begin to navigate these issues in the public square.Resources:Digital Public Square Research ProjectWeeklyTech NewsletterPre-order my new book – Following Jesus in a Digital Age (Amazon, Lifeway, Barnes and Noble)Articles:Should the government regulate social media?Jan. 6 was fueled by misinformation. More content moderation won’t fix it.3 words that will shape digital culture for good and cultivate virtue in the public squareThe California Consumer Privacy Act and how it affects youThe purpose of privacyWhat is digital authoritarianism?How the Chinese Communist Party is committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims