Sean McDowell, Thaddeus Williams | March 22, 2024

Cultural Update: Kanye's "God of Me"; AI Resurrections; Florida's DEI Departures

This week, Sean and guest co-host Thaddeus Williams discuss:

  • Kanye West's Controversial Statements on Faith: Kanye West, now known as Ye, expressed disillusionment with Jesus in a recent interview, questioning the efficacy of prayer and Christian support. He controversially declared himself as "the God of me," sparking discussions on the nature of faith, idolatry, and self-sovereignty. 
  • Artificial Intelligence and Resurrection: Using artificial intelligence to "resurrect" the dead through digital simulations. This technology, known as ghost bots or death bots, allows for virtual interactions with deceased loved ones, raising questions about healthy grieving processes and the theological implications of seeking reunion beyond death.
  • The University of Florida's Departure from DEI Initiatives: The University of Florida announced the closure of its Office of the Chief Diversity Officer and the elimination of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) focused positions, sparking a conversation on the effectiveness and intentions behind DEI programs. Sean & Thaddeus explore the biblical perspective on diversity and unity, questioning whether current DEI initiatives align with Christian values and what a biblical approach to diversity might look like.
  • Listener Question: Family planning with a non-Christian spouse.
  • Listener Question: Bearing God's image and how perpetuated evil impacts one's humanity. 

Read a transcript of this episode at: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/think-biblically/2024/cultural-update-kanye-s-god-of-me-ai-resurrections-florida-s-dei-departures.

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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.
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Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is a professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, best-selling author, popular speaker, part-time high school teacher, and the Resident Scholar for Summit Ministries, California. Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell