Language of God

Hans Madueme is a Young-Earth Creationist. In this conversation, the goal was not to come to an agreement about the age of the earth but instead to understand one another better, find common ground, and explore the points of disagreement with curiosity and friendliness. Hans explains his views of where the Bible has a clear message and where he sees the limits of science in explaining things that contradict those messages. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Titan Sound  courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.

After many years working at the very top levels of science and medicine, pursuing knowledge that would lead to better and healthier lives for so many people, Francis Collins started to see an erosion of trust in science, as well as across social and political landscapes. That led him to start wondering about what leads people to trust—in facts, in ideas, in institutions—and to wonder about the nature of truth itself. His new book, A Road to Wisdom: Truth, Science, Faith, and Trust is the result. It is a book that speaks to the deep divisions in society and calls us all to humility and wisdom as we do the work to find common ground. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Nick Petrov, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.

The title of Brian McLaren’s new book, Life After Doom, might at first be imposing…that word, “doom" looms large, but there is also life. McLaren has been looking into the face of the climate crisis and has, himself, felt the sense of doom that many people describe when they look into the future. McLaren does not dismiss the seriousness of the problems, nor is he paralyzed by it, but instead imagines the kind of life that is worth living no matter what kind of future will meet us.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Ricky Bombino, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Are you a pastor, ministry leader, or layperson interested in helping the Church engage in creation care and climate change? BioLogos wants to hear from you! We're looking for participants in some upcoming focus groups. Those selected to participate will receive a $25-Amazon gift card as a thank you. See details HERE.

It is hard to care for, protect, or even to mourn those we have no relationship with. We try to develop a relationship with a few creatures that are still among us, even if they are imperiled, to better know and love our world. And we end with a last few thorns…should we attempt to bring back extinct species and how should we think about the future of our own species? This is episode three of a three-part series.  About the series: Extinction might seem to be a pretty simple idea: a species goes out of existence. But a deeper exploration reveals all kinds of thorny questions. What is a species anyway? Is extinction a natural part of the development of life that leads to new life or is it something that should be mourned and stopped? What will happen to our own species? These are only a few of the questions we follow on a journey of creatures here and gone. Learn more about the series and about our guests here.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Vesper Tapes, Trending Music, Babel, Immersive Music, Full Frontal Audio, and Cosmo Lawson, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.

We look to present times to see how extinctions are actually happening and what we know about them and we explore the work of biological conservation to protect species. Then we return to the question of how to feel about extinction, comparing modern day and historical extinctions and adding a few more layers to the question. This is episode two of a three-part series.  About the series: Extinction might seem to be a pretty simple idea: a species goes out of existence. But a deeper exploration reveals all kinds of thorny questions. What is a species anyway? Is extinction a natural part of the development of life that leads to new life or is it something that should be mourned and stopped? What will happen to our own species? These are only a few of the questions we follow on a journey of creatures here and gone. Learn more about the series and about our guests here.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Remember the Future, Ricky Bombino, Northern Points, Simon Stevens, Oakvale of Albion, and Vesper Tapes, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.

Extinction is a familiar idea for almost everyone, but it wasn’t long ago that no one would have thought a species could go out of existence. We explore this history of the human understanding of extinction, and then we go much further back in history, to explore how extinction has played a role in the development of life over hundreds of millions of years leading to our world today. This is the first episode in a three-part series.  About the series: Extinction might seem to be a pretty simple idea: a species goes out of existence. But a deeper exploration reveals all kinds of thorny questions. What is a species anyway? Is extinction a natural part of the development of life that leads to new life or is it something that should be mourned and stopped? What will happen to our own species? These are only a few of the questions we follow on a journey of creatures here and gone. Learn more about the series and about our guests here.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Evan MacDonald, High Street Music, Northern Points, Nathan King, Babel, Ballian De Moulle, Paradiso Music, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.

The story of evolution is often centered around genes and randomness. More and more, scientists are finding that culture is also a driver of evolution. When we explore how humans have both emerged from an evolutionary process and contribute to it, we begin to understand ourselves differently. This new understanding will ultimately lead us to a deeper relationship with God. In this episode, we follow researchers who set out to explore four different ways in which culture and evolution interact and how they might inform our theological ideas about what it means to be human and how we relate to God: Play, Imagination, Morality, and Purpose. Thanks to our guests: Michael Burdett, Andrew Jackson, Vicki Lorrimar, Nathan Lyons, and Megan Loumagne Ulishney. (See their bios) Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Vesper Tapes, Babel, Northern Points, and Nick Petrov, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

