College Faith: Recent Episodes
Stan W. Wallace
Are you considering majoring in Business? Are you interested in eventually earning an MBA? What must you understand about this field of study and career, especially as a Christ-follower? In this episode, I discuss these questions and many more with Dr. Mark Washington, the National Director of InterVarsity’s MBA Ministry. For more than two decades, Mark has helped shape the next generation of faith-driven business leaders, working with MBA students and faculty at some of the top business schools in the country. He brings a unique blend of ministry, theology, and business experience to our conversation.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Mark’s journey into an MBA, starting his career in business, and now helping others who are beginning this journey
- How his faith influenced him to do an MBA
- Where biblical truth was consistent with his MBA studies, and where he found conflict
- Finding Christian community on campus and in the workplace
- Unique academic and spiritual challenges that today’s MBA students face
- Advantages and disadvantages of doing an MBA part-time or full-time
- Advantages and disadvantages of doing an MBA at a top-30 school
- Good undergraduate majors to prepare for an MBA (they are not what you think!)
- How AI is changing the landscape of business, what AI will not change, and how to prepare
- Advice on how to earn an MBA a few years after college
- False advertising by MBA programs to know about
- How an Executive MBA differs from other MBA programs
- The pressures of being an MBA student
- Qualities and character traits helpful to success in an MBA program and a career in business
- The importance of a correctly grounded identity and worth in Christ while doing an MBA
- Positive and negative winds of change within business
- His advice to 18-year olds about majoring in business, and to undergraduate students thinking about doing an MBA
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Mike Schutt, “A Guide to Majoring in Pre-Law,” College Faith Podcast #64
- Faith Driven Investor, Faith Driven Entrepreneur, Solving the World’s Greatest Problems
- Praxis
- The Fellows Initiative
- The Christian Employee Resource Group
- The Christian Economic Forum
- The National Faith and Work Association
- The Theology of Work Project
In this episode, we’re talking about one of the biggest challenges facing students today: mental health during the college years. Between academic pressure, anxiety about the future, loneliness, relationships, social media, and the constant pressure to succeed, many students are struggling quietly and wondering how to navigate it all faithfully and wisely.
My guest is Brooke Wesley, a licensed clinical social worker, Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, and co-founder of Bellatore Recovery in the Kansas City area, where she has spent more than two decades helping teens and adults pursue healing and emotional health.
Brooke’s passion for this work is deeply personal, growing out of her own recovery journey from an eating disorder. Along the way, she has worked in hospitals, schools, recovery programs, and private practice, and she also helped launch Kansas City’s first transitional living program for women recovering from eating disorders. She’s also the author of Hungry To Be Whole: A Therapist’s Story of Healing from Anorexia, where she shares both her personal story and professional insights into recovery and hope.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How overcoming her own eating disorder led Brooke to want to help others.
- Factors that contribute to students’ mental health challenges.
- Signs of good mental health, and how this relates to success in college (and life).
- Why students can still be lonely while around so many people, and what to do about it.
- Signs of unhealthy relational dynamics.
- How a biblical worldview should help frame our understanding of mental health.
- Correcting common misunderstandings about mental health.
- How to recognize when it is time to find a mental health professional.
- How to find a good mental health professional by asking the right questions.
- The value of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
- The distinction between anxiety and stress.
- Specific advice for how parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends can help a student who may be struggling: signs to watch for and how to be helpful.
- How churches can help students who are struggling.
- Examples of those who have experienced healing and wholeness as a result of this journey.
- Proper and improper ways to use AI.
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Brooke Wesley and Maureen Rank, Hungry To Be Whole: A Therapist’s Story of Healing from Anorexia
- College Faith podcast conversations about finding Christian community on campus
- Aundi Kolber, Try Softer: A Fresh Approach to Move Us out of Anxiety, Stress, and Survival Mode–and into a Life of Connection and Joy
One of the most pressing and contested topics on college campuses today is social justice, and many Christians are confused about how to understand it through a biblical lens. I hope this conversation will clear away some of the confusion.
I’m joined by Dr. Thaddeus Williams, a professor of theology and philosophy at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. Dr. Williams is the author of Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth. In it, he argues that Christians are called to care deeply about justice, but that not every version of “social justice” reflects a biblical understanding of truth, human dignity, or the gospel.
Instead, he invites readers to recover a vision of justice rooted in Scripture, the character of God, and the dignity of every human being made in the image of God. In our conversation, we explore how Christians can think carefully and faithfully about justice, truth, identity, and cultural engagement—especially in the context of higher education.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Thaddeus came to be interested in this topic and write Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice.
- Why social justice is such a central topic on campus and in our culture.
- Defining “Social Justice B” and its underlying philosophy, Critical Theory.
- Why these ideas now provide ultimate meaning for many (becoming their religion).
- How students can understand and affirm biblical justice as true social justice (and how John Perkins helped clarify the four guideposts of correct social justice).
- How our culture’s understanding of social justice (“Social Justice B”) actually leads to further injustice, making our culture cruel and uncaring.
- Why understanding the Image of God helps us think well about issues of social justice and equality.
- How to distinguish between “Social Justice A” and “Social Justice B” in conversations, papers, and class discussions.
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Thaddeus Williams, Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice
- Thaddeus Williams’ Podcast “The Shed & Beam”
- J.P. Moreland, Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul
- Hellen Pluckrose & James Lindsay, Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody
- Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice–Implications for the Church and Society
- Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, Pose Woke: Asserting a Biblical Vision of Race, Gender, and Sexuality
- Stan Wallace, “How Should Christians Understand Critical Theory?”
In this episode, I’m continuing my sporadic series on various campus ministries. I’m joined by Jaime Noyd, the Director of the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). We discuss what ESN is and how it will be of great help to you if you are considering following God’s call to one day serve Christ as a professor.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Jamie came to direct ESN
- Why ESN exists–the vision of the ministry
- How scholarship can be a sacred calling
- If students may join ESN if they are not involved in InterVarsity
- How students can join ESN before they start college
- Some examples of students greatly helped by ESN
- Where ESN is going in the next 20 years
- Questions to regularly ask yourself (or others) in following God’s calling to the professorate
- The next step to joining ESN
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Emerging Scholars Network website
- Contacting Jamie: esn@intervarsity.org
- The American Scientific Affiliation
- Christian Professional Societies
- InterVarsity Graduate & Faculty Ministries
- Cru’s Graduate Student Resources
- Veritas Forum Communities
- The Society of Christian Scholars
- The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students
- Christianity and Intellectual Inquiry: Thinking as Pilgrimage by Douglas Jacobsen and Rhonda Hustedt Jacobsen
- The Intellectual Life: Its Spirit, Conditions, Methods by A.J. Sertillanges
- Love The Lord Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul by J.P. Moreland
- Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential by Gordon T. Smith
- The Call by Os Guinness
- Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student’s Guide to Earning a Master’s or Ph.D. by Robert L. Peters
- The Thinking Christianly podcast
- Scholars’ Compass (ESN devotionals)
- The Biblical Story and the Story of the Academic Disciplines (free with a Society of Christian Scholars membership)
Writing papers is a part of every student’s life. Writing a good one can feel overwhelming. But what if it’s about more than just getting a grade? What if your writing is actually an opportunity to think clearly, communicate truth, and even honor God? In this episode of College Faith, we’re talking about what students need to understand first in order to write well, the essential elements of a strong paper, the biggest mistakes to avoid, and how to approach research, AI, and the writing process with wisdom and integrity. To guide us, I’m joined by Dr. Bruce Barron, an experienced writer, editor, and communications leader who has spent decades helping scholars, students, and public thinkers express complex ideas with clarity and impact. Bruce has served in senior editorial roles with major policy and Christian publications, edited books and academic manuscripts, and coached countless writers from rough drafts to polished, compelling work. His experience at the intersection of careful research, thoughtful Christian engagement, and practical communication makes him an ideal guide for any student who wants to become not just a better writer, but a more faithful one.
In this podcast we discuss:
- What students should understand first to write a good paper
- The elements of a good paper
- The single biggest mistake students make when writing a paper
- A balanced, biblical approach to your studies, including writing papers
- Proper and improper ways to use AI when writing
- How much research for the paper is enough
- The steps in writing a good paper
- The importance of building a good relationship with your professors
- How to see your studies as an act of worship
- The most important thing to remember when writing a paper
- Some ways writing skills impact all of life after college
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- BruceBarron.substack.com
- Bruce Barron, “On Writing So Well That You Don’t Need an Editor” (Society of Christian Scholars webinar)
In this episode I continue my sporadic series on various campus ministries. I am joined by Charles Askew and Caysie Ashton, campus ministers with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). Charles and Caysie bring their unique perspectives to help us better understand the ministry of RUF and whether it might be right for you.
In this podcast we discuss:
- What “Reformed” means
- How Casey and Chuck got involved in RUF
- How RUF got started
- The core mission of RUF
- How to find a RUF chapter
- What to expect at a RUF chapter
- How chapters differ campus-to-campus
- What is required to be involved in RUF
- What makes RUF distinct from other campus ministries
- Why RUF doesn’t have a curriculum that students go through
- How RUF helps students build deep relationships
- RUF’s weekly activities for students
- RUF’s strengths and weaknesses
- Why students should look into joining a RUF chapter
- The importance of just showing up
- Why we shouldn’t fear the “secular” university
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- RUF website & various RUF chapter’s Instagram accounts
- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity and The Great Divorce
- Timothy Keller, Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters
- John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (especially “The Golden Book of the Christian Life” section)
- Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will
There are an estimated 2 billion Muslims worldwide, including your classmates, neighbors, and friends. Many are interested in discussing spiritual topics, including the person of Jesus. But how do we have these conversations–and share the good news about who Jesus really is–without the conversation turning into an argument? Alan Shlemon has an answer that he and many others have found to be very helpful: beginning with the Koran instead of the Bible to break down barriers. Alan is a staff apologist with Stand To Reason, a sought-after speaker on this topic, and my guest on this episode of College Faith.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Alan got interested in this topic
- Why we should care about sharing Jesus with Muslims
- Why Muslims are open to discussing Jesus
- What our attitude toward Muslims should be
- Essential Muslim beliefs and practices
- How to discuss the accuracy of the Gospels
- What to avoid in conversations with Muslims
- Alan’s overall strategy to get to Gospel conversations with a Muslim
- Why the Gospel is “good news” for the Muslim
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Stand To Reason website
- Get to the Gospel with Muslims, Stand to Reason
- The Cost Muslims Pay for Missing Jesus, Stand to Reason
- The Quran Gets Crucifixion Wrong, Stand to Reason
- Is “Allah” Just Another Word for God?, Stand to Reason
- STR U, Stand to Reason’s free online training program (includes his course on “Engaging Muslims”)
Are you or someone you know considering going to law school (and majoring in pre-law to prepare)? In this episode, I continue my sporadic series on various college majors students may choose. To discuss the field of Law, I’ve invited Mike Schutt, J.D., who has wide experience and vast knowledge in this field.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Mike got interested in studying Law
- Some of the career options for those who study Law
- Undergraduate majors to prepare for law school
- Where he discovered some of the connections between the Christian worldview and law, and how that shaped him
- What helped him grow in his faith during law school
- Some challenges he faced as a believer in law school
- Things you must understand to pick the right law school and flourish there
- Some ways Christians in law can have a redemptive influence for Christ
- The importance of joining the Christian Legal Society for the journey through law school
- The proper role of the Lord in the discernment process when considering law school
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Mike Schutt, Redeeming Law: Christian Calling and the Legal Profession
- Christian Legal Society
- CLS Law Student Ministries
- Cross and Gavel podcast
- Robert F. Cochran, Jr. and John Inazu, The Servant Lawyer: Facing the Challenges of Christian Faith in Everyday Law Practice
In this episode, we challenge the idea that studying as a student (and throughout the rest of our lives) is a necessary evil. Rather, we discuss why study is to be embraced and how it plays an important role in forming us into Christ’s image as we increasingly learn to love God with our minds. My guest is Dr. Richard Smith, who has just written Such a Mind as This, a study of the role of thinking well in the Old Testament.
In this podcast we discuss:
- The role the mind plays in our flourishing
- What the Old Testament has to say about the role of thinking in spiritual formation
- Why so many churches and ministries see the mind as the enemy of growth in Christ
- How the shift in worship music can be harmful to our spiritual life
- How the belief that deeper study is harmful to our spiritual life negatively affects students
- Examples of students who have flourished by asking good questions and finding good answers
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Richard Smith, Such a Mind as This
- John Frame, The Doctrine of the Knowledge of God
- Gresham Machen, Christianity and Liberalism
- Daniel Strange, Making Faith Magnetic
- Richard Smith, The Heart Thinks
- Getty Music
- Sovereign Grace Music
- L’Abri
- Suggested book list (left side of home page)
- Such a Mind as This YouTube
- Lester R. Juarez YouTube
- Centro de Estudios Cristianos Kuyper
- Cosmovisión Bíblica
- College Faith #20: How Christian Study Centers Minister to University Students
- College Faith #49: Why Are Students Required to Take General Education (or “Core Curriculum”) Courses?
- College Faith Podcast #61: Redeeming Philosophy: How Christian Scholars Changed The Conversation
- College Faith Podcast #38: The Pop-Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ
- College Faith #1: How University Students Can Love God with Their Minds – Dr. JP Moreland
This episode’s conversation is especially important if you’ve ever felt like your faith was unraveling—or if you’ve watched someone you care about go through that.
I’m joined by Dr. Peter Schuurman, a sociologist, pastor, and co-author of Blessed Are the Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada. It’s a book full of real-life stories from people who have struggled with their faith — and it addresses themes well beyond the Canadian context.
Whether you’re deconstructing, reconstructing, or just trying to hang on to your faith—this conversation is for you.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Why Peter wrote Blessed Are The Undone for this moment
- What surprised him most when interviewing believers who are “deconstructing” their faith
- Why it is so important to know why Christianity is true before going to college
- The role parents, pastors, and Christian communities can have in helping students doubting their faith
- Discerning the difference between healthy doubt and losing one’s faith
- Why “inerrancy” and LGBTQ are often stumbling blocks leading students (and others) to deconstruct their faith
- How to rebuild a sustainable faith after deconstruction
- Advice on finding a healthy church
- The importance of also deconstructing our atheistic, hedonistic culture and universities
- The value of listening to others’ stories of their journey to faith
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Peter Schuurman and Angela Reitsma Bick, Blessed Are The Undone: Testimonies of the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada
- Keith Campbell, “Filter-Free Praying When Things Get Tough,” College Faith Podcast #57
- Stan Wallace and J.P. Moreland, “An Introduction to Have We Lost Our Minds?,” Thinking Christianly Podcast #33
- Stan Wallace, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing
- Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth
- Rick Mattson, “Finding the ‘Middle Way’ in the LGBTQ+ Conversation,” College Faith Podcast #40
- Ross Douthat, Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious
- Justin Brierly, The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old And Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again
- Larry Sanger, “How a Skeptical Philosopher Becomes a Christian”(see also The Gospel Coalition’s “Wikipedia Founder Embraces Christianity: Larry Sanger’s Testimony Highlights”)
- Joseph A. Scimecca, The Not So Outrageous Idea of a Christian Sociology
In the mid-20th century, many in academia assumed that serious philosophy had little room for Christian belief. But in the past fifty-plus years, something remarkable has happened—a quiet revolution in the philosophy departments of leading universities. Christian philosophers have not only entered the conversation; they’ve shaped it, challenged prevailing assumptions, and earned a respected place in scholarly dialogue.
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Greg Ganssle, author, philosopher, and Department Chair of Talbot School of Theology’s Philosophy Department.
