Spiritually Incorrect

Perhaps the most heated, contentious, and difficult topic in Western World today is the topic of abortion. For those in favor of it, it is a part of basic reproductive rights and necessary for ensuring full equality of women. For those against, it is the slaughter of unborn life on the altar of convenience. Which position is right? Stereotypically, the church has sided with the pro-life camp, and many today continue in that tradition. Dr. Calum Miller is one such person. In this second part of our two-part episode, we ask Dr. Miller to defend the stance that human life does, indeed, begin in the womb.

Perhaps the most heated, contentious, and difficult topic in Western World today is the topic of abortion. For those in favor of it, it is a part of basic reproductive rights and necessary for ensuring full equality of women. For those against, it is the slaughter of unborn life on the altar of convenience. Which position is right? While the church has stereotypically sided with the pro-life position, there are many Christians who disagree with that stance. In the first part of this two-part episode, we ask Rev. Jasmine Mimitzraiem to help us work through her case for why Christians ought to stand on the side of abortion's legality.

Many may be forgiven for thinking the primary target of evolutionary biologists has been the young earth creationist movement. With thinkers like Ken Ham stealing much of the spotlight in the media, it's easy to forget that another movement, one perhaps just as significant, has arisen in the past few decades to challenge the evolutionary hegemony. The Intelligent Design movement continues to make a major impact on popular culture, perhaps most exemplified in the 2005 Dover trial that saw it brought to national attention. And in the past two decades, it has only grown and now boasts figures such as Gunter Bechly, Michael Behe, and Michael Denton. Yet perhaps most famous of them all has been Stephen Meyer, whose multiple works on Intelligent Design have generated millions of sales and endless conversations. With the release of his newest work, The Return of the God Hypothesis, he's here to discuss the basics, the best arguments, and the future of the movement he's helped to lead.

When most people hear the term "science and religion", they usually expect to hear something like "conflict" or "clash" soon afterward. The two domains, we are told, are in a constant state of warfare, and science has been on a triumphant march while religion slowly recedes into obscurity. In fact, this is often one of the first lines of attack against professing Christians. Is this the case? Or has this supposed battle been highly overblown? In this episode, Jonathan asks Seth to step up and tackle the question himself. A Ph.D. candidate on the topic of science and religion, Seth also has graduate degrees from Oxford and Regent College in the subject. This episode tackles everything from the history of the conflict, why we still think this way today, and whether there is good scientific evidence for God. For our Patreon subscribers, be sure to also check out an exclusive conversation on AI and theology.

In the West, romance is king. It's a billion-dollar film and book industry. Dating apps are everywhere, and it seems virtually every new song is about relationships. And they all seem to tell the same tale: you meet, you date, you fall in love, you know the rest... But that's not the whole story. For many people even today, they didn't date their spouses. Many barely knew the person they would pledge their lives to. As antiquated as it sounds, there are millions who still practice arranged marriages in the 21st century. Perhaps this isn't too surprising, given the popularity of shows about matchmakers on today's streaming services. Yet why are we fascinated by these shows? And why are so many still willing to leave one of the biggest decisions of their lives to someone else? Is there something we can learn from arranged marriages, something we have lost in our romance-obsessed culture? Here today to help us analyze Western culture's addiction is someone who is in an arranged marriage and can speak to its benefits and setbacks. Sherene Joseph, an accomplished writer in her own right and someone who has lived in both an Eastern and Western culture, seems like the perfect person to help us navigate the difficult road of love and marriage as we delve into one of the most difficult topics we have ever covered.

