Explore the astonishing 'Cool Creations' highlighted by members of the BioLogos community. Discover the marvels of evolution through stories of fossilized whales and elephant intelligence. Unearth the genetic intricacies of quaking aspen trees and the remarkable dual notes produced by birds. This engaging discussion immerses you in nature’s wonders and the profound complexity of creation, inspiring a renewed appreciation for the world around us.

Rick Potts has always had an interest in origins. As a kid, exploring the origins of musical instruments and the solar system fascinated him. In high school he stumbled upon the study of human origins; he has not stopped investigating since. Dr. Potts tells Jim stories of excavations in China and southern Kenya and of people encountering the exhibit on Human Origins around the US. Reverberating throughout their conversation is the question, ‘What does it mean to be human?’ Dr. Rick Potts is a paleoanthropologist and curator of the Hall of Human Origins at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Before coming to the Smithsonian in 1985, he received his Ph.D. in biological anthropology from Harvard University and taught anthropology at Yale University. He has lead excavations throughout the East African Rift Valley as well as in southern and northern China. His research focuses on human adaptation to environmental change. Find a conversation about this episode at the BioLogos Forum.

Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, a prominent voice in Latino/a theology, talks about her experiences as a child of immigrant parents and the intersection of faith and science in Hispanic communities. She shares insights on the importance of mentorship for young people pursuing careers in science and the struggles of reconciling evangelical beliefs with scientific views. Dr. Conde-Frazier also highlights the transformative power of church communities in fostering cultural exchange and the need for dialogue on pressing issues like climate change and racial prejudice.

How do we live when we don’t have all the answers? How do we find answers amidst Biblical contradictions? Theologian Peter Enns refuses to shy away from asking the larger questions about Christian faith. He brings these questions to his conversation with Jim, wrestling with how the Bible relates to our lives today. They explore the potential behind reading the Bible creatively, the dangers of our modernist sense of truth, and the growing desire for spiritual authenticity. Theologian and Biblical studies scholar Dr. Peter Enns is Abram S. Clemes Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University. His research has focused on a broad variety of topics such as Old Testament interpretation, hermeneutics, and the relationship between science and scripture. In addition to writing and teaching, he hosts a popular podcast called The Bible for Normal People. Peter received his B.A. from Messiah College and an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary. He holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University. Find a conversation about this episode at the BioLogos Forum.

In today’s episode, Jim talks to evangelical theologian Dr. Richard Mouw. Rich shares his experiences from working in interfaith dialogue and lays out a compelling vision for Christian civility. Reflecting on his career, he finds our polarized cultural environment is not new—we’ve been stalwart in battling over big questions for decades at minimum. Looking ahead, exciting avenues of progress and growth are entangled in the corrosive arms of static certainty. The first step to a greater humility is greater understanding. Mutual understanding helps us reckon with what we stand to gain by drawing closer to those we disagree with. Richard Mouw is a theologian, philosopher, and former president of Fuller Theological Seminary, where he now acts as Professor of Faith and Public Life. Hoping to help resolve deep conflicts, his work often wrestles with interfaith issues and he has long been in dialogue with the Mormon and Catholic communities. He received his BA from Houghton College, an MA from the University of Alberta, and his PhD from the University of Chicago. Find a conversation about this episode at the BioLogos Forum.

Dr. David Myers, a social psychologist and author well-versed in faith and psychology, shares his insights on the profound practice of prayer. He discusses a notable Harvard experiment scrutinizing intercessory prayer, addressing skepticism around its effects. Myers redefines prayer beyond mere wish fulfillment, highlighting its role in building a relationship with the divine. He also explores neurotheology, connecting spiritual experiences to brain activity, and emphasizes how prayer acts as a complement to human efforts in healing, grounding faith in everyday life.

In this week’s episode, Language of God host Jim Stump is joined by Dr. Bethany Sollereder to wrestle with the problems of natural evil and the origin of death—topics Bethany addresses in her new book God, Evolution, and Animal Suffering: Theodicy without a Fall. They delve into the traditional answers to these questions, probing their strengths and deficiencies, and grapple with challenging Biblical passages on these issues. Bethany discusses the possibility of animals going to Heaven and what that would mean for how humans interact with them now. In all, she hopes to uncover how evolution is suffused with God’s love. Dr. Bethany Sollereder is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Science and Religion at Oxford University. Her research focuses on theology regarding evolution and the problem of suffering. She received her PhD in Theology from the University of Exeter after earning an MCS in interdisciplinary studies from Regent College in Vancouver. Original music from Carp. Find a conversation about this episode at the BioLogos Forum.

In the second half of our conversation with Francis Collins, he recalls writing Language of God over ten years ago and how the excited public response to the book sparked his idea for BioLogos. We reflect on the early days at the organization as well as Francis’ departure to become the head of the National Institutes of Health. Despite his departure from BioLogos, he still shares a firm commitment to gracious dialogue, to finding common ground with those with whom we disagree. Francis hopes we can learn to approach each other with respect and spend time with people who are different from us. We discuss the perception of religion in the scientific community and which questions science can answer and which ones it cannot. Finally Francis looks forward to the future of science—the exciting new horizons afforded by single-cell analysis, cryogenic electron microscopy, and treatments for genetic diseases. Dr. Francis Collins is a physician and geneticist known for spearheading the Human Genome Project and for his landmark discoveries of disease genes. Collins founded BioLogos in November 2007 and served as its president until August 16, 2009, when he resigned to become director of the National Institutes of Health. You can find his landmark book on science and faith—Language of God—on Amazon. More information on the concern about gene editing of human embryos can be found at the following links: Call for a moratorium on heritable genome editing in the journal Nature Francis Collins supports international moratorium on germline editing Original music from Carp. Find a conversation about this episode at the BioLogos Forum.

Philip Yancey is one of the most compelling and popular Christian authors of our time. But the Church has not always been good him: growing up in Atlanta included absorbing the confidently racist doctrine his childhood pastor distributed from the pulpit. At one point, an inability to reconcile his experiences with the Christianity he was brought up to practice caused Yancey to abandon the faith. Yancey is not free from the pangs of doubt and disappointment today, but he gathers courage from the selfless love played out in people like Dr. Paul Brand, a medical doctor who dedicated his life to treating leprosy. In this episode’s conversation, Philip Yancey and Language of God host Jim Stump discuss rediscovering faith after messy first encounters, disappointment with the state of the world, and stepping into a life colored with hope. Philip Yancey, author of books like Disappointment with God, The Jesus I Never Knew, and What’s So Amazing About Grace, is one the best selling Christian authors alive today. Early experiences in a toxic church environment as well as co-authoring several books with Dr. Paul Brand inform his writing on faith, the problem of pain, and unexpected grace. He holds graduate degrees in Communications and English from Wheaton College and the University of Chicago. Yancey lives in Colorado as a freelance writer and avid hiker. Find a conversation about this episode at the BioLogos Forum.

Dr. Steve Bouma-Prediger, a Professor of Reformed Theology, and Dr. Dan Richter, a Professor of Soils and Forest Ecology, share insights on humanity's connection to soil and environmental stewardship. They discuss how biblical narratives frame our role as caretakers of the Earth, emphasizing humility in our relationship with nature. The conversation delves into the scientific findings around soil health, advocating for hopeful agricultural practices and the intertwined nature of faith and ecological responsibility for a sustainable future.