We explore how the revival of Christian philosophy began, the thinkers who helped spark it, and what it means for students of faith navigating the intellectual climate of today’s colleges in all academic departments.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Why conversations about what is really real (including God) were off the table in the early 20th Century
- What happened in the 1960s to change this climate in our universities
- How these changes opened the door for Christian philosophy to re-enter the academic conversation
- The importance of intentionally uniting biblical truth and philosophical truth, and of forming community among Christian philosophers
- The methodology and strategy of Christian philosophers to renew their discipline for God’s glory
- How Christian philosophers earned respect for their perspectives
- The state of apologetics (applied philosophy) today and in the future
- How students in other majors can apply what we learn from the renaissance of Christian thought in philosophy
- What insight from philosophy has been most helpful to him personally in his walk with Christ
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- The Society of Christian Philosophers (Journal: Faith and Philosophy)
- The Evangelical Philosophical Society (Journal: Philosophia Christi)
- Alvin Plantinga, God and Other Minds: A Study of the Rational Justification of Belief in God
- Rivendell Institute at Yale University
- Greg Ganssle, A Reasonable God: Engaging the New Face of Atheism
- Paul Gould, Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World
- Greg Ganssle, Our Deepest Desires: How the Christian Story Fulfills Human Aspirations
- Clifford Williams, Existential Reasons for Belief in God: A Defense of Desires and Emotions for Faith
- Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine
- College Faith podcasts on Community
- JP Moreland, The Recalcitrant Imago Dei: Human Persons and the Failure of Naturalism
- Stan Wallace, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing
- Arthur Holmes, Contours of a World View
- Mark Noll, Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind
- Closer To Truth (YouTube channel) – short interviews with Christian philosophers and others
- Tom Morris, ed., God And The Philosophers: The Reconciliation of Faith and Reason
- Kelly James Clark, ed., Philosophers who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers
In this episode, my guest is Dr. Corey Miler, the President and CEO of Ratio Christi, an apologetics ministry on over 100 campuses in the U.S. I’ve invited him to join me to discuss the ministry of Ratio Christi.
In this podcast we discuss:
- What “ratio Christi” means and how that relates to doing “apologetics evangelism”
- How Ratio Christi differs from other apologetics ministries and from other campus ministries
- How Ratio Christi overlaps with other apologetics ministries and with other campus ministries
- How Ratio Christi connects with the local church
- What a student can expect at a Ratio Christi chapter meeting
- How Ratio Christi campus leaders are selected
- Resources provided to those in Ratio Christi chapters
- The path to joining Ratio Christi’s staff
- How students can find a Ratio Christi chapter
- Ratio Christi resources for church and community groups
- Stories of how Ratio Christi chapters have made a real difference in students’ lives
- The importance of the local church caring about the state of higher education and equipping believers to defend the Faith
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- RatioChristi.org
- Ratio Christi Press
- College Faith Podcast #59: “Learning With Others to Defend the Faith: Joining a Reasonable Faith Chapter”
- Stand To Reason Outposts (small groups)
- Reasons to Believe
- Veritas Forum
- J.P. Moreland, Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul
- Stan W. Wallace, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing
- Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell, More Than A Carpenter
- Norman Geisler and Frank Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist
- Mark A. Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
Do you want to find and share answers to skeptics’ questions about the Christian faith? Would you enjoy being around other thoughtful Christians also interested in answering these questions? Then consider joining or beginning a Reasonable Faith chapter on your campus or in your city. My guest in this episode is Tyson James, Reasonable Faith’s National Chapter Director. We discuss why being a part of a Reasonable Faith chapter on your campus or in your community can make a big difference.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Why it is so important to understand apologetics while in college
- What a Reasonable Faith chapter on campus is all about
- How you can be involved in both a Reasonable Faith chapter and another campus ministry
- How to find a Reasonable Faith chapter on your campus
- How you can become a Chapter Director to start and lead a Reasonable Faith chapter if there isn’t yet one on your campus (or in your city)
- How Reasonable Faith helps you launch a chapter
- How much time is involved in being a Chapter Director
- What is distinctive about the Reasonable Faith chapter program
- A few stories of how God has used Reasonable Faith chapters
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Reasonable Faith
- Reasonable Faith Chapters
- Tyson’s email: chapters@reasonablefaith.org
- Ratio Christi
- William Lane Craig
- Dr. Craig’s Defender’s Class
- William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics
- William Lane Craig and J.P. Moreland, eds., The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology
- J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview
- William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision
- Greg Koukl, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
In this episode we’re talking about something that might sound like it’s only for pastors or missionaries, but actually applies to all of us: mission.
I’m joined by Eric Rafferty and Jon Hietbrink, two of the authors of Reviving Mission: Awakening to the Everyday Movement of God, and we’re digging into what it means to live with purpose, not just someday, but right now—in your dorm, your classes, your friend group, your part-time job.
Whether you’re wrestling with faith, seeking more meaning, or just wondering if God is at work around you, this conversation will challenge and encourage you in a down-to-earth way.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Why this book is so important for this moment in higher education
- What has been lost in how we think about mission, and why it needs to be regained
- The four-fold pattern of mission that is central in Scripture and unpacked in their book
- How students can live on mission in the midst of their busy lives
- Why students are qualified to be “on mission” even when they don’t feel they are
- Some traps students should avoid as they try to live out their faith “on mission”
- How to develop missional rhythms while in college that last beyond the college years
- A first small step to joining what God’s doing on campus
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Jon Hietbrink, Eric Rafferty, and Linson Daniel, Reviving Mission: Awakening to the Everyday Movement of God
Do you ever feel you can’t really be honest with God when you are upset, angry, or grieving? My guest in this episode believes you don’t need to filter your prayers, and has the biblical evidence to back him up. I’m joined by Dr. Keith Campbell, author of Of Heroes and Villains, which explores prayers of lament in the New Testament. Keith received his Ph.D. in New Testament from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently serves as the Executive Vice President of Global Scholars.
In this podcast we discuss:
-
- Why it’s okay to wrestle with God when things go wrong, not filtering our prayers
-
- The biblical basis for questioning God, wrestling with God, and crying out to God (lament prayer)
-
- Why we don’t hear much about this type of prayer, and what we lose as a result
-
- How filter-free praying helped him in his walk with Christ while at college
-
- Isn’t this childish, just throwing a temper tantrum because we are immature and unable to accept God’s will?
-
- Where trust comes in during a filtered or lament prayer
-
- The role of others when we are in dark days
-
- New Testament examples, including Jesus’s example of praying an unfiltered prayer
-
- Does this type of prayer really change anything?
-
- Doesn’t this type of prayer contradict commands to “consider it all joy” and assurances that God will ultimately make all right?
-
- How college students can help revive the practice of filter-free praying
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
-
- D. Keith Campbell, Of Heroes and Villains: The Influence of the Psalmic Lament on Synoptic Characterization
-
- C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
-
- C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
-
- Dallas Willard, Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God
-
- “Why Pray?”, Thinking Christianly podcast #10
-
- May Young, Walking With God Through The Valley: Recovering the Purpose of Biblical Lament
In this episode, we are discussing how to make wise decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas, both in your personal life and in your studies. My guest is Dr. Scott Rae, a distinguished Christian ethicist and professor at the Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Scott is widely recognized for his work in bioethics, business ethics, and moral philosophy from a Christian worldview. He holds a Ph.D. in Social Ethics from the University of Southern California and has authored or co-authored numerous influential books, including Moral Choices and Beyond Integrity. Rae is also a frequent speaker and consultant on ethical issues facing the church, business, and society.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Scott first got interested in learning about ethical reasoning, especially related to business ethics and bioethics
- The four ways people answer the “Says who?” question about right and wrong
- Finding common ground with others on ethical issues
- Scott’s very helpful model of ethical decision making applied to three case studies:
- Navigating your girlfriend’s pregnancy
- Wrestling with honoring your friend vs. confidentiality at work
- Dealing with the challenge of plagiarism at school
- Why “inner peace” is not a good guide to ethical decision making
- Why we shout at one another so much in our polarized culture today
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Scott Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics
- Scott Rae, Introducing Christian Ethics: A Short Guide to Making Moral Choices
- Scott Rae and Kenman Wong, Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics
- Scott Rae and Kenman Wong, Business for the Common Good: A Christian Vision for the Marketplace
- The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
- The Theology of Work Project
- The Denver Institute for Faith and Work
In this edition we are discussing a very prevalent philosophy on university campuses today (as well as in many churches): Postmodernism. My guest is Dr. Scott Smith, Professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. Scott has written quite a few articles and well-received books on this topic and often speaks on postmodernism and its implications in churches, at conferences, and on podcasts like this one.
In this podcast we discuss:
- What postmodernism is, and how it developed out of modernity
- Why the theory of nominalism (the belief that there is no reality beyond the words we use for things) is the foundation of postmodernism
- Why Scott is so interested in this issue as a Christian
- Examples of where students will encounter postmodern thought
- Concerns about the rise in “expressive individualism”
- What we can learn from postmodern thought
- What we must reject in postmodern thought
- A practical suggestion for how to converse with someone who embraces postmodernism
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Scott Smith, Truth and the New Kind of Christian: The Emerging Effects of Postmodernism in the Church
- Scott Smith, Authentically Emergent: In Search of a Truly Progressive Christianity
- Scott Smith, Exposing the Roots of Constructivism: Nominalism and the Ontology of Knowledge
- Carl R. Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution
- Carl R. Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution
- Douglas Groothuis, Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism
- Scott Smith’s Website:
- The Dangers of Nominalism
- Making Sense of Morality: Problems with Naturalism
- Podcast discussing Scott’s book Exposing the Roots of Constructivism
In this episode, we discuss how to transition well after college. My guest is Jon Steele, host of the After IV podcast, where he interviews guests on this very topic. So I’ve invited him to summarize what he is learning from his guests on this important life transition.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Jon became interested in helping students transition from college to their careers
- The important distinction between change and transition from college to after college
- The three general phases of any transition
- How to navigate well the inevitable transitions in relationships
- How the phases of transition play out as you move into your new career
- The trap of needing to always “live out your passion” and the danger of comparison
- The balance between valuing work too much or too little
- Transitioning in our relationship to money: budgeting, saving, giving, credit card use, debt
- Finding a community to help make wise financial decisions
- Navigating the inevitable spiritual transition well
- Finding a good church after college
- A final word of encouragement to college graduates for the tough times in your transition
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Jon’s podcast on life after college: After IV (see below for mor specific suggestions)
- Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change by William Bridges
- Meet Up app
- Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential by Gordon T. Smith
- Save My Cents website by Shang Saavedra
- InterVarsity World Changers podcast
- The Apostles’ Creed
- The Nicene Creed
- The Chalcedonian Creed
- After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships, and Faith by Erica Young Reitz
- The Gap Decade: When You’re Technically an Adult but Really Don’t Feel Like It Yet by Katie Schnack
- Analog Chrisitan: Cultivating Contentment, Resilience, and Wisdom in the Digital Age by Jay Y. Kim
- Specific After IV podcasts by topic:
Stages of Transition
- E75: Finding Your Footing in Transition Pt 1 (Apple, Spotify)
- E76: Finding Your Footing in Transition Pt 2 (Apple, Spotify)
Relational Transition
- E102: Ending Well With My Friends on Campus (Apple, Spotify)
- E103: Making (and Keeping) Friends After Graduation (Apple, Spotify)
Work Transition
- E112: A Foundation for Vocational Transition (Apple, Spotify)
- E37: How to be the Post-College G.O.A.T. – Nail the Interview (Apple, Spotify)
- E38: How to be the Post-College G.O.A.T. – Win Employee of the Month (Apple, Spotify)
- E142: Understanding Your Financial Narrative (Apple, Spotify)
- E143: Understanding the Biblical Financial Narrative (Apple, Spotify)
- E151: What’s My Financial Finish Line? (Apple, Spotify)
Faith Transition
- E80: I’m so Tired of Church Hopping – Finding Your Footing in a New Church (Apple, Spotify)
- E122: A Foundation for Healthy Rhythms of Rest (Apple, Spotify)
- E126: Finding Rest in Familiar Faith Practices (Apple, Spotify)
Other Resources
- E140: Level Up Your 20s (Revisit) (Apple, Spotify)
- After College: Navigating Transitions, Relationships, and Faith (IVP)
- E83: A Companion for Transition – Finding Your Footing in the Gap Decade (Apple, Spotify)
- E91: Joy Instead of Comparison: Anchored in God’s Goodness with Jay Kim (Apple, Spotify)
- E92: Self-Control Instead of Reckless Indulgence: Beyond Willpower and Positive Thinking (Apple, Spotify)
- Follow us on Instagram @afterivpod
Today we are talking about how to manage the deluge of college recruiting materials to help choose the best college or university. My guest today is Dr. Shirley Roels. She has been a career counselor and a marketing professor focusing on nonprofit marketing. She also speaks from her experience as someone who made mistakes when she was selecting a college and did a better job helping her two sons in their selection process. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the International Network for Christian Higher Education.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Her terrible decision-making process when choosing her college
- Experiences that helped her understand how best to wade through college marketing materials
- The dangers of not being careful in the college selection process
- Tips to effectively sort through the many college recruitment materials
- Types of college recruitment media that are more helpful than others
- How to view and “position” recruitment media
- The timing and value of talking with real people in the process
- The timing and role of making campus visits
- Some red flags to watch for in recruitment media
- The problem with only focusing on the costs of a college or university
- Ways colleges and universities hide the actual costs of their schools
- The challenges of online media recruitment materials, and how to manage these materials
- How to make the most of a campus visit
- The importance of taking classes in person early on (freshman and sophomore years)
- What if you aren’t sure you made the right college choice after your first semester?
- How to find Christian support at public universities–Christian study centers
- A word for first-generation and ethnic-minority college students
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- David Wunder, “How to Choose a College” on the College Faith podcast
- Council for Christian Colleges & Universities – CCCU
- The Council of Independent Colleges
- Consortium of Christian Study Centers
- Karl Johnson, “How Christian Study Centers Minister to University Students” on the College Faith podcast
- Robert L. Peters, Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student’s Guide to Earning a Master’s or Ph.D.
My guest on this episode of the College Faith podcast is my colleague Dr. Stephen Garrett, Vice-President of Curriculum at Global Scholars. Steve is uniquely qualified to help us understand the benefits and challenges of students taking a semester or year to study abroad, having taught in Lithuania as a “receiving” professor of study abroad students and being a “sending” parent of a son who studied abroad.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Steve’s perspective as a “sending” parent:
- How Steve and his wife first began considering with his son the possibility of studying abroad
- The value of studying abroad
- How much parents should be involved in the process
- The importance of realizing that every school offers different study-abroad programs
- Three different models or ways to study abroad
- Benefits and cautions about third-party study abroad companies
- Who might studying abroad not be for
- Other considerations such as the language of the host university and country, the status of the host university, the weather, etc.
