Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith & Culture

Cultural Update: Jesus Bots; UCSD Education Crisis; The New Singlehood Dilemma; Guns in Church

Dec 6, 2025

The hosts dive into the intriguing world of 'Jesus Bots,' exploring how AI spiritual guides may promote a self-centered faith. They discuss the alarming math crisis at UC San Diego, attributing it to grade inflation and COVID learning loss. The conversation shifts to the dangers of becoming overly reliant on AI for decision-making, reshaping our thought processes. Cultural pressures around being single create confusion and isolation, while they also tackle tattoo ethics and the practicality of armed security in churches. Lastly, they share tips for teen devotionals.

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ADVICE

Use Bots As Starters, Not Substitutes

Treat chatbots as possible starters, not substitutes, and avoid making them the center of spiritual life.
Ask whether a technology robs you of communal formation or sells a pseudo-transcendent experience.

INSIGHT

College Readiness Crisis Reveals Systemic Gaps

UCSD found one in twelve freshmen lack middle-school math, revealing deeper failures in grading, testing, and preparation.
Scott Rae and Sean McDowell link this to grade inflation, COVID learning loss, and weakened accountability.

ADVICE

Restore Standards And Guardrails

Reinstate objective measures (like SAT) and remediation courses to ensure students meet academic standards.
Put guardrails around AI in education so it doesn't enable shortcuts that replace learning.

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This week:

“Jesus Bots” & AI Spirituality: Sean and Scott discuss a New York Times piece on religious chatbots, raising concerns about me-centered faith, shallow “AI Jesus” advice, and how tech may distort spiritual formation.

UC San Diego’s Education Crisis: A Wall Street Journal editorial reveals that 1 in 12 UCSD freshmen can’t perform middle-school math, prompting a conversation about grade inflation, DEI pressures, COVID learning loss, and the need for academic accountability.

AI & the Decline of Critical Thinking: An Atlantic article sparks discussion on how people increasingly outsource decision-making to AI, rewiring their brains, avoiding discomfort, and creating new forms of dependency.

The New Singlehood Dilemma: The hosts unpack cultural mixed messages—society simultaneously pushes people to find a partner and to celebrate being single—leading to confusion, shame, and loneliness.

Listener Question – Tattoos & Piercings: Sean and Scott explain that Old Testament prohibitions were tied to pagan rituals, meaning tattoos today are largely a wisdom issue rather than a moral one.

Listener Question – Guns in Church Security: They discuss self-defense biblically and practically, concluding that armed security can be appropriate when trained and focused on protecting the congregation.

Listener Question – Devotionals for Teens: Recommendations include reading Scripture together or using teen-friendly devotionals, with Sean mentioning his book A Rebel’s Manifesto as a helpful cultural guide.

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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.

Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.

To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.