Upstream

By Shane Morris

Society & Culture Philosophy Religion & Spirituality Christianity

What's Upstream about?

There are no ordinary things. We can meet God in the most surprising places…if we only know how to look. Go Upstream, discover a world charged with the grandeur of God—and learn to live in that bigger world.

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Upstream episodes:

04.30.2024
Is Philosophy for Christians? | Ross Inman
In Colossians 2:8, the Apostle warns us not to be taken captive by hollow and deceitful philosophy. Does this mean Christians shouldn’t seek wisdom outside or alongside of Scripture? To answer, Shane welcomes Dr. Ross Inman, author of Christian Philosophy...
04.16.2024
Why Do Evangelicals Become Catholic? | Chris Castaldo
The beauty, the tradition, the sense of authority and certainty about doctrine—these are some of the many reasons evangelicals join the Catholic Church. But are they making a fully informed decision? Shane welcomes Chris Castaldo, co-author of Why Do Protestants...
04.02.2024
How Christ Can Redeem Environmentalism | Andrew Spencer
Evangelicals are often suspicious of the environmental movement because of its fatalism and worship of the earth. But what if Christianity is the best foundation for environmental stewardship? Shane welcomes Dr. Andrew Spencer, author of Hope for God’s Creation. Andrew's...
03.19.2024
Defy the Elites, Get Married | Brad Wilcox
Whether from pop culture or politicians, corporate executives or mainstream journalists, Americans are bombarded with the message that marriage is outdated, inconvenient, and joyless. But statistics tell a very different story. Shane welcomes sociologist Brad Wilcox, author of the new...
03.05.2024
The Hope and Joy of the Colson Fellows | Michael Craven
Something happens to Christians who join the largest worldview fellowship in existence. Confusion turns to confidence, fear turns to hope, and they discover how their lives fit into God’s grand story. This week Shane welcomes Michael Craven, dean of the...
02.20.2024
How Pro-Life Can Win | Scott Klusendorf
The overturning of Roe v. Wade was the beginning of a new phase in the fight for life. But every time abortion has been on the ballot, pro-lifers have lost. Shane welcomes Scott Klusendorf, who thinks most Americans have never truly been confronted...
02.07.2024
How Is A Human Like a Tree? | Joy Clarkson
Some of our go-to figures of speech are mechanistic. We compare ourselves to computers that need to “recharge,” “process,” and “update.” But what if the Bible (and nature) offer better metaphors? To make that case, Shane welcomes Dr. Joy Clarkson,...
01.30.2024
Does My Job Fulfill the Great Commission? | Jordan Raynor
Our divide between “ordinary jobs” and “ministry” and “mission” reveals a hidden assumption about the size of the gospel, and what Christ expects His people to do on this earth. Shane welcomes Jordan Raynor, author of The Sacredness of Secular...
01.23.2024
How Feminism Unleashed Gender Chaos | Abigail Favale
What is a woman? In this best-of episode from 2023, Shane welcomes Dr. Abigail Favale, author of The Genesis of Gender, to discuss how feminism, postmodernism, and bad philosophy made that question impossible to answer, and to show how the...
01.16.2024
Worshiping Yourself Will Make You Miserable | Thaddeus Williams
You are basically good, and meaning comes from looking within and conforming reality to your feelings. This is the message shouted at us from every direction, but it leads to confusion and despair. Shane welcomes Dr. Thaddeus Williams to point...
01.09.2024
The Year That Made Us Modern | Andrew Wilson
In 1776, America became an independent nation. But that year also saw the beginning of trends that would de-Christianize the West. Shane welcomes Dr. Andrew Wilson to tell the story of how this transformation took place, and to prepare Christians...
01.02.2024
The ‘Aha’ Moment: Christianity Matters for All of Life | Christopher Talbot
The concept of “engaging the culture” from a “Christian worldview” has been talked about for decades. But what does it mean, exactly, and how do we teach it? What are the benefits and potential pitfalls of “worldview talk?” Shane welcomes...
12.26.2023
Finding Jesus in All of Scripture | Alastair Roberts
On the road to Emmaus, the risen Jesus explained how the whole Bible foreshadows Him. As we celebrate Christmas, Shane welcomes Dr. Alastair Roberts to help us see how the birth of Christ fulfilled all of God’s promises to Israel—and...
12.19.2023
The Neglected Theology of Food | Andrew Brumme
From the tilled earth to the family table, every step of growing and preparing food was intended by God to teach us spiritual truths. Yet many of us have forgotten how to taste and see. Shane welcomes documentary filmmaker Andrew...
12.12.2023
How Handel’s Messiah Brings God’s Promises to Life | Joel Clarkson & Gabriela Morris
A German composer’s 1742 oratorio about the life and work of Christ has captivated audiences for centuries. But what makes Handel’s Messiah so powerful and unforgettable? Shane welcomes composer and writer Dr. Joel Clarkson, plus a special guest, to explore one...
12.05.2023
What If We Truly Prayed Without Ceasing? | Douglas McKelvey
Christ is sovereign over every square inch of human existence, but what about every moment of time? What would it change if we dedicated everything we do to Him in prayer? Shane welcomes Douglas McKelvey, author of the Every Moment Holy series,...