- What he wishes he knew as a parent before sending his son off to study abroad
- Allaying parent’s fears of security and safety for students studying abroad
- The importance of registering with the US Embassy in the host country
- Concerns about connecting and making friends in the host country
- The value of the inevitable “failures” while studying abroad
- Steve’s perspective as a “receiving” professor:
- What helps students have a good study abroad experience
- The role understanding different cultures plays in a good experience
- What will ensure the student has a very bad study abroad experience
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Your university’s Study Abroad Office (or similar title)
- US State Department’s website
- The Red Cross
- T. S. Eliot, Christianity and Culture: Essays
- The Culture Company’s Country Comparison Tool
- Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling
In this edition, I continue my sporadic series on various college majors students may choose. To discuss the field of Sociology, my guest is Dr. Kevin Dougherty, Associate Professor of Sociology at Baylor University. In this podcast we discuss:How Kevin got interested in sociologyWhat sociologists studyCareer paths open to those with a degree in sociologyTraits that make a person a good sociologistHow sociology has been a help and a challenge to his faithHis research into the sociology of the local churchHis recent research into the sociology of religious tattoosCurrent conversations at the center of sociology, including sexual orientation and gender, and tensions this createsChristian professional associations for sociologistsHis advice to his younger self about studying sociologyThe value of going to a Christian university, and church attendance during the college years Resources mentioned during our conversation:Christian Sociological AssociationChristian Smith, Soul Searching and Souls in TransitionPerry Glanzer, Identity in Action and Christian Higher EducationPerry Glanzer, “The Art and Science of Being an Excellent Student,” College Faith podcast Episode #12Stan Wallace, Have We Lost our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing
My guest in this episode is Brian Mann, National Director of InterVarsity’s ministry among students in fraternities and sororities. As many students are on campuses with Greek houses, I’ve asked Brian to help us understand what the “Greek System” is, and the pros and cons of “going Greek” at college. In this podcast we discuss:What is a fraternity or sorority?Why Greek letters are identified with fraternities and sororities (and therefore are referred to as “Greek houses,” which are all part of the “Greek system” on campus, and to join is to “go Greek”)Why Greek societies often foster leadership developmentWhy some universities do or do not have a Greek system, and roughly how many campuses do Brian’s experiences in a fraternity as a believer--some negative, some positiveGreek life and the “third way” of engaging the campus cultureThe difference between a Greek House and a Greek houseThe overall advantages and disadvantages of joining a fraternity or sororityHow to identify healthy and unhealthy fraternities and sororities before joiningDefining important terms such as “rush,” “bid,” “house,” “chapter,” “pledge,” “active,” etc.Should you go Greek as a freshman, or wait until your sophomore year?The advantages and disadvantages of joining a fraternity or sorority as a believerThe number one factor to help determine whether you should go GreekHow InterVarsity’s Greek Ministry serves students in fraternities and sororities Resources mentioned during our conversation:Greek InterVarsityStan Wallace, “Are You An Artist, a Cheerleader, or a Demolition Engineer? Three Ways Christians Relate to Culture”
Why do universities require students to take classes in the humanities during their first few years? Dr. David Horner, who has taught these classes for many years, helps us see the wisdom of requiring these courses, in light of the value they bring to the student who takes them seriously. Dave earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in philosophy at Oxford University, is a professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, and is the author of (among other books) the popular Mind Your Faith: A Student’s Guide to Thinking and Living Well.
In this podcast we discuss:
-
- How Dave got interested in studying the humanities
-
- How apologetics (defenses of the faith) helped him overcome a crisis of faith in college
-
- What the “humanities” are and how they relate to humans, being “humane,” and being a “humanist”
-
- Understanding a “College of Liberal Arts,” what a “liberal education” is, and how this relates to the humanities
-
- The structure of classical education, on which the “core curriculum” was historically based, and on which contemporary classical Christian education is based
-
- The interesting “border-line” cases of law and psychology
-
- How the “arts” and the “sciences” differ (it’s not what most people think)
-
- Why students should be required to take core courses in the humanities
-
- The importance, in all fields, of learning to make good distinctions
-
- How to discern whether or not a specific humanities course is worth taking
-
- The connections between the humanities and wisdom
-
- An argument against the humanities–“They are so “impractical!”
-
- The critical distinction between “ends” and “means” in evaluating the value of the humanities
-
- The valuable role of the humanities in providing us with “cultural literacy”
-
- Why Christians should study non-Christians in literature, philosophy, and the other humanities
-
- Other practical benefits of studying the humanities, according to the CEO of a major corporation
-
- How to get the most out of your core curriculum courses
-
- The role a healthy campus ministry can play in your studies
-
- Why you shouldn’t just learn about the humanities, but rather learn to engage in the humanities
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
-
- David Horner, Mind Your Faith: A Student’s Guide to Thinking and Living Well
-
- Stan Wallace, Have We Lost Our Minds? Neuroscience, Neurotheology, the Soul, and Human Flourishing
-
- Dorothy Sayers, The Lost Tools of Learning
-
- John Terrill, College Faith Podcast Interview #47, “A Guide to Majoring in the Professions (Business, Law, Medicine, etc.)”
-
- Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, “Enough with trashing the liberal arts. Stop being stupid”
-
- Edmund Husserl, The Crisis of European Humanities and Transcendental Phenomenology: An Introduction to Phenomenological Philosophy
-
- E. D. Hirsh, The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know
-
- Edgar Bronfman, Insider Ed.com, “Business and the Liberal Arts”
-
- George Anders, Forbes.com, “That ‘Useless’ Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech’s Hottest Ticket”
-
- Kery Murakami, Inside Higher Ed, “Liberal Arts Pay Off in the Long Run: A liberal arts education may not have the highest returns in the short run, but a study finds that after 40 years, liberal arts institutions bring a higher return than most colleges”
-
- Gene C. Fant, Jr., The Liberal Arts: A Student’s Guide (Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition)
-
- Joseph M. Keegan, Breaking Ground, “Toward the Renewal of Humanistic Education in America”
-
- Nathaniel Peters, Public Discourse, “Why Should a Christian Study the Humanities?”
-
- Stephanie Dillon, Rolling Stone, “Unlocking The Power: Why You Should Consider Hiring Philosophy Graduates”
-
- Wendell Berry, “The Loss of the University,” in Home Economics: Fourteen Essays
This edition of the College Faith podcast welcomes Dr. Robbie Castleman, emeritus professor of Biblical Studies at John Brown University. She has studied, ministered to students, and taught at a number of very different types of schools. As a result, she is a helpful guide to understanding the similarities and differences between different types of colleges and universities.
In this podcast we discuss:
- The fundamental importance of considering who will be your professors
- The importance of the core curriculum in finding what you are most interested in majoring in
- When it might be best to transfer to another university to finish your degree
- Why you should look for schools that encourage professors to “push” you
- What to look for in professors beyond their understanding of the subject matter
- How to do research on professors to find the best ones
- Other very important but non-academic considerations when choosing a college
- Surprising insights into financial aid, including at private, faith-based institutions, and how to access these funds (illustrated by her personal success in financing almost all her education)
- Differences she noticed when attending a public university for her masters degree
- The benefits she sees of studying at an explicitly Christian school (her answer may surprise you–often the opposite of what we hear!)
- The unique challenges of various types of colleges and universities
- The necessity of finding good fellowship with other believers while a student
- How she dealt with isolation and loneliness at one college she attended
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Words of Wisdom from a Christian Professor at a Public University — Ken Elzinga on College Faith
- The Every Campus Coalition — a College Faith Interview
- How Christian Study Centers Minister to Students — a College Faith Interview
- How The Navigators Minister to Students — a College Faith Interview
- How CRU Minister to Students — a College Faith Interview
- How InterVarsity/USA Minister to Students — a College Faith Interview
- Robbie Castleman, True Love in a World of False Hope: Sex, Romance, & Real People
- Robbie Castleman, New Testament Essentials: Father, Son, Spirit and Kingdom
- (Various authors), Rest of Essentials book set
- Robbie Castleman, Interpreting the God-Breathed Word: How to Read and Study the Bible
In this episode, I continue my series on various college majors students may choose. To discuss business, and the professions more generally, I’ve invited Dr. John Terill to join me. John has a unique background to help us consider majoring in the professions. He has a degree in business from Indiana University, an MBA. from the Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), master’s degrees in theology and religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in industrial and organizational psychology from Seattle Pacific University.
After working in banking and with a business consulting firm, John ministered to students at Harvard Business School with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He then served as InterVarsity’s National Director of InterVarsity’s MBA ministry, and then as Director of InterVarsity’s Professional School Ministries. He is currently the Executive Director of Upper House, the Christian Study Center at the University of Wisconsin.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How John got interested in a career in business
- How he now applies leadership and management principles in the non-profit sector
- How positive and negative experiences in various organizations have shaped his understanding of business
- The inadequacies of seeing the purpose of business as only to maximize shareholder value
- A better understanding of the purpose of business–fostering human flourishing
- Developing a proper theology of vocation for all professions–why all work matters to God
- A wrong theology of vocation: “Finding God’s one specific job for me!”
- How a proper understanding frees us to flourish in our careers and serve others well
- The reality of a “calling” to the professions, and why this is not emphasized in our churches
- The professions as professional “guilds”
- How our work can be a positive influence on culture by helping build healthy companies
- How professional schools in universities are similar and different from other schools or departments
- Temptations of interviewing for jobs with business school recruiters
- The value of classes outside your professional school
- The type of person who generally flourishes in a professional school
- Other tips to help students do well in professional school programs
- Some ways to live out Kingdom values while in a professional school program
- Challenges for the Christian studying in professional schools
- The importance of finding a mentor
- How to find fellowship with other believers in the professions on campus
- Joining a professional society as a student
- Some mainstream ideas in business that are congruent with a Christian worldview and some that are not
- God’s faithfulness in the process of earning a degree in the professions
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Lausanne Movement’s Workplace Ministry Issue Network
- Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
- Yuval Levin, American Enterprise Institute
- Curtis Chang
- Consortium of Christian Study Centers
- Everycampus.com
- Christian Legal Society
- Christian Medical and Dental Association
- Professional Christian Veterinary Fellowship
- The Theology of Work Project
- jterrill@slbrownfoundation.org
- Upper House, the Christian Study Center at U. Wisconsin-Madison
In this episode, I continue my sporadic series on various college majors students may choose. To discuss the field of Communications, I’ve invited back Dr. Tim Muehlhoff, professor of Communications at Biola University.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Tim decided to major in Communications
- Career choices Communications majors have
- The two things a college education should provide
- The personal characteristics that will help you flourish in Communications
- How studying Communications has helped his faith
- Mainstream ideas in Communications that are consistent with a Christian worldview
- Mainstream ideas in Communications that are inconsistent with a Christian worldview
- How to engage these ideas constructively
- The emerging “golden era” of Christian communications theorists
- How to discover the direction of a university’s Communications major
- Movements afoot in Communications to be aware of
- The growing influence of digital media, and how Christians can be thoughtful about this opportunity
- Practical advice to keep our family (and friends, churches, businesses) together when we deeply disagree
- The important role of internships for a career in Communications, and the role of professional societies
- His advice to his 18-year-old self considering majoring in Communications
- The importance of being in a community of Christians at college, no matter what your major is
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Tim Muehlhoff and Todd Lewis, Authentic Communication: Christian Speech Engaging Culture
- Biola University Communications Department
- Tim Muehlhoff and Sean McDowell, End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations
- Sean McDowell’s YouTube channel
- Tim Muehlhoff and Rick Langer, The Winsome Conviction project and podcast
- Patrick Lencioni, The Ideal Team Player: How to Recognize and Cultivate Three Essential Virtues
- NCA – National Communication Association and RCA – Religious Communication Association
- Stan Wallace, College Faith podcast series on campus ministries
Between the recording of this episode and its posting, Randy Newman, my guest and dear friend, went to be with the Lord. Though Randy is certainly rejoicing to be in the presence of his King, I and so many others who knew him well are grieving deeply. But, as a way to honor his memory, and to continue encouraging others to learn from his great wisdom, I have decided to post this interview posthumously. We discuss a topic very dear to him–helping believers engage their doubts in healthy and redemptive ways. I believe he would have wanted you to hear what he had to say when we talked, to encourage you to continue “fighting the good fight” that he has now so well completed.
In this episode Randy and I discuss his recently-released Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief through Terrains of Doubt. It is a given that college students, including those heading off to college as believers, will have questions and doubts about the Christian faith. Randy’s wisdom and care for other’s spiritual journeys will be a great help to students (and all others) who navigate the journey through doubt.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Randy first got interested in understanding the role doubt plays in the Christian faith
- Why he decided to write Questioning Faith
- The importance of pre-evangelism before we begin sharing the gospel
- Faith (in something) is inevitable, not optional
- The main point he wants readers to take away from this book: it’s OK to have questions, but find answers
- The value of doubt in the Christian life
- How he deals with doubts due to the reality of evil
- Why certainty is not necessary to know Christianity is true
- The problem with the “presumption of atheism”
- Why very good “second things” make very bad “first things” in our lives
- Beauty as one of God’s signposts
- Advice to Christian students who have doubts about the Christian faith
- Advice to Christian students as they talk to peers with doubts about the Christian faith
- Advice to parents, grandparents, and pastors as they nurture those with doubts
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
- David Foster Wallace, “This is Water,” Commencement Address at Kenyon College in 2005
- C.S. Lewis Institute
- Randy Newman’s Questions That Matter podcast
- The Washington Institute for Faith, Vocation, and Culture
- RandyDavidNewman.com
This episode continues my sporadic series on the various fields students may choose to study while in college, today discussing a major in mathematics. My guest is Dr. Francis Su, a professor of Mathematics at the prestigious Harvey Mudd College. Francis is a past president of the Mathematical Association of America, has been featured in Wired and The New York Times, and is the author of the award-winning Mathematics for Human Flourishing.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Francis first got interested in studying mathematics
- The distinction between mathematics and arithmetic
- How math helps us shape a set of virtues and flourish (vs. approaching math as simply skills)
- Career opportunities for those with a degree in mathematics
- Which character traits indicate you may do well as a math major
- The similarities between mathematics and philosophy
- The similarities between mathematics and music
- Different emphases in the field of mathematics
- How studying mathematics has helped Francis in his spiritual life
- Challenges mathematics has posed to Francis’ faith
- Where he sees ideas in mathematics as consistent with a Christian worldview
- Areas in mathematics Christian students may want to consider pursuing
- Francis’ general advice for all college students
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Francis Su, Mathematics for Human Flourishing
- Derek Schuurman’s work on ethics, faith, and technology
- Francis Su’s website
- Francis Su’s article “The Lesson of Grace in Teaching”
My guest in this episode is Dr. Roger Parrott, the President of Belhaven University for more than three decades. Over the years, he has thought much about the value of a college education, how higher education has changed, in some cases drastically, and the real cost of a college degree. I’ve invited him to share some of his wisdom with us.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How higher education has changed over the three decades he has been a university president
- The four “S” features most public universities use to recruit students
- The four “C” features that define most Christian universities
- The causes of recent trends in public higher education
- The spectrum of colleges and universities identifying as “Christian”
- The difference between Bible departments and religion departments and what it says about a college or university
- How to cut through the PR and fancy brochures when considering schools
- The two essential questions to ask to choose the school that is right for you
- Answering a common objection to Christian higher education
- The downside of requiring students to sign a statement of faith to be admitted
- The real costs of college and how to navigate the financial challenges
- The problem with “tuition resets”
- The importance of calculating living expenses, textbooks, and fees into the total cost of college
- Understanding good debt and bad debt
- How important graduate-level education is today
- The number one quality employers are looking for, and how the college years can help prepare you for this
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Roger Parrott, “The Real Cost of College: Insights of an Insider”
- Belhaven University
My guest in this edition is Jeff Hardin, Ph.D., professor and former chair of the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin. He holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from the International School of Theology. In addition to his scholarly work in cell biology and leading textbook on this topic, Jeff has thought much about the intersection of faith and science and regularly addresses these topics in public forums.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Jeff got interested in studying biology
- The value of exploring various ideas, and noticing God in the process
- How, as a biologist, he benefits from inter-disciplinary conversations
- What career opportunities are available with a degree in the biological sciences
- How to zero in on the area of biology you are interested in
- How he has connected studying biology with his faith, and how he has thrived as a result
- Some challenges of being a biologist and a Christian
- How he seeks to reveal God in his work as a biologist
- Thoughts on how Christians can think about evolution and creation
- The role of understanding ethics and broader worldview and religious commitments in studying the biological sciences
- Character qualities/traits that are good indicators that a student will flourish studying the biological sciences
- The overlap of God’s call for us to care for His creation and current conversations in the biological sciences
- The importance for Christians to thoughtfully engage with the biology of neuroscience
- The importance for Christians to thoughtfully engage with the worldview, ethics, and practice of genome editing
- The growing conversation around “trans-humanism” that will become increasingly important in discussions in the biological sciences
- God’s grace for those called to study the biological sciences
- The value of joining a professional society in the biological sciences, and connecting with other Christians in the field at the society’s meetings
- What Jeff wished his 18-year-old self knew about majoring in the biological sciences
- Why it is important for biologists also to study things outside the biological sciences
- The importance of finding other Christians in the biological sciences, and how to find them
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- The Isthmus Society
- C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer
- Phillip Johnson, Darwin on Trial
- Gilbert Meilaender, Bioethics, a Primer for Christians
- Scott Rae, Moral Choices: An Introduction to EthicsJohn Wyatt, Matters of Life and Death: Human Dilemmas in the Light of the Christian Faith
- The American Scientific Affiliation
- BioLogos
- Reasons to Believe
- The Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
- The Christian Medical & Dental Association
- Francis Collins, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
My guest in this episode is Scott Phelps, Executive Director of the Abstinence & Marriage Education Partnership. For many years now Scott has spoken to students about the great, long-term benefits of saving sex for marriage, and so I’ve invited him onto the show to share some of what he has learned, and how others have found his insights helpful.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How he got interested in the relationship between living life well, flourishing, and sex
- Principles, or the successful pathway that most often leads to a good life
- Habit formation for life-long intimate relationships
- Hope for students who have already been sexually active
- Other benefits of waiting for sex until marriage
- The example of Joseph, Potiphar’s wife, and Joseph’s future wife (Genesis 37-50)
- The disbelief some have about the possibility of abstinence until marriage, yet their interest
- How to swim against the alternative cultural narrative of “free sex,” which saturates all media
- How his approach differs from most sex education programs
- The personal value and apologetic force of the biblical view of sex and marriage
- The biggest challenges students face to following the successful pathway to sex, marriage, and the good life
- The acceleration and shift in the cultural narrative about sex since the COVID pandemic
- How parents might tackle this topic with their children
- Simplifying the issue with one simple question
- Sex as fire in a firepit or as a forest fire
- Living together, sex, future marriage, and divorce
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Abstinence & Marriage Education Partnership
- Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives
- Scott Phelps, Excel Curriculum and Workbook
- Glenn Stanton, The Ring Makes All The Difference: The Hidden Consequences of Cohabitation and the Strong Benefits of Marriage
- Linda Waite and Maggie Gallagher, The Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier and Better Off Financially
- Rick Mattson and Stan Wallace, “Finding the Middle Way in the LGBTQ+ Conversation,” a College Faith podcast
- Stan Wallace’s Summary of Virtue Ethics
My guest today is Rick Mattson, a national apologetics specialist and evangelism coach with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He often does open “Q and A” sessions on college campuses in which he is asked for insights on how to understand LGBTQ+ issues in ways that embody both truth and love. We discuss some of what he shares on this important topic.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How LGBTQ issues come up in his conversations, and why it’s close to his heart
- The importance of the larger narrative of Scripture in understanding human sexuality and flourishing
- The relation of this issue to the Trinity
- How both the physical and spiritual ramifications of the Fall are often neglected in this conversation
- How to understand the idea that “God made me this way”
- How to understand the idea of a “gay Christian”
- Advice for Christian students with same-sex attraction
- The modern shift toward “expressive Individualism” underlying much of this conversation
- Finding the “middle way” between extreme views of human sexuality
- The centrality of spiritual disciplines in healthy friendships and sexuality
- How we frame conversations to open further LGBTQ discussions
- The importance of having appropriate expectations for our relationships
- How to not be bullied, or be bullies, in LGBTQ conversations
- What the loving thing to do is in specific situations regarding roommates or gender non-conforming dorms
- How to think about attending a gay friend’s wedding
- How to think about the use of preferred pronouns
- A strategy to think through various other LGBTQ-related issues
- How the church can better prepare students to think through these issues
- How parents can better prepare students to think through these issues
- The hardest question he gets on this question on campus
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Rick Mattson’s website
- Rick Mattson, Faith is Like Skydiving: And Other Memorable Images for Dialogue with Seekers and Skeptics
- Rick Mattson, Witness in the Academy: A Guide for Graduate Students, Faculty, and Those Who Minister With Them
- Rick’s blog posts on “LGBT+”
- Carl Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution
- Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to the Sexual Revolution
- Summit Ministries
- “A Practical Guide to Navigating University Culture,” John Stonestreet on the College Faith podcast
- World View Academy
- “Why Christian Students Must Understand Their and Other’s Worldviews,” Mike Schutt on the College Faith podcast
- “How to Choose a College,” David Wunder on the College Faith podcast
- Impact 360
This episode continues my sporadic series on the various fields students may choose to study while in college. My guest is Dr. Hannah Eagleson studied the great books at St. John’s College (Annapolis, MD) during her Masters degree, then went on to earn a PhD in Renaissance literature at the University of Delaware.
