Posts by Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell (Ph.D.) is an associate professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, 51��. 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 and . Sean hosts one of the leading apologetics blogs at , and he hosts some great conversations on his . Sean and his wife, Stephanie, have three children and live in San Juan Capistrano, CA.

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Think Biblically
Who are the "Nones?"
with Ryan Burge
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — January 08, 2024
The fastest growing “religious” group in the US is the “nones”, those with no religious affiliation. Who are these “nones” and what accounts for...
Think Biblically
Developing Spiritual Street Smarts
with Greg Koukl
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — December 28, 2023
Evil. Slavery. Contradictions in the Bible. How can we best answer the top objections to the Christianity? Greg Koukl has taught numerous people...
Think Biblically
Think Biblically Cultural Update
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — December 15, 2023
We're trying something different today! A new bonus series where we'll discuss a few current cultural issues that are in the news — and also answer...
The Good Book Blog
Is the Internet Destroying Faith? 5 Helpful Steps
Sean McDowell — November 27, 2023
In last week’s post, guest writer John Marriott (my co-author for Set Adrift) looked at the role the Internet plays in deconversion. In this week’...
Think Biblically
The Great Dechurching
with Ryan Burge
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — November 23, 2023
How many people are really leaving the church today? Who are the people leaving and why are they “Dechurching”? According to our guest today, Dr....
The Good Book Blog
How Do You Minister To "Second Generation Christian Students"?
Sean McDowell — November 15, 2023
Even though I grew up in a Christian home, with parents in professional Christian ministry, there was a time that I walked away from God. I was...
Think Biblically
The Rise of Social Justice Ideology
Sean McDowell — November 09, 2023
Where Are Critical Theory and the Social Justice Movement Taking Us? Sean shares a bonus episode on critical theory where its expression in fields...
The Good Book Blog
How Do We Help Kids Who Have Deconverted?
Sean McDowell — October 30, 2023
Perhaps the toughest question parents ask me is how they can help their wayward kids. The difficulty of this question stems not solely from the...
Think Biblically
An Agnostic Spends a Year with God
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — October 19, 2023
What would happen if an agnostic committed to thinking about God for a year? In this episode, Sean and Scott discuss the recent book "My Year with...
Think Biblically
The (Remarkable) State of Jesus Research
with Craig Blomberg
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — October 05, 2023
Can we actually discover the real Jesus? Could the disciples have remembered the teachings of Jesus when they wrote the Gospels decades later? Sean...
The Good Book Blog
Why I Thank God For My Doubts: A Personal Reflection
Sean McDowell — October 02, 2023
It might sound crazy, but I can honestly say that I thank God for my doubts. It’s not that I always appreciate having doubts. Sometimes doubts can...
Think Biblically
The Porn Wars
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — September 28, 2023
What is the state of the current debate over the morality and legality of pornography? Is porn really harmful? Can pro-porn and anti-porn groups...
Think Biblically
Can the Criminal Justice System be Fixed?
with Matt Martens
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — September 21, 2023
Is the criminal justice system in the US broken? If so, what would it take to fix it? Are there parts of the justice system that are actually...
Think Biblically
Losing Our Religion???
with Russell Moore
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — September 07, 2023
What does it mean that we must "lose our religion" in order to regain the integrity of the gospel message? What must the church do to regain its...
The Good Book Blog
The Apostle Thomas Was Not a Doubter
Sean McDowell — September 05, 2023
Thomas is my favorite apostle. I love his inquisitive nature (John 14:5) and his demand for evidence (20:24-29). Thomas may have even been the...
Think Biblically
How to Deconstruct Your Faith
with John Marriott
John Marriott, Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — August 24, 2023
What does it mean to say that someone is deconstructing their faith? Can that be a good thing, or is it the first step in someone eventually...
The Good Book Blog
Set Adrift: An Interview with Scott Rae and Sean McDowell about Deconstruction
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — August 21, 2023
My colleague and Think Biblically co-host, Sean McDowell, has a new book out on deconstruction. Check out this quick interview and consider getting...
Think Biblically
Is Work Just a Paycheck?
with Helen Mitchell
Sean McDowell, Helen Mitchell, Scott Rae — August 17, 2023
What’s is God’s design for our work? Is it more than simply a paycheck? What does it mean to work unto the Lord? What are the lies about work that...
Think Biblically
QAnon and the Cross
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — August 10, 2023
What are conspiracy theories and why are Christians so drawn to them? How widespread are conspiracy theories in the church? What does it mean to...
Think Biblically
Truth and Toxic Masculinity
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — August 03, 2023
What is meant by the term toxic masculinity? Where does it come from and is it, as some critics assert, “baked into Christian theology?” What is...
The Good Book Blog
What are the top books to give a non-Christian?
Sean McDowell — August 01, 2023
One of the most common questions I receive regards which books I would recommend Christians giving their non-Christian friends who they hope may...
Think Biblically
World Religions on Trial
with Mark Lanier
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — July 27, 2023
What would happen if a leading lawyer examined some of the biggest religions in the world? How would Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Mormonism, and...
Think Biblically
Magic and the Christian Faith
with Joshua Ng
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — July 20, 2023
Can the miracles of Jesus be explained as magic? Since magic is forbidden in the Bible, can a Christian be a magician? What are some principles we...
Think Biblically
Saying Goodbye to Jesus
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — July 13, 2023
Why would a megachurch pastor leave his faith? What questions are raised through his journey that we need to address, and how can we better love...
Think Biblically
Is the Gospel Political?
with Patrick Schreiner
Sean McDowell, Scott Rae — July 06, 2023
Is the message of the gospel and the Kingdom inherently political messages? If so, what does that mean? How is the Christian message both...