When the wind is just right, on a small beach in Titusville, Florida, horseshoe crabs crawl out of the water and onto the beach to lay their eggs. Jim and Colin joined up with two marine biologists—Bob Sluka who works with A Rocha, a Christian conservation organization and Margaret Miller, a coral biologist who works with SECORE International—and three A Rocha interns to survey the horseshoe crabs. That experience began an exploration into paying attention to many of the creatures that surround us, extending hospitality, and learning from the creatures, even from the ocean itself, about how we might better worship the creator of it all.  This episode was originally aired on April 27, 2023 Additional Resources: Learn about A RochaDo your own nurdle huntAtlantic Article about Synthetic alternatives to LALRadiolab Episode about Horseshoe Crabs Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The climate crisis often leads people to feelings of grief, despair, and fear. With the of help faith leaders, climate activists, artists and teachers from around the world we explore some of the emotions that result from an awareness of the climate crisis. And consider how naming and accepting the grief and sorrow that many people are feeling can also be a path toward hope. Featured guests: Heather McTeer Toney, Marinel Ubaldo, Madeleine Jubilee Saito, Dr. Malinda Berry, Hannah Malcolm, Robynn Bliss, and Lowell Bliss. And thanks to Nangula Kathindi and Christopher Douglas Huriwai for their recorded testimonials, used in the episode. Check out the link here to find more resources from these guests.  Check out more BioLogos resources on creation care and the environment here. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Ballian De Moulle, Robert Meunier, Kyle Booth, Sirus Music, Justin Breame, & MS Elyas, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The church has had a complicated relationship with mental health. Research shows that 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness in a given year and yet 66% of pastors talk about mental health in sermons only once a year or less. In the episode we break down what exactly mental illness and mental health are, what is happening in the brain, and how the church can respond in ways that help us all to be healthier individuals and begin to build a more understanding, empathetic and healthy community.  This episode was originally aired on December 8, 2022. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Tiny Music, Lift Music, Magnetize Music, Sirus Music, Pink Marble and Vesper Tapes, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Find Resources on Mental Health Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Camille Dungy is a poet, and it is with a poet’s close attention that she reflects on the interactions between humans and the greater-than-human world. In the conversation, Camille talks about how she came to her connection to the greater-than-human world, about the need to include family and home in nature writing and about the definition of a weed and how good cultivation often requires hands-on management. She ends by reading a poem from her collection, Trophic Cascade.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Titan Sound, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Francis Collins and Kizzmekia Corbett-Helaire are both renowned scientists and both of them played special and important roles during the pandemic. In this conversation, the two of them remember some of the key moments in the scientific development of the COVID vaccine and talk about the many years of scientific work that prepared the way. They also discuss how their faith plays a role in their motivation for doing science and Kizzmekia talks about the challenges of running a science lab at Harvard as a woman, a person of color, and a mother.  This conversation was recorded live in Raleigh, North Carolina at our National Faith and Science Conference.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Klimenko Music, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The science of evolution has caused friction for many Christians. And science does pose some challenges to the way people have been taught to think about their faith, but those challenges don’t have to lead to a decision to reject faith—or to reject the findings of science. In fact, understanding science can lead to a deeper faith.  Jim Stump, host of Language of God has a new book coming out—The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolution Leads to a Deeper Faith. In this series Jim walks through three of the challenges posed by science.  The challenge of pain and suffering is a crucial tension and one that has vexed people for millennia. Without solving the problem, we can at least break it down and see how a world which includes pain and suffering is also a world in which creatures might have the capacity to become morally mature. Featuring clips from previous conversations with Bethany Sollereder and Simon Conway Morris. This is the third of a three part mini-series. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Vesper Tapes and Ricky Bombino, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The science of evolution has caused friction for many Christians. And science does pose some challenges to the way people have been taught to think about their faith, but those challenges don’t have to lead to a decision to reject faith—or to reject the findings of science. In fact, understanding science can lead to a deeper faith.  Jim Stump, host of Language of God has a new book coming out—The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolution Leads to a Deeper Faith. In this series Jim walks through three of the challenges posed by science.  The challenge of the time explores the long time spans of the earth and the universe and what it means about being a human loved by God in the here and now. Featuring clips from previous conversations with John Walton & Makoto Fujimura. This is the second of a three part mini-series. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Babel, Nick Petrov, & Vesper Tapes, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The science of evolution has caused friction for many Christians. And science does pose some challenges to the way people have been taught to think about their faith, but those challenges don’t have to lead to a decision to reject faith—or to reject the findings of science. In fact, understanding science can lead to a deeper faith.  Jim Stump, host of Language of God has a new book coming out—The Sacred Chain: How Understanding Evolution Leads to a Deeper Faith. In this series Jim walks through three of the challenges posed by science.  The challenge of the Bible asks how we can continue to affirm the Bible as inspired and authoritative if the human authors believed incorrect things about the world. Did God correct their cultural-bound beliefs, or work through them, as God has always worked with imperfect people?  Richard Middleton joins Jim for the second part of this episode to talk about biblical inspiration from the perspective of a bible scholar, and the episode features clips from a previous episode with Philip Yancey.  This is the first of a three part mini-series. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Vesper Tapes, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Special guest-host Francis Collins discusses the children's mental health epidemic with Jonathan Haidt. Haidt has been studying the causes of the high rates of depression and suicide in children for many years and has found that social media is at the root of the worsening trends. But he doesn’t just have causes in mind. He also has solutions. In this discussion--and in his new book, The Anxious Generation--he proposes solutions to be put into place in the home, in schools, and by governments. He also calls out faith communities, understanding that they can lead the way in reversing the trend of declining mental health of children. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Magnetize Music, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Molly Worthen is a historian by training and wrote the book, Apostles of Reason, which explores the history of evangelicalism in America. When she wrote the book about 10 years ago, she approached the topic as an outsider, identifying as an agnostic. Then in 2022, she rather surprisingly found herself getting baptized at the front of a large evangelical Southern Baptist megachurch. In the conversation she tells the story of her conversion and questions she asked, including questions about miracles, science, and what it means to be intellectually engaged and also believe in the resurrection of Christ.  This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary on February 21, 2024.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Titan Sound, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

A bonus clip from an interview with Steven McMullen for our series The Gift of Food.

A bonus clip from an interview with Aminah Al-Attas Bradford for our series The Gift of Food.

A bonus clip from an interview with Derrick Weston for our series The Gift of Food.

A bonus clip from an interview with Shauna Niequist for our series The Gift of Food.