11.28.2023
Is Theology Boring? | Trevin Wax
The creeds of Christianity summarize the most paradoxical and surprising story the world has ever known. So why do so many find them boring? In this best-of episode, Shane welcomes Trevin Wax to explain why the core truths of our...
11.21.2023
Thanking God Without Idolizing His Gifts | Joe Rigney
We gather at Thanksgiving to enjoy food, to count our blessings (including family and friends), and to express our gratitude to the Giver. But is it possible to love God’s gifts too much? Shane welcomes Dr. Joe Rigney, author of The...
11.14.2023
Christ’s Presence in Our Pain | Joni Eareckson Tada
What is the secret of contentment in all circumstances? The Apostle Paul knew it, and so can Christians who acknowledge God’s presence and seek His face. Shane welcomes Joni Eareckson Tada, herself no stranger to suffering, to share insights from...
11.07.2023
Do We Treat the Holy Spirit Like God? | Costi Hinn
He’s been described like a genie in a bottle, treated like The Force from Star Wars, and is sometimes simply forgotten. But the Holy Spirit is God, and learning to worship Him and recognize His work is central to Christianity....
10.31.2023
A Jerusalem Pastor on the War in Gaza | David Pileggi
The world is still reeling from the events of October 7, when Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and slaughtered over a thousand civilians. As war rages, confusion reigns in academia and politics over who is to blame and what should be...
10.24.2023
Should Christians Tell Haunting Stories? | Ben Garrett and Brian Sauvé
The world is filled with tales of ghosts, vampires, sea serpents, and all manner of mythological monsters. The secular mind dismisses these as superstitions, but should Christians? This week Shane welcomes Ben Garrett and Brian Sauvé, hosts of The Haunted...
10.17.2023
Are We Souls? | Joshua Farris
For most of history, nearly everybody has agreed that human beings survive the deaths of our bodies. But somewhere along the way, materialism rose to dominance, and we became nothing but bodies. What’s the truth? Shane welcomes Dr. Joshua Farris, author of The...
10.10.2023
What is it About Music? | Various Guests
Music has been a favorite theme on Upstream. Guests like Andrew Peterson, Jeremy Begbie, The Arcadian Wild, and David Radford of The Gray Havens have explored the mystery of music from artistic and academic perspectives. This week, we bring you...
10.03.2023
What Critical Theory Gets Wrong—and Right | Neil Shenvi & Pat Sawyer
Between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and the modern social justice movement, the definition of "justice" changed. But critical social theories are based on important truths, even if they mix them with lies. Shane welcomes...
09.26.2023
Why Are Churches Dying? | Michael Graham
We're in the mist of the most significant religious shift in American history. Millions are abandoning organized Christianity, but there is little clarity about why they're leaving, or how to stem the exodus. Shane welcomes Michael Graham, co-author of The Great...
09.19.2023
Why Does Believing in God Feel Like Work? | Joseph Minich
Atheists like to tell a story in which religion declined because of scientific evidence and arguments. But what if unbelief became a plausible option because of the way modern people work, live, and relate to the world, and the way...
09.12.2023
The Five Lies Coming for Your Church and Your Children | Rosaria Butterfield
Homosexuality, “spirituality,” feminism, transgenderism, and more; an alternative creed is making inroads into Christianity and false claims on young lives. Shane welcomes Dr. Rosaria Butterfield, someone who once believed and lived those lies, to explain how God set her free...
09.05.2023
What Has the Internet Done to Our Brains ... and Souls? | Samuel James
Christians often think of technology as morally neutral, but a closer examination shows that assumptions about the world and humanity are built into inventions like the internet. These “liturgies,” or repeated patterns of formative behavior, shape us mentally and spiritually...
08.29.2023
God Is Speaking ... If We Will Listen | Os Guinness
A dandelion, a song, a mother’s love, even the reality of evil; God has used all of these to pierce the godless worldviews of real men and women. In this Upstream re-air, Shane welcomes Dr. Os Guinness to tell their...
08.22.2023
When Girls Decide They’re Boys | Katie McCoy
We’re witnessing an unprecedented epidemic of teenage girls who want to change their gender and think transition will make them happy. What’s really going on, and how can Christians respond? Shane welcomes Dr. Katie McCoy to answer these hard questions...
08.15.2023
The Whole Bible Is a Creation Story | Edward Klink
When we hear pastors or theologians refer to “creation,” we assume they’re talking about the beginning of the world. But what if the whole story of Scripture is about the purpose, function, and glorious destiny of God’s handiwork—including us? Shane...
08.08.2023
You Were Created to Create! | Brian Brown
When God created humans in His image, He gave us a mandate: to imitate His work by bringing beauty, order, art, and culture into the world. This has implications for our relationship with time, space, matter, language, each other, and God....
08.01.2023