She has written study guides to The Lord of the Rings and to works by C. S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Sayers. Dr. Eagleson also develops programming to support Christian scholars as they follow Christ and love their neighbors, including work with Global Scholars, Chesterton House (a Christian study center at Cornell University), and the American Scientific Affiliation (a scholarly and professional society for Christians in the sciences).
In this podcast we discuss:
- What the “Great Books” are
- What “Great Books” university programs are and why they were formed
- Difference between Great Books programs at pluralistic and Christian universities
- Defining the important literary term “canon”
- How Hannah got interested in the Great Books and these university programs
- The value of understanding the classical modes of education: grammar, logic, and rhetoric and Classical Christian Education
- How the classical model of education contributed to interest in Great Book programs
- Hannah’s perspective on the medieval period of intellectual history, as a corrective to our current negative perspectives
- Details of specific Great Books programs
- How Hannah benefitted from being in a Great Books program
- The “seminar” approach to coursework in a Great Books program
- Why “new” is not necessarily “better,” especially concerning books
- How a Great Books program does and does not help you get a job and make a living, and strategies to better your chances
- What a “liberal arts” education is and is not
- Strengths and weaknesses of Great Books programs
- Suggestions if you want to use a Great Books program to prepare you for graduate studies
- How Hannah’s Great Books program continues to shape her today, and will into the future
- The positives and negatives of how social media encourages us to engage texts
- Defining “literary criticism”
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Britannica’s Great Books of the Western World series, compiled by Mortimer Adler and Robert Hutchins of the University of Chicago
- Baylor Great Texts Program, an honors program within a Christian university setting with many different majors
- Biola Torrey Honors College an honors program within a Christian university setting with many different majors
- Columbia University Core Curriculum (a program within a secular Ivy League university that engages with great books)
- Notre Dame Program of Liberal Studies Great Books Seminars, a program within a Catholic university setting with many different majors
- St. John’s College, Annapolis and Santa Fe (the whole program is Great Books)
- Thomas Aquinas College, Catholic (the whole program is Great Books)
- Dorothy Sayers, “The Lost Tools of Learning”
- C. S. Lewis, “On The Reading of Old Books”
- George Herbert’s poetry
- John Donne’s poetry
- Chesterton House, the Christian Study Center at Cornell University
- “Why You Need to Join the Great Conversation About the Great Books,” The Art of Manliness Podcast #430
- The New Yorker article “What’s So Great About Great-Books Courses?”
My guest in this edition of the College Faith Podcast is Dr. Ted Turnau, co-author of The Pop-Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ. Ted has spent many years thinking about how to help children (from the early years through young adulthood) understand, evaluate, and flourish in pop culture that is all around us. He shares some of his insights from his study, how his parents helped and didn’t help him, and lessons learned from raising his own children.
In this podcast we discuss:
- What “pop culture” is conceptually and biblically
- The two ways Christians tend to respond to popular culture, and a better “middle way”
- Daniel and his colleagues as examples of a healthy posture toward popular culture
- The goal of the Christian parent in the midst of pop culture
- How various parenting styles tend to influence a student’s decisions once at college
- The five questions that can help you and your children evaluate things in pop culture
- A case study: Evaluating the extremely popular Baldur’s Gate 3 video game
- Six things to keep in mind when we talk with our children about pop culture
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Ted Turnau’s website
- Ted Turnau, E. Stephen Burnett, and Jared Moore, The Pop-Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ
- Ted Turnau, Popologetics: Popular Culture in Christian Perspective
- Ted Turnau, Oasis of Imagination: Engaging Our World Through a Better Creativity
- Ted Turnau and Ruth Naomi Floyd, Imagination Manifesto: A Call to Plant Oases of Imagination
- Andy Crouch, Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling
- Christ and Pop Culture (an online magazine and podcast)
- Love Thy Nerd (a website thinking Christianly about pop culture)
- Ask About Games (a website by Andrew Robertson providing a Christian perspective and evaluation of video games)
- Hollywood Jesus: Your Bridge to Pop Culture (a website evaluating streaming shows, movies, and much more from a biblical perspective)
- “A Guide to Majoring in the Arts,” College Faith podcast #34 with Cam Anderson, M.F.A.
In this episode we are discussing an idea every student is sure to encounter early and repeatedly during the college years– the idea of “relativism.” My guest is Greg Koukl, co-author of Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air and the Founder/President of Stand to Reason, a great apologetics ministry.
In this podcast we discuss:
- The prevalence of relativism on campus today (often seen as “expressive individualism”)
- Some different forms of relativism students will encounter
- Greg’s “inside/outside” distinction, which goes back to the Garden of Eden and the Fall
- How relativism is related to the idea of “truth”
- Why Christians should not talk about “their faith”
- Why we can know “that” something is true without knowing “how” it is true
- Why no one is actually a relativist, and how to help a “relativist” see this
- How to ask good questions as a way to engage in conversations about relativism (and everything else–”gardening” vs. “harvesting”)
- Understanding and discussing the new/current definition of “tolerance”
- Responding to relativism on campus (with friends, in classes, in papers, etc.)
- The importance of finding common ground in conversations
- The value of using this dialogical approach to defend all Christian truth claims
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Greg Kokhl, Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Chrisitanity’s Toughest Challenges
- J. Warner Wallace, Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels
- Greg Kokhl, The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between
- Greg Kokhl, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
- Francis Schaeffer’s Trilogy
- C.S. Lewis, Perelandra
- Randy Newman, Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did
- Stand to Reason, Greg’s organization
- Greg’s podcasts
Related College Faith Resources:
- The Reasonableness of Faith: Why Students Should Study Apologetics with Paul Copan (College Faith podcast #25)
- How Asking Good Questions Helps Us Succeed with Randy Newman (College Faith podcast 10)
- Stan Wallace, “When it Comes to Weinstein et al., No One is a Moral Relativist–And That’s a Good Thing!”
My guest today is Timothee Joset, author of The Priesthood of All Students. He has been a student leader in campus ministry in Switzerland and internationally, including serving on the International Fellowship for Evangelical Students (or IFES) governing Board for four years. Timothée holds a Master of Arts with majors in Literature and History from the Universities of NOO – ka – tel Neuchâtel, Switzerland and Berlin, Germany, a Master of Theological Studies from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto and a PhD in theology from the University of Durham. For several years he has also helped give leadership to “Dialogue and Truth,” an initiative to support undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students in integrating their faith and their academic disciplines. Finally, he’s the incoming IFES Engaging the Universty Coordinator.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Timothee’s long experience in campus ministry as a student, staff, senior leader, and IFES historian, and a brief summary of IFES’s campus ministry
- Why the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is an important way to understand how campus ministries should operate — “Immediacy, Mediation, and Participation”
- The importance of treating students as students
- Understanding the university as a “foreign land” as a way to discern, value, and engage appropriately in the university context
- What we can learn about flourishing in the university from the Nation of Israel’s exile (cf. Daniel chapter 1)
- The importance of engaging the university in all its dimensions (as a complete “ecosystem”)
- Why the term “parachurch” is a problematic way to identify campus ministries
- A better missiological understanding of the relationship between campus ministries and local churches
- How pastors can encourage the students (and scholars) in their congregations
- Some challenges and opportunities when campus ministries are independent and contextualized
- The close connection between campus ministries and a “missional ecclesiology”
- Thimotee’s three-fold summary of what a campus ministry should encourage students to do: Value, Listen, and Engage
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Timothee Joset, The Priesthood of All Students: Historical, Theological, and Missiological Foundations of a University Ministry: The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES)
- Ralph Winter, “The Two Sructures of God’s Redemptive Mission” in Perspectives in the World Christian Movement
- IFES’s Engage the University project
- Nicholas Wolterstorff, Religion in the University
My guest in this episode is Dr. Martine Audeoud, Academic Dean of Bakke Graduate University and author of Research as Worship in the Company of God. In this recent book she shares much wisdom for students doing research for term papers.
In this podcast we discuss:
How Martine began thinking about research as worship
Why she believes “God is a God of research”
How Research as Worship can help students doing term papers
Why Africans have a “competative edge” in integrating faith and research and what we can learn from them
Why she chose the metaphor of the Jewish tabernacle to illustrate how research is worship
A few examples of how the tabernacle metaphor relates to research as study
Integrity in research as a reflection of the holiness of God
How understanding research as worship guards us against plagiarism, relying on ChatGPT to write papers, the temptation to only hear what we want to hear, etc.
How to balance being open to new ideas with affirming what we know biblically, as illustrated by Nehimiah
The non-negotiable values a Christian student should maintain while doing research
The importance of being part of a faith community to help in research
How to find other believers on your campus in general and in your major in particular
How to find a mentor(s) to help you as a Christian in your research
The importance of selecting the best research approach for your term papers
A helpful checklist to writing a good research paper
The role of journaling in doing research as worship
Sabbath-keeping as a part of research and worship
How all of our lives include research, well beyond just writing term papers
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Martine Audeoud, Research as Worship in the Company of God
Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences
“A Case Study in Thinking Christianly and Making a Difference: Edmund Husserl,” Episode 21 of the the Thinking Christianly podcast
IFES/The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and InterVarsity/USA
Christian professional societies (see also here)
My guest in this edition is Cam Anderson, author of The Faithful Artist: A Vision for Evangelicalism and the Arts. Cam holds a Masters of Fine Arts (the highest degree in the field) from Cranbrook Academy of Art, works as an artist (among other things), and is past president of CIVA--Christians in the Visual Arts. I know of no one better to help us think about majoring in the arts than Cam.
In this podcast we discuss:
How Cam first became interested in the arts
His journey toward introducing himself as an artist, especially in the Christian community
Why the church tends to devalue a calling to the arts
The various fields within the broader category of “the arts”
Career opportunities in the arts
Shifts in university art departments over the past 50 years
How an undergraduate degree in the arts positions one to work in other career fields
Character traits and other indicators that you may flourish as an artist
What a day in the life of an artist looks like
What is often not taught in History of Art courses
Cam’s journey to unite faith and art, and some ways this benefitted his faith and life
Challenges Cam faced as he worked to unite faith and art
How beauty helps us enter the presence of God
The current state of the teaching and practice of art in universities (in general)
How the crafts display beauty in interesting ways
Advice to students considering or in art programs at secular universities
What to do if you find your arts program is antagonistic to the Christian faith
How to choose a good university art program
Thinking Christianly about modern and contemporary art, and the other half of the story
How campus ministers and youth pastors can best reach students in the arts
Imagining a world without art as a way to understand the value of art
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Cameron Anderson, The Faithful Artist: A Vision for Evangelicalism and the Arts
Cameron Anderson and G. Walter Hansen, eds., God in the Modern Wing: Viewing Art with Eyes of Faith
Makoto Fujimura, Art and Faith: A Theology of Making
Makoto Fujimura, Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life
Upper House podcast with Cam Anderson and Majoto Fujimura: Art + Faith
Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art
Christians in the Visual Arts (ceased programming in April 2023)--see especially their “Find Your Fit” page for links to many other faith and art communities
The Brehm Center at Fuller Seminary
Duke Initiatives in Theology & the Arts
Image Journal
The Rabbit Room
Square Halo Books
This episode is the first in an intermittent series on majoring in the various academic fields (broadly speaking). My hope is to help you understand more of what is involved in various areas of study, how these fields relate to the Christian faith, and practical advice as you major in this area. My guest for each episode in this series will be someone with many years experience in the field, as well as a robust faith in Christ, and has learned to flourish both academically and spiritually in this field of study.
We begin today with a focus on majors in the hard sciences. My guest in this episode is Dr. Bob Kaita, emeritus Senior Physicist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he has conducted nuclear fusion energy research for nearly four decades. Bob has also been the thesis advisor for students who have pursued careers in government and industry as well as academia, mentoring students through their studies in plasma physics.
