Theology & Ethics

In this episode of the Theology and Ethics and Podcast, Dr. Michael Thighpen, OT scholar at Phoenix Seminary, discusses the second commandment, the biblical understanding of idolatry and imagery, and implications for Christians today.Dr. J. Michael Thigpen earned a BA in Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MDiv from Columbia Biblical Seminary, and an MPhil and PhD in Judaic, Hebraic, and Cognate Studies from Hebrew Union College. Michael’s special areas of interest include Old Testament Theology, Babylonian and Persian period biblical books and history (Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezra–Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi), Book of the Twelve (Minor Prophets), prophetic literature (biblical and ANE), Genesis, Kings, God’s motives, repentance and forgiveness, the OT and classical theism, and the theology of work and economics. His passion is to help the church connect more deeply to the Old Testament by understanding its literary nature and historical background. He is currently Professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary, having previously served as Provost and Executive Vice President at the seminary. In addition to his work at Phoenix, he serves as lecturer in Old Testament at Munster Bible College in Cork, Ireland.If you’d like to get in touch with us, give us a call or send us a text at (909) 493-7799, or send us an email at contact@kirkwoodcenter.org. Visit us on our website at kirkwoodcenter.org.You can also join the conversation & see extra content on socials by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Substack.If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave us a review on your podcast app of choice. If this episode made you think of someone you know, shoot them a link!#theology #oldtestament #divinejustice #God #hebrew #bible #retribution #kirkwoodcenter #church #christianity #ethicsChapters:00:00:00-Intro00:04:21-Images & Idolatry in the Old Testament00:10:48-Henotheism & the Old Testament 00:18:21-Exodus, the Golden Calf, and Breaking Commandments00:22:10-Representations of God00:28:58-The Transactional “Gods”00:34:12-The Brass Serpent as an Image00:37:18-Poetic imagery of God in the Old Testament00:39:53-Using Imagery for Gospel Proclamation

In this episode of the Theology and Ethics and Podcast, Dr. Michael Thighpen, OT scholar at Phoenix Seminary, discusses the idea of divine retribution in the Old Testament. Does God operate differently in the Old Testament than He does in the New? How does God’s punishment work, is it aimed only at individuals, or is it applied to groups and even generations?Dr. J. Michael Thigpen earned a BA in Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MDiv from Columbia Biblical Seminary, and an MPhil and PhD in Judaic, Hebraic, and Cognate Studies from Hebrew Union College. Michael’s special areas of interest include Old Testament Theology, Babylonian and Persian period biblical books and history (Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezra–Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi), Book of the Twelve (Minor Prophets), prophetic literature (biblical and ANE), Genesis, Kings, God’s motives, repentance and forgiveness, the OT and classical theism, and the theology of work and economics. His passion is to help the church connect more deeply to the Old Testament by understanding its literary nature and historical background. He is currently Professor of Old Testament at Phoenix Seminary, having previously served as Provost and Executive Vice President at the seminary. In addition to his work at Phoenix, he serves as lecturer in Old Testament at Munster Bible College in Cork, Ireland.If you’d like to get in touch with us, give us a call or send us a text at (909) 493-7799, or send us an email at contact@kirkwoodcenter.org. Visit us on our website at kirkwoodcenter.org.You can also join the conversation & see extra content on socials by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Substack.If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave us a review on your podcast app of choice. If this episode made you think of someone you know, shoot them a link!#theology #oldtestament #divinejustice #God #hebrew #bible #retribution #kirkwoodcenter #church #christianity #ethicsChapters:00:00:00-Intro00:04:20-Does God Punish Individuals, Groups or Generations? 00:14:17-God’s Justice and Individual Faith00:19:43-The Punishment of Achan in Joshua 700:25:49-Generational Sin and Retribution00:33:13-Social Justice, Racial Guilt and Biblical Justice00:46:04-Outro

Welcome to the Theology & Ethics Podcast from the Kirkwood Center! In this episode, the KC team discusses a recent trend of young men becoming Eastern Orthodox.If you’d like to get in touch with us, give us a call or send us a text at (909) 493-7799, or send us an email at contact@kirkwoodcenter.org. Visit us on our website at kirkwoodcenter.org.You can also join the conversation & see extra content on socials by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Substack. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave us a review on your podcast app of choice. If this episode made you think of someone you know, shoot them a link!#religion #easternorthodoxy #evangelicals #orthodoxchristianity #men #christianmen #religiousmovement #kirkwoodcenter #church #christianity #theology #ethics #bibleChapters:00:00:00-Introduction00:03:00-Are More Men Really Becoming Eastern Orthodox?00:17:35-What’s So Attractive about Eastern Orthodoxy?00:27:18-Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Differences00:36:22-Inter-ecumenical Dialogue00:44:40-Masculinity and the Church00:51:31-Reaffirming Protestant Theology00:56:44-Protestants and Marriage01:04:32-Outro

