Rebecca McLaughlin, apologist and author, discusses her book on friendship and how we can learn from Jesus and Paul. The podcast explores the lost virtue of friendship, the church's lack of emphasis on singleness, physical affection between same-sex friends, navigating diverse friendships, and a nuanced approach to the Billy Graham rule.

Kim Davis, a public figure involved in legal issues, discusses her case and the intersection of religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. The hosts also explore balancing head and heart in everyday life as believers, the role of churches in addressing political issues, and the importance of maintaining a prophetic voice.

Guest Ryan Burge, a political scientist and pastor, discusses the "nones" - the fastest growing religious group in the US. He explores their religious disaffiliation over the past 30 years, the rise of the "nones" in America, the incorporation of politics in churches, the link between church involvement and the "nones," and the misconception that education leads to decreased religiosity.

Thaddeus Williams, Biola professor and author, discusses his book 'Don't Follow Your Heart' and the ten commandments of self-worship. They explore the origins of self-worship and its rise in society. They also delve into self-worship in the church, the difference between ancient and modern concepts of happiness, and the idea of being a cultural heretic.

Greg Koukl, an expert in defending the Christian faith, discusses strategies for navigating tough spiritual conversations in his new book 'Street Smarts'. Topics covered include answering objections to Christianity such as evil, slavery, and contradictions in the Bible. He also talks about engaging with different beliefs, the problem of evil from an atheistic perspective, and tactics for sharing faith and discussing apologetics.

Dr. Darrell Bock, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at the Hendricks Center at Dallas Theological Seminary, discusses the Israel-Hamas war, including Christians' response and how to think about the casualties. Topics include Israel's role in God's plan, understanding Zionism and anti-Semitism, Israel's historical context and challenges, reflections on the future of Israel and the Palestinians, and speculating on the future of the region.

We're trying something different today! A new bonus series where we'll discuss a few current cultural issues that are in the news — and also answer some Q&A sent in by listeners.A brief programming note: Our regular weekly full-length episodes — where we do a deep dive on a topic or have an in-depth discussion with an author — aren't going anywhere! We'll still be releasing those weekly. This new series will be an additional episode in your podcast feeds each week, starting in the new year.Let us know what you think by emailing thinkbiblically@biola.edu.Enjoy!==========Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California. Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically. Watch video episodes at: https://bit.ly/think-biblically-video. To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.

In this podcast, JP Moreland, a distinguished philosophy professor, discusses the concept of personhood and its implications. They delve into topics such as life after death, criminal justice, AI learning versus human learning, transhumanism, and the role of consciousness in communication for conveying the gospel message.

Dr. Jean Twenge, author of Generations, discusses generational trends and the research on Gen Z. They explore declining religious affiliation, decreasing interest in marriage and having children, the impact of technology on mental health issues, challenges of managing children's technology use, and the future of religion amidst generational shifts.

Dr. Ryan Burge discusses the concept of 'de-churching' and the decline of church attendance in the United States. He explores the impact of LGBTQ issues on church disengagement and highlights the importance of social spaces and friendships in religion to attract people back in a post-COVID world.