In the last episode of the series we ask several related questions: How does the idea of food as a gift fit with the fact that food is also an economic commodity? How does food play into issues of justice? And how can food, instead of dividing us, bring us together? Finally, we end by discussing what all this means about how we should eat. When we eat with love as our guiding principle, it may not always be simple, but it may be more delicious.  This is the last episode of a five part mini-series. Learn more about the series and find related resources at biologos.org/the-gift-of-food. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Northern Points, Babel, Magnetize Music, Diverse Music, Titan Sound, Nathan King, Mike Meehan, & Ballian De Moulle courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

As creatures that must eat to live, human life is dependent on taking the lives of other creatures. In this episode, we explore ethics, science, and theology behind taking the lives of animals who become our food. In the process, we meet some of the animals and some of the people who raise them. We end up with at least as many questions as when we started and yet we also find a richer appreciation for the ways in which we are connected to other creatures through eating.  This is part four of a five part mini-series. Learn more about the series and find related resources at biologos.org/the-gift-of-food. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Northern Points, Tiny Music, High Street Music, Klaus Hergersheimer, Titan Sound, Mike Meehan, & Vesper Tapes, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Taste is a sense that sometimes gets overshadowed by sight and sound, but it has played a crucial role in the development of our species. Some expert guides help us understand what is happening in our brains when we eat. We also talk about food and cooking and the roles they have played in making humans what we are today.  This is part three of a five part mini-series. Learn more about the series and find related resources at biologos.org/the-gift-of-food. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by High Street Music, Klimenko Music, Northern Points, Tiny music, Glory House, Vesper Tapes, Liam Mansfield, Klaus Hergersheimer, Babel, and Nick Petrov, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The idea of food as a gift is one that comes to us frequently in scripture. In this episode we look to the Bible and see if we can better understand God’s intended relationship to food. Beginning with the Old Testament, we explore how ancient Israelites might have thought about food. In the New Testament we see Jesus continually gathering around a table and feeding people, and even many of his miracles were food related. And at the last supper, food takes on even more significance as the elements of communion. This is part two of a five part mini-series. Learn more about the series and find related resources at biologos.org/the-gift-of-food. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Tiny Music, High Street Music, Klimenko Music, Lost Harmonies, Klaus Hergersheimer, Babel, & Chill Cord courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Food is a great connector. It can connect us to the ground and the soil that produces food, to the plants and animals that turn into food, and to one another. It also has the possibility of connecting us better to God. In part one of the series we talk about some of these connections, eventually leading us to the idea that food is a gift. In the rest of the series we’ll consider what that might mean about how we eat, what we eat, and how gathering around a table, whether it’s a communion table or a dining room table, can strengthen our connections to the world, to each other, and to God.  This is part one of a five part mini-series. Learn more about the series and find related resources at biologos.org/the-gift-of-food. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Tiny Music, Vesper Tapes, and Babel courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Talking about any hard topic—science and faith included—requires first recognizing the person on the other end of the conversation. That’s what David Brooks set out to do and is the result of his most recent book, How to Know a Person, The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. He draws on neuroscience in order to understand how to see and be seen by others, but ultimately this is a habit that must be formed by practice and it is one that will help us all to have better conversations and relationships.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Babel, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

In the last couple of decades, we have solved the question of whether there are other earth-like planets in the universe by finding evidence of billions of them. But while we don’t know whether there could be life on those planets—or what it would be like if there was—we can still explore the theological questions that might arise if we did find life. These questions might seem like they don’t have much relevance for us, but besides being fun to think about, they help us to refine the theology of things like the incarnation and what it means for us here on earth. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Being a good neighbor in a wide and complicated world can be challenging. Emily Smith has attempted to share her scientific knowledge with the hopes that it can contribute to neighborliness and even help to identify those who are most in need of the caring that can come from medical help.  Emily is known to many as the Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist. Her work as an epidemiologist is to study how disease and illness affects populations, specifically those who don’t have access to many resources. In the episode, she talks about epidemiology and about the pushback that came from her attempts to share information during the COVID pandemic. And she talks about her new book, The Science of the Good Samaritan: Thinking Bigger About Loving Our Neighbors. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Babel, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Jessica Moerman’s scientific research has included the study of stalagmites in Bornean caves and digging up ancient lakes in Africa. Through this work, she and other paleoclimatologists—those who study the climate of the past—have started to piece together the puzzle of how earth’s climate has changed in the past, which helps us to understand how it could change in the future. For Jessica, science has always been a tool for ministry and for understanding God’s creation. That idea has led her to her current role as the CEO of the Evangelical Environmental Network where she is able to share her knowledge of science, her passion for ministry and the call to act to bring about a healthy future. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Northern Points, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Joanna Ng has worked on many projects which have been turned into tools we use everyday. In the episode she talks about the journey to become a Master Inventor and some of the highlights of her career and then discusses some of the risks that come from putting too much trust in computers and artificial intelligence. Glossary of Terms:Groundtruth: The information or data that acts as a reference point against which we can measure the performance of computer programs or algorithms.Compiler: A special computer program that turns the code that programmers write into something a computer can understand and run. It's like a translator between humans and computers.Parsing: Parsing in computer science is like grammar-checking a sentence. It looks at the code to make sure all the parts are in the right order and make sense together, so the computer can understand what to do.Black box: A system or device where you can see what goes in and what comes out, but you don't know exactly how it works on the inside. Bootstrap: The initial push that gets a computer or program running so it can do more complicated tasks on its own. Just like you need that first push to start pedaling a bike, a computer needs a bootstrap to get going. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Titan Sound, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Sy Montgomery has been writing about animals for over 30 years and has befriended many fascinating creatures in those years. Both turtles and octopuses, subjects of two of her books, are ancient relatives of ours, separated from humans by millions of years of evolution. That hasn’t stopped Sy from connecting with individuals of each of these species, learning something about their amazing and special capabilities but also finding a surprising commonality that allows for a deep connection. In the conversation Sy shares her love for all creatures and calls for us to reach into our limitless compassion to care for the creatures that make our world bright and beautiful.  This conversation was recorded live in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the BioLogos Creation Care Summit on October 7th.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Janet Kellogg Ray is a Christian science educator and author. In the episode, she shares her personal journey of reconciling her faith with the science of evolution and discusses the challenges faced by Christians in accepting scientific evidence. She explores the connection between the denial of evolution, climate change, and COVID vaccines, highlighting the cultural and political factors that contribute to science denial within religious communities. Janet emphasizes the importance of science literacy and understanding the nature of science in order to build trust and engage in meaningful conversations about faith and science. Learn more about Janet Kellogg Ray and see her books here. Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Pink Marble, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

