Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture Cultural Update: Regretting Smartphones; Can Moms Have It All?; Assisted Suicide and the Slippery Slope
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Jun 20, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Erik Thoennes, Professor of Theology at Talbot School of Theology, tackles pressing cultural issues. He reveals alarming findings about parental regret over children's early smartphone use and its mental health consequences. The conversation then shifts to assisted suicide, highlighting ethical concerns about autonomy versus societal values. Lastly, the complexities surrounding women's roles emerge, as Thoennes examines the struggles of balancing motherhood and career aspirations from a faith perspective.
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Delaying Phones for Kids' Benefit
- Erik Thoennes delayed giving his oldest phone until age 16 and younger children until 18, causing anger but preserving relationships.
- He observed the phone damages connection and distracts from embodied human relationships.
No Screens in Classrooms
- Ban phones and screens in classrooms to foster focused, attentive, and peaceful learning environments.
- Provide class notes for marginalia and enforce a distraction-free atmosphere for deep learning and engagement.
AI Can't Replace Learning Process
- Relying on AI to answer questions is like having a robot lift weights for you—it bypasses the true learning process.
- True learning involves struggle, dead ends, and thinking, not just producing a polished product.