Mistakes We Make When We 'Engage the Culture' | Justin Bailey
Christians easily fall into the habit of treating culture as something “out there,” distinct from us and potentially corrupting or dangerous. But what if we are a part of that culture, and what if conflict isn’t the only or best...
07.25.2023
World-Changing Christians You’ve Never Heard Of | Glenn Sunshine
A Viking who sailed to America, a prisoner who transformed an African kingdom, the daughter-in-law of Genghis Khan—what do all of these people have in common? Surprisingly, belief in Christ. Shane welcomes Dr. Glenn Sunshine to talk about his new...
07.18.2023
How Sex Unlocks the Meaning of the Universe | Joshua Butler
Creation is bursting with Divine symbolism, especially where opposites unite—and nowhere do we find a more profound, sacred, or fruitful symbolism than in sex. Shane welcomes Joshua Butler, author of Beautiful Union, to explore how God’s vision for the one...
07.11.2023
Why Is the Cosmos Comprehensible? | Melissa Cain Travis
Contrary to secular mythology, the pioneers of modern astronomy believed they were “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.” In fact, this belief was essential to their discoveries! Shane welcomes Dr. Melissa Cain Travis to explain why Christian convictions led to the...
07.07.2023
Further Upstream - How Do Westerners Give Their Lives for Christ?
Most of us will never have to choose between death and denying Jesus. So what does martyrdom mean for us? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation with Jerry Pattengale about The New Book of Christian Martyrs.
07.04.2023
How the Martyrs Can Prepare Us for Persecution | Jerry Pattengale
Four-hundred and fifty years ago, John Foxe published his famous Book of Martyrs. But more Christians died for their faith in the last century than in the previous nineteen combined. Shane welcomes Dr. Jerry Pattengale to tell the stories of...
06.27.2023
A Christian Exodus from Public Schools? | Larry Taylor
We’re witnessing a groundswell of demand to create viable, Christian alternatives to the American public school system, but is there room for everyone? Shane welcomes Dr. Larry Taylor, president of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) to sketch an...
06.23.2023
Further Upstream - Why Tim Keller Caught Skeptics Off Guard
Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to explore the distinctive approach to apologetics and evangelism that set Tim Keller apart and sometimes made him controversial. He subverted expectations, but how do we balance winsomeness toward outsiders with fidelity to our countercultural Christian...
06.20.2023
The Beliefs that Made Tim Keller | Collin Hansen
Last month, pastor-theologian Timothy Keller went home to the Lord. His ministry was filled with incredible successes and unexpected controversies, and raises questions about how Christians should engage our post-Christian culture. Shane welcomes Collin Hansen, author of Timothy Keller: His Spiritual...
06.16.2023
Further Upstream - Good Creation Theology Can Save Your Faith
In his latest songs, Josh Bales meditates on doubt, deconstruction, and the glory we were created for. Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to discuss how understanding our high calling as humans can direct our search for God and truth.
06.13.2023
Singing the Weight of Glory | Josh Bales
Human beings are fallen, sinful, and broken, but that’s not where the story began. Shane welcomes singer-songwriter, priest, and Licensed Mental Health Counselor Josh Bales to explain the importance of telling the full story of redemption, using his new EP,...
06.06.2023
Does Creation Reveal a Creator? | Stephen Meyer
Christians have long taught that God’s existence and power are evident in the world He has made. Yet secular, materialistic science says the universe looks exactly as we would expect if God didn’t exist. Shane welcomes philosopher of science Dr....
06.02.2023
Further Upstream - A Christian View of Nature
Progressive environmentalists seem to worship nature and treat human beings like vermin. But conservative Christians often fall into the opposite trap of downplaying human responsibility to care for God’s world. Shane welcomes Tim Padgett to talk more about Christianity and...
05.30.2023
Does God Care About the Environment? | Xandra Carroll
Many Christians view concern for nature as a secular, left-wing obsession. But if God loves the world He made and cares about its wellbeing, shouldn’t we care, too? Shane welcomes author and apologist Xandra Carroll to make the case for...
05.26.2023
Further Upstream - Is Western Music Best?
Music as we know it is surprisingly young. What influence did Christianity have on the rise of this art form, and does that mean there are no universal truths about music? Shane welcomes Kasey Leander to reflect on the conversation...
05.23.2023
The Mystery of Music | Jeremy Begbie
Few art forms have the power music has to move us and enrich our lives. But what gives it that power? Shane welcomes theologian and musician Dr. Jeremy Begbie to reveal how music can voice deep theological truths in a...
05.16.2023
What the Sexual Revolution Stole from Children | Katy Faust
At every stage of the battle for sexual liberation, adults have assured themselves that kids will be alright. But the kids tell a different story. Shane welcomes Katy Faust to explain why the quest to fulfill adult desires has steamrolled...

