The Biblical Mind

centerforhebraicthought
The Biblical Mind

The Biblical Mind is dedicated to helping its audience understand the deep structures of Scripture. It is published by the Center for Hebraic Thought, a hub for research and resources promoting biblical literacy and the intellectual world of the Bible.

  1. HACE 4 D

    Evolution and Identity: A Jewish Perspective on Science and Belief (Rachel Pear) Ep. #198

    What happens when science, religion, and education collide? In this episode, Dr. Rachel Pear shares her remarkable journey from growing up in New York’s modern Orthodox Jewish community to researching how evolution is taught and received across Israeli society. A scholar of science education and prehistoric archaeology, Rachel discusses how Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities in Israel grapple differently with the question of human origins. Why do some teachers avoid the topic altogether? Why do secular and religious students draw such hard lines around what’s “acceptable” to believe? And how do family, community, and national identity shape scientific acceptance? Rachel also shares her experience presenting three distinct rabbinic views on evolution in schools, showing students that Jewish thought isn’t monolithic—and that questioning is part of the tradition. She explores the cultural weight of science, the legacy of eugenics, and how educators can create space for real dialogue in science classrooms. Whether you’re an educator, a religious thinker, or just curious about how evolution meets identity, this episode offers a rich, honest look at a complex conversation that’s still evolving. We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Rachel's Journey 02:49 Exploring Prehistoric Archaeology and Cultural Contexts 05:48 The Intersection of Evolution and Religion 08:48 Cultural Perspectives on Evolution in Israel 11:57 The Role of Education in Science and Religion 14:57 Diverse Views on Evolution in Arab Schools 17:58 The Complexity of Science and Cultural Identity 20:50 Reflections on Science, Culture, and Religion 27:27 Navigating Values in Education 32:20 The Complexity of Teaching Evolution 35:53 Epistemology and the Scientific Method 40:51 Cultural Perspectives on Evolution 45:32 The Intersection of Tradition and Modernity

    53 min
  2. 24 ABR

    Is Evolution a Dirty Word? Muslim Perspectives on Science and Religion (Shoaib Malik) Ep. #197

    Is the relationship between Islam and science as well-developed as it is in Christianity? Not even close—but that’s changing. In this episode, Dr. Shoaib Ahmed Malik, Lecturer in Science and Religion at the University of Edinburgh, joins Dru Johnson to share the emerging field of Islam and science, focusing on the hot topic of evolution. Shoaib unpacks the historical development of Islamic engagement with science, tracing it from early encounters with Western scientific frameworks to the present. He explains why the Islamic world lacks infrastructure like textbooks, academic chairs, and journals for the science-religion conversation—and why that’s finally beginning to change. But what about evolution? Shoaib shares why it remains a highly sensitive subject in Muslim-majority countries (including stories of professors losing jobs over it) and how Muslim views differ from Christian ones, especially around original sin, Adam, and human suffering. This is an honest, fascinating look at how Muslims are navigating modern science, why cultural and religious taboos persist, and how Shoaib’s work is shaping new conversations at the intersection of Islamic theology and science. We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Shoaib Ahmed Malik's Journey 03:11 Transition from Engineering to Humanities 06:00 Teaching Experience in the UAE 09:14 Pursuing Philosophy, Science, and Religion 12:18 Publishing and Academic Recognition 15:11 Navigating Career Changes and New Opportunities 18:29 Exploring Science and Religion Conversations 26:43 Navigating Conversations with Students 27:29 Understanding Islam: Sunni vs Shia 30:19 The Contemporary Muslim World: Sunni and Shia Dynamics 31:34 The Intellectual History of Islam 35:17 Muslim Perspectives on Science and Religion 39:01 Islamization of Science: A Discourse Emerges 42:48 The Development of Islamic Science Education 44:25 Evolution and Its Reception in the Muslim World 48:11 Unique Questions Muslims Ask About Evolution

    54 min
  3. Can Muslims, Jews, and Christians Talk About Science and Scripture? (Dru Johnson) Ep. #196

    17 ABR

    Can Muslims, Jews, and Christians Talk About Science and Scripture? (Dru Johnson) Ep. #196

    What happens when you put 15 scholars—scientists and theologians, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian—in a room to talk about creation? In this episode of The Biblical Mind Podcast, Dr. Dru Johnson shares his experience launching the Abrahamic Theistic Origins Project in Oxford. Far from being a formal academic conference, the gathering focused on “enduring collegial co-learning”—building trust and curiosity across disciplines and faith traditions. The participants explored how evolutionary biology, genetics, astrophysics, and artificial intelligence intersect with theological questions about human uniqueness, creation, and divine action. Dru explains why religious identity didn’t hinder the conversation—it enriched it, and why the bigger challenge was translating between scientists and theologians. He also shares a fascinating insight on Neanderthals and menopause, and how that single biological feature opens a window into intergenerational care, legacy, and biblical values. The project raises bold questions: Can we build a biblical philosophy of science? Does Hebraic thought inform scientific methods? And what does it look like to think with Scripture—not just about it—in a scientific age? We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters 00:00 Exploring Creation Theology and Science 02:58 Building Collegial Relationships Among Scholars 05:43 Navigating Interfaith Dialogues 08:52 Understanding Diverse Perspectives on Origins 13:59 The Intersection of Science and Theistic Beliefs 21:40 Christian Views on Human Origins 30:08 Pragmatism and Empiricism in Biblical Thought

