Cultural Update: Fertility Rates Drop in the US; Canada's "Online Harms" Bill; Finland Pushes Back on Gender Affirming Care; The Ethics of Parents Using Their Kids for Clicks
Declining U.S. Fertility Rates: Scott and Sean discuss how the U.S. fertility rate has hit a historic low. They explore how economic pressures and a secular worldview that prioritizes personal "settling" over family are driving this decline.
Canada’s "Online Harms" Bill (C-63): They examine a new Canadian bill that aims to combat hate but may threaten religious liberty. Concerns are raised about increased penalties for "hate crimes" and how broadly "hate" might be defined by the government.
Finland’s Shift on Gender Care: A peer-reviewed study from Finland is highlighted, showing that young people who undergo gender reassignment surgery often require significant psychiatric care years later. This has prompted a more cautious approach to gender-affirming care in Finland.
The Ethics of "Sharenting": The episode addresses the growing backlash from children raised in "sharenting" families who are unhappy that their childhoods were broadcast to the world for clicks. The hosts discuss the moral implications of parents using their children for social media content.
Audience Question: Ancient Atheistic Cultures: The hosts respond to a question about whether there have ever been successful atheistic cultures in history, noting that most civilizations have been rooted in some form of religious belief.
Audience Question: AI and the Future: They discuss the rapid development of AI, specifically its potential role in shifting human relationships and contributing to social isolation.
Audience Question: Faith and Fiction: An aspiring author asks for advice on whether to include LGBTQ characters in their stories, sparking a conversation on how to represent reality truthfully while remaining faithful to a biblical worldview.
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Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
Find all episodes of Think Biblically at: https://www.biola.edu/think-biblically.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