In our second ever BioLogos book club, we bring you a discussion on the book Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Our expert guests include Carol Bremer-Bennett, the Executive Director of World Renew; Rick Lindroth, a retired professor of ecology; and Debra Rienstra, a Professor of English. They discuss various themes from the book, including the importance of reciprocity and harmony in our relationship with the natural world, the dangers of consumerism and greed, and the need for a more inclusive and respectful language to describe non-human beings. They also explore the intersection of indigenous wisdom, science, and Christianity, and the potential for these perspectives to complement and enrich one another. Download our discussion guide for Braiding Sweetgrass here. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The question, what does it mean to be human, demands answers from many fields of study. Agustín Fuentes has looked to anthropology for answers to this question but the answers he has found speak to something that is bigger than science. He proposes that one of the things that make us human is our ability to believe.  Fuentes teaches anthropology and primatology at Princeton University. His studies have brought him around the world, to cities and to remote jungles. He’s written several books, including his most recent, Why We Believe: Evolution and the Human Way of Being, a book that came out of his Gifford Lectures.  This episode was originally aired on December 17th, 2020.  Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Northern Lights, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

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

For some technology offers humanity a path into perfection. For others it is the means of our downfall. Somewhere in between there is Joe Vukov. In the episode, Joe helps to explain the pitfalls of both extremes—on one side, the transhumanists (who embrace technology as a way to become more human) and on the other, the neoLuddites (who shun certain kinds of technology)—and begins to clear a path somewhere in the middle.  Original music in this episode is by Carp. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Trees are often seen merely as backdrops or immovable scenery. When we start to learn about the physical realities of trees, their names and histories and the ways they interact with the world around them, we start to wonder if we’ve gotten the wrong idea about what trees are. In this episode, Jim and Colin go on a journey to see trees more completely, to see them as living, dynamic creatures. Learning about the scientific reality of trees leads to an enriched understanding of the role trees play as symbols in the Bible and helps eventually for trees to be seen as creatures who praise God. Additional Resources: Check out MyTree Calculator, mentioned in the episode. There were a lot of trees in the bible we didn't have time to talk about in the episode. The BibleProject podcast has a great series on trees in the bible called Tree of Life. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Kate Boyd has been learning to live out her faith in the messy middle in a culture that rewards picking a side. While her journey didn’t begin with a conflict between science and religion, her story explores the complexities of understanding the Bible in today’s context and anyone who has struggled with issues of science and faith will resonate with this conversation. Kate’s new book, which tells the story of her journey is called An Untidy Faith: Journeying Back to the Joy of Following Jesus. In the episode, Jim and Kate dive into Kate’s story of her realization of the “untidy” nature of faith and how she has come to embrace the messiness without letting go of core beliefs and how this might apply to the science and faith dialogue. Learn more about Kate and find her book at www.kateboyd.co Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

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

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

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

Sally Bingham, the founder of Interfaith Power & Light (IPL), and the Canon of the Environment for the Diocese of California, shares the story of the inception of IPL and discusses the influential role that churches and faith communities can play in the effort to reduce climate change impacts.  Learn more about Interfaith Power & Light Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

In the summer of 2022 Dawn Wright became only the 27th person ever, the fifth woman, and the first Black person to descend into the deepest part of the ocean, a place called Challenger Deep. As a scientist, Dawn has been studying and helping to map the depths of the ocean, but being there in person uncovered a new dimension and deepened her connection with the mysterious underwater world. In the episode, Colin and Dawn talk about the science of mapping, the world of deep sea submersibles, and how finding trash in the most remote places of our planet might spark a renewed sense of stewardship for all of God’s creation.  Additional Resources Story Map of Dawn's Challenger Deep DiveExplore Challenger Deep Map in GISAnimated video of Alvin Dive Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Deb Liu, the CEO of Ancestry, and Francis Collins, the previous director of the NIH and leader of the Human Genome project, delve into the fascinating world of genetic science, exploring its implications on our understanding of human identity, ancestry and health. Throughout the conversation they also share stories and reflections on how their Christian faith motivates their work and sheds light on the ethical and moral considerations that arise when navigating the complex world of genetic research and its applications.  The episode was recorded in front of a live audience in San Francisco in late April 2023.  Additional Resources All of Us Research ProgramTake Back Your Power by Deb LiuAncestry.com Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Jason Fileta didn’t start out as an environmental activist. His first passion was to alleviate the suffering of the poor and hungry. As he met and heard the stories from those struggling with poverty and hunger he often asked them the question: if we could get a million Christians in North America to raise their voices on an issue that impacts your community, what would it be? He was surprised when a farmer in Uganda said climate change. But then he started to hear story after story of how climate change has made the lives of people harder, and this has led Jason to understand the deep connection between our caring for the planet and the lives of the poor and hungry around the world.  This episode original aired on September 30th, 2021. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