Welcome to the Theology & Ethics podcast! In this episode, the KC team discusses the modern definition of evangelical, and how this group is interacting with modern politics, namely, the 2024 Election exit polls. Also on the table are the many implications of this historic election across the country.If you’d like to get in touch with us, give us a call or send us a text at (909) 493-7799, or send us an email at contact@kirkwoodcenter.org. Visit us on our website at kirkwoodcenter.org.You can also join the conversation & see extra content on socials by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Substack.If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave us a review on your podcast app of choice. If this episode made you think of someone you know, shoot them a link!#election2024 #trumpvance #2024exitpolls #evangelicals #religion #americanpolitics #politics #kirkwoodcenter #church #christianity #theology #ethics #bibleChapters:00:00:00-Introduction00:03:12-Different Definitions of "Evangelical"00:08:52-2024 Exit Polls & Voting Blocs00:21:13-Types of Evangelicals & How They Voted00:43:06-What the Left Got Wrong in 202400:55:08-Election Controversy in Recent Years01:01:33-What Do These Polls Tell Us About the Future?01:06:08-What's Next For Immigration in the US?01:09:40-Final Thoughts01:10:11-Outro

Welcome to the Theology & Ethics podcast! In this episode, the KC team (and Dr. Joshua Ryan Farris) talk about a recent book “The Origins of the Soul” which lays out five competing views on the origin and nature of the human soul from a Christian worldview. This book was discussed by the authors at the 2024 Evangelical Philosophical Society Annual Conference in San Diego. Joshua Ryan Farris, Rev, Ph.D, is Humboldt Experienced Researcher Fellow at the University of Bochum, Germany, 2022-2023; Mundelein Seminary Chester and Margaret Paluch Professor, 2020-2021, March 2020 Center of Theological Inquiry; Director of Trinity School of Theology; International Advisor, Perichoresis, The Theological Journal of Emanuel University; Associate Editor, Philosophical and Theological Studies for the Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies; Associate Editor, European Journal of Philosophy of Religion.“The Origins of the Soul”: https://www.amazon.com/Routledge-Critical-Thinking-Religion-Theology/dp/0367904071/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1WM4XFLZORMML&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kf-10t_stYOezZReiJLkCMYN95kFZ6vcLS7IjOaHkPbGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.EwvlXRp3fag0kezQeplRkCFN7G6rzhxyhxEVLSysAGw&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+origin+of+the+soul+farris&qid=1734478492&sprefix=the+origin+of+the+soul+farris%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1Soul Science Ministries: https://soulscienceministries.com/If you’d like to get in touch with us, give us a call or send us a text at (909) 493-7799, or send us an email at contact@kirkwoodcenter.org. Visit us on our website at kirkwoodcenter.org.You can also join the conversation & see extra content on socials by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Substack. If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave us a review on your podcast app of choice. If this episode made you think of someone you know, shoot them a link!#kirkwoodcenter #church #christianity #theology #ethics #bible #thesoul #dualism #idealism #panpsychism #mindbodyChapters:00:00:00-Introduction00:02:16-A Brief History of the Soul00:05:37-What is Substance Dualism?00:12:54-The Assumption of Substance Dualism in History00:17:18-Why So Many Books on The Soul NOW?00:27:37-J.T. Turner’s Animalism00:35:00-Creationism vs. Traducianism00:43:00-Hasker’s Emergent Self View00:45:55-Leidenhag’s Panpsychist Traducianism00:55:57-Farris’s Creationist Dualism/Theistic Neo-Cartesianism01:09:29-Original Sin and The Soul01:14:50-Bruce Gordon’s Theistic Quantum Informational Idealism01:22:22-The Soul and The Scriptures01:33:50-Abortion and The Soul01:42:35-Outro

