College Faith

My guest in this edition is Cam Anderson, author of The Faithful Artist: A Vision for Evangelicalism and the Arts. Cam holds a Masters of Fine Arts (the highest degree in the field) from Cranbrook Academy of Art, works as an artist (among other things), and is past president of CIVA--Christians in the Visual Arts. I know of no one better to help us think about majoring in the arts than Cam. 

In this podcast we discuss:

How Cam first became interested in the arts

His journey toward introducing himself as an artist, especially in the Christian community

Why the church tends to devalue a calling to the arts

The various fields within the broader category of “the arts”

Career opportunities in the arts

Shifts in university art departments over the past 50 years

How an undergraduate degree in the arts positions one to work in other career fields

Character traits and other indicators that you may flourish as an artist

What a day in the life of an artist looks like

What is often not taught in History of Art courses

Cam’s journey to unite faith and art, and some ways this benefitted his faith and life

Challenges Cam faced as he worked to unite faith and art

How beauty helps us enter the presence of God

The current state of the teaching and practice of art in universities (in general)

How the crafts display beauty in interesting ways

Advice to students considering or in art programs at secular universities

What to do if you find your arts program is antagonistic to the Christian faith

How to choose a good university art program

Thinking Christianly about modern and contemporary art, and the other half of the story

 How campus ministers and youth pastors can best reach students in the arts

Imagining a world without art as a way to understand the value of art

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Cameron Anderson, The Faithful Artist: A Vision for Evangelicalism and the Arts

Cameron Anderson and G. Walter Hansen, eds., God in the Modern Wing: Viewing Art with Eyes of Faith

Makoto Fujimura, Art and Faith: A Theology of Making

Makoto Fujimura, Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life

Upper House podcast with Cam Anderson and Majoto Fujimura: Art + Faith

Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art

Christians in the Visual Arts (ceased programming in April 2023)--see especially their “Find Your Fit” page for links to many other faith and art communities

The Brehm Center at Fuller Seminary

Duke Initiatives in Theology & the Arts

Image Journal

The Rabbit Room

Square Halo Books

This episode is the first in an intermittent series on majoring in the various academic fields (broadly speaking). My hope is to help you understand more of what is involved in various areas of study, how these fields relate to the Christian faith, and practical advice as you major in this area. My guest for each episode in this series will be someone with many years experience in the field, as well as a robust faith in Christ, and has learned to flourish both academically and spiritually in this field of study.

We begin today with a focus on majors in the hard sciences. My guest in this episode is Dr. Bob Kaita, emeritus Senior Physicist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, where he has conducted nuclear fusion energy research for nearly four decades. Bob has also been the thesis advisor for students who have pursued careers in government and industry as well as academia, mentoring students through their studies in plasma physics.

He is a fellow of the American Physics Society, and a recipient of the Kaul Prize for Excellence in Plasma Physics Research and Technology Development for pioneering work in components for fusion devices. Bob is also a fellow and past president of the American Scientific Affiliation, one of the largest organization of Christians in science and engineering.

In this podcast we discuss:

How Bob first got interested in a career in the sciences

How Bob’s coming to faith in Christ in high school connected with his love of science

The role Bob’s parents played in helping his pursue a career in science

A scientist who followed God’s call that serves as a role model for Bob

Career opportunities open to those with degrees in the sciences

The importance of having a servant’s heart as a scientist

Signs you may be called to be a scientist

How Bob’s faith helped him in his studies of physics, rather than be a hindrance

Some areas of overlap between faith and physics

How Bob thinks about areas of alleged conflict between science and faith

The centrality of one’s worldview in interpreting scientific data

The exciting future for research in the sciences

The grounding of a Christian’s worth as a scientist

The valuable role of humility and spiritual formation in the life of a Christian scientist

Books and professional societies that help connect faith and science

The importance of understanding the relationship between science and the philosophy of science

Doing science vs. faith-science integration

Why there are so many Christians in the hard sciences

The role of imagination in the practice of science

The importance of being a good writer as a scientist

Why scientists need to understand truth from other disciplines, and vice-versa

Limitations of science that believers should be aware of

Balancing “follow the science” with complete and blind faith in science

The new “priesthood” of scientists, and the resulting backlash against science

A final word of encouragement to budding scientists

Resources mentioned during our conversation and later suggested by Bob:

The American Scientific Affiliation

Walter R. Hearn, Being a Christian in Science

Other InterVarsity Press books on faith and science

P. Moreland and Garrett DeWeese, Philosophy Made Slightly Less Difficult: A Beginner’s Guide to Life’s Big Questions

Robert Wuthnow, The Struggle for America’s Soul: Evangelicals, Liberals, & Secularism

Hannah Eagleson (ed.), Science and Faith: Student Questions Explored

Elaine Howard Ecklund, Why Science and Faith Need Each Other: Eight Shared Values that Move Us Beyond Fear

Textbook: The Crossroads of Science and Faith: Astronomy Through a Christian Worldview

Textbook: The Crossroads of Science and Faith: An Introduction to the Science & Faith Dialogue

Intro:

My guest in this episode is Dr. Rob Bowman, an expert on cults and heretical Christian sects. He is also a biblical scholar who has, since 1984, written 14 books and dozens of articles defending the truth of Christianity against error.