When the wind is just right, on a small beach in Titusville, Florida, horseshoe crabs crawl out of the water and onto the beach to lay their eggs. Jim and Colin joined up with two marine biologists—Bob Sluka who works with A Rocha, a Christian conservation organization and Margaret Miller, a coral biologist who works with SECORE International—and three A Rocha interns to survey the horseshoe crabs. That experience began an exploration into paying attention to many of the creatures that surround us, extending hospitality, and learning from the creatures, even from the ocean itself, about how we might better worship the creator of it all.  Additional Resources: Learn about A RochaDo your own nurdle huntAtlantic Article about Synthetic alternatives to LALRadiolab Episode about Horseshoe Crabs Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

When Kyle Meyaard-Schaap joins a climate march or calls a senator to talk about his concerns about climate change, he sees it as an act of evangelism. His new book Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action tells the story of how he came to understand that acting on climate is necessary and urgent and that it fits within the call to follow Jesus. He tells some of his story here and also talks about parenting, imagination, and the role a pastor can play in bringing about the change we hope to see.  Learn more about Kyle's book, Following Jesus in A Warming World.Check out Evangelical Environmental Network at creationcare.orgCheck out Young Evangelicals for Climate Action at yecaction.org Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Over the season of lent we’ve been reading excerpts from Gayle Boss’ Book Wild Hope. In this episode we talk to Gayle about where the book came from and about how the stories of wild and imperiled creatures can help us into the story of Christ and his journey to the cross.  Find out More about Wild Hope and Gayle's other books. Thanks to Paraclete Press which gave permission for the experts from Wild Hope throughout lent. www.paracletepress.com Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

As a sociologist, Brandon Vaidyanathan has been studying what scientists think about beauty. Some people might be surprised that scientists think much about beauty at all, but for many scientists, beauty is an important reason for why they do the work that they do. Brandon talks about his research and the different ways scientists understand beauty to be a part of understanding the world and also tells the story of his conversion to Christianity and how he found his way to sociology.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

This Lent we’re reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We’ll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week five is "the Hunted" and the story is about the hawksbill turtle. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. KleinCopyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. KleinUsed by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com

In the debut of a new podcast Book Club feature we take on the novel Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi about a young PhD candidate in neuroscience struggling with questions about mental health, the problem of evil, and how to reconcile the evangelical faith she grew up with and her career in science. We asked three guests to join us to discuss the book. Lynette Strickland recently finished a PhD in biology, Rachel Wahlberg is a neuroscience graduate student herself, and Christina Bieber Lake is a literature professor.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

This Lent we’re reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We’ll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week four is "the Poisoned" and the story is about the olm. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. KleinCopyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. KleinUsed by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com

This Lent we’re reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We’ll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week three is "the Homeless" and the story is about the North Atlantic right whale. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. KleinCopyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. KleinUsed by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com

We have a lot to learn from Indigenous ways of thinking and knowledge about the world, particularly as it relates to the climate and environmental crisis and the place of humans in creation. And in learning about Indigenous knowledge we learn also that Christianity has played a role in the displacement of Indigenous People. Sarah Augustine shares the wisdom she has gained about how a Christian worldview can lead to a different kind of discipleship that both cares for the land and the people who rely on it.  Learn more about the Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery Learn about Unraveling the International Law of Colonialism webinar on March 10th. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum. Donate to BioLogos

This Lent we’re reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We’ll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week two is "the Sick" and the story is about the Indiana bat. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. KleinCopyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. KleinUsed by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com

We welcome our first non-human guest to the podcast, the language model ChatGPT. The chatbot joins us to answer questions about science and faith. ChatGPT draws on extensive digital information to answer the same kinds of questions we have been asking our human guests over the past few years. The results are…interesting. Jim and Colin reconvene afterward to talk about what to take from it all. The voice of ChatGPT in this episode is given by Steven McClure. A note about the role of AI in making this episode: staff (humans!) at BioLogos generated the text for this in part with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, we reviewed, edited, and revised the language to our own liking and take ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum. Donate to BioLogos

This Lent we’re reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We’ll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week one is "Tthe Hungry" and the story is about the red knot. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. KleinCopyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. KleinUsed by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com

Jimmy Lin calls himself a scientific doxologist. The science part of that title describes his work to find cures and treatments for cancer and rare diseases and he talks about the real progress that has been made to that end. But for him, the science is merely his path toward doxology, the praise of God, and in this way, his work becomes a kind of hymn of praise.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

We welcome back host Jim Stump after having been away for several months. We hear about where he's been, what he's seen, and what will become of his wanderings and wonderings.

Every human bears the image of God and in God’s good future there will be a great diversity of people from all nations and tribes. But we don’t always live as if that were the case. Jemar Tisby joins us to talk about the church’s complicity in racism and what we can do about it. Jemar Tisby is the author of The Color of Compromise, a New York Times bestseller, and How to Fight Racism, as well as the recently published How to Fight Racism Young Reader’s Edition. He’s also the co-founder of The Witness: a Black Christian Collective and co-host of the podcast Pass the Mic.  Extras: The WitnessThe Witness Foundation This episode originally aired on January 13, 2022. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Each February, on the podcast, we make a point of increasing our comprehension about issues of race in America from within the BioLogos mission of exploring God’s word and God’s world. As Dr. David Anderson points out, conversation is an important step toward comprehension. Dr. Anderson tells his own story of how he came to be a pastor of a large multi-cultural church and bridge builder, and how he has integrated science and scientists into that work. Dr. David Anderson's booksPraying for Scientists video Music in this episode by Joseph McDade. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