Welcome to the Theology & Ethics podcast! In this episode, the KC team (and guest Dr. John Bloom) discuss the nature of science, and how modern science misunderstands its own role in determining truth and values.Dr. John Bloom’s interests center on physics and the integration of science and Christianity. At the undergraduate level he regularly teaches Astronomy and the Science and Origins courses for non-majors and the First-Year Seminar and the Senior Capstone Seminar for department majors. Dr. Bloom has a passion for critical thinking, problem solving, and using hands-on lab experiments to help students gain an intuitive sense for physics concepts. Dr. Bloom seeks to bring greater theological and historical depth to biblical integration in teaching the Biblical Studies Department’s integration seminar: Christianity and the Natural Sciences.At the graduate level he teaches Modern Physics, Cosmology and Design, and the Intelligent Design Seminar for the MA, Science and Religion Program and Scientific Apologetics for the MA in Christian Apologetics. He is the author of The Natural Sciences: A Student’s Guide, which surveys the relationship between Christianity and science, and demonstrates how God’s glory is clearly seen through the discoveries of science.BIOLA Master of Science and Religion: https://www.biola.edu/degrees/g/science-and-religion-maIf you’d like to get in touch with us, give us a call or send us a text at (909) 493-7799, or send us an email at contact@kirkwoodcenter.org. Visit us on our website at kirkwoodcenter.org.You can also join the conversation & see extra content on socials by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Substack.If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave us a review on your podcast app of choice. If this episode made you think of someone you know, shoot them a link!#science #scientificmethod #materialism #modernscience #naturalmaterialism #creationism #intelligentdesign #research #religion #darwinism #naturalism #kirkwoodcenter #church #christianity #theology #ethics #bibleChapters:00:00:00-Introduction00:05:17-A Brief History of Modern Science00:11:47-Why Other Cultures Didn’t Develop Modern Science00:18:52-Francis Bacon and Historical Complexity00:22:45-The Rise of “Scientism” & the Sidelining of Theology00:36:33-Is “Scientism” On the Wane?00:43:16-Does Science Tell Us About Reality?00:54:25-Who Decides What is Scientific or Not?00:55:37-Should We Hold To Methodological Naturalism?00:58:53-How Should Christians Approach Science and the Bible?01:06:56-The Problem of Science, Ethics and Authority

Welcome to the Theology & Ethics podcast! In this episode, the Kirkwood Center team discusses the common misconception that the date of Christmas was based on a pagan, Roman holiday. However, the historical evidence shows something very different. Also, we talk about whether and how we should celebrate Christmas.If you’d like to get in touch with us, give us a call or send us a text at (909) 493-7799, or send us an email at contact@kirkwoodcenter.org. Visit us on our website at kirkwoodcenter.org.You can also join the conversation & see extra content on socials by following us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Substack.If you enjoyed this episode, please take a second to leave us a review on your podcast app of choice. If this episode made you think of someone you know, shoot them a link!#christmas #paganism #december25 #happyholidays #waronchristmas #kirkwoodcenter #church #christianity #theology #ethics #bibleChapters:00:00:00-Introduction00:02:23-Is December 25 based on “Saturnalia?”00:09:02-Is December 25th based on “Sol Invictus?”00:11:45-Where did December 25th really come from?00:18:57-Should we celebrate Christmas at all?00:27:35-Was it Good for the Church to appropriate Pagan symbols?00:37:09-Christmas and the Contemporary Christian Mission00:47:50-Shownotes & Resources

In this podcast, we talk with researcher, author and speaker, Carl Teichrib, on the aggressive anti-life MAID laws in Canada. Are western nations like Canada intent on depleting their population through coerced suicide? What does this mean for western civilization more broadly? This and more on today’s Theology and Ethics podcast.Carl Teichrib is a Canadian-based researcher, writer, and lecturer focusing on the paradigm shift sweeping the Western world, including the challenges and opportunities faced by Christians. Over the years he has attended a range of internationally significant political, religious, and social events in his quest to understand the historical and contemporary forces of transformation – including the 2015 and 2018 Parliament of the Worlds Religions, Burning Man, and the United Nations Millennium Forum.Since the mid-1990s, Carl’s research has been utilized by authors, media hosts and documentary producers, pastors, professors and students, and interested lay people. From 2007 until the end of 2015, he edited a monthly web-based magazine, Forcing Change, documenting and detailing the worldview revolution underway – points of pressure, forces of change.Chapters:00:00:00-Intro00:01:54-What are the Canadian MAID Laws?00:08:45-Ordinary and Extraordinary Conditions for Euthanasia00:16:57-Is MAID Trying to Kill the Lower Class?00:20:40-Why "Death with Dignity" Has Nothing to do with Dignity00:31:25-Death and Dying in a Christian Worldview00:36:31-Human Error, Human Arrogance and Assisted “Suicide”00:41:12-MAID and The End of Western Civilization00:46:24-Euthanasia and Pagan Spirituality00:56:42-Outro