He is a fellow of the American Physics Society, and a recipient of the Kaul Prize for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research and Technology Development for pioneering work in components for fusion devices. Bob is also a fellow and past president of the American Scientific Affiliation, one of the largest organization of Christians in science and engineering.
In this podcast we discuss:
How Bob first got interested in a career in the sciences How Bob’s coming to faith in Christ in high school connected with his love of science The role Bob’s parents played in helping his pursue a career in science A scientist who followed God’s call that serves as a role model for Bob Career opportunities open to those with degrees in the sciences The importance of having a servant’s heart as a scientist Signs you may be called to be a scientist How Bob’s faith helped him in his studies of physics, rather than be a hindrance Some areas of overlap between faith and physics How Bob thinks about areas of alleged conflict between science and faith The centrality of one’s worldview in interpreting scientific data The exciting future for research in the sciences The grounding of a Christian’s worth as a scientist The valuable role of humility and spiritual formation in the life of a Christian scientist Books and professional societies that help connect faith and science The importance of understanding the relationship between science and the philosophy of science Doing science vs. faith-science integration Why there are so many Christians in the hard sciences The role of imagination in the practice of science The importance of being a good writer as a scientist Why scientists need to understand truth from other disciplines, and vice-versa Limitations of science that believers should be aware of Balancing “follow the science” with complete and blind faith in science The new “priesthood” of scientists, and the resulting backlash against science A final word of encouragement to budding scientists
Resources mentioned during our conversation and later suggested by Bob:
The American Scientific Affiliation Walter R. Hearn, Being a Christian in Science Other InterVarsity Press books on faith and science P. Moreland and Garrett DeWeese, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions Robert Wuthnow, The Struggle for America’s Soul: Evangelicals, Liberals, & Secularism Hannah Eagleson (ed.), Science and Faith: Student Questions Explored Elaine Howard Ecklund, Why Science and Faith Need Each Other: Eight Shared Values that Move Us Beyond Fear Textbook: The Crossroads of Science and Faith: Astronomy Through a Christian Worldview Textbook: The Crossroads of Science and Faith: An Introduction to the Science & Faith Dialogue
Intro:
My guest in this episode is Dr. Rob Bowman, an expert on cults and heretical Christian sects. He is also a biblical scholar who has, since 1984, written 14 books and dozens of articles defending the truth of Christianity against error.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Rob got interested in cults while in college
- How his background as a biblical scholar helps him evaluate cults
- Secular and religious cults (or ‘heretical sects’) and some examples
- The warning signs that a group may be a cult
- The importance of distinguishing between sociological and theological definitions of a cult
- Mormonism as a case study theologically (in how they define “God”) and sociologically (how they have changed)
- The biblical, global, and historic understanding of what constitutes the essentials of the Christian faith
- An example of a cult becoming a legitimate, biblically grounded denomination and vice-versa
- Distinguishing strong leadership/authority from cultic leadership/authority
- How the prophets and Apostles in Scripture model strong but not cultic leadership/authority
- Good questions to ask to determine if a group is a cult (including the one question you should always start with)
- How all cults deviate on the nature of Jesus
- Different things cults mean when they affirm “Jesus is the Son of God”
- What cults mean by “We only go by the teachings of the Bible”–the role other authoritative texts or unique bible translations in cults
- Examples of cultic beliefs and practices from Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, and Christian Scientism
- How most modern-day cults are just repackaged heresies of past centuries
- Why the three large U.S. cults (Christian heretical sects) arose in the same time and region, the dark side of Revivalism in the Second Great Awakening, and the lesson we should learn
- How “Restorationism” (the desire to restore the first-century church) lead to the establishment of many cults in the 19th century
- How “Rationalism” (the desire to only accept what we can fully understand) lead to the establishment of other cults in the 19th century
- If you discover you are in a cult, how do you get out?
- The “win-win” question you should ask if you think you are in a cult
- Websites to help you identify and understand groups that are cults (see websites below)
- The relationship between biblical illiteracy and a train wreck for your faith
- The importance of understanding the proper principles of biblical interpretation (hermeneutics) to identify and avoid the errors of cults
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Institute for Religion Research – resources on cults, apologetic issues, and how to study the Bible
- Watchman Fellowship – a comprehensive index of cults
- Bible.org – helpful for resources for studying the Bible
My guest in this episode is Dan Allen, a leader in the Every Campus Collation, a new initiative to help connect students with all the ministries seeking to serve them during their university years.
In this podcast we discuss:
- What the Every Campus Coalition is and how it started
- What campus “Prayer Walks” are, why they are important, and how to participate
- The goal of establishing a “gospel movement” or “gospel community” on every campus
- How the Every Campus Coalition is working toward this goal
- The importance of partnership among all who seek to minister to university students
- Some signs of revival and spiritual awaking among students in recent years
- Common features of gospel movements established on campuses
- Requirements of those launching gospel movements on campuses
- How the Every Campus Coalition serves churches, campus ministries, and those providing resources to students
- The College Faith Podcast as a new partner of the Every Campus Coalition
- How the Every Campus Coalition finds unity in diversity among churches and ministries
- The shared theological and missional commitments of all Every Campus partners
- How Every Campus is helping address the increasing mental health issues of students
- How Every Campus is helping address the challenges students are having connecting with others
- How students and parents can find a campus ministry through the Every Campus Coalition
- How churches can be partners in the Every Campus Coalition
- How campus ministries can be partners in the Every Campus Coalition
- How content providers can be partners in the Every Campus Coalition
- A word of encouragement to students
- A word of encouragement to youth pastors
- A word of encouragement to parents
- A word of encouragement concerning the College Faith Podcast and Global Scholars
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- EveryCampus.com
- The Lausaunne Covenant
- Global Scholars
My guest today is Jonathan Morrow. Jonathan has been equipping students and parents in biblical worldview, apologetics, and culture for over 16 years, and is passionate about seeing a new generation build a lasting faith. He holds graduate degrees in Christian thought and is currently the Director of Cultural Engagement and Student Discipleship at the Impact 360 Institute and an adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University. Jonathan has authored several books, including Welcome to College, Questioning the Bible, and Is God Just a Human Invention? His book Welcome to College is the best book I’ve seen to help students flourish during their university years. So I’ve invited him to discuss some of the ideas in this book with me today.
In this podcast we discuss:
- The five ideas defining campus culture today and how to identify and respond to them (and broader culture)
- Understanding “Sexual Revolution 2.0” and how to reframe these issues
- How some churches are embracing these harmful ideas (and some authors promoting these ideas)
- “Deconstructing” faith
- Dealing with the three types of doubt
- Examples of students who have flourished due to the principles in Welcome to College
- Some problems students face when not understanding the truths in Welcome to College
- The importance of choosing friends wisely
- The fallacy of assuming your Christian upbringing prepares you for college
- The three biblical ways to flourish in college
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Jonathan Morrow, Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower’s Guide for the Journey
- Impact 360 Institute
- Alisa Childers, Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity
- JonathanMorrow.org
- Andy Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place
- JP Moreland, Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology
- Paul Copan, True For You But Not For Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian Faith
- Francis Beckwith and Greg Koukl, Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air
- Thaddeus Williams, Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice
- Nancy Pearcey, Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality
- Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution
- Carl Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution (a shorter and easier-to-read version of his The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self)
- Sean McDowell, “Conservative vs. Progressive: Jesus, Culture, and the Bible (with Brandan Robertson)” (One of Sean’s many YouTube videos on Progressive Christianity)
- Greg Koukl, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions
My guest today is Dr. Phil Bishop, Emeritus Professor at the University of Alabama. Due to the pressures he faced as a student and then as a professor at a leading university, Phil has thought much about the whys and hows of managing his time well so as to excel both professionally and spiritually. He shares some of what he’s learned about time management.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Phil learned to manage his time well
- Why learning to manage time well is so important
- The importance of making time management choices based on priorities
- Time management and a weekly day of rest
- Why we shouldn’t be “crazy busy”
- Being sure to get what we are paying for at college
- Tips on saving time by keeping track of documents
- How working ahead by leveraging a calendar saves time
- Time management as a stress-reducer
- The value of learning to say “no”
- The role of prayer in time management
- How knowing yourself is essential to managing your time effectively
- Combining tasks to maximize your time
- Succeeding by doing small things well through good time management
- Learning from others who manage their time better than you
- A practical first step to managing your time better
- Why Phil wishes he had managed his time a little less and been a bit less “productive”
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Phil Bishop, College Faith Podcast “How To Get Better Grades…and Have More Fun”
- Simple Gmail Notes (Gmail extension to add personal notes to emails)
- Boomerang (Gmail extension to help manage emails)
- Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society
- Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work
- Dr. Bishop’s email address: pbishop[at]ua.edu
The college years are pivotal in determining a career path. Beginning with choosing a college and then choosing a major, and often even a specialization, students are faced with many important decisions. It is often challenging for the Christian student trying to discern God’s will in these career choices. It involves determining your calling and having the courage to follow that path. I discuss this with Dr. Gordon Smith, president of Ambrose University and author of Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential.
In this podcast we discuss:
- How Gordon’s own wrestling with career questions lead him to write this book
- The fundamental paradigm for determining God’s will
- Does God only “call” people to ministry?
- Is serving in “ministry” more valued by God? Why or why not?
- The value of careers that involve “manual” work
- How Gordon developed a more accurate theology of vocation
- How others can help you discern God’s will in making career decisions
- The important difference between your “career” and your “vocation”
- The four questions that will help you discover your calling
- The greatest roadblock to discerning your calling
- The role anger should and should not play in your discernment process
- The value of the Myers-Briggs [Personality] Type Indicator in your discernment process
- How to deal with the fear of “missing” God’s call in your career choice
- Why you should take classes in a wide range of subjects during the first few years of college
- Releasing the burden of having to nail this all down by the time you graduate
- Being freed from the “urgency and tyranny of time” in finding and living out your calling
- How your vocation is tied to our specific time and place
- The importance of courage over fear in finding and following your calling
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Gordon Smith, Teach Us To Pray
- Francis Schaeffer’s Trilogy, How Shall We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, and his many other books
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
- Liam Atchison, “Higher Education 101: How Universities Came to Be and How They Work,” College Faith podcast #3
- Gordon Smith, Consider Your Calling: Six Questions for Discerning Your Vocation (for college students)
- Gordon Smith, Your Calling Here and Now: Making Sense of Vocation (for those in mid-life)
- Edward P. Hahnenberg, Awakening Vocation: A Theology of Christian Call
Reading is a big part of every student’s life, and so today’s topic is how to read a book. To discuss this with me is Cherie Harder. She not only loves books and reading, but a big part of her role as President of the Trinity Forum is helping others learn to read well and love books as much as she does.
In this podcast we discuss:
- Why Cherie loves books
- Tips to help students read effectively (to understand well)
- Some of the challenges to reading well in our day of social media
- Reading different types of books differently
- How what you read shapes you
- How to read in ways that discern truth from error
- The value of courses in the humanities for non-humanities majors
- Why it is important to read those we disagree with
- The value of reading books from other times and cultures
- Why to re-read a book now and then
- The value of reading with others and reading groups
- How to understand the book’s parts in light of the whole (and vice versa)
- The importance of understanding genre (types of writing)
- When it is important to read an entire book and when it is not important
- How and when to consult a book’s online reviews and CliffsNotes
- Are paper books or ebooks better?
- How to best read an ebook
- The value of pleasure-reading
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
- Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading
- Alan Jacobs, Breaking Bread With The Dead: A Reader’s Guide to a More Tranquil Mind
- C.S. Lewis, “On The Reading of Old Books”
- Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth
- Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading
- The Trinity Forum (and their “Bookclub Box” and the Trinity Forum Conversations podcast)
- Jessica Hooten Wilson, Reading for Regeneration (a Trinity Forum Conversation)
- ________, The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints
- ________, Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice
- Maryanne Wolf, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain
My guest today is Dr. Nita Kotiuga, Director of Spiritual Formation at Bakke Graduate University. Nita began to think seriously about being formed in the image of Christ during her college years while involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She then served on InterVarsity staff for six years, sharing with students what she had learned about developing intimacy with Christ. So interested was she in understanding and living in light of biblical truth that she went on to earn graduate degrees in theology and spiritual formation, which have positioned her well for her current role.
In this podcast we discuss:
What is “spiritual formation”?What are “spiritual disciplines”?How these differ from works that earn or merit God’s love or graceWhy desperation in her spiritual life drove her to explore spiritual formationWhat a “spiritual director” is and is notHow Scripture came “alive” to herWhy Protestants have been wary of spiritual direction The benefits of having a spiritual directorThe centrality of Scripture in the Ignatian method of spiritual direction How skiing helped Stan understand our and God’s roles in spiritual formationHow teaching her kids to swim helped Nita understand our and God’s roles in spiritual formationHow to enter into the stories of the Bible, and why it is important to do soThe importance of journaling and the best way to do soWatching TV and movies as a way to enter into God’s storyDisciplines of abstinance and of engagementThe relationship between disciplines and different temptations or seasons in our livesThe results of spiritual formationHow to be sure a spiritual director is “legit”Spiritual disciplines students should consider beginning withThe value of examining your day each night before going to sleepWhat to do if practicing spiritual disciplines isn’t “working” for you
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Richard Foster, The Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Chosen (TV series)How to Watch a Movie, Using Top Gun: Maverick as an Example, Drew Trotter on the College Faith podcastDallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes LivesTimothy M. Gallagher, Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with ScriptureDr. Nita Kotiuga’s email: nita.kotiuga@bgu.edu
My guest is Dr. Paul Copan, a noted defender of the faith and professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Paul has authored over a dozen books on apologetics, as well as edited and contributed to many more. He is with me today to discuss this vitally important topic of, in the words of Peter, “giving a reason for the hope within.” (I Peter 3:15)
In this podcast we discuss:
What is “apologetics”? How Paul got interested in studying apologetics Why it is important all Christian students understand apologetics Understanding Christianity as a “knowledge tradition” rather than just a “belief tradition” Why speaking in terms of “world views” requires atheists to also defend their beliefs Some examples of how non-Christians and Christians have been helped by apologetics Biblical passages that seem to say faith is important, not reason “The problem of evil”--a common objection requiring a response (and a response) The role of the Holy Spirit in apologetics The most important apologetic topics to understand today Old Testament ethical challenges like God possibly commanding genocide Responding to challenges to the biblical view of sexuality The importance of a proper understanding of faith and science How to begin studying apologetics Tips for having good apologetic conversations ”with gentleness and respect”
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Paul Copan’s website www.PaulCopan.com Paul Copan, True For You But Not For Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian Faith _________, Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God _________, Is God a Vindictive Bully? Reconciling Portraits of God in the Old and New Testaments ________, That’s Just Your Interpretation: Responding to Skeptics Who Challenge Your Faith ________, How Do You Know You’re Not Wrong? Responding to Objections That Leave Christians Speechless ________, When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics Paul Copan, et al., eds., Dictionary of Christianity and Science: The Definitive Reference for the Intersection of Christian Faith and Contemporary Science _________, Three Views on Christianity and Science _________, The Apologetics Study Bible Paul Copan, Paul Gould, et al., The Worldview Bulletin newsletter Paul Gould, Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World Jana Harmon, Side B Stories: Atheist conversion to Christianity podcast Ruth Tucker, Walking Away From Faith: Unraveling the Mystery of Belief and Unbelief William Lane Craig’s Reasonable Faith website Palm Beach Atlantic University: Bachelor of Arts in Apologetics and Master of Arts in Philosophy of Religion Reasonable Faith campus ministry
My guest today is Mike Schutt, Executive Director of the Worldview Academy. Mike has been thinking, writing, and consulting on worldview formation for over 30 years, including helping law students bring their worldview into the practice of law. His thoughts on worldview and Law have been published in his Redeeming Law: Christian Calling and the Legal Profession (InterVarsity Press, 2007).