Origins Series, pt. 3: An Old Earth and the Historical Adam There are so many questions Christians have about what to do with modern-day science and the Genesis text. Indeed, it sometimes seems like it might be the biggest barrier to having real conversations about faith. Does science undermine faith? Does one have to put their brain aside in order to believe the first pages of Scripture? Many have certainly claimed that, and others have tried to fight back against the scientific consensus. Is there another option? In this week's episode, we're joined by Dr. Andrew Loke whose work has quickly placed him as one of the foremost defenders of Christianity today. In his most recent book, he defends not only a literal interpretation of Genesis that is compatible with an old earth but also a perspective that reconciles a historical view of Adam and Eve with genetic evidence. In his brilliant and succinct fashion, Dr. Loke gives us a summary of his radical and provocative new proposal that shows science and scripture are two complementary paths to the same truth.

Origins Series, pt. 2: Theistic Evolution Evolution and Christianity have never been the best bedfellows. Just hearing the two terms together often evokes images of conflict and fierce rivalry. Both, it seems, cannot occupy the same territory. But does that need to be the case? While many have claimed the two can coexist, our guest today has an even more bold proposal: Evolution may be Christianity's best friend. Dr. Zachary Ardern is here to show us just how he is able to pair both his faith and the science in a way that is not only compatible but complementary, and, as a trained Cambridge biologist, there are few more qualified to actually know the state of science today. According to Dr. Ardern, there is emerging evidence to show that the process of evolution itself has been finely crafted for the emergence of organisms like us. If this is true, then evolution may prove to be just as good of evidence for God as creationists and intelligent design advocates claim for their case. Be sure not to miss today's mindblowing episode as we delve into the question of Darwinism and design! Also be sure to check out our Patreon. We've just uploaded an unaired episode on abortion and the Supreme Court for your eyes only!

Origins Series, pt. 1: Young Earth Creationism How old is the earth? Did God use evolution? How should we interpret the first few chapters of Genesis? These are the questions that never seem to die... except, we are told, if you're a scientist. In fact, the story we often hear is that no self-respecting scientist would ever affirm young earth creationism. As it turns out, that's not the case, and our guest today, Dr. Marcus Ross, is living proof of that. A credentialed paleontologist, he is among a number of scientists who take the claims of a young earth seriously. In the first part of our Origin Series, we ask Dr. Ross to explain just how he is able to hold together the claims of Genesis 1-2 and his scientific mind. We tackle everything from Noah's flood, radioactive dating, dinosaur blood cells, the growth of the young earth movement, and the current drama over Ken Ham's treatment of other young earth creationists. Be on the lookout in the coming weeks as we dive into other perspectives, including old earth views, theistic evolution, and intelligent design. And for our PATREON subscribers, be sure to check out Jonathan and I's exclusive extended discussion!

Thanks to titanic franchises like Harry Potter and Dungeons and Dragons, the topic of witchcraft has never been more popular. These worlds offer a much-needed, magical escape from the mundane boredoms of the real world. But for many, the idea of witches is more than just a silly fantasy. In fact, the Wiccan religion has seen astronomical growth in the past few years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Millions now claim the faith as their own, and millions more likely will in the coming decades. Yet many, especially within the church, have no idea what Wiccans believe or what they practice. As medieval as it may sound, witches are the future, and this is a fact no one can ignore. Do witches actually possess real powers? Can they command spirits? How ought we engage with the ever-rising tide of interest in magical abilities? To help us understand this phenomenon and her own journey both into and out of Wicca, S.A. Tower joins us in what will likely remain one of our most haunting, jaw-dropping, and fascinating interviews ever.

Why are young people leaving the church in droves? That is the question that has been on the minds of Evangelicals for decades now, and over the past few years, the numbers have only seemed to skyrocket. Whether for political, ethical, or personal reasons, more and more millennials and gen-z are joining what has been collectively called the ex-vangelical movement. Who are they, and why has the movement gained such momentum? Here to help us think through the topic is Jon Mathieu, an editor for the Christian Century and founding pastor of the post-evangelical Harbor Online Community. As a former evangelical minister himself, Jon talks to us about his own experiences and what he has seen from those in his community. Whatever your feelings on the topic, this conversation is vital for understanding what has become one of the most important events in the history of the American church.