In this podcast, we discuss the authorship of the Gospels with PhD candidate and NT scholar Wes Huff. Is the traditional authorship of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John still tenable in light of higher biblical criticism? Or did the Early Church Fathers basically get it right with regard to who penned the Gospels of Jesus Christ?Wes Huff is the Director for Central Canada with Apologetics Canada Ministries and a New Testament PhD candidate at the University of Toronto in Textual Criticism. He holds a BA in sociology from York University, a Masters of Theological Studies from Tyndale University, and is currently doing a PhD in New Testament and Christian origins at the University of Toronto’s Wycliffe College.Apologetics Canadahttps://apologeticscanada.com/our-team/Wes Huff Websitehttps://www.wesleyhuff.com/#gospels #apologeticscanada #newtestament #authorship #textualcriticism #manuscriptsChapters:00:00:00-Intro00:02:41-The Online Debate over Who Wrote the Gospels00:03:48-The “Modern Question” of Gospel Authorship00:07:35-Are The Gospels “Unusual” for Ancient Documents?00:10:48-Does Gospel Authorship Matter?00:14:28-The Earliest Traditions About Authorship00:15:55-Textual Evidence for Gospels and Apocryphal “Gospels”00:21:05-The Obvious Lateness of The Apocryphal “Gospels”00:26:22-The Dating of the Canonical Gospels00:34:17-Summary of the Arguments for Traditional Authorship00:36:46-Papias’ Testimony and Mark’s Gospel00:38:51-Counterarguments Against Traditional Authorship00:44:18-The Gospel of John00:56:02-Was There a “Hebrew Gospel” That Inspired the Other Gospels?

In this podcast, we interview Carl Teichrib, an expert researcher in New-Age Spirituality, Neopaganism, the Occult and Witchcraft, who visits one of the most infamous new-age event in the world, Burning Man, every year. What is Burning Man? What is taught or experienced there? And how can Christians engage with those at Burning Man or other festivals like it?Carl Teichrib is a Canadian-based researcher, writer, and lecturer focusing on the paradigm shift sweeping the Western world, including the challenges and opportunities faced by Christians. Over the years he has attended a range of internationally significant political, religious, and social events in his quest to understand the historical and contemporary forces of transformation – including the 2015 and 2018 Parliament of the Worlds Religions, Burning Man, and the United Nations Millennium Forum.Since the mid-1990s, Carl’s research has been utilized by authors, media hosts and documentary producers, pastors, professors and students, and interested lay people. From 2007 until the end of 2015, he edited a monthly web-based magazine, Forcing Change, documenting and detailing the worldview revolution underway – points of pressure, forces of change.#burningman #spiritualism #paganism #witchcraft #occult #transhumanismGame of Gods: https://www.amazon.com/Game-Gods-Temple-Man-Re-Enchantment/dp/1999492900/ref=sr_1_2?crid=D17QUDC06PO6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Cwj6ewQnLWI4mvjYJeLT3rQSC-BzHLdst8NyKpboPzIoPY2Vyb1Fvo2I2msMkc8_qNMVrUvDs3E5EhSzDzrE_9jbN4eX2dIsG-f4PuBF8KQ76qqIxwFnXzua0L-1AYzSC2YIv1JRY97K2Z87QdHw8T-ql7twWA5uY74MK3LqJqSe25Fi2H8KHGnSaBDfnfvtGJeo7Kga96MrCSDEEOrUVHwEA2sHZDhWlNYv80ECzbc.Y9iy9_CsV3y5-nZbkJkCbxqsTT3QtD6As9A0rLTIxIg&dib_tag=se&keywords=Game+of+Gods&qid=1732646029&sprefix=game+of+gods%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-2Forcing Change: https://www.forcingchange.orgChapters:00:00:00-Intro00:03:43-What is Burning Man?00:08:29-The Connection between Burning Man and Big Tech00:10:58-The Global Scope of Burning Man00:12:14-The Normalizing and Legalizing of Burning Man Culture00:22:07-The Elites That Gather At Burning Man00:27:00-What is the Worldview of Burning Man?00:31:22-How are Christians Perceived at Burning Man?00:36:23-Engaging with Burners at Burning Man00:41:04-Using Reason to Challenge Burners00:49:19-Bad Encounters at the Burn00:52:20-How Burning Man Culture is affecting the Church00:55:30-Burning Man as “The Cult of Experience”01:03:14-The Gospel, Personal Experience and Evangelism at Burning Man01:10:19-Outro