In a world of increasing division, Mónica Guzmán offers advice for approaching conversation with curiosity. When we attempt to understand those who we disagree with, instead of merely attempting to change their beliefs, we are able to see people more fully and to even learn more about our own beliefs and ideas.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum. Donate to BioLogos

A reflection on dragonflies, neurobiology, attention and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Support BioLogos Music in the episode is by Brian Mulder. (Spotify) Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Larry Molnar spent years with his astronomy students studying a contact binary star system. Their observations and data eventually led them to make the claim that the stars were headed toward an explosion called a luminous red nova, a major discovery. The story of these stars and of the scientists who study them highlight the ways that science leads to knowledge about the world, and not always in straightforward ways.  Support BioLogos Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The church has had a complicated relationship with mental health. Research shows that 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness in a given year and yet 66% of pastors talk about mental health in sermons only once a year or less. In the episode we break down what exactly mental illness and mental health are, what is happening in the brain, and how the church can respond in ways that help us all to be healthier individuals and begin to build a more understanding, empathetic and healthy community.   Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Tiny Music, Lift Music, Magnetize Music, Sirus Music, Pink Marble and Vesper Tapes, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc. Find Resources on Mental Health Support BioLogos Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Biblical interpretation is all about asking questions—How did Ancient Israel understand the book of Genesis? How much context do we, as modern readers, need to discover the intended meaning of the text? Does the text hold the answers to the questions we are asking? Jim and guest host Rebecca McLaughlin discuss these thorny questions with biblical scholar John Walton and explore the answers his work offers them.  This episode was originally aired on September 19, 2019 Support BioLogos Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Katey Walter Anthony has done much of her research deep in the arctic, studying the methane bubbles that are released in thawed permafrost lakes. What she has learned helps us to better understand the complexity of earth’s climate and how it might change in the future. But alongside the exciting story of her scientific journey is a story about how she has come to understand God’s place in it all. Support BioLogos Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Both science and the Christian faith share a commitment to humility. Each also provides us with a perspective of the world which we believe to be true. How then do we hold onto these things we believe to be true and be open to the fact that we can’t know everything? In this episode we explore that tension, looking into the deeper meaning of humility in the realms of both science and faith.  Thanks to our guests in exploring these ideas: psychologist, Charlotte vanOyen-Witvliet; theologian and poet, Padraig Ó Tuama; biologist, Steve Roels; and evolutionary biologist, Sarah Bodbyl Roels.  This episode originally aired on October 8, 2020. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Charles Foster has spent a lot of time trying to deeply understand what it is like to be other than himself. It has led him to explore and emulate the life of badgers, foxes, and swifts as well as the lives of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers. In doing so he hopes to better understand all the people in his world and ultimately himself. He talks about his journey from a curious and wandering child to who he is today, including the place of religion and the place of science, both of which have the opportunity of enriching our view of the world and allowing to see into the other, but which also have the possibility of limiting our openness to inhabit otherness and therefore hinder our ability to better understand God. Support BioLogos Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Andy Gosler is an ethno-ornithologist, studying the relationships between people and birds. We talk about what that means and the importance of knowing the names of the living creatures around us, as we walk through an ancient hay meadow on a gray day in Oxfordshire, UK. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Kids ask a lot of questions. When those questions come to hard topics about science and faith it can be tempting to dismiss them or brush them off or to think they are too young to engage with the questions. But often this shows children that their questions are not welcome and that their curiosity is dangerous. Lizzie Henderson and Faith Stults both work on developing resources for children to engage in the science and faith conversation and they sit down to talk about ways to encourage questions and creativity so that children can grow up with the tools to explore hard concepts without fear and without the thought that they must choose between faith and science. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

We’re trying a new segment on the podcast where we walk with someone, letting the place inspire the conversation. Today we take a walk with historian Stan Rosenberg and talk about the history of science and faith, inspired by some of the buildings built in the 19th century at the University of Oxford that show the often blurry lines between the sacred and the secular. Then, the conversation moves back all the way to the 4th and 5th century with a discussion about science and faith in the mind and the times at Saint Augustine. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

There are many biological structures in our bodies, things like proteins, DNA and RNA, and they do amazing things. How these structures came to self-assemble is somewhat of a mystery, but Ard Louis has been studying just that question and his works has shown that qualities like symmetry and function tend to show up quite a lot, more than a purely random process might predict. Ard helps us understand what this means for science and then discusses what it might mean for theology, while being careful to realize that our value does not come from describing our origins but from our being made and loved by God.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

For the past three years, the Faraday Institute and Theos have undergone a large-scale research project to find out how people in the UK understand and think about science and religion. They found that the conversation is much deeper and much more interesting than is often portrayed. Nick Spencer, one of the co-authors of the report and Bethany Sollereder, a theologian and one of the interviewees from the report discuss the findings and how to move into the deep end of the science and religion conversation.  Read the Report here.Learn more about Theos and The Faraday Institute. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

David grew up exploring the natural places where there were few people. But his love for nature led him back to people and to a deep desire to understand why we have the ideas that we have about the world. His training in both philosophy and biology has given him an ability to explore these questions from many different angles. In the episode, David tells of his circuitous journey, from childhood to his current career, and how his scientific view of the world and his spiritual view of the world were developed in a way that made them inseparable. Then Jim and David talk about cultural evolution and how the ideas interplay with the current landscape of faith and science in the United States. This episode originally aired on  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Deb Haarsma visits the studio to talk to Jim about the James Webb Space Telescope and some of the first images that it has sent back to earth.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Denis Alexander has been writing about science and religion for over 40 years. That work eventually led him to found the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. He tells of his scientific career and his faith upbringing, which brings to light some differences in the relationship between science and religion in the United Kingdom and the United States. He also discusses the topic of scientific determinism which has been the focus of some of his more recent work and ends with some advice to young Christians pursuing a career in the sciences.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum. Read Stump's Travel Log to keep up with Jim's adventures during his sabbatical.