In this podcast we discuss:
What a worldview is Why it is so important to understand worldviews The benefits of living according to the biblical worldview How Mike discovered the importance of worldviews during college How worldview issues permeate all university classes Ways Christian students have faltered due to not understanding worldviews (especially related to views of knowledge and truth) How we are shaped by our culture’s worldview, often without knowing it The main worldviews we should understand Understanding worldview as both ideas and loves The relationship of worldview to our actions, wisdom and flourishing Why Christian students struggle so much with the scientific naturalist worldview How to evaluate worldviews and develop a robust and consistent biblical worldview Three simple questions to evalue any worldview claim made in classes or conversations The relationship between spiritual disciplines and living out the biblical worldview Ways your local church can help you develop your worldview Two questions to ask others in your church (or on campus) to find worldview mentors (and eventually mentor others) Why the Christian worldview is superior to all others Ways students can more fully live out their Christian worldview Changing ways students are interacting with Scripture
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Albert Wolters, Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview James Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog Worldview Academy “How to Watch a Movie, Using Top Gun: Maverick as an Example,” College Faith podcast #23 with Drew Trotter James K. A. Smith, You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit C.S. Lewis, “Meditation in a Toolshed” C.S. Lewis, Transposition and Other Addresses Stand to Reason J.F. Baldwin, The Deadliest Monster: An Introduction to Worldviews J. Mark Bertrand, (Re)thinking Worldview: Learning to Live, Think, and Speak in the World Hearts and Mind Books Ashworth, Becker, et al., A Book for Hearts & Minds: What You Should Read and Why Nancy Pearcy, Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity Charles Colson and Nancy Pearcy, How Now Shall We Live? J.P. Moreland, Love Your God With All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul Gene Veith, God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life Gene Veith, Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution Carl Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution
My guest in this episode is Dr. Drew Trotter. Drew has been speaking on the intersection of “Faith and Film” for several decades in various contexts, weaving together his love of film and his theological training. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from the University of Cambridge.
I’ve asked Drew to help us understand how to watch a movie well, and model this as he reflects on the recent box-office hit Top Gun, Maverick.
In this podcast we discuss:
Why Drew began evaluating movies as a college student The central role stories play in shaping us How movies use stories to shape us without us often knowing this is happening The relationship between what movies tell us is true and how we live Evaluating Top Gun: Maverick using Drew’s 10 questions The difference between watching movies in a theater and at home or online The future of movies How even composition of a shot in a movie influences us
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics Francis Schaeffer, Escape From Reason Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, Renovation of the Heart, and The Divine Conspiracy Chariots of Fire (movie) The Godfather (movie) Brian Godawa, Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom and Discernment (and here’s a YouTube interview with him on “Hollywood Worldviews”). William Romanowski’s books Drew’s movie reviews Drew’s 10 Evaluative Questions:
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SCENE AND WHY? WHICH SCENE DO YOU THINK WAS MOST IMPORTANT FOR THE FILMMAKERS? WHY? WITH WHICH CHARACTER DID YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH AND WHY? IN ONE SENTENCE WHAT WAS THIS MOVIE ABOUT? WHY DO YOU THINK SO? WHAT ELSE WAS IT TRYING TO SAY? WHAT IS THE MOVIE’S VIEW OF TRUTH, GOODNESS AND BEAUTY? DOES THE MOVIE HAVE A VIEWPOINT ON THE NATURE OF GOD? WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS? WHAT IS THE MOVIE’S VIEW OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NATURAL AND THE SUPERNATURAL, IF IT HAS ONE? WHAT IS ITS VIEW OF MORAL AUTHORITY? WHAT IS ITS VIEW OF PEOPLE AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS? WHAT IS ITS VIEW OF EVIL? WHAT IS ITS VIEW OF THE SOLUTION TO MANKIND’S PROBLEMS?
My guest in this episode is Dr. Mary Poplin. Several months ago she and I discussed her excellent book Is Reality Secular? As we concluded she mentioned that for the past four decades she has been observing Critical Theories develop in higher education, and was herself an early proponent. For the past three decades she has been working to understand and evaluate Critical Theories from a Christian perspective. Given her background and extensive reflection on this topic, I can think of no one better able to help us understand and evaluate these very popular perspectives reverberating throughout higher education and now our broader culture.Dr. Poplin is a Senior Research Fellow and Professor Emerita at Claremont Graduate University's School of Educational Studies. She has also authored numerous books on Christianity and higher education.In this podcast we discuss:Defining Critical Theory (including Critical Race Theory--CRT)How Critical Theory developed and became dominant in higher educationWhy CRT rejects Martin Luther King’s viewsHer journey into feminism and CRT, and why she began to question her viewsWhat CRT gets right--truths CRT is highlightingWhat CRT gets wrong--errors CRT is promotingHow radical feminism started this movement toward divisionHow Critical Theories are changing the university in fundamental waysBlack scholars CRT excludes from the conversation, and whyDifferent approaches to these issues in the humanities, social science, and sciencesWhy Critical Theories are so popular among some Christians, and whether this is justifiedHow students can reflect well and develop their own conclusions about Critical TheoriesHow students can reflected on and engage CRT in their courseworkHow students can reflect on and engage CRT in campus organizationsResources mentioned during our conversation:Mary Poplin, Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global WorldviewsChristopher Rufo’s short video summarizing Critical Race Theory Oher resources by Christopher RufoJames Lindsey, Race Marxism: The Truth about Critical Race Theory and PraxisJames Lindsey’s website New DiscoursesHellen Pluckrose & James Lindsey, Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity--and Why This Harms EverybodyCarol Swain & Christopher Schorr, Black Eye for America: How Critical Race Theory is Burning Down the HouseStan W. Wallace, “How Should Christians Understand Critical Theory?”
My guest today is Dr. Charles Thaxton, a chemist who is one of the founders of a movement that reframed the debate over evolution and creation. He co-authored The Mystery of Life’s Origin: Reassessing Current Theories, which sparked what has come to be known as the “Intelligent Design” movement in the study of origins. This reframing of the creation/evolution debate has both strong supporters and strong critics. In our conversation we delve into exactly what “ID” is and is not, the data that supports this approach to origins, what critiques are made of this approach, and how he responds to these criticisms.
In this podcast we discuss:
How he came to co-author The Mystery of Life’s Origin: Reassessing Current Theories How he came to reject the standard chemical explanation of the origin of life (and the experiments that support the standard model, most notably the Miller experiment) How this new view that emerged from his (and other’s) research came to be called “Intelligent Design” (ID) A concise description of ID and “specified complexity” The common scientific methodology between ID and NASA’s search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI) program How discoveries of the DNA code further support the ID thesis The push-back and controversy ID generated among non-Christians The pushback received from some Christians who are “theistic evolutionists” Why he believes all these objections fail How ID differs from “Creationism” The philosophical issues underlying the rejection of ID Why ID is not “religion” or “bringing God into science” Some of the best resources to better understand ID
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Charles B. Thaxton, Walter L. Bradley, Roger L. Olson, The Mystery of Life’s Origin: Reassessing Current Theories Thaxton, Bradley, Olsen, Tour, Meyer, Wells, Gonzalez, Miller, The Mystery of Life’s Origin: The Continuing Controversy Stephen C. Mayer, Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design The Discovery Institute Philip E. Johnson, Darwin on Trial Jonathan Wells, Icons of Evolution: Science or Myth? Why Much of What We Teach About Evolution is Wrong
Today I’m concluding my four-episode series on campus ministries. My guest is Karl Johnson, the Executive Director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers, a unique initiative to minister to students on campuses throughout the U.S.
In this podcast we discuss:
Karl’s struggle to integrate his faith and studies while at Cornell Why and how Karl established a Christian Study Center at Cornell (Chesterton House) “Residential ministry” as a focus of Chesterton House What Christian study centers are and their core ministry to students Where and how to find a Christian study center The history of Christian Study Centers, going back to L’Abri founded by Francis Schaeffer How study centers specifically serve undergraduate students Christian study center Fellows Programs--a form of “intellectual hospitality” How Christian study centers differ from and compliment other campus ministries The Consortium of Christian Study Centers' shared Statement of Faith (The Apostle’s Creed) How the Consortium thinks about labels such as “conservative,” “progressive, ” and “Evangelical” Christianity Some “heros of the Faith” Christian study centers tend to hold up to students Forms of idolatry Christian students (and their parents) often fail to see while in college How students should understand the relationship between their faith and the university Some examples of how Christian study centers have engaged the university redemptively
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Consortium of Christian Study Centers Chesterton House at Cornell University Octet Collaborative at MIT Upper House at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Christian Study Center of Gainesville at the University of Florida Cambridge House Christian Study Center at the College of William and Mary Ligoneer Ministries (an example of a non-university-based Study center) Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind George Marsden, The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship Charles E. Cotherman, To Think Christianly: A History of L’Abri, Regent College, and the Christian Study Center Movement James Davidson Hunter, To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, and Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World Veritas Forum Hearts & Minds Bookstore
Dr. Mary Poplin was a self-described “radical progressive Marxist” professor before coming to faith in Christ by meeting Jesus in a dream. Since then she has worked tirelessly to integrate biblical truth and the field of education as a professor of Education at the Claremont Graduate University. She has also authored numerous books on Christianity and higher education. Here we talk about her most recent book Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global Worldviews.
In this podcast we discuss:
Defining a “worldview” How she identified the four worldviews and decided to write about them Summarizing the four worldviews: Materialism, Secular Humanism, Pantheism, and the Judeo-Christian worldview Why it is so important for Christians to understand these four worldviews Her journey from a radically secular professor to Christ’s follower Her time volunteering with Mother Theresa, and how this influenced her How God convicted her to begin teaching what is true, integrating biblical truth into her teaching Her assessment of current secular higher education after 40 years as a professor How she had to rethink ideas of “justice” from a biblical perspective Her struggle to distinguish between Secular Humanism and Christian thought How Christianity is excluded from higher education Why professors often promote their worldview as the only answer to life’s big questions How her Secular Humanist worldview shaped her thinking about training elementary and secondary school teachers, and how her thinking changed once she became a Christian Advice to students in identifying different worldviews their professors are presenting The best chapters in her book to read for students in the sciences, in the social sciences, the humanities, and the applied sciences How the Judeo-Christian worldview best fosters a flourishing university and society How students can thrive if they have professors promoting other worldviews, and make a difference in the lives of their non-Christian professors How students can find Christian professors like Mary, and the importance of campus fellowships Why going to a “Christian” college doesn’t solve the problem for students Why the university is not really a “marketplace of ideas” Why it sometimes makes sense not to go to college right after high school The historic unity of the university, how it is “dis-integrating” and what can be done about it Why “getting a job” is not the main reason to go to college Why Critical Theory is the opposite of all the university stands for
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Mary Poplin, Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global Worldviews Mary Poplin, Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service Works by Steven Smith, University of San Diego School of Law, such as The Rise and Decline of American Religious Freedom, The Disenchantment of Secular Discourse, and Getting over Equality: A Critical Diagnosis of Religious Freedom in America Julie Reuben, The Making of the Modern University: Intellectual Transformation and the Marginalization of Morality Dr. Poplin’s email: mary.poplin@cgu.edu James Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalogue
In this episode I continue my series on campus ministries. My guest is Ben Nugent, the National Director of the The Navigator’s campus ministry. As a Navigator staff for 21 years, Ben not only brings the perspective of a senior leader of the ministry to our conversation, but many years in Navigator campus ministry himself. He is the best person I know of to help understand how the Navigators minister to university students.
In this podcast we discuss:
How Ben first got involved in The Navigators How The Navigators began The number and type of universities where The Navigators serve The Navigators’ Mission The Navigators’ activities on campus designed to fulfill their Mission The Navigators’ ministry distinctives How similar The Navigators’ ministries are campus-to-campus and region-to-region Who is required to affirm The Navigators’ Statement of Faith Where The Navigators fall on the “Conservative to Progressive” continuum “Heros of the Faith” The Navigators hold up to students What The Navigators believe Christian students need to flourish during college The Navigators’ greatest strength and weakness in student ministry How students can take advantage of this strength and compensate for this weakness Whether The Navigators have as set curriculum students go through How The Navigators help students develop a lifelong walk with Christ and ministry The Navigators’ approach to the spiritual disciplines How The Navigators teaches students to be “in the world but not of the world” The Navigators’ approach to “hot button” issues on campus like Critical Race Theory Why “fellowship is always missional” Why students should consider being involved in The Navigators
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
The Navigators’ website The Navigators’ Statement of Faith Dawson Trotman, Born to Reproduce Dawson Trotman, Dawson Trotman, In His Own Words “Jim Downing: Navigator #6” Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace Jerry Bridges, The Gospel for Real Life The Wheel illustration NavPress Navigators Summer Training Programs
Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Dr. Sean McDowell, Associate Professor of Christian Apologetics at the Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.
Sean recently wrote Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture. Since every college student I’ve ever known wonders about and struggles with everything in this books’ title, I’ve invited Sean onto the show to share his wisdom on these issues with you.
In this podcast we discuss:
Why Sean wrote this book, and how it can help students navigate sexual issues Why there is increasing confusion over sexual issues in our culture The biblical understanding of love, sex, and relationships Sean’s story of flourishing during college and now in his marriage as he applied the biblical sexual ethic The important difference between “freedom from” and “freedom for” in sexuality How the world would be better if everyone lived out the biblical sexual ethic God’s boundaries as protection and provision Why being in a romantic relationship isn’t the answer to being happy and fulfilled How to avoid and/or resolve conflict over different sexual ethics with your roommate(s) Balancing love and truth when discussing “hot button” issues in sexual ethics (such as transgenderism) and “blowing up the script” The pros and cons of the “Purity Culture” movement Where he sees hope for the future of biblical sexual ethics in both student and cultural flourishing The power of God’s grace for those who have “blown it” in sexual ethics
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Sean McDowell, Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture Lisa Michelle, “Surviving Sexual Abuse and Exploitation” on the Think Biblically podcast with Sean McDowell and Scott Rae Lisa Michelle, Unlikely Warrior: A Voice Rising Out of the Darkness of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Joshua Harris, I Kissed Dating Goodbye Rachel Joy Welcher, Talking Back to Purity Culture: Rediscovering Faithful Christian Sexuality Rachel Joy Welcher, “What Purity Culture Got Right and Wrong” on the Think Biblically podcast with Sean McDowell and Scott Rae Sean’s website SeanMcdowell.org Sean’s Facebook Sean’s Twitter Sean’s Instagram Sean's TikTok Sean’s YouTube channel Sean and Scott Rae’s podcast Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture
This is the second podcast in a series I’m doing on campus ministries. I am interviewing a leader from each, asking them the same questions so that you have an “apples to apples” comparison of the different ministries’ Missions, emphases, distinctives, approaches, and cultures.
In this episode I interview a leader with CRU’s campus ministry. He is the first guest I’ve had on the show twice. You first met Roger Hershey when we discussed his book The Finishers on Episode #13. As perhaps the longest-serving staff in CRU’s Campus Ministry (now in his 50th year), I can think of no one better to help us understand CRU’s ministry.
Furthermore, Roger is the staff worker who ministered to me during my college years (as well as before and after). Before moving into college ministry he directed CRU’s high school ministry in Cincinnati, which God used to bring me to faith in Christ in 1980. Roger then discipled me during my years at Miami University in the early 80s. Finally, from 1989 to 1992 I had the privilege of serving on Roger’s staff team, and I learned much about leadership from him during those years (I’ve summarized some of what I learned in my article “Three Types of Leaders--Two to Avoid and One to Become”). And even though we haven’t worked together for many years now, I still count him a mentor and dear friend.
