Cultural Update: The Ethics of Dire Wolves; What to Make of Miracles; Are Embryos Property?

Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — April 11, 2025

Topics this week:

An Atlantic article on Elaine Pagels' new book, "Miracles and Wonder." Is she downplaying the supernatural? This episode dives into her controversial take on New Testament miracles.
Florida teacher fired for using a student's preferred name without parental consent. Where do parental rights collide with student support?
Scientists have brought back the dire wolf. Is this a cool breakthrough or a recipe for disaster? We debate the ethics of de-extinction.
Are embryos property? Are they human life? The Alabama court ruling ignited a firestorm, and we're tackling the tough questions.
Listener Question: Martin Luther King Jr.: Hero or flawed figure? We address a listener's challenge and discuss how to reconcile King's legacy with his imperfections.
Listener Questions: Psychedelics: Are they safe? We pump the brakes on the hype, exploring potential harms and the principle of double effect.

Episode Transcript

Transcript coming soon.

Scott Rae

Scott Rae is professor of Christian ethics and dean of the faculty at Talbot School of Theology. A noted Christian scholar and ethicist, Scott is the author of such books as Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics; Business for the Common Good; and Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics. He has a Ph.D. and M.A. in social ethics from the University of Southern California, a Th.M. in Old Testament from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a B.A.S. in economics from Southern Methodist University. He has served in a variety of teaching and leadership roles, including a term as president of the Evangelical Theological Society in 2015. Along with Sean McDowell (Ph.D.), Scott co-hosts the Think Biblically podcast at Biola University.

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.