Posts by Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell (Ph.D.) is an associate professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, ��ݺ��þ��2023. He is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the Church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. Sean travels throughout the United States and abroad, speaking at camps, churches, schools, universities, and conferences. He is the co-host for the Think Biblically podcast, and he has authored or edited over twenty books, including and . Sean hosts one of the leading apologetics blogs at , and he hosts some great conversations on his . Sean and his wife, Stephanie, have three children and live in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

View full profile

Think Biblically
Work and the Meaning of Life
with David Bahnsen
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — June 10, 2025
How is work connected to one’s purpose and meaning in life? What can churches do to foster a biblical view of work? How do certain lower paying...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: Is Therapy Causing Childlessness?; Gene Editing Moratorium; Charismatic Christianity's Growth
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — June 06, 2025
This week: Therapy Culture & Childlessness – Sean and Scott discuss a New York Times article suggesting that the rise in childlessness among...
Think Biblically
AI: Prospects and Perils
with Yohan Lee
Yohan Lee, Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — June 03, 2025
How should we think biblically about AI? What are some of the exciting prospects for AI in the future? What should make us nervous about some of...
Think Biblically
Answering Your Questions!
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 30, 2025
We got so many great questions from our listeners and we only have time for 2-3 in the Weekly Cultural Update. We have quite a backlog so we're...
Think Biblically
The State of the Persecuted Church Today
with Brian Orme
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 27, 2025
What parts of the world are the most challenging for believers today? How has the relative comfort of American Christianity impacted spiritual...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery; Colorado Gender Laws; A Braindead Pregnant Woman Kept on Life Support; Personalized Gene-Editing
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 23, 2025
Topics this week: New federal law targets the removal of deepfakes and non-consensual intimate imagery online. Colorado law sparks controversy over...
Think Biblically
Thinking Biblically about Exercise
with David Mathis
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 20, 2025
Why would a pastor write a theological book on exercise? Would Jesus exercise if he were here bodily today? What does the Bible say about exercise...
Winsome Conviction
Is Empathy a Sin?
Sean McDowell, Timothy Muehlhoff — May 19, 2025
Tim recently spoke with Sean McDowell over at the Think Biblically podcaston empathy and how empathy is being weaponized by Progressives to...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: Are Young Men Lost?; Physician's Critique of Assisted Suicide; Pornhub's Secrets
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 16, 2025
This week: Are Young Men Lost or Returning to Faith? A deep dive into seemingly contradictory studies on young men: while many are falling behind...
Think Biblically
Is Empathy a Sin?
with Tim Muehlhoff
Sean McDowell, Timothy Muehlhoff — May 13, 2025
Is empathy being weaponized by Progressives to manipulate Christians into adopting certain ethical and political views? Is empathy a virtue, or...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: New Pope, Supreme Court Hears Case on Religious Charter Schools, New Successful Argument Against Transgenderism
Sean McDowell, Thaddeus Williams — May 09, 2025
This Week's Topics: A New Pope has been chosen by the Catholic Church The Supreme Court hears a case about government funding for a Catholic...
Think Biblically
Thinking Biblically About Disability
with Chris Ralston
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 06, 2025
Why does God allow disabilities? What is the point of someone's disability? What is disability theology, and what are the implications of this for...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: The Abortion Pill Harms Women; Dads Are Spending More Time With Their Kids
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 02, 2025
This week's topics: Abortion Pill Study: A massive study reveals serious health risks linked to the abortion pill mifepristone, with adverse events...
Think Biblically
Cohabitation: Is it Biblical and Wise?
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 29, 2025
What does the Bible say, if anything, about living together before marriage? Given that 70% of Americans now cohabit before marriage, and roughly...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: Was Jesus crucified with nails?; Young men return to church; Are Megachurches Ethical?
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 25, 2025
Topics this week: Controversy after Christianity Today published an article questioning whether Jesus was crucified with nails. The Supreme Court...
Think Biblically
The State of the Bible in 2025
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 22, 2025
How many Americans are engaging the Bible today? And in what ways? How does Bible reading affect giving to charity, life flourishing, and...
Think Biblically
The Unseen Realm: Analysis of the 10-year expanded edition
Sean McDowell, Charlie Trimm — April 15, 2025
Michael Heiser is one of the most influential Old Testament scholars over the past decade. In this video, Sean is joined by Talbot Old Testament...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: The Ethics of Dire Wolves; What to Make of Miracles; Are Embryos Property?
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 11, 2025
Topics this week: An Atlantic article on Elaine Pagels' new book, "Miracles and Wonder." Is she downplaying the supernatural? This episode dives...
Think Biblically
Apologetics for a New Generation
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 08, 2025
What should apologetics look like for this generation? What does it mean that apologetics is for everyone, not just specialists? How is the gospel...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: Polygany Reduces Birthrates, Relatives Can Be "Brought Back to Life" Through AI Chatbots, and New Tech Allows for More Control Over Embryo Selection
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 04, 2025
This week's topics: Polygany Found to Cause Lower Birthrates than Monogamy AI Chatbots can Allow People to Talk with Deceased Relatives New Tech...
Think Biblically
Intelligent Design: Dying or Flourishing?
with Doug Axe
Douglas Axe, Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 01, 2025
What is the state of the intelligent design movement today? How is it faring in the scientific realm, the church, and in the public? How has the...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: Ethics of Embryo Research; Christianity in Silicon Valley; Vigilante Justice
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — March 28, 2025
This week's topics: The Ethics of Embryo Research: The abortion debate is shifting toward the status and treatment of embryos—especially in light...
Think Biblically
Can Christians Identify as Gay? (with Preston Sprinkle)
Sean McDowell, Preston Sprinkle — March 18, 2025
Should Christians identify as gay? Is this a secondary issue that should not divide Christians, or is more at stake? Sean and Preston Sprinkle...
Think Biblically
Cultural Update: Sociogenomics; New Study on Gender Affirming Surgery; Future of Faith in America
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — March 14, 2025
This week, Sean and Scott discuss: New Study on Gender Affirming Surgery – A major peer-reviewed study finds increased psychological distress...
Think Biblically
Christians and Preferred Pronouns: Is it Biblical? (with Preston Sprinkle)
Sean McDowell, Preston Sprinkle — March 11, 2025
Should Christians use preferred pronouns? Is it wise and biblically permissible, or not? While Sean has had this discussion before on the Think...