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Darwin’s theory of evolution by common descent is so widely agreed upon by scientists that it is either the best explanation we have for the origins of life on this planet, or else it is a massive conspiracy involving millions of people. It is also, according to some Christians, a dangerous theory that undercuts basic claims of Christianity. Sometimes these Christians, working through organizations that promote Young Earth Creationism or Intelligent Design, spread misconceptions about Darwin’s theory, either mistakenly or on purpose. Jim Stump, philosopher and Vice President of Biologos, counters these misconceptions with data and scientific explanations. After putting these myths to bed, Jim and Dan move on to the perplexing fact that the book of Genesis seems quite cavalierly to suggest that many people lived between 600 and 900 years of age -- what is this about, and what are some possible ways of reading or thinking about it?Later, Jim helps Dan answer a listener question: “How do you understand the Bible as pre-scientific? For example, stories like David and Bathsheba, where the child is born and ‘struck by God’ rather than the child simply fell ill.” (1:13:30)DNA article: https://biologos.org/common-questions/can-evolution-generate-new-information“10 Myths about Evolution” article: https://biologos.org/articles/10-misconceptions-about-evolutionThe Biologos podcast Language of God - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/language-of-god/id1451956029Jim’s author page at biologos.org - https://biologos.org/people/jim-stumpEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is Peter Wehner -- Vice President and Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, and a contributing editor for The Atlantic magazine. He served in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush Administrations prior to becoming deputy director of speechwriting for President George W. Bush, and is one of the more prominent “NeverTrump Conservatives.” Peter has recently given up his membership in the GOP over their increasing identification with Trump. He and Dan talk about Trump and Evangelicals’ very public romance, and what that might say about the efficacy of Evangelical Christian faith. Peter also makes his case for a politically engaged Christianity, over and against a more Anabaptist-style detachment or principled uninvolvement/pacifism.Later, Dan answers six listener questions, all centering around questions of faith and politics (1:20:00)Pete’s book: https://smile.amazon.com/Death-Politics-Frayed-Republic-After/dp/0062820796/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=peter+wehner&qid=1567988321&s=gateway&sr=8-1His conversation with Jon Ward on the Long Game podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peter-wehner-on-trump-impeachment-limits-faith-to-overcome/id1248994688?i=1000441130129Alan Jacobs “How to Think”: https://smile.amazon.com/How-Think-Survival-Guide-World/dp/0451499603/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=how+to+think&qid=1567988343&s=gateway&sr=8-2Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Fundamentalist” has become a theological swear word. But how does it work psychologically? Why hasn’t it “gone away”? How do religious fundamentalists make sense of their world and find meaning in their lives? And what might this tell us about non-religious fundamentalists? Psychologist Peter Hill joins Dan to talk through the model he and his co-authors developed in their book The Psychology of Religious Fundamentalism (link below). Visual Aids:Fundamentalist - Intratexual Structure: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5io539nbf6oteve/Fundamentalism%20-%20Intratextuality.jpg?dl=0Nonfundamenatlist - Intertectual Structure: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u87g2auitlro9wm/Non-Fundamentalist%20-%20Intertextuality.jpg?dl=0Pete’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Religious-Fundamentalism-Ralph-Hood/dp/1593851502Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for exclusive episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The question of whether or not Adam and Eve were historical figures is a hotly debated topic in some circles of Christianity -- especially more Reformed and/or conservative circles -- and completely ignored in others. But there are a lot of consequences to this question, no matter where you fall theologically. Physicist and Science & Religion veteran Karl Giberson joins Dan to talk through the issue, and what he learned while working on his book “Saving the Original Sinner.”Karl’s book: https://smile.amazon.com/Saving-Original-Sinner-Christians-Oppress/dp/0807012513/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=saving+the+original+sinner&qid=1566844147&s=gateway&sr=8-1BARNA research mentioned: https://biologos.org/articles/a-survey-of-clergy-and-their-views-on-originsEdited by Joe Diaz-RomeroJoin the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of us have been pretty burned in Reformed Christian communities, which might go by names like Presbyterian, Bible Church, Baptist, and more, all of which stem in one way or another from the teachings of John Calvin. But not all Reformed thinkers read John Piper and R.C. Sproul, or believe that women shouldn’t become preachers, and SOME Reformed thinkers are even Universalists when it comes to salvation! Dan is joined by a very clear thinker who thinks that the Reformed tent needs to be widened: analytic theologian (and Reformed guy himself) Oliver Crisp (University of St. Andrews, Scotland). So let’s give Reformed theology a fair hearing, shall we?Today’s interview was made possible as part of the TheoPsych Project, hosted by Fuller Seminary’s office of Science, Theology, and Religion: Theopsych.comOlivers two books (Saving Calvinism and Deviant Calvinism): https://smile.amazon.com/Saving-Calvinism-Expanding-Reformed-Tradition/dp/0830851755/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=oliver+crisp&qid=1566088780&s=gateway&sr=8-2https://smile.amazon.com/Deviant-Calvinism-Broadening-Reformed-Theology/dp/1451486138/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=oliver+crisp&qid=1566088780&s=gateway&sr=8-10Edited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can