In this podcast we discuss:
How CRU began CRU’s Mission CRU’s strategy to accomplish this Mission How this strategy is implemented on campus CRUs’ Statement of Faith CRU’s understanding of women in ministry Regional differences in CRU’s ministry on campus Some of the people CRU holds up as role models for students What CRU believes they should offer students through their ministry CRU’s strengths, and how to take advantage of these strengths A unique feature of all CRU conferences CRU’s weakness, and how to compensate for this weakness How CRU has changed since the ‘70s and 80s related to this weakness, and results of this change The breadth and depth of CRU’s curriculum taught in small groups How CRU helps students develop lifelong habits to foster growth in Christ Spiirtual disciplines CRU helps students develop Examples of how CRU has shaped students to serve Christ for the rest of their lives How CRU teaches students to be involved in culture How CRU encourages students to engage the racial tensions prevalent on campus these days (including how CRU undersands and engages Critical Race Theory and the relationship between Social Justice and Biblical justice ) Why students should consider being involved in CRU The challenge of balancing quantity and quality in a CRU campus ministry
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
CRU.org CRU’s Statement of Faith U.S. Center for World Mission (now Frontier Ventures) Josh McDowell (especially More than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict) Robert Coleman (especially The Master Plan of Evangelism) Norman Geisler (especially I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist) C.S. Lewis William Lane Craig J.P. Moreland Ralph Winters Crawford Loritts James White John Piper Tim Keller Francis Chan Paul Tripp Henry Cloud Richard Niehuhr, Christ and Culture Stan Wallace, “Are You an Artist, a Cheerleader, or a Demolition Engineer? Three Ways Christians Relate to Culture” “CRU Divided Over Emphasis on Race,” Christianity Today, June 3, 2021 “CRU Military Ministry Leader Resigns in Protest of Critical Race Theory,” Capstone Report, August 10, 2021 Stan Wallace, “How Should Christians Understand Critical Theory?” Thaddeus Williams, Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice The Jesus Film The Thinking Christianly podcast with J.P. Moreland and Stan Wallace Global Scholars updates
My guest for this episode is Dr. Tim Muehlhoff, professor of Communication at Biola University. His research, writing, speaking, and consulting focuses on how to have healthy and productive conversations with others, from the home to the church to the university to the public square.
Due to his understanding of communication theory, as well as spending many years earning three degrees in public universities, I can think of no one better to help us understand our topic today!
In this podcast we discuss:
How the wrong choice of words can easy sabotage communication and relationships Why he began researching how to engage difficult conversations What a Christian student’s priority in class should be How to earn the right to be heard in class Understanding the insecurities of (especially) teaching assistants and adjunct professors, and how best to build credibility with them The importance of the first thirty seconds when discussing an area of disagreement Why the stage of the semester makes a huge difference in responding to challenges The two levels of communication: content and relational (tone and respect) The importance of being able to argue the other side of an issue, and “speaking truth in love” The three questions to ask yourself first in order to communicate well and be heard Factors to take into account to determine if and when to speak up The four areas of the “communication climate” essential to having good conversations (including having our perspective heard in class) Times Tim succeeded and failed in applying these principles, and what he learned Applying “treat others as you want to be treated” to relationships and conversations The role of having gratitude and charity toward even those who promote radically anti-Christian views How to use, and not use, email in communicating with professors and fellows students The role of humor, presence, good etiquette, and compliments in building bridges and fostering good conversations A word of encouragement for Christian students at secular universities
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
G.K. Chesterton Tim Muehlhoff and Richard Langer, Winsome Persuasion: Christian Influence in a Post-Christian World Craig L. Blomberg, Contagious Holiness: Jesus’ Meal with Sinners Tim Muehlhoff, Eyes To See: Recognizing God’s Common Grace in an Unsettled World Other books by Tim Muehlhoff The Winsome Conviction Project (podcast, articles, devotionals) Tim Muehlhoff, “Reclaiming Humor in Uncivil Times” in Christian Scholar’s Review (the example of C.K. Chesterton) Tim Muehlhoff, “How To Have a Difficult Conversation” on YouTube
Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars This is the first in a series I’m doing on campus ministries. Over the next six months or so I will be interviewing a leader from each of the major campus ministries, asking them the same questions so that you can have an “apples to apples” comparison of the different ministries’ Missions, emphases, distinctives, approaches, and cultures.
I’m beginning this series by interviewing a leader with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. My guest is Mr. Greg Jao, Executive Vice President--Communications & Mobilization. Greg has over two decades of experience with InterVarsity. He is a former colleague of mine, and I count him as a good friend.
In this podcast we discuss:
How InterVarsity/USA began, and the sustaining values that resulted The Mission, Purpose, and four Values of InterVarsity The centrality of small group bible studies in InterVarsity chapters InterVarsity’s core distinctives: ethnic diversity, commitment to global missions, and discipleship of the mind Why InterVarsity groups tend to look different regionally and even on the same campus The challenges this differentiation presents, and how InterVarsity responds Why InterVarsity has been forced off a number of campuses in recent years Core elements of InterVarsity’s Statement of Faith, who must affirm it, and why Whether InterVarsity is on the conservative or progressive end of the theological spectrum Some of the “heros of the faith” InterVarsity holds up to students The four things InterVarsity believes students need to flourish during their university years Why InterVarsity puts such emphasis on developing a diverse community InterVarsity’s current strengths and weaknesses InterVarsity’s national strategies to improve on current weaknesses How InterVarsity helps students develop habits to walk with Christ for a lifetime Core spiritual disciplines InterVarsity encourages students to practice Why the “life of the mind” is so important to InterVarsity How students are taught to engage culture with biblical truth How InterVarsity engages racial and justice issues How InterVarsity sees the relationships between biblical justice, “social justice,” and the gospel Why InterVarsity see community as central to their ministry
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Greg Jao, Your Mind’s Mission The Urbana Student Missions Conference InterVarsity/USA’s Website InterVarsity/USA’s Statement of Faith The Emerging Scholars Network Don Everts and Doug Schaupp, I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us About Their Path to Jesus James Chong, Real Life: A Christianity Worth Living Out J.I. Packer, Knowing God John White, Daring to Draw Near: People in Prayer Gary Haugen, Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World Stan W. Wallace, “How Should Christians Understand Critical Theory?” A listing of all campus ministries at every university: EveryCampus.com
Welcome to another edition of the College Faith Podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Roger Hershey, a national traveling speaker and campus ministry consultant with Cru. Roger has ministered to university students for 50 years now, sharing truths and wisdom that has changed the lives of thousands of students. I know this firsthand, because I was one who, now four decades ago, had the privilege of being discipled by Roger while a student at Miami University. I am thrilled to have Roger on the show and have him share some of his wisdom on this podcast.
In this podcast we discuss:
What led him and Jason Weimer to write The Finishers Why he believes this generation of students can finish taking the gospel to all people groups How his time in college deepened his vision to be part of fulfilling the Great Commission of Matt. 28:18-20 His challenge to students to reject a posture of entitlement, and their reaction The difference between rights and privileges Breaking free of our “Pea-sized Christianity” and being a “World Christian” Why God often uses students to begin spiritual revivals The Christian Chinese “Back to Jerusalem” movement Defining the “10-40 Window” and why it is important Why understanding the return of Christ should motivate us to be World Christians The role students can play in helping fulfill the Great Commission while still in college The importance of students getting involved in a campus ministry (see https://everycampus.com/ for a list of good campus ministries on your campus) The three key elements to use when evaluating which campus ministry to join The importance of having the correct understanding of calling and of God’s will Finding one’s “sweet spot”: gifts and strengths, passions, and the needs in the world Seeing our work as having both intrinsic and instrumental value The greatest challenges students face in fulfilling their callings The current confusion between the gospel and social justice, and how this influences students and ministry The cautionary example of the Student Volunteer Movement How the gospel and justice do fit together Why students must understand God’s grace, their identity in Christ, and that God loves them and likes them Living life with an “eternal perspective” Living in light of the Holy Spirit’s leading The centrality of God’s Word and “thinking Christianly” The importance of knowing Christ is the only way to God The three things to look for in a mentor (someone to disciple you)
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Roger Hershey and Jason Weimer, The Finishers The Campus Ministry branch of CRU Robert Coleman, The Master Plan of Evangelism The U.S. Center for World Missions (Now Frontier Ventures) Greg H. Parsons, Ralph D. Winter: Early Life and Core Missiology Global Scholars David Bryant, In the Gap: What it Means to be a World Christian The Jesus Film Project Wycliffe Bible Translators J.P. Moreland, Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul, Restore the Spirit’s Power Kevin DeYoung, Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle: Discovering The Secret of Joyful Giving Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life William Lane Craig on the Problem of Evil Todd Ahren, In This Generation: Looking to the Past to Reach the Present Thaddeus Williams, Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice Eric Metaxas, Amazing Grace: William Wiberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery (also a major motion picture) Rob Bell, Love Wins, and response Roger Hershey’s website, containing his message for students trying to discern God’s call Joshua Project Joshua Project’s Unreached of the Day App Jason Mandryk, Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation
Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Dr. Perry Glanzer, Professor of Education at Baylor University. In this episode we discuss the ins and outs of being an excellent student, which goes far beyond just earning good grades.
Perry earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, and is Baylor’s Professor of Educational Foundations, as well as a Resident Scholar with Baylor’s Institute for Studies in Religion. He has authored, co-authored, or edited a number of important books on the integration of biblical truth and academic studies, including Christianity and Scholarship in Higher Education. In addition, he has published over 75 journal articles and book chapters on topics related to moral education, faith-based higher education, and the relationship between faith and scholarship. Perry is also the current Editor-in-Chief of Christian Scholar’s Review.
In this podcast we discuss:
Why it is important for Christian students to focus on excellence, rather than rules How Christian students will benefit by reading his book Identity in Action: Christian Excellence in All of Life What being a good student involves (beyond just getting good grades)Unique challenges Christian students face in being good students The relationship between pursuing excellence and understanding one’s callingWhat steps a student can take to become excellence (beyond just “following the rules”)Learning how to really read--the three levels of readingHow to think well and biblically about the issues discussed in classes and textbooks--”Christian critical thinking”A Case Study: Christian critical thinking and Critical Race TheoryA Case Study: Christian critical thinking and Economic theory How Christian critical thinking is contrary to modern educational philosophy, and how Christian students can swim against this tide Ways to find mentors among Christian professors in one’s major Why Christian students should consider joining a Christian professional society Is the cost of college worth it?Perry’s experience teaching in RussiaThe role of our identity in Christ and his grace in the journey toward excellence
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Perry Glanzer, Identity in Action: Christian Excellence in All of LifeMortimer Adler and Charles VanDoren, How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent ReadingRon Blue, Master Your Money: A Step-by-Step Plan for Experiencing Financial Contentment“How To Get Better Grades and Have More Fun,” College Faith Episode #9 with Dr. Philip BishopChristian Scholar’s ReviewChristian professional societies Christian Scholar’s Review Bibliography on integrating faith and academic disciplinesChristian Scholar’s Review Blog on integrating faith and academic disciplines Mike Metzger, Sequencing: Deciphering Your Company’s DNA (“Ought-Is-Can-Will”)Global Scholars Christian Legal SocietyChristian Medical and Dental AssociationsNurses Christian FellowshipAlasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory
Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Dr. Michael Kruger, President of Reformed Seminary-Charlotte and author of Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College. Dr. Kruger wrote this book for his daughter, who is now a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, sharing what he wished he understood as a young believer and a student there thirty years ago, as his faith was challenged by his religion professor. Now an accomplished scholar, he is able to offer much wisdom to his daughter Emma, and so many like her, who face challenges to their faith each day on campus.
In this podcast we discuss:
Why he wrote this book to his daughter, now studying at a public university How his book will also help students at Christian colleges and universities, and their parents The strong bias against the Christian faith in Religion Departments How studying at a secular university can help students grow in their faith How students can identify and engage the biases of their professors and their own How to disagree on “hot-button” topics in a respectful and loving way How our theological paradigms incline us to respond to objections to the Christian faith differently (such as our response to the Problem of Evil) The importance of students understanding biblical truth to survive Religion 101 How our churches can help students prepare to thrive during college Two “flavors” of Evangelical Christianity that don’t prepare students well for college Different types of doubt Christians experience, and how to “doubt well” What to do if a student feels “Christianity just isn’t working for me.” The connection between head and heart--between what we believe and what we love The only way to sustain a robust Christian faith for the long-haul Why one unanswered objection shouldn’t derail your faith Why all believers will benefit from this book (not just college students)
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Michael J. Kruger, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College Michael Kruger’s website James Anderson, What’s Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach to Life’s Big Questions James Anderson, Why Should I Believe Christianity? C.S. Lewis’ Free Will defense to the Problem of Evil: Mere Christianity, pp. 47-48, see also Art Lindsley, “The Problem of Evil: C.S. Lewis Speaks to Life’s Most Difficult Questions” Stan Wallace, "If God Exists, Why is There Pain and Suffering?" Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
In this episode I talk with Dr. Randy Newman about the importance of asking good questions. Whether it be in class, in relationships, or in conversations about our faith, the ability to ask the right questions is often the key to great conversations, learning, and growth.
Randy is one of the best “question-askers” I know. He has shared some of his wisdom on this topic as it relates to sharing the good news of the gospel with others in his popular book Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts The Way Jesus Did. We begin with the principles he shares in this book and broaden the conversation to the many other types of conversations we often have.
Randy and I have been friends for over 30 years. Though we no longer serve together in the same ministry, we remain close friends. I am always a better person after our conversations, due largely to Randy’s ability to ask me good questions!
Randy currently serves the Senior Fellow for Apologetics and Evangelism at the C.S. Lewis Institute.
In this podcast we discuss:
What happens when we ask others questionsHow Randy’s Jewish background helped him learn to ask good questionsHow his failures in sharing the gospel lead him to begin asking questionsThe starting assumption that causes us to not ask questions in evangelism Examples of how his questions led to good conversations with skeptics of the Christian faithTips to help us all get better at asking good questionsThe importance of how we ask questions, in addition to the questions we askThe value of “asking permission” to have a conversation about spiritual mattersHow we can respond well when a non-believer asks us questions about our faithHow Jesus modeled for us how to ask good questions to get to the real issuesWhen we should not answer questions we are asked by non-believersHow students can excel academically by asking their professors good questionsWhy and how to respond with questions when a professor is openly hostile to your faithHow a student’s respect and questions helped an atheistic professor come to faith in ChristAccomplishing more by accomplishing less in conversationsHow asking good questions helps us develop deeper friendships Why asking questions serves others and is a tangible way to show love The importance of asking good questions when on a date, and what to listen for in his or her answersSome questions to ask when searching for a good church, and the right people to ask Questions to ask when choosing a major, and the right people to askHow to have great summers by asking the right questionsErrors to avoid when asking others questionsThe important role of asking God hard questions, and asking others our hard questions about GodExamples in media of those who ask good questions, and those who don’t Randy’s newest book, coming out in September!
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Books by Randy:
Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People’s Hearts the Way Jesus Did Corner Conversations: Engaging Dialogues About God and Life Bringing the Gospel Home: Witnessing to Family Members, Close Friends, and Others Who Know You Well Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism Mere Evangelism: 10 Insights from C.S. Lewis to Help You Share Your Faith
Lyle DorsettOrthodoxy by G.K. ChestertonMere Christianity by C.S. LewisThe “On Being” podcast by Christian Tippit
My guest on this episode is Dr. Phil Bishop, emeritus professor of Kinesiology at the University of Alabama, where he taught for 34 years. In 2006 he was appointed the first professorship at Alabama named after Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. (For more see his “Meet The Prof” page, and his personal page.)
As a Christian professor, Phil most enjoys the opportunity he has to love and care for his students. One of the ways he shows this love is speaking often on how to succeed at college, and at life! His talk, “How To Get Better Grades and Have More Fun,” is full of extremely practical and useful tips, gleaned from over four decades as a student and a professor.
Not only does Phil provide helpful tips to get better grades, he also weaves in lessons important to succeeding in life and sustaining a vibrant relationship with Christ.
