Language of God

Janet Kellogg Ray, a Christian science educator and author, discusses the challenges Christians face in accepting scientific evidence. She explores the connection between science denial and climate change, COVID vaccines, and evolution. Janet emphasizes the importance of science literacy and understanding the nature of science to engage in meaningful conversations about faith and science.

Expert guests discuss themes from the book 'Braiding Sweetgrass' including reciprocity with nature, dangers of consumerism, and the importance of inclusive language. They explore the intersection of indigenous wisdom, science, and Christianity, and the potential for enrichment through these perspectives.

Agustín Fuentes, an anthropology and primatology professor, explores the connection between belief and what it means to be human. He discusses the interconnection of biology and culture, the power and dangers of belief, the role of sociality in human capacity, cultural evolution and its impact, the power and perils of belief, and the complexity of belief and the science behind it.

As the host of his own podcast, No Small Endeavor, Lee C. Camp is well-practiced at conversations that explore what human flourishing could look like. In this conversation, he looks back to his own experiences in which doors were opened to him in his thinking about faith. He tells about his journey from preaching sermons against the theory of evolution to coming to understand that scientific knowledge about the world was not a threat to his faith, even when that knowledge presented new and challenging questions. Check out Lee Camp's podcast, No Small Endeavor Including this episode about science and faith with Francis Collins Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Titan Sound, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Joe Vukov is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University Chicago and the author of "The Perils of Perfection." In a fascinating discussion, he navigates the complex terrain between transhumanism and neo-Luddism, urging a balanced view on technology's role in enhancing humanity. Vukov delves into the ethical implications of human enhancement, critiques the 'playing God' mindset, and emphasizes the importance of faith in reconciling science and spirituality. His insights explore how we can embrace technology while maintaining human dignity and values.

Explore the scientific reality and symbolic importance of trees. Learn about their evolution, economic and environmental value, and communication and resource sharing. Reflect on the relationship between trees and God, and the impact of human actions on their ability to praise. Ends with a beautiful poem celebrating trees.

Kate Boyd, an author, speaker, and Bible teacher, dives into the complexities of faith in today’s world. She shares her journey through the messy middle of belief, balancing science and faith without compromising core values. Boyd discusses how family dynamics shaped her spiritual landscape and the transformative experiences that followed her seminary years. Their conversation also explores the relationship between the biblical narrative and scientific understanding, encouraging listeners to embrace uncertainty in their faith journeys.

Alister McGrath is one of the iconic voices in the dialogue between science and faith. In this episode, Jim Stump talks to him about two of his more recent books: A Theory of Everything (that Matters) and Narrative Apologetics. The conversation ranges from talking about Einstein’s religious beliefs and how they open a door for exploring the relationship between science and theology, to the importance of storytelling for Christian Apologetics.  Find out more about his book A Theory of Everything (that Matters) Find out more about his book Narrative Apologetics Jim recommends this book Enriching our Vision of Reality: Theology and the Natural Sciences in Dialogue.  This episode original aired on January 16, 2020 Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.  

In a recent article in the journal Science, researchers described a process where new genes come about from parts of DNA that were thought to be useless and led to bigger brains in humans. Jim and Colin, along with Dennis Venema, discuss what’s going on and describe some of the basic science that reveals why this discovery is an exciting new development in understanding what it means to be human and how we got to be the way we are.  Here's the article in Science Dennis Venema is also the author of a series of BioLogos posts called Evolution Basics, meant as an introduction to the science of evolution.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Anxiety disorders are extremely common. Curtis Chang knows firsthand how anxiety can be extremely disruptive to the healthy and happy lives we all strive for. In this episode Curtis, who is a theologian, host of the Good Faith podcast and executive director of Redeeming Babel, tells the story of his own struggles and the peace he found when he reframed his anxiety as an opportunity to participate in resurrection.   Additional Resources Redeeming Babel Good Faith Podcast (apple podcasts) Check out Curtis' book: The Anxiety Opportunity Mental Health Resources Page If you like this episode you might like our episode on Neuroscience, Mental Health & the Church Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.