In this podcast we discuss:

How Rob got interested in cults while in college

How his background as a biblical scholar helps him evaluate cults

Secular and religious cults (or ‘heretical sects’) and some examples

The warning signs that a group may be a cult

The importance of distinguishing between sociological and theological definitions of a cult

Mormonism as a case study theologically (especially how they define “God”) and sociologically 

The biblical, global, and historic understanding of what constitutes the essentials of the Christian faith

An example of a cult becoming a legitimate, biblically grounded denomination and vice-versa

Distinguishing strong leadership/authority from cultic leadership/authority

How the prophets and Apostles in Scripture model strong but not cultic leadership/authority

Good questions to ask to determine if a group is a cult (including the one question you should always start with)

How all cults deviate on the nature of Jesus

Different things cults mean when they affirm “Jesus is the Son of God”

What cults mean by “We only go by the teachings of the Bible”--the role other authoritative texts or unique bible translations in cults

Examples of cultic beliefs and practices from Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, and Christian Scientism

How most modern-day cults are just repackaged heresies of past centuries

Why the three large U.S. cults (Christian heretical sects) arose in the same time and region, the dark side of Revivalism in the Second Great Awakening, and the lesson we should learn

How “Restorationism” (the desire to restore the first-century church) lead to the establishment of many cults in the 19th century

How “Rationalism” (the desire to only accept what we can fully understand) lead to the establishment of other cults in the 19th century

If you discover you are in a cult, how do you get out?

The “win-win” question you should ask if you think you are in a cult

Websites to help you identify and understand groups that are cults (see websites below)

The relationship between biblical illiteracy and a train wreck for your faith

The importance of understanding the proper principles of biblical interpretation (hermeneutics) to identify and avoid the errors of cults

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Institute for Religion Research - resources on cults, apologetic issues, and how to study the Bible

Watchman Fellowship - a comprehensive index of cults

Bible.org - helpful for resources for studying the Bible

My guest in this episode is Dan Allen, a leader in the Every Campus Coalition, a new initiative to help connect students with all the ministries seeking to serve them during their university years.

 

In this podcast we discuss:

What the Every Campus Coalition is and how it started

What campus “Prayer Walks” are, why they are important, and how to participate

The goal of establishing a “gospel movement” or “gospel community”  on every campus

How the Every Campus Coalition is working toward this goal

The importance of partnership among all who seek to minister to university students

Some signs of revival and spiritual awaking among students in recent years

Common features of gospel movements established on campuses

Requirements of those launching gospel movements on campuses

How the Every Campus Coalition serves churches, campus ministries, and those providing resources to students 

The College Faith Podcast as a new partner of the Every Campus Coalition

How the Every Campus Coalition finds unity in diversity among churches and ministries

The shared theological and missional commitments of all Every Campus partners 

How Every Campus is helping address the increasing mental health issues of students

How Every Campus is helping address the challenges students are having connecting with others

How students and parents can find a campus ministry through the Every Campus Coalition

How churches can be partners in the Every Campus Coalition

How campus ministries can be partners in the Every Campus Coalition

How content providers can be partners in the Every Campus Coalition

A word of encouragement to students

A word of encouragement to youth pastors

A word of encouragement to parents

A word of encouragement concerning the College Faith Podcast and Global Scholars

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

EveryCampus.com

The Lausaunne Covenant 

Global Scholars

My guest today is Jonathan Morrow. Jonathan has been equipping students and parents in biblical worldview, apologetics, and culture for over 16 years, and is passionate about seeing a new generation build a lasting faith. He holds graduate degrees in Christian thought and is currently the Director of Cultural Engagement and Student Discipleship at the Impact 360 Institute and an adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University. Jonathan has authored several books, including Welcome to College, Questioning the Bible, and Is God Just a Human Invention? His book Welcome to College is the best book I’ve seen to help students flourish during their university years. So I’ve invited him to discuss some of the ideas in this book with me today.