In our conversation, based on his “Better Grades” seminar, we discuss:
Why he cares so much about students getting better grades How to navigate the distractions of college life Skills to maximize learning while in class Skills to maximize learning outside of class How best to retain information you are reading The one strategy that will increase your GPA a full point or more (and reduce stress) How best to take advantage of your professor’s office hours The importance of doing extra credit work Proven strategies to prepare well for final exams The importance of having a specific place to study Finding and leveraging your learning style One poor strategy that won’t help you succeed in college The importance of exercise for stress relief The importance of prioritizing our walk with Christ during the college years How to determine your major, and when to start The value of internships How and why to take classes outside your major that you are interested in Strategies to identify and offset your academic weaknesses Using summer to prepare well for the next academic year The pros and cons of websites that rate professors
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Google Scholar
Dr. Ken Elzinga is the Robert C. Taylor Professor of Economics at University of Virginia. As a professor at UVA for over 50 years now, he has nurtured several generations of students. Christian and non-Christian students alike have benefitted from his gentle, Christlike spirit, his winsome manner, and his extraordinary wisdom. He is the type of professor we all hope and pray our children will have--someone who cares deeply about both their minds and hearts.
Dr. Elzinga has been able to have such an influence on so many students due to his commitment to excellence in his calling as a professor, doing his work as unto the Lord. His honors are too many to mention, but include being the first recipient of the Cavaliers’ Distinguished Professorship at UVA, receiving the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Professor Award, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award, and the Thomas Jefferson Award, which is the highest honor UVA awards to a professor.
As an outstanding scholar and teacher, his introductory economics course is the largest class on campus, with over one thousand students taking the class each year. His upper-level Antitrust Policy seminar continually has a waiting list of two years.
Beyond the university, Dr. Elzinga is often asked for his expert opinion on issues of antitrust economics, including testifying before the Supreme Court as an economic expert in three cases.
In addition to publishing over one hundred academic articles, he has also co-authored four mystery novels (under the pen name Marshall Jevons). These intriguing novels revolve around an economist who solves crimes by using concepts of economics. They are now available in seven languages, and are often used by others teaching economics to illustrate economic theory.
In this podcast Dr. Elzinga shares his insights, wisdom, warnings, and encouragements to help Christian students flourish during their university years.
In this podcast we discuss:
How Ken’s faith in Christ influences how he teaches How he ministers to students outside the classroom How students can integrate their faith into all of life The importance of not being ashamed of being a Christian on campus Why it is so important to immediately find Christian fellowship, and how to do so How students can identify Christian professors Why students should ask Christian professors to be mentors How Christian Study Centers can help Christian students Spiritual disciplines Christian students should practice in order to thrive Academic disciplines Christian students should practice in order to thrive Ways Christian students can be used by God in their professor’s lives Wisdom for life from his field of Economics The unspoken assumption that often shakes the faith of Christian students What students must do to counter this unspoken assumption Counsel for Christian students considering an academic career
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Dr. Elzinga’s website Dr. Elzinga’s UVA page Campus Ministries’ websites Consortium of Christian Study Centers InterVarsity Press books on college life Cru resources on college life
During his many years in ministry to students Steve noticed some thrived spiritually, while others did not. He began studying what the common factors were that caused students to thrive, eventually earning a PhD in the philosophy of learning at Penn State University.
His research led to his first book, The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief & Behavior During the University Years, where he discusses the three critical success factors he identified. Now almost three decades later, The Fabric of Faithfulness continues to be widely read and these three principles continue to help countless students flourish as Christians during their university years, and beyond (and for this reason the subtitle was changed in the second edition, which we discuss).
In our conversation Steve describes how college students (and the rest of us) can apply these principles, and the profound difference this will make in the lives of all who do so.
In this podcast we discuss:
How Steve got interested in this topic What he discovered from his research The difference between professing belief and allowing it to shape our lives Why it is necessary to take our faith seriously enough to let it shape our lives Why it is hard in all ages and cultures to take faith in Christ seriously Unique ways our current culture makes it hard to take faith in Christ seriously Ways universities generally teach views of life, history, and reality that make it hard to take faith in Christ seriously Similar and different challenges students will face at secular and Christian universities The importance of discerning the perspective on life and the world being taught at any given university The three things students must do to take their faith seriously and allow it to shape their lives (during college and beyond):
develop a robust Christian worldview find a mentor find Christian community
The importance of knowing how to discern truth in a pluralizing, secularizing world The need, reasons, and goals of a mentoring relationship, and how to find a mentor Why it is critically important to find a community of other believers on campus and after graduation How to find a healthy Christian community on campus Unhealthy features of some campus ministries on some campuses
Reducing faith to being purely private, disconnected from university conversations A wrong theology of vocation promoted
How these principles apply to growing in faith after college as well The importance of living well in the “here and now,” imperfect as it is
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior by Steven Garber Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good by Steven Garber The Seamless Life: A Tapestry of of Love and Learning, Worship and Work by Steven Garber
Choosing a college or university is one of the most important decisions we make in life. It is also one of the most challenging decisions we will ever face. With so many options available and issues to consider, the process can seem overwhelming. In this podcast, I discuss many of the issues to consider with Dr. David Wunder, Dean of Faculty Development and Research Initiatives at Calvin University.
Dr. Wunder became serious about his faith as a sophomore in high school and headed off to college eager to grow both intellectually and spiritually. He chose to attend a small public university for his Bachelor of Science degree (Missouri University of Science and Technology). From there he attended large public universities for his Master of Science degree (University of Iowa) and his Ph.D. (University of Minnesota). In all three universities, he found ways to flourish in his faith and excel academically.
He has now been on the faculty at Calvin University, a Christian university since 2004 (for more see his Calvin University Faculty Profile.). Here in this Christian college context, he has also seen many students flourish.
In our conversation, Dr. Wunder shares his insights concerning the pros and cons of both secular and Christian college education, and how to thrive in both contexts. He also provides a wealth of information about what to consider when choosing a college, sure to be helpful to all prospective college students and their parents as they wrestle with this momentous decision.
In this podcast we discuss:
The benefits of attending a Christian college or university The challenges of attending a Christian college or university How to evaluate a college or university during a campus visit How to thrive as a Christian at a secular university How to find a healthy Christian fellowship on campus The challenges of attending a secular college or university Other ways Christian students can thrive in a secular context How to discern which college or university is best for you/your son or daughter Further thoughts on how to maximize a campus visit How to find information about graduation and placement percentages How to avoid unnecessary stress in the selection process The two ways to think about how to choose a college
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Universities with Christian Study Centers Council for Christian Colleges and Universities College Confidential
Christian students are called, as are all Christians, to be “in the world but not of it." Yet doing so is much easier said than done, and sometimes much harder on university campuses. To help students in this, John Stonestreet and I discuss his and Brett Kunkle’s recent book, A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World.
John holds a master of arts in Christian thought from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) where he graduated with honors. He currently serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. John is a sought-after author and speaker on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. He is the daily voice of BreakPoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of the Point, a daily one-minute feature on worldview, apologetics and cultural issues.
Prior to his current role, John worked in various capacities with Summit Ministries including Executive Director, overseeing the various aspects of the ministry to accomplish its mission of cultivating rising generations to resolutely champion a Biblical worldview. Prior to working with Summit and The Colson Center, John was on the teaching faculty of Bryan College where he helped to develop a Christian worldview sequence for the core curriculum, as well as several non-traditional educational opportunities. He also directed the Bryan College Worldview Team, an innovative educational initiative designed to teach students to analyze worldviews using the lens of popular media and culture.
In addition to A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World, John has also authored Restoring All Things: God's Audacious Plan to Change the World through Ordinary People (with Warren Cole Smith), Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God's Design for Marriage (with Sean McDowell), and Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview (with W. Gary Phillips and William E. Brown). John and his wife Sarah, have three daughters and live in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
In this podcast we discuss:
How to define “culture” and why we must understand culture How Christians should engage in and respond to culture How Christian students can celebrate the good on campus Why “Christian” is a great noun, but a horrible adjective The fallacy of chasing cultural relevance How higher education has become dehumanizing How students can flourish in this dehumanizing environment The two questions all students must learn to ask Practical ways students can discover their calling The unseen influence of cultural undercurrents How to overcome cultural influences and become virtuous people Why so many millennials are drawn to Socialism
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World, by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle A Student’s Guide to Culture, by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle The Aims of Education, by T.S. Eliot The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior, by Steven Garber “Men Without Chests” in The Abolition of Man, by C.S. Lewis The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S. Lewis What it Means to Be Human: The Case for the Body in Public Bioethics, by O. Carter Sneed You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, by James K. A. Smith Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation, by James K. A. Smith Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works, by James. K. A. Smith The Colson Fellows Program Live Not By Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents, by Rod Dreher Breakpoint - A Program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview
We are undergoing a virtual learning revolution, as the COVID pandemic and the prevalence of technology intersect, leading universities to move most or all of their classes online. This presents new challenges, as well as new opportunities, for students. My guest helps us understand the implications of this new reality, and how students can flourish in this digital learning environment.
Pete Marra has nearly twenty years of experience helping students learn well in the online context in primary, secondary, and tertiary education. He has been involved in building online learning platforms and started his own technology company focused on digital learning. He is especially interested in how people learn, and how they learn differently, in the online environment.
In this podcast we discuss:
Various learning styles that must be understood to maximize online learning New opportunities for those with various learning styles How to leverage these new opportunities to your advantage How students can excel academically in online classes Ways students can compensate if the online learning environment is challenging for them The challenges of distractions, procrastination, and fatigue in distance learning Two wrong and harmful assumptions students make as they take online classes The expectations professors have of students in online classes How students can best interact with their professors in the digital environment How students can best collaborate with other students in their online classes Ways to develop habits, systems, or processes to succeed in online classes Dealing with the isolation and depression online learning may cause Challenges and opportunities unique to Christian students learning online
The resources mentioned during our conversation:
Hope Always: How to be a Force for Life in a Culture of Suicide by Matthew Sleeth, MD 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life by Matthew Sleeth, MD Technology: The Surrender of Culture to Technology by Neil Postman Pete Marra on Linked In Search online for “learning styles” to access free resources and tests Harvard Education Publishing Group MIT’s online courses TED Talks on learning styles:
Learning styles and the importance of critical self-reflection, Tesia Marshik Learning via your style, D.J. Cunningham Misconceptions of learning styles, Anita Acai ...and many more
Search online for “digital pedagogy” for additional resources
The better we understand higher education, the better we can navigate the university years well and flourish in both heart and mind. My guest today is a historian who understands the forces that caused and continue to shape higher education. He also has a wide range of experience working in higher education, giving him unusual insights into how universities work today, and how students can avoid the pitfalls as well as capitalize on the opportunities universities offer.
Liam J. Atchison, Ph.D. has a Th.M. in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in History from Kansas State University. For many years he was a university and seminary professor and dean. He was also the founding editor of the literary journal Mars Hill Review, co-editor of Civil Religion and American Christianity (Newport: Stone Tower Press, 2020), and is the author of two other books and numerous articles. His research has been in the history of ideas with a particular interest in politics, education, and how people understand and use written texts. He was also the founder and co-director of Emmanuel House, a seminary in Manhattan, Kansas. Liam now serves as the Senior Vice-President of Global Scholars. He is married and has two children and three grandchildren.
In this podcast we discuss:
How universities first began How universities changed in the 19th century into what they are today How the goal of higher education shifted from developing character to developing skills How these factors shaped U.S. higher education Why state universities were established The pros and cons of higher education's shift in emphasis to "practical" fields Why we shouldn't be too impressed by a university's ranking The reasons professors are often not good teachers (especially at larger universities) Why smaller schools should be considered for undergraduate degrees The value of the ACT/SAT in today's higher education, and why they are often not the best indicators of academic ability or success When, why, and how universities shifted how they understand their role related to students and parents Why higher education in the 20th century moved away from more traditional views and values The idea of a university, and how best to prepare so as to receive the greatest benefits from a university education The pros and cons of a "Great Books" curriculum at universities The difference between a college and a university, and why universities contain some colleges The hierarchy of a university, and where to go for help
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Norman Geiser and Ronald Brooks, Come Let Us Reason Together: An Introduction to Logical Thinking Thinking Christianly blog series on informal fallacies, beginning here Patrick Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic (includes sections of informal and formal logic)
Christian students at public universities face unique challenges, as well as unique opportunities. Whether a student thrives in this environment depends on many factors, including how they engage this "marketplace of ideas." Knowing how best to respond when one's worldview is challenged is an important skill to develop. Dr. Craft is most interested in is preparing students to engage in this "marketplace of ideas"--both inside and outside the classroom--on issues such as social justice, diversity and inclusion training, and LGBTQ+ questions.
Dr. Christy Moran Craft is a professor and interim department chair in the College of Education at Kansas State University. For almost twenty years, she has studied issues related to religion and spirituality in higher education, paying particular attention to Christianity in public colleges and universities. She also has expertise with regard to legal issues related to religious expression in public higher education. In addition to teaching and to conducting research, Dr. Craft has served on various committees on campus including serving as Chair of the President’s Committee on Religious, Spiritual, and Nonreligious Diversity.
She fell in love with higher education as a result of her experiences as a student leader in a campus organization and as a resident assistant at Bradley University. Her teaching brings practice-based knowledge of residence life, judicial affairs, student organizations, leadership development, Greek life, and health awareness programming into the classroom.
In this podcast we discuss...
The legality of students discussing Christian conviction in public universities, supported by Supreme Court decisions [:54] How students can prepare to have a voice in the marketplace of ideas [3:22] The value of understanding other perspectives, rather than being fearful [6:25] Strategies to help Christian students engage in the marketplace of ideas [9:30] The relationship between being a good student and having an influence for Christ [11:10] When it is and is not OK to bring Christian convictions into classroom discussions [13:24] What the “separation of Church and State” means for Christian students sharing their perspectives [14:16] Why Christians should not be quick to assume they are being persecuted at a secular university [18:16] Challenges Christian students will face outside the classroom from administrative staff [23:18] How best to respond to religious diversity [24:19] Responding to charges of "Christian privilege" [28:00] Fruitfully engaging in conversations about race, gender, and sexual orientation [31:38] How non-Christian professors tend to respond to Christian students [36:22] How best to deal with student affairs staff who are antagonistic [40:24] How to find a good campus ministry [43:24] How to find Christian professors [45:40] How to find a good church [47:00] Dealing with antagonistic professors [48:09] Where to go to get help when facing challenging situations [48:58] How to balance involvement in a Christian group and ministry with studies [52:28] Thoughts about participation in "interfaith" conversations and events [52:50] Applying Scripture to one's life as a student [58:07]
Resources Mentioned:
Christian campus ministries - https://collegefaith.net/resources/ J.P. Moreland's website - http://www.jpmoreland.com/ Ravi Zacharias resources - https://www.rzim.org/ Tim Keller's website - https://timothykeller.com/
Understanding the importance of loving God with the mind as well as the heart is foundational for flourishing during the university years. My guest in this inaugural show is Dr. J.P. Moreland. We discuss themes in his book Love Your God with All Your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Soul.
Dr. Moreland is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. He has spoken to students and professors on over 175 campuses, and has authored, edited, or contributed to over 90 books and over 85 academic journal articles. In 2019 he was named one of the top 50 living philosophers. Few are as qualified to discuss this issue than Dr. Moreland.
In this podcast we discuss:
Why he wrote this book for the Christian community The importance of students knowing why they believe what they believe The correct definition of “faith” Why faith and reason are not opposites but complement one another The difference between a “faith tradition “ and a “knowledge tradition” Some challenges Christian students will face on campus, and how to respond How parents can help prepare their children to think Christianly during college, and how early to start How students can respond if a campus ministry is discouraging study and the life of the mind How to evaluate one’s major from a Christian perspective The relationship of knowledge to wisdom, and the demise of teaching wisdom at college How to discern a professors’ knowledge from a professor’s opinion Responding to scientism Responding to relativism Resources to help students find answers to their questions
Resources mentioned during our conversation:
Loving God with your Mind: The Role of Reason in the Life of the Mind J.P. Moreland’s website Scientism and Secularism by J.P. Moreland Reasonable Faith, the website of William Lane Craig William Lane Craig’s apologetics books for you children Summit Ministries Brett Kunkle books and podcasts and website Shawn McDowell’s books and podcast and website Stand To Reason Ratio Christi Christian Professional Societies (per academic discipline) Discovery Institute