    37 min
  4. 10 ABR

    Syndicated: Jesus and Jewish Law (Logan Williams and Paul Sloan) Ep. #195

    Was the Mosaic Law a burdensome set of rules meant to be broken? Did Jesus overthrow the Torah—or fulfill it? In this special episode of The Biblical Mind Podcast, we revisit the pilot episode of the Jesus and the Jewish Law podcast, hosted by Paul Sloan and Logan Williams. Together, they walk through seven widespread misconceptions about the Law and how these misunderstandings distort our reading of both the Old and New Testaments. You’ll hear why the Law was never meant to be a ladder to earn salvation, how it was designed to maintain God’s presence among His people, and why ritual purity doesn’t equal sin. They also explore the difference between distinction and exclusion, how the Law does not uniformly obligate all humans, and how Jesus builds on—not breaks—the Torah’s ethical depth. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about the sacrificial system, purity laws, Gentile inclusion, or what Jesus really meant in the Sermon on the Mount, this episode offers a clear, accessible, and richly Hebraic guide to reading the Law like Jesus did.   Jesus and Jewish Law Podcast: Apple = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jesus-and-jewish-law/id1791111864 Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/show/1QCKgVOnEmtfFwRQtWlBSV   We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org   Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:01 Misconceptions About the Law: An Overview 05:57 Debunking Misconceptions: The Nature of the Law 12:08 Understanding Impurity and Its Implications 17:59 The Role of Sacrifice in the Law 20:02 Conclusion and Future Topics

    22 min
  5. 3 ABR

    ICYMI - Wisdom of Primal Peoples in the Era of World Christianity (Jangkholam Haokip) Ep. #194

    This episode was originally published on November 11, 2022. We thought it was worth a reissue for our newer listeners. Christianity is a truly global religion, and every strand of Christianity has its own theological emphases. Western Christians tend to focus on individual salvation and the question of what happens when we die. But as we amplify other Christian voices, we find that the riches of the gospel might stretch far beyond our original conceptions. In this episode, Dru interviews Dr. Jangkholam Haokip, an Indian theologian, author, and former professor. Growing up in Churachandpur, Manipur, in Northeast India, Jangkholam converted to Christianity as a child. Drawing on his experiences with indigenous Indian culture and religion, he had the opportunity to develop a unique perspective on Christian theology, including Scripture's portrayal of sin's effects on nature, the value of yet-unheard perspectives, and the way that the gospels can affect the lives of whole communities. After his long career as a professor at Union Biblical Seminary in India, Jangkholam has founded the Bethesda-Khankho Foundation, which aims to transform indigenous Indian communities through education and poverty outreach. He also contributed to the recent book Voices from the Margins: Wisdom of Primal Peoples in the Era of World Christianity. For More of Jangkholam Haokip Content: https://jlamboihaokip.wordpress.com/ https://langhamliterature.org/author-bio?author_id=5923 We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org   Show notes: 0:00 Introduction 1:22 Converting to Christianity 5:03 Further education and understanding the gospel 8:51 Individualism in Western Christianity 15:09 Sin and the health of nature 20:10 Tribal Indian thought in the biblical texts and Western theology 25:48 The value of indigenous theology 29:47 Christianity as a help for Indian history, identity, and culture 31:05 On Jangkholam's new book Voices from the Margins: Wisdom of Primal Peoples in the Era of World Christianity

    33 min
  6. 27 MAR

    Is God Really Unchanging? Challenging Classical Theism’s View of God (R.T. Mullins) Ep. #193

