Category: Intellectual Life

#25: The Reasonableness of Faith: Why Students Should Study Apologetics

Published October 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 57:30 — 26.4MB)

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…

Show Notes

3 Comments

#24: Why Christian Students Must Understand Their and Other’s Worldviews

Published September 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:22 — 25.4MB)

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…

Show Notes

2 Comments

#23: How To Watch A Movie, Using Top Gun: Maverick as an Example

Published August 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:59 — 26.1MB)

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…

Show Notes

3 Comments

#22: Critical Theories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Published July 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:50 — 16.0MB)

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…

Show Notes

1 Comment

#21: Reframing the “Evolution or Creation” Debate?

Published June 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:30 — 12.2MB)

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…

Show Notes

1 Comment

#20: How Christian Study Centers Minister to University Students

Published May 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:20 — 26.8MB)

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…

Show Notes

2 Comments

#19: Is Reality Secular? A Former Secular-Progressive Professor Says No!

Published April 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:00 — 25.2MB)

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:…

Show Notes

1 Comment

#17: A College Student’s Guide to Sex, Love, and Relationships

Published February 1, 2022

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:48 — 27.0MB)

Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Dr. Sean McDowell, Associate Professor of Christian Apologetics at the Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Sean recently wrote Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture. Since every college student I’ve ever known wonders about and struggles with everything in this books’ title, I’ve invited Sean onto the show to share his wisdom on these issues with you. In this podcast we discuss: Why Sean wrote this book, and how it can help students navigate sexual issues Why there is…

Show Notes

1 Comment

#12: The Art and Science of Being an Excellent Student

Published September 1, 2021

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:52 — 18.3MB)

Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Dr. Perry Glanzer, Professor of Education at Baylor University. In this episode we discuss the ins and outs of being an excellent student, which goes far beyond just earning good grades. Perry earned his Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, and is Baylor’s Professor of Educational Foundations, as well as a Resident Scholar with Baylor’s Institute for Studies in Religion. He has authored, co-authored, or edited a number of important books on the integration of biblical truth and academic studies, including Christianity…

Show Notes

1 Comment

#11: Surviving Religion 101 – Dr. Michael Kruger

Published August 1, 2021

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:48 — 21.9MB)

Welcome to another edition of the College Faith podcast, sponsored by Global Scholars. My guest today is Dr. Michael Kruger, President of Reformed Seminary-Charlotte and author of Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College. Dr. Kruger wrote this book for his daughter, who is now a student at UNC-Chapel Hill, sharing what he wished he understood as a young believer and a student there thirty years ago, as his faith was challenged by his religion professor. Now an accomplished scholar, he is able to offer much wisdom to his daughter Emma, and so…

Show Notes

2 Comments

#49: Why Are Students Required to Take General Education (or “Core Curriculum”) Courses? – College Faith Podcast on #47: A Guide to Majoring in the Professions (Business, Law, Medicine, etc.)
Meeting the Point of Need - Global Scholars on #48: Various Types of Colleges and Universities: Which is Right For You?
#48: Various Types of Colleges and Universities: Which is Right For You? – College Faith Podcast on #14: How InterVarsity/USA Ministers to University Students
#48: Various Types of Colleges and Universities: Which is Right For You? – College Faith Podcast on #31: The Every Campus Coalition
See the World With Wonder - Global Scholars on #46: A Guide to Majoring in Communications

Category: Intellectual Life

#25: The Reasonableness of Faith: Why Students Should Study Apologetics

#24: Why Christian Students Must Understand Their and Other’s Worldviews

#23: How To Watch A Movie, Using Top Gun: Maverick as an Example

#22: Critical Theories: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

#21: Reframing the “Evolution or Creation” Debate?

#20: How Christian Study Centers Minister to University Students

#19: Is Reality Secular? A Former Secular-Progressive Professor Says No!

#17: A College Student’s Guide to Sex, Love, and Relationships

#12: The Art and Science of Being an Excellent Student

#11: Surviving Religion 101 – Dr. Michael Kruger

Higher Education Insight of the Week

Subscribe to the College Faith Podcast Email List and receive a complimentary copy of the College Faith: 5 Strategies to Help Your Child Flourish During the University Years eBook