Posts by Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell (Ph.D.) is an associate professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. 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 Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships In A Confused Culture and So The Next Generation Will Know (with J. Warner Wallace). Sean hosts one of the leading apologetics blogs at seanmcdowell.org, and he hosts some great conversations on his YouTube channel. Sean and his wife, Stephanie, have three children and live in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

View full profile

Think Biblically
The Porn Myth
with Matt Fradd
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — May 08, 2018
How is porn affecting this generation? What are some of the most common and pernicious myths people believe about how it affects relationships?...
The Good Book Blog
The Moral Question Behind Infinity War
Sean McDowell — May 07, 2018
[Spoiler Alert!] This weekend I saw Infinity War . Actually, to be honest, I saw it twice. And I loved it. There have been many helpful movie...
Think Biblically
Religious Freedom in the Crosshairs
with Ken Starr & Thomas Farr
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 28, 2018
In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with Judge Ken Starr and Dr. Thomas Farr about the state of religious liberty today in America and beyond. How...
The Good Book Blog
Why GQ Is Wrong: The Bible is a Must-Read
Sean McDowell — April 23, 2018
GQ recently posted an article titled, “21 Books You Don’t Have to Read.” It includes many classics such as The Catcher in the Rye by J.D....
Think Biblically
Bonus Podcast: Losing Faith and Keeping Faith: Sean McDowell and Bart Campolo
Sean McDowell — April 17, 2018
Sean recently had a public discussion with Bart Campolo, former evangelist and Christian social worker, who is now a leading secular humanist. They...
Think Biblically
Unique Worldview Challenges for Students Today
with Jeff Myers
Sean McDowell — April 12, 2018
What worldviews are competing for the hearts and minds of today’s students? What is unique about this generation? Sean interviews Dr. Jeff Myers,...
The Good Book Blog
When Harry Became Sally
Review of the New Book on Transgender
Sean McDowell — April 09, 2018
Ryan T. Anderson has done it again. With the release of When Harry Became Sally , he has produced another timely, thoughtful, and important book...
Think Biblically
Economics and the Christian Faith
with Tom Nelson
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 05, 2018
How does economics shape what it means to “love our neighbor”? How should theology shape our view of economics? In this episode, Sean McDowell and...
Think Biblically
Winsome Communication
with Tim Muehlhoff
Sean McDowell, Tim Muehlhoff, Scott Rae — March 29, 2018
Christians find themselves today in an increasingly secular culture, which is sometimes even hostile to the faith. In this setting, what is the...
The Good Book Blog
How Should Christians Think about Social Justice?
An Interview with Thaddeus Williams
Sean McDowell — March 26, 2018
This is one of the most important interviews I have posted in awhile. And I can think of no one more qualified than my friend and colleague...
Think Biblically
Theistic Evolution
with Stephen Meyer
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — March 22, 2018
Did God use evolution? Should Christians embrace evolution? In this episode, Sean and Scott talk with the leading intelligent design proponent...
Think Biblically
Bonus Podcast: Sean Discusses the Bible and Homosexuality with John Stonestreet
Sean McDowell — March 20, 2018
In this special release, Sean joins John Stonestreet, president of The Chuck Colson Center, and co-host of the BreakPoint Podcast, to discuss the...
Think Biblically
Christians and the LGBTQ Community – Part 2
with Caleb Kaltenbach
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — March 15, 2018
In the second half of this two-part series, Sean McDowell and Scott Rae continue their conversation with pastor and author Caleb Kaltenbach. In...
The Good Book Blog
Do Computer Simulations Provide Evidence for Evolution?
Sean McDowell — March 12, 2018
William Dembski is one of the leading thinkers behind the Intelligent Design movement (ID). He has written both scholarly texts, such as The Design Inference, and popular books, such as Understanding Intelligent Design (which we co-wrote in 2008). Although he has recently shifted his focus from ID to other projects, Dembski has recently released a book called Introduction to Evolutionary Informatics, which is co-written with Robert Marks and Winston Ewert. This may be his final book-length contribution to the discussion over Darwinism and intelligent design ...
Think Biblically
Christians and the LGBTQ Community – Part 1
with Caleb Kaltenbach
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — March 08, 2018
There is often great fear, mistrust, and tension between the church and the LGBTQ community. How can Christians posture themselves in a biblical...
The Good Book Blog
Is Sexual Orientation Immutable?
The Science May Surprise You
Sean McDowell — March 05, 2018
One of the most common and effective claims for LGBT rights is that people are born with an immutable, permanent sexual orientation. In our recent...
Think Biblically
The Gospel and Poverty
with Dan Anderson
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — March 04, 2018
Jesus taught his followers to help the poor. Yet there is much confusion about the most effective and biblical means for doing so. In this episode,...
The Good Book Blog
Coming Soon! Update to The Creator and the Cosmos
Interview with Hugh Ross
Sean McDowell — February 26, 2018
Dr. Hugh Ross, the president of Reasons to Believe (RTB), has been a friend of mine for many years. I have had the opportunity of speaking at...
Think Biblically
The Church and the LGBTQ Conversation
with Mark Yarhouse
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — February 22, 2018
What is the church doing well in the LGBTQ conversation? Where can we improve? In this podcast, Sean McDowell and Scott Rae interview Dr. Mark...
The Good Book Blog
Freedom Through Obedience: A Lesson from Star Wars
Sean McDowell — February 19, 2018
Personal autonomy has become the reigning virtue of our day. If it feels true to you, then it must be true for you. As SCOTUS Justice Anthony Kennedy famously said, "At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” On this view, freedom entails obeying only the self. But the Star Wars franchise portrays a different kind of freedom, a freedom that is found through obedience. For instance, in episode IV (the first Star Wars film) Obi-Wan Kenobi sneaks Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3PO past a small group of stormtroopers. When the stormtroopers stop them for inquiry, Ob-Wan simply waves his hand and says, “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.” One of the stormtroopers repeats the phrase and they obey.
The Good Book Blog
Humorous Bible Translation Errors, and What They Mean for Biblical Reliability
Sean McDowell — February 19, 2018
Jewish and Christian scribes took inordinate care in copying the Bible from one generation to the next. For a variety of reasons, we can have great confidence that our present Bibles have considerable fidelity to the original writings.[1] Hands down, the Bible is the most carefully preserved book from the ancient world ...
Think Biblically
Naturalism and the Soul
with JP Moreland
Sean McDowell, J P Moreland, Scott Rae — February 16, 2018
What is the best evidence for the soul? What is the state of philosophical debate over the existence of the soul? Can evolution explain the soul?...
The Good Book Blog
Should You See the New Samson Movie? Yes!
Writer Interview
Sean McDowell — February 12, 2018
I recently got to watch an early release of the new Samson film with my older kids and we all loved it. I asked my kids if I should endorse it and...
Think Biblically
Have Churches Oversold Family and Marriage?
with Joe Hellerman
Joe Hellerman, Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — February 08, 2018
The contemporary church puts a huge emphasis on natural marriage and family. But according to pastor, author and Talbot professor Joe Hellerman,...
The Good Book Blog
Why Would Scholars Leave Mormonism? Interview with Author Corey Miller
Sean McDowell — February 05, 2018
Corey Miller is the president of Ratio Christi, an organization that brings apologetics to the university campus. He was also a classmate of mine in the Philosophy program at Talbot Theological Seminary. As a former Mormon, Corey has a special interest in reaching people in the LDS church. He has compiled a fascinating and unique book called Leaving Mormonism: Why Four Scholars Changed Their Minds. I had the chance to endorse this book and highly recommend it. If you are interested in reaching out to the Mormon community, this book is a must-read ...