    Is God emotionless and unchanging? Many systematic theologians have long argued that God is completely impassible—meaning He cannot feel, suffer, or be influenced by creation. But is this truly what the Bible teaches? In this episode, Dr. R.T. Mullins joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to challenge traditional ideas about God’s nature, emotions, and engagement with the world. He explains how philosophy has often shaped theology more than scripture, why systematic theologians ignore biblical descriptions of God’s emotions, and what it actually means to call God all-powerful and all-knowing. Dru and R.T. explore the hidden assumptions behind classical theism, why ancient theologians rejected the idea that God could suffer, and whether modern theology needs a reset. Mullins also discusses how our view of God shapes how we pray, worship, and think about suffering. If you’ve ever wondered why theology sometimes feels disconnected from the Bible, or why certain doctrines sound more like philosophy than scripture, this episode will challenge you to rethink how we describe God. For More of RT Mullin's Content, Check Out His Podcast: https://www.rtmullins.com/podcast We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters: 00:00 Understanding the Doctrine of God 03:21 Concepts of God: Models and Attributes 06:23 The Role of Scripture in Systematic Theology 09:15 Historical Perspectives on God's Attributes 12:21 Philosophical Underpinnings of Theological Claims 15:12 The Challenge of Defining God's Perfections 18:04 Empathy and Knowledge in God's Nature 21:13 The Intersection of Philosophy and Scripture 24:11 Concluding Thoughts on God's Nature 30:53 The Nature of God's Communication 33:08 Empathy and the Divine: A Theological Dilemma 36:18 Impassibility and the Perfection of God 38:45 The Role of Empathy in Hebrew Moral Philosophy 41:44 The Disconnect Between Systematic Theology and Biblical Texts 45:28 Cultural Perspectives on Biblical Literature 47:16 Upcoming Projects: Debates and Collaborative Works

    1 h 4 min
  7. 20 MAR

    Why We Struggle to Read the Bible—And How to Fix It (Alex Goodwin) Ep. #192

    What if the way we format and structure the Bible is actually making it harder to read? In this episode, Alex Goodwin joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to discuss how chapter breaks, verse numbers, and footnotes—while useful for study—can actually disrupt the natural flow of Scripture. Alex shares his journey from marketing to Bible publishing, how his first exposure to serious theology transformed his faith, and why modern Bible formatting has fundamentally changed how people engage with Scripture. He and Dru explore how early Christians and Jews experienced the Bible (hint: it wasn’t through personal quiet times with a study Bible), why reading big sections matters, and how removing unnecessary “additives” can help us better understand the biblical story. This episode also tackles the difference between Bible literacy and Bible fluency, the power of listening to Scripture, and why engaging the Bible in community leads to richer understanding. If you’ve ever struggled with Bible reading, this conversation will challenge and inspire you to rethink how you interact with Scripture. We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hebraicthought Chapters 00:00 From Marketing to Ministry: A Journey of Faith 04:47 The Impact of Formatting on Bible Reading 09:10 Bible Sales vs Bible Literacy 13:21 The Bible Reset 17:34 Listening vs. Reading: Engaging with Scripture in New Ways 20:41 Pursuing Biblical Fluency 27:08 The Concept of a Bible Reset 31:25 Reevaluating Church Practices 36:52 Engaging with Scripture in Community 40:55 The Role of the Congregation in Biblical Literacy

    45 min
  8. 13 MAR

    Faith, Politics, and Media: Rethinking Christian Political Involvement (Kaitlyn Schiess) Ep. #191

    Are we mistaking media consumption for political engagement? In this episode, Kaitlyn Schiess joins The Biblical Mind Podcast to challenge the way Christians think about politics, faith, and media. She explains why binge-watching C-SPAN or endlessly scrolling Twitter doesn’t make us politically engaged—but actually forms us into people less capable of real advocacy. Dru and Kaitlyn discuss the modern obsession with national politics, why Christians ignore their local communities, and how the church provides a model of meaningful engagement. Instead of trying to "change the world" through social media outrage, Kaitlyn argues that real political involvement means knowing your neighbors, understanding local government, and prioritizing embodied relationships. They also explore the role of Christian media consumption, asking whether 24-hour news, partisan social feeds, and political influencers have become a form of secular discipleship. How can Christians discern which voices are trustworthy? And how can the church offer a healthier alternative? We are listener supported. Give to the cause here: https://hebraicthought.org/give For more articles: https://thebiblicalmind.org/ Kaitlyn Schiess' Content https://www.holypost.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kaitlyn.schiess https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynschiess https://twitter.com/KaitlynSchiess Social Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HebraicThought/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hebraicthought/ X: https://www.twitter.com/HebraicThought/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/hebraicthought.org Chapters 00:00 Misunderstandings in Political Engagement 03:45 The Impact of 24-Hour News Cycle 07:13 Agency and Exhaustion in Political Involvement 09:46 Local vs. National Political Engagement 13:52 The Role of Community and Church 16:17 Listening to Trustworthy Voices 25:02 Understanding Local Politics Through Community Engagement 26:14 The Importance of Recognizing Underlying Narratives 28:18 The Challenge of Political Discourse in Faith Communities 31:09 The Role of Stories in Shaping Political Beliefs 34:44 Navigating Conspiracy Theories in Faith Contexts 37:12 The Need for Meaningful Conversations in Churches 40:00 The Impact of Media Consumption on Relationships 41:51 Reality TV and Its Moral Implications

    51 min

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The Biblical Mind is dedicated to helping its audience understand the deep structures of Scripture. It is published by the Center for Hebraic Thought, a hub for research and resources promoting biblical literacy and the intellectual world of the Bible.

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