Upstream

A cottage industry of authors and speakers has sprung up claiming that the Bible's teaching on homosexual behavior has been misunderstood, and that Christians can affirm gay relationships. Shane welcomes author and apologist Rebecca McLaughlin to refute their most common arguments.

Travel sports, stranger danger, busybody neighbors, housing prices, helicopter parenting, workism and more have conspired to make raising kids harder than it needs to be. Shane welcomes Tim Carney, author of Family Unfriendly, to explain where we went wrong and what a pro-family culture looks like. ________________ Show Notes: Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be by Tim Carney Related Episodes: What Are Children For? | Shane Morris What the Sexual Revolution Stole from Children | Katy Faust You (Probably) Won't Change the World in Your Twenties | Nathan Rittenhouse Follow Upstream on social media Instagram: Upstream_cc Facebook: Upstream with Shane Morris

The term "Christian" is a rare one in the Bible. By far the most common way the New Testament describes followers of Jesus is "in Christ." Shane welcomes pastor and author Sam Allberry to explore the incredible meaning behind this mysterious phrase.

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. Stephen Meyer in this interview from the 2023 Colson Center National Conference to explain why "the God hypothesis" is making a comeback. *This episode originally aired on June 6, 2023.

Artificial intelligence has advanced by leaps and bounds, raising questions about freedom, privacy, truth, and what it means to be human. Is the future utopian or dystopian, and how do the worldviews of AI creators shape their technology? Shane welcomes Dr. John Lennox to answer these questions using his book, 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity.

Forty years ago, Anglican theologian Oliver O'Donovan published a prophetic critique of reproductive technologies, arguing that humans should be begotten, not made. This week, Shane welcomes Baylor professor and theology of the body expert Matthew Lee Anderson to introduce us to O'Donovan's argument using an updated second edition of O'Donovan's book Begotten or Made?

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 as a Way of Life: An Invitation to Wonder.

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 Convert? to offer a surprising answer.

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 book, Hope for God's Creation: Stewardship in an Age of Futility __________________ Get a copy of The Beginning and End of All Things: A Biblical Theology of Creation and New Creation at colsoncenter.org/upklinkresource.

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 book Get Married, to share the truth.

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 Colson Fellows, to cast a vision for this remarkable and growing program.

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 with the powerful case for life. __________________________________ Fifteen years ago, when Roe v. Wade was still the law of the land, Scott Klusendorf's landmark book The Case for Life helped state the case for the right to life of preborn babies. The second, updated edition meets the most current challenges to preborn life. Get the updated edition to learn to better communicate pro-life truths in this post-Roe world. Request your copy this month with a gift of any amount at colsoncenter.org/upcaseforlife

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, author of You Are A Tree: And Other Metaphors to Nourish Life, Thought, and Prayer. _____________________________ Fifteen years ago, when Roe v. Wade was still the law of the land, Scott Klusendorf's landmark book The Case for Life helped state the case for the right to life of preborn babies. The second, updated edition meets the most current challenges to preborn life. Get the updated edition to learn to better communicate pro-life truths in this post-Roe world. Request your copy this month with a gift of any amount at colsoncenter.org/colsoncenter.org/upcaseforlife

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 Work to challenge that assumption.

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 Christian vision of embodiment dignifies our differences. __________________________________________________________ Claim your free copy of Don't Follow Your Heart for a gift of any amount to the Colson Center this month at colsoncenter.org/upwilliamsresource

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 us back to the truth using his new book, Don't Follow Your Heart: Boldly Breaking the Ten Commandments of Self-Worship. __________________________________________________________ Claim your free copy of Don't Follow Your Heart for a gift of any amount to the Colson Center this month at colsoncenter.org/upwilliamsresource

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 to outlast our secular age.

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 Christopher Talbot, co-editor of the new book, Christians in Culture: Cultivating a Christian Worldview for All of Life.

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 to us.

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 Brumme to reintroduce us to the sacredness of mealtime using Robert Farrar Capon's classic, The Supper of the Lamb.