 

In this podcast we discuss:

The five ideas defining campus culture* today and how to identify and respond to them (*and broader culture)

Understanding “Sexual Revolution 2.0” and how to reframe these issues

How some churches are embracing these harmful ideas (and some authors promoting these ideas)

“Deconstructing” faith

Dealing with the three types of doubt 

Examples of students who have flourished due to the principles in Welcome to College 

Some problems students face when not understanding the truths in Welcome to College

The importance of choosing friends wisely

The fallacy of assuming your Christian upbringing prepares you for college

The three biblical ways to flourish in college

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Jonathan Morrow, Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower’s Guide for the Journey

Impact 360 Institute

Alisa Childers, Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity

JonathanMorrow.org

Andy Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place

JP Moreland, Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology

Paul Copan, True For You But Not For Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian Faith

Francis Beckwith and Greg Koukl, Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air

Thaddeus Williams, Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice

Nancy Pearcey, Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality

Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution

Carl Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution (a shorter and easier-to-read version of his The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self)

Sean McDowell, “Conservative vs. Progressive: Jesus, Culture, and the Bible (with Brandan Robertson)” (One of Sean’s many YouTube videos on Progressive Christianity)

Greg Koukl, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

My guest today is Dr. Phil Bishop, Emeritus Professor at the University of Alabama. Due to the pressures he faced as a student and then as a professor at a leading university, Phil has thought much about the whys and hows of managing his time well so as to excel both professionally and spiritually. He shares some of what he’s learned about time management. 

 

In this podcast we discuss:

How Phil learned to manage his time well

Why learning to manage time well is so important

The importance of making time management choices based on priorities  

Time management and a weekly day of rest

Why we shouldn’t be “crazy busy”

Being sure to get what we are paying for at college

Tips on saving time by keeping track of documents

How working ahead by leveraging a calendar saves time

Time management as a stress-reducer

The value of learning to say “no”

The role of prayer in time management

How knowing yourself is essential to managing your time effectively

Combining tasks to maximize your time

Succeeding by doing small things well through good time management

Learning from others who manage their time better than you

A practical first step to managing your time better

Why Phil wishes he had managed his time a little less and been a bit less “productive”

 

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Phil Bishop, College Faith Podcast “How To Get Better Grades…and Have More Fun”

Simple Gmail Notes (Gmail extension to add personal notes to emails)

Boomerang (Gmail extension to help manage emails)

Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society

Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work

Dr. Bishop’s email address: pbishop[at]ua.edu

The college years are pivotal in determining a career path. Beginning with choosing a college and then choosing a major, and often even a specialization, students are faced with many important decisions. It is often challenging for the Christian student trying to discern God’s will in these career choices. It involves determining your calling and having the courage to follow that path. I discuss this with Dr. Gordon Smith, president of Ambrose University and author of Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential.

In this podcast we discuss:

How Gordon’s own wrestling with career questions lead him to write this book

The fundamental paradigm for determining God’s will

Does God only “call” people to ministry?

Is serving in “ministry” more valued by God? Why or why not?

The value of careers that involve “manual” work

How Gordon developed a more accurate theology of vocation

How others can help you discern God’s will in making career decisions

The important difference between your “career” and your “vocation”

The four questions that will help you discover your calling

The greatest roadblock to discerning your calling

The role anger should and should not play in your discernment process

The value of the Myers-Briggs [Personality] Type Indicator in your discernment process

How to deal with the fear of “missing” God’s call in your career choice

Why you should take classes in a wide range of subjects during the first few years of college

Releasing the burden of having to nail this all down by the time you graduate

Being freed from the “urgency and tyranny of time” in finding and living out your calling

How your vocation is tied to your specific time and place

The importance of courage in finding and following your calling

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Gordon Smith, Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential

Gordon Smith, Teach Us To Pray

Francis Schaeffer's Trilogy, How Shall We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, and his many other books

Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

Liam Atchison, “Higher Education 101: How Universities Came to Be and How They Work,” College Faith podcast #3

Gordon Smith, Consider Your Calling: Six Questions for Discerning Your Vocation (for college students)

Gordon Smith, Your Calling Here and Now: Making Sense of Vocation (for those in mid-life)

Edward P. Hahnenberg, Awakening Vocation: A Theology of Christian Call

Reading is a big part of every student’s life, and so today’s topic is how to read a book. To discuss this with me is Cherie Harder. She not only loves books and reading, but a big part of her role as President of the Trinity Forum is helping others learn to read well and love books as much as she does.

In this podcast we discuss:

Why Cherie loves books

Tips to help students read effectively (to understand well)

Some of the challenges to reading well in our day of social media

Reading different types of books differently

How what you read shapes you

How to read in ways that discern truth from error

The value of courses in the humanities for non-humanities majors

Why it is important to read those we disagree with 

The value of reading books from other times and cultures

Why to re-read a book now and then

The value of reading with others and reading groups

How to understand the book’s parts in light of the whole (and vice versa)

 The importance of understanding genre (types of writing)

When it is important to read an entire book and when it is not important

How and when to consult  a book’s online reviews and CliffsNotes

Are paper books or ebooks better?

