College Faith

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 grace Why desperation in her spiritual life drove her to explore spiritual formation What a “spiritual director” is and is not How Scripture came “alive” to her Why Protestants have been wary of spiritual direction  The benefits of having a spiritual director The centrality of Scripture in the Ignatian method of spiritual direction  How skiing helped Stan understand our and God’s roles in spiritual formation How teaching her kids to swim helped Nita understand our and God’s roles in spiritual formation How to enter into the stories of the Bible, and why it is important to do so The importance of journaling  and the best way to do so Watching TV and movies as a way to enter into God’s story Disciplines of abstinance and of engagement The relationship between disciplines and different temptations or seasons in our lives The results of spiritual formation How to be sure a spiritual director is “legit” Spiritual disciplines students should consider beginning with The value of examining your day each night  before going to sleep What 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 Growth The Chosen (TV series) How to Watch a Movie, Using Top Gun: Maverick as an Example, Drew Trotter on the College Faith podcast Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives Timothy M. Gallagher, Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture Dr. 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 Paul Copan, “The Reasonableness of Faith: Why Students Should Study Apologetics,” October 2022 College Faith podcast 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 education Why CRT rejects Martin Luther King’s views Her journey into feminism and CRT, and why she began to question her views What CRT gets right–truths CRT is highlighting What CRT gets wrong–errors CRT is promoting How radical feminism started this movement toward division How Critical Theories are changing the university in fundamental ways Black scholars CRT excludes from the conversation, and why Different approaches to these issues in the humanities, social science, and sciences Why Critical Theories are so popular among some Christians, and whether this is justified How students can reflect well and develop their own conclusions about Critical Theories How students can reflected on and engage CRT in their coursework How students can reflect on and engage CRT in campus organizations Resources mentioned during our conversation: Mary Poplin, Is Reality Secular? Testing the Assumptions of Four Global Worldviews Christopher Rufo’s short video summarizing Critical Race Theory  Oher resources by Christopher Rufo James Lindsey, Race Marxism: The Truth about Critical Race Theory and Praxis James Lindsey’s website New Discourses Hellen Pluckrose & James Lindsey, Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything About Race, Gender, and Identity–and Why This Harms Everybody Carol Swain & Christopher Schorr, Black Eye for America: How Critical Race Theory is Burning Down the House Stan 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 *And be sure to read Dr. Thaxton’s autobiography A Leg to Stand On, where he shares more of the story! 

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