In this conversation with acclaimed Stanford neuroscientist Dr. Bill Newsome, we hear about his journey to becoming a neuroscientist, how hundreds of millions of neurons enable the fantastic emergence of a unified visual world, and how free will might operate in relation to the seemingly infinite causal chains which bring us all to this moment. Along the way, Dr. Newsome shares his own experiences with science and faith and why biological explanations should not be seen as weapons beating back the claims of Christianity.  This episode originally aired on May 27, 2021 Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Water is mysterious. It is cleansing, it is dangerous, and it is life-giving. In our everyday life we can tend to overlook just how fascinating and important water is. Water is interesting both scientifically and biblically, so it’s only fitting that we explore it. And in this episode we do just that. Because this is a complex topic, we asked several experts to join us in this episode. You’ll hear from Kent Frens, Jenni Brandon, Sandra Postel, and Ben McFarland who each talk about water through their areas of expertise. Here’s some fun Ocean Facts Check out Applied Ocean Sciences This episode originally aired on April 23, 2020 Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The science of evolution in general has been solidified for a long time now, but there are still plenty of new discoveries and implications being drawn out of the specific details of how our world evolved. Among the scientists doing fascinating work in these areas is Simon Conway Morris, who has become relatively famous both in and outside the professional scientific community for his work on fossils from the Burgess Shale, the Cambrian Explosion, and convergent evolution. Morris’ new book, From Extraterrestrials to Animal Minds: Six Myths of Evolution, draws from a number of these areas to make its claims. In this episode, we chat about the book, some of the well-established tenets of convergent evolution, and even some more controversial hypotheses on human uniqueness among animals and extraterrestrial intelligent life. While not all scientists agree with the conclusions Morris comes to, our conversation still brings clarity to the obscure limits of science and what these limits mean for us as Christians. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Medicine is an amazing gift from God. But there are limits to what medicine can do, and when we forget those limits, we forget that God is acting both when bodies are healed and when bodies deteriorate. Todd Billings shares his depth of thought on healing, medicine and chronic disease, which is informed by his own experiences with cancer.  Music in this episode by Joseph McDade. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

How should we respond to a problem that seems unsolvable? This is the question we ask in a series about the environmental crisis as we explore the fine line between hope and despair. After having delved into the hard reality of the environmental crisis for the previous two episodes, we spend this episode with our focus on hope. We explore what exactly hope is, how it relates to optimism, and how, when we find hope, we might also find repentance, forgiveness, joy, and love.  This is the last of three episodes in the Creation Groans series. Check out the list of related resources from this series here. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

How should we respond to a problem that seems unsolvable? This is the question we ask in a series about the environmental crisis as we explore the fine line between hope and despair. In this episode we allow ourselves to fully contemplate the woundedness of the planet and we reach into the Christian practice of lament as a way to find hope in the midst of the suffering we see around us. The episode ends with a guided lament liturgy.  This is the second of three episodes in the Creation Groans series.  Check out the list of related resources from this series here. Liturgy music is by Brian Mulder. (Spotify) Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

How should we respond to a problem that seems unsolvable? This is the question we ask in a series about the environmental crisis as we explore the fine line between hope and despair. In this episode we explore some of the wounds to the planet that often go unseen and we realize that the path to hope begins with the acknowledgement that the wounds are deep and troubling.  This is the first of three episodes in the Creation Groans series.  Check out the list of related resources from this series here. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Ever since he was a kid, Jeff Hardin has been fascinated by the natural world. His long standing avenue for connecting with creation has been science, whether old nature documentary series like Wild Kingdom or exploring the early development of nematode worms in his lab in Wisconsin. Jeff's work as a scientist, exploring the intricate details of life’s origin, has only enriched his wonder toward the God who created it all, an awe which feeds back into his teaching and research.  Find out more about Jeff’s lab’s research on the website. Read Jeff’s article on cloning and genome editing. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Traditional homeschooling and hybrid models have seen a huge uptick in the last couple of years, and, unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a huge driver of this migration. But the virus and various school and government responses to it are not the only factor causing parents to consider alternative education options. Contentious discussions of which histories and sciences are taught in the classroom continue to cause worry for parents all over the political spectrum.  Our guest today is historian and educator Susan Wise Bauer. A respected and well known name in the homeschooling world, Susan has spent much of her career developing reliable resources and curricula for homeschoolers. She walks us through her own experiences with, emerging trends in, and the biggest issues facing the homeschooling world today. A Christian, Susan also reflects on the reciprocal relationship between devout theistic faith and careful science. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum. Check out the BioLogos faith & science curriculum, Integrate, here. Find out more about The Well Trained Mind on their website.