silent meditation be prayer? Is prayer always in some sense bodily and physical, or is it only a spiritual thing? When did prayer first enter the story of humanity — millions of years ago, or only after verbal language? Did Neanderthals pray? Is it worth looking into the prayer practices of other religions, and if we do, what might we learn? These questions and more are explored with Dr. Carol Zaleski (Smith College), co-author of the incredible book “Prayer: A History.” Later, Dan answers a listener question: “What are the mental tricks or ways that you seek to understand or empathize with someone’s viewpoint you disagree with?” (1:32:00)Dan’s 4 mental tricks:Trick 1 -- system 1 or 2 belief? If 1, let it go, and just be kind; show them that people with your opposite belief can be loving; and remind yourself that they will probably only change their mind if they change their tribe. In this case, it’s better to ask general life questions than to drill down on the specific area of disagreement or original interest.Trick 2 -- if system 2, start asking more specific questions, learn their story as it relates to the issue.Trick 3 -- remind yourself that you are also a member of various tribes, so you can let your guard down as you listen to them.Trick 4 -- look for nuance; if you are finding it, you're on the right track; if there is none, you are probably stuck in mostly pointless tribal warfare.Carol’s book "Prayer: A History": William James, “The Varieties of Religious Experience”: Father Giles, “Prayer is the greatest freedom of all” (BBC): https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/prayer-is-the-greatest-freedom-of-all/p07b8dq5?playlist=what-is-freedomCS Lewis, “Transposition" sermon: https://gutenberg.ca/ebooks/lewiscs-transposition/lewiscs-transposition-00-h.html#ch01transpositionScott Davison, “Petitionary Prayer: A Philosophical Investigation”: https://www.amazon.com/Petitionary-Prayer-Philosophical-Scott-Davison/dp/0198757743Edited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did God really command the complete slaughter of everyone living in the Promised Land (men, women and children)? Would a loving God ever allow Israelite soldiers to take on additional wives as war widows (if they found them attractive and if they proved themselves to be sexually pleasing)? For 2,000 years, Christian thinkers and Biblical scholars have wrestled with difficult Old Testament passages that seem to show a violent and unloving God, one that seems to contrast sharply with other descriptions of God in the OT. Dr. Eric Seibert joins Dan to talk through this landscape of passages and problems, and to explain 14 distinct approaches that Christians have taken in dealing with them. Later, Dan answers a listener question: “What do you think of the whole #emptythepews movement?” (1:42:00)Eric’s book (The Violence of Scripture): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800698258/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1Nuclear Taboo article: https://news.stanford.edu/2017/08/08/americans-weigh-nuclear-war/Edited by Scott CangemiJoin the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most divisive questions in the modern church is whether or not biological sex plays a role in who should be allowed to preach (and there are other issues wrapped up in this one, like whether women should be primary bread-winners, etc). Egalitarians say, “No, let the women preach!” Complementarians say, “Yes, men only; that is how God set things up.” In this episode, we hear from Dan’s Godmother Barb Clark, who is an elder in an Egalitarian church, but has some nagging concerns about the whole thing. Then the bulk of the episode is spent with Rev. Bonnie Lewis, a pastor, teacher and Bible translator, who not only makes her argument for Egalitarianism, but also responds to many of the most common counter arguments from the Contemplentarian side. Finally, we get Barb’s reaction to Dan’s chat with Bonnie. This one is a doozy!BadChristian Podcast Dan/Bonnie episode (#438): http://www.badchristian.com/bc_podcast/bonnie-lewis-at-the-bcxcon/Bonnie’s “Timshel” translation: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1945582321/timshel-an-idiomatic-bible-translationEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is there a (perceived) conflict between science and religion, and has it always been that way? How does science actually get done, and is the scientific method and community set up in such a way as to come up with trustworthy claims? Are young Christians being set up to fail by well-meaning teachers who are skeptical of “mainstream” science? Dan is joined by Adrian Wyard of Counterblance.org to talk through all of this; before that, he hears from his friend Andy, an Evangelical pastor, about what he is and isn’t suspicious of in the world of science.Counterbalance.orgBiologos.orgEdited by Josh Gilbert (Gwall.Gilbert11@gmail.com)Join the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it possible to be certain about anything in one’s Christian faith? Is it possible to be certain about anything at all, like math, science, or the love of a spouse? Why does it often seem moreseo like preachers and Christian authors are peddling certainty than they are encouraging genuine faith? (The same could also be said for the “New Atheists.”) What does genuine faith look like in a world full of baked-in uncertainty? Dan’s guest Mark Schaefer, author of “The Certainty of Uncertainty,” provides some excellent commentary on this society-wide issue.https://www.certaintyofuncertainty.com/Edited by Laura KondourajianJoin the Patreon for bonus episodes (and more) every month: patreon.com/dankochYHP Patron-only FB group: https://tinyurl.com/ycvbbf98Website: youhavepermissionpod.comJoin Dan's email list: dankochwords.comArtwork by http://sprungle.co/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices