Podcast
Faith and Reason Exchange
Hosted by 1517 Podcasts · EN
Explore challenging questions about Christianity in thoughtful, informed, and intellectually stimulating conversations that deepen the connection between faith and reason. Set within the historic Christian tradition, this podcast discusses current scientific, philosophical, and cultural issues as it pursues a faith that better understands and an intellect that has reason to believe. In a time when the world seems to be losing its mind, and hope along with it, our goal is to equip a new generation of critical thinkers who can defend their faith with reason and evidence. Hosted by Dr. David Andersen & Dr. Adam Francisco
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Could AI develop consciousness?
2w ago00:48:59Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Optimism, pessimism, or both?
3w ago00:47:01Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Luther, Islam, and the Fate of Christendom in the 16th Century
4w ago00:49:25Tap to summarizeDavid and Adam talk about Adam's new book, The Turk at the Door: Luther, Islam, and the Fate of Christendom. The book makes Luther's engagement with Islam accessible to general readers and illustrates how 16th century Reformation Christianity confronted Ottoman expansion, especially by focusing on Luther's work on the subject of the Turks, Islam, and the Qur'an.
Transcribe →What will AI do to us?
Jun 300:39:20Tap to summarizeDavid and Adam discuss whether AI will make humanity smarter or more passive, concluding it's both—AI offers significant benefits for routine cognitive tasks but risks dehumanizing culture and making people intellectually dependent. The conversation emphasizes that Christianity's relational ontology may be the only effective antidote to AI-driven dehumanization.
Transcribe →What are the best reasons for believing in God's existence?
May 2700:39:58Tap to summarizeDavid and Adam discuss the best reasons for God's existence. They explore several key arguments, including ontological contingency, the moral argument, the argument from beauty, and design arguments from both cosmology and biology.
Transcribe →Faith and the University with Dartmouth College's Provost Dr. Santiago Schnell
May 2000:39:59Tap to summarizeDr. Santiago Schnell, Provost of Dartmouth College and mathematical biologist, shares his journey back to the Christian faith through philosophical mentorship and outlines his vision for reforming higher education by restoring hope, beauty, and friendship to academic discourse.
Transcribe →The state of higher education
May 1300:41:25Tap to summarizeDavid and Adam discuss the current state of higher education, examining various challenges including demographic declines, financial pressures, declining public confidence, and the impact of AI on academic integrity. They discussed how many private institutions are heavily tuition-dependent and struggling with closures, while also addressing concerns about grade inflation and the growing skepticism about higher education's return on investment. The conversation explored the broader philosophical questions about the purpose of education, with both participants expressing concern about the loss of classical liberal arts education and its implications for democracy, while also considering how Christian higher education institutions might rise to meet these challenges in an increasingly secular world.
Transcribe →The Declaration of Independence, Faith, and Reason
May 600:43:58Tap to summarizeDavid and Adam discuss the Declaration of Independence through the lens of a Word on Fire article (https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/faith-reason-and-the-declaration-of-independence/), exploring whether America's founding was Christian or Enlightenment-based. They conclude that while the Founding Fathers were split between Christians and deists, the nation's moral fabric was fundamentally infused with a Christian ethos, enabling language about Creator-endowed rights.
Transcribe →Surprised by Oxford
Apr 2900:45:41Tap to summarizeDavid and Adam discussed the film "Surprised by Oxford" (2023), which tells the story of Caro Drake, a skeptical PhD student who confronts questions of faith and reason at Oxford University through relationships and intellectual engagement. The conversation expanded into broader themes about the decline of humanities education, the fragmentation of modern universities, and the tension between liberal arts and vocational training in American higher education.
Transcribe →In What Age Do We Live?
Apr 2200:45:16Tap to summarizeDavid and Adam explore how to characterize contemporary Western culture—whether as secular, pagan, postmodern, or simply confused—and conclude that multiple descriptors apply simultaneously. They identified presentism (severing ties with the past) and progressivism as defining features, with AI emerging as a critical new factor requiring ethical engagement from Christians who cannot retreat but must remain mission-focused in the world.
Transcribe →