How to best read an ebook

The value of pleasure-reading

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Eugene Peterson, Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading 

Alan Jacobs, Breaking Bread With The Dead: A Reader’s Guide to a More Tranquil Mind

C.S. Lewis, “On The Reading of Old Books” 

Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth

Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book: The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

The Trinity Forum  (and their “Bookclub Box” and the Trinity Forum Conversations podcast)

Jessica Hooten Wilson, Reading for Regeneration (a Trinity Forum Conversation)

________, The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints

________, Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice

Maryanne Wolf, Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain

My guest today is Dr. Nita Kotiuga, Director of Spiritual Formation at Bakke Graduate University. Nita began to think seriously about being formed in the image of Christ during her college years while involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She then served on InterVarsity staff for six years, sharing with students what she had learned about developing intimacy with Christ. So interested was she in understanding and living in light of biblical truth that she went on to earn graduate degrees in theology and spiritual formation, which have positioned her well for her current role. 

In this podcast we discuss:

What is “spiritual formation”?What are “spiritual disciplines”?How these differ from works that earn or merit God’s love or graceWhy desperation in her spiritual life drove her to explore spiritual formationWhat a “spiritual director” is and is notHow Scripture came “alive” to herWhy Protestants have been wary of spiritual direction The benefits of having a spiritual directorThe centrality of Scripture in the Ignatian method of spiritual direction How skiing helped Stan understand our and God’s roles in spiritual formationHow teaching her kids to swim helped Nita understand our and God’s roles in spiritual formationHow to enter into the stories of the Bible, and why it is important to do soThe importance of journaling  and the best way to do soWatching TV and movies as a way to enter into God’s storyDisciplines of abstinance and of engagementThe relationship between disciplines and different temptations or seasons in our livesThe results of spiritual formationHow to be sure a spiritual director is “legit”Spiritual disciplines students should consider beginning withThe value of examining your day each night  before going to sleepWhat to do if practicing spiritual disciplines isn’t “working” for you  

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Richard Foster, The Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual GrowthThe Chosen (TV series)How to Watch a Movie, Using Top Gun: Maverick as an Example, Drew Trotter on the College Faith podcastDallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes LivesTimothy M. Gallagher, Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with ScriptureDr. Nita Kotiuga’s email: [email protected]

My guest is Dr. Paul Copan, a noted defender of the faith and professor of philosophy at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Paul has authored over a dozen books on apologetics, as well as edited and contributed to many more. He is with me today to discuss this vitally important topic of, in the words of Peter, “giving a reason for the hope within.” (I Peter 3:15)

In this podcast we discuss:

What is “apologetics”?

How Paul got interested in studying apologetics

Why it is important all Christian students understand apologetics

Understanding Christianity as a “knowledge tradition” rather than just a “belief tradition”

Why speaking in terms of “world views” requires atheists to also defend their beliefs

Some examples of how non-Christians and Christians have been helped by apologetics

Biblical passages that seem to say faith is important, not reason

“The problem of evil”--a common objection requiring a response (and a response)

The role of the Holy Spirit in apologetics

The most important apologetic topics to understand today

Old Testament ethical challenges like God possibly commanding genocide

Responding to challenges to the biblical view of sexuality

The importance of a proper understanding of faith and science

How to begin studying apologetics

Tips for having good apologetic conversations ”with gentleness and respect”

Resources mentioned during our conversation:

Paul Copan’s website  www.PaulCopan.com

Paul Copan, True For You But Not For Me: Overcoming Objections to Christian Faith

_________, Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God

_________, Is God a Vindictive Bully? Reconciling Portraits of God in the Old and New Testaments

________, That’s Just Your Interpretation: Responding to Skeptics Who Challenge Your Faith

________, How Do You Know You’re Not Wrong? Responding to Objections That Leave Christians Speechless

________, When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics

Paul Copan, et al., eds., Dictionary of Christianity and Science: The Definitive Reference for the Intersection of Christian Faith and Contemporary Science

_________, Three Views on Christianity and Science

_________, The Apologetics Study Bible

Paul Copan, Paul Gould, et al., The Worldview Bulletin newsletter

Paul Gould, Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World

Jana Harmon, Side B Stories: Atheist conversion to Christianity podcast

Ruth Tucker, Walking Away From Faith: Unraveling the Mystery of Belief and Unbelief

William Lane Craig’s Reasonable Faith website

Palm Beach Atlantic University: Bachelor of Arts in Apologetics and Master of Arts in Philosophy of Religion

Reasonable Faith campus ministry