What's Upstream about?

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Upstream episodes:

Is Philosophy for Christians? | Ross Inman

Why Do Evangelicals Become Catholic? | Chris Castaldo

How Christ Can Redeem Environmentalism | Andrew Spencer

Defy the Elites, Get Married | Brad Wilcox

The Hope and Joy of the Colson Fellows | Michael Craven

How Pro-Life Can Win | Scott Klusendorf

How Is A Human Like a Tree? | Joy Clarkson

Does My Job Fulfill the Great Commission? | Jordan Raynor

How Feminism Unleashed Gender Chaos | Abigail Favale

Worshiping Yourself Will Make You Miserable | Thaddeus Williams

The Year That Made Us Modern | Andrew Wilson

The ‘Aha’ Moment: Christianity Matters for All of Life | Christopher Talbot

Finding Jesus in All of Scripture | Alastair Roberts

The Neglected Theology of Food | Andrew Brumme

How Handel’s Messiah Brings God’s Promises to Life | Joel Clarkson & Gabriela Morris

What If We Truly Prayed Without Ceasing? | Douglas McKelvey

Is Theology Boring? | Trevin Wax

Thanking God Without Idolizing His Gifts | Joe Rigney

Christ’s Presence in Our Pain | Joni Eareckson Tada

Do We Treat the Holy Spirit Like God? | Costi Hinn

A Jerusalem Pastor on the War in Gaza | David Pileggi

Should Christians Tell Haunting Stories? | Ben Garrett and Brian Sauvé

Are We Souls? | Joshua Farris

What is it About Music? | Various Guests

What Critical Theory Gets Wrong—and Right | Neil Shenvi & Pat Sawyer

Why Are Churches Dying? | Michael Graham

Why Does Believing in God Feel Like Work? | Joseph Minich

The Five Lies Coming for Your Church and Your Children | Rosaria Butterfield

What Has the Internet Done to Our Brains ... and Souls? | Samuel James

God Is Speaking ... If We Will Listen | Os Guinness

When Girls Decide They’re Boys | Katie McCoy

The Whole Bible Is a Creation Story | Edward Klink

You Were Created to Create! | Brian Brown

Mistakes We Make When We 'Engage the Culture' | Justin Bailey

World-Changing Christians You’ve Never Heard Of | Glenn Sunshine

How Sex Unlocks the Meaning of the Universe | Joshua Butler

Why Is the Cosmos Comprehensible? | Melissa Cain Travis

Further Upstream - How Do Westerners Give Their Lives for Christ?

How the Martyrs Can Prepare Us for Persecution | Jerry Pattengale

A Christian Exodus from Public Schools? | Larry Taylor

Further Upstream - Why Tim Keller Caught Skeptics Off Guard

The Beliefs that Made Tim Keller | Collin Hansen

Further Upstream - Good Creation Theology Can Save Your Faith

Singing the Weight of Glory | Josh Bales

Does Creation Reveal a Creator? | Stephen Meyer

Further Upstream - A Christian View of Nature

Does God Care About the Environment? | Xandra Carroll

Further Upstream - Is Western Music Best?

The Mystery of Music | Jeremy Begbie

What the Sexual Revolution Stole from Children | Katy Faust

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