When faced with something completely new, how will our theology help us to respond? Willie James Jennings helps us to look back into history at a time when colonialist settlers came into contact with new land and new people and found in their theology a justification to bring order to the world they found. Our theology today is built upon the idea that the hollow places of the earth are filled with treasures for our taking, rather than the idea that the earth is a hallowed place that glorifies God in all its treasures.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Reading the news these days can make it seem like the world is coming to an end. And reading scientific journals, especially regarding climate, biodiversity loss and other environmental issues, can give a similar feeling. Jonathan Moo is a professor of New Testament and environmental studies and he helps break down how Christians might respond to the bleak picture that is sometimes painted of the world. He helps us to look specifically to the biblical account of end times to understand how to put this in perspective with our own times. We find not only darkness in a conversation about apocalypse but hope and the need for a more radical faithfulness.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

There are a range of ways that people have thought about original sin, Adam and Eve, and the spread of sin throughout the world. Scientific knowledge, including the science of human evolution has contributed to that conversation but science has not identified a correct position. Loren Haarsma lays out several different approaches in his book When Did Sin Begin and talks with us in the episode about those approaches and the benefits and theological challenges of each approach. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Francis Collins and Phil Vischer sit down to talk about science and faith and the new BioLogos Integrate curriculum. Learn more about BioLogos Integrate. Watch the promo video for Integrate. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

With his 1989 book The End of Nature, climate activist Bill McKibben launched the contemporary movement against climate change. In the several decades since its publication, he has continued informing the public about the status of our climate and advocating for necessary mitigation measures. McKibben is also a Christian who sees his activism as a natural result of his ardent faith. In this episode, he discusses how we got to our current situation, including why he thinks many Christians have historically avoided or actively opposed their Biblical mandate to be stewards of the Earth, as well as why the Christian Church may be the only institution with the power to effectively confront the dominant culture of apathy on this issue. These discussions inevitably confront political commitments, yet McKibben makes a strong case that our Christian responsibilities take precedence over political affiliations.  Learn more about Third Act on their website Check out Bill McKibben’s books here Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

For an episode released during Holy Week, it seemed appropriate to have a conversation with the theologian who has written what many consider to be the seminal work on Jesus’ resurrection, The Resurrection of the Son of God. N.T. Wright is a New Testament scholar of high regard and we talk to him about the resurrection: this miraculous, earth shattering event which changed the course of history. We also hear a bit about how he came to be a theologian and writer who has split his time between academia and ministry.  Find N.T. Wrights free ebook, Preaching the Cross in Dark Times here.  The music in this episode is by Joseph McDade Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

In this episode, Jim Stump is joined by Tim Mackie, one of the founders of BibleProject. Tim’s transformation from West Coast skateboarder, to Bible student, to video producer may seem surprising, but his unorthodox journey to faith has given him a unique perspective and passion for the Bible. Tim discusses the history of the Bible, explores the context in which it was written, and demonstrates what it looks like to bring the Bible into relevance for people today. Tim Mackie is a writer and creative director for BibleProject, an animation studio that produces videos to help make the story of the Bible accessible to everyone. He has ahis Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Jewish Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. BibleProject YouTube ChannelBibleProject Website This episode was originally aired on September 17th, 2020. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Makoto Fujimura is a world-renowned artist often counted among the preeminent figures in the “slow art” movement. Yet Fujimura also has a deep connection to the sciences: he double majored in animal behavior and art during his undergraduate degree at Bucknell University and his father Osamu Fujimura was an influential speech scientist. In this live episode recorded at the 2022 BioLogos Faith & Science Conference, Fujimura reminisces on the roles of art, faith, and science in his childhood; discusses the relationship between these practices today; and presents his vision on how caring for culture can help revive our sense of enchantment with the world by bringing together disparate ways of knowing God’s world.  Images from the live recording are available at our website. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

The problem of evil has confounded people of faith as far back as Job. And the knowledge of the world that has been brought about by science has not made it any easier to answer the question of why a good and powerful God would let bad things happen. Tish Harrison Warren confronts the problem of evil in her book, Prayer in the Night. In the book she asks the question, how can we trust God at all when we can’t trust that God will keep bad things from happening to us? In the episode, we talk about how praying the compline prayer helped her to find an answer to that question and we talk about what prayer is and what it does. We also discuss COVID 19, broaching the topic of returning to in-person church, which she has written about in some recent newsletters in the New York Times. Original music in this episode is from Carp. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Our best scientific models make it clear that society needs a big change at a global scale in order to limit irreversible damage—what good can individual actions and attitudes do in the face of this immense problem? Today’s guest, Debra Rienstra, argues that the right relationship with the Earth can actually make all the difference and that new worlds of hope are built in hidden refuges amidst the surrounding devastation. Genuine lament and grief help reorient us toward the beauty and majesty of creation. Only once this groundwork has been laid can we truly repent for what we have done—and begin the work of hope for a better future. Learn more about Debra’s new book Read April Maskiewicz Cordero’s article on climate conversations Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

Leslie Wickman first witnessed the expanse and majesty of creation through a telescope as a young child on one of those rare cloudless nights in the Pacific Northwest. She never could have guessed that it would lead her to working on parts of the Hubble telescope, training in space simulations and becoming designated as a corporate astronaut. In the episode, Leslie talks about her path through her many scientific endeavors and the development of her understanding of faith in relation to that science. We discuss the new Webb telescope, the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe, the multiverse, and the significance of fine-tuning as a pointer to God.  Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

A common refrain at BioLogos is “you don’t have to choose,” and usually it is in the context of the Bible and science. Esau McCaulley, assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, was presented with a different choice, one between the Bible and racial justice. But this too is a false dichotomy.  The Bible is a good place to turn in times of confusion or questioning, but whether it is science or issues of injustice, it is important that a reading of the Bible be informed by the perspectives of other people and other cultures. McCaulley’s book, Reading While Black lays out the case for a Black Ecclesial interpretive tradition. He shows how asking questions of the text that grow out of the reality of being Black in America, helps to give us a fuller perspective on what the Bible has to say about things like race, governing authorities, and justice.  This episode was originally aired on Feb 4, 2021. Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.