Why does God allow disabilities? What is the point of someone's disability? What is disability theology, and what are the implications of this for the church? In what sense will disabilities be healed when we meet the Lord? We’ll answer these questions and more with our guest, Dr Chris Ralston.

Guest Bio: D. Christopher Ralston (PhD Rice University) has served on staff at Joni and Friends International Disability Center since 2013 and is also a fellow of The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity. He is co-editor of Philosophical Reflections on Disability (Springer, 2009, and The Development of Bioethics in the United States (Springer, 2012).

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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.

This week's topics:

Abortion Pill Study: A massive study reveals serious health risks linked to the abortion pill mifepristone, with adverse events 22 times higher than FDA estimates—raising ethical and philosophical concerns about privacy, safety, and the personhood of the unborn.

Fathers Post-COVID: New research shows American dads are spending more time with their young kids, a trend celebrated for its relational and societal impact—challenging cultural narratives that downplay the importance of fathers.

AI vs. College Grads?: A rising unemployment rate among college grads sparks debate on whether AI is replacing entry-level jobs; we discuss the need for adaptability, wisdom, and a renewed understanding of vocation.

What Makes Us Happy?: After nearly a century of research, experts conclude that happiness hinges on purpose, relationships, and service—echoing timeless biblical wisdom about loving God and others.

Listener Q&A: Questions on school taxes, public funding, embryo ethics, and clarify past comments about parental rights and moral obligations.

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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.

What does the Bible say, if anything, about living together before marriage? Given that 70% of Americans now cohabit before marriage, and roughly 2/3 believe it will improve the odds of relationship success, what does the data show about how effective it is? While this is a huge topic in the church and culture today, surprisingly, few people are discussing it. In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss a recent study on cohabitation from the Institute for Family Studies.

Download the study: https://ifstudies.org/reports/whats-the-plan-cohabitation/2023/executive-summary

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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.

Topics this week:

• Controversy after Christianity Today published an article questioning whether Jesus was crucified with nails.
• The Supreme Court is debating whether parents can opt their kids out of LGBTQ-themed books in elementary schools.
• The New York Times and USA Today published articles discussing the return to church, particularly among young men, and the increased interest in the supernatural in today's culture.
• Listener question on the ethical and theological implications of the rise of megachurches and ultra-rich pastors.
• Listener question on how to test the reliability and reputability of news sources in the age of disinformation.

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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.

How many Americans are engaging the Bible today? And in what ways? How does Bible reading affect giving to charity, life flourishing, and experience with loneliness? Sean and Scott discuss these questions, and more, by analyzing the latest report from the American Bible Society. While some of the findings are expected, quite a few are eye-opening and unexpected.

Read and download the report here.

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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.

Topics this week:

• Women's Basketball Player Embraces Her Faith
• The UK Supreme Court Rules on Gender
• France's Law on Anonymous Sperm and Egg Donation
• Richard Dawkins' Blog Post on Christianity

Listener Questions:

• Further questions concerning the life of MLK jr.
• How should someone approach talking with parents in the midst of deconstruction?
• Is there continuity of life between now and the new heavens and new earth?

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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.

Michael Heiser is one of the most influential Old Testament scholars over the past decade. In this video, Sean is joined by Talbot Old Testament professor Charlie Trimm to discuss Heiser’s best-selling book “The Unseen Realm.” They discuss these questions and more: Why has Heiser been so influential? Are his ideas orthodox? Should Christians read his works? What does it mean to biblically embrace the supernatural realm?

Charlie Trimm received his Ph.D. from Wheaton College in 2012, writing his dissertation on God acting as a divine warrior in the exodus. His research interests include warfare in the ancient Near East, difficult topics relating to the ethics of God in the Old Testament, Exodus, and J.R.R. Tolkien. He is also a director of Every Voice: A Center for Kingdom Diversity in Christian Theological Education. When he is not teaching or writing, he can often be found spending time with family or watching Arsenal, his favorite football (soccer) team.

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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.

Topics this week:

• An Atlantic article on Elaine Pagels' new book, "Miracles and Wonder." Is she downplaying the supernatural? This episode dives into her controversial take on New Testament miracles.
• Florida teacher fired for using a student's preferred name without parental consent. Where do parental rights collide with student support?
• Scientists have brought back the dire wolf. Is this a cool breakthrough or a recipe for disaster? We debate the ethics of de-extinction.
• Are embryos property? Are they human life? The Alabama court ruling ignited a firestorm, and we're tackling the tough questions.
• Listener Question: Martin Luther King Jr.: Hero or flawed figure? We address a listener's challenge and discuss how to reconcile King's legacy with his imperfections.
• Listener Questions: Psychedelics: Are they safe? We pump the brakes on the hype, exploring potential harms and the principle of double effect.

Apologies for the late publishing this week — our production team was busy with a large event on Thursday and Friday.

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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.