Safe. That definition may change from person to person, but there’s no denying that today’s generation seeks to feel and promote physical and emotional safety. Our world is anything but safe. How do we cope with this?
Dr. Tanita Maddox is a Gen Z expert and veteran Young Life leader. In this conversation, she shares why this is an important question, how we can align our definition of safety to God’s, and how we can access peace even when it feels like the world is going up in flames. She also offers loving encouragement that every Gen Zer needs to hear.
It’s our second annual “Best Of” episode! We looked at our most-downloaded episodes of 2024 and compiled the highlights here. Listen for excerpts from five of listeners’ favorite episodes of the year, with selections from our “Know About Jesus” series, our “Know About Political Engagement” series, and more!
In this episode, you’ll hear snippets of the following interviews (click to listen to the full interviews or read more):
In honor of the holiday season, we’re bringing back two of our most popular episodes from 2023! In the first Christmas-themed interview, Joshua Barnes, host of popular YouTube channel The Bible Explained, answers questions like:
• Does Christmas have pagan origins? • Does the date December 25th come from ancient holidays like Saturnalia or the Winter Solstice? • Are traditions like caroling and decorating trees borrowed from other religions? • Should Christians celebrate Christmas?
We know DNA is complex, but recent discoveries are revealing new layers of complexity within DNA—and creating problems for evolutionists. Dr. Jeffrey Tomkins, a research scientist for the Institution for Creation Research who specializes in genetics research, explains these discoveries in the final episode of our series, “Know About Science and Faith.” Listen to find out what epigenetics, Meiosis, DNA codes and even Darwin’s Finches can tell us about Intelligent Design.
We interrupt our series on science and faith to discuss something many Americans are thinking about as they enter the holiday season…how to interact with those family members and friends who hold vastly different opinions. While some advise avoiding family who hold different political opinions, communications expert Peyton Luke encourages listeners to have fruitful conversations, following a few specific tips. Listen to this episode in preparation for your Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering, and take notes on keeping your interactions civil, calm, and productive.
In Part 2 of his latest conversation with Know Why, apologist Jon Noyes, a former atheist, encourages listeners to follow scientific evidence to its conclusion. For Christians, Jon believes following the evidence will lead to a more robust faith in God—not the opposite, which many people fear. For non-Christians, Jon shares his own testimony of how scientific evidence and logic led him to reject naturalism in favor of the Christian worldview.
Returning guest Jon Noyes from Stand to Reason joins our Know About Science and Faith series. In Part 1 of his conversation with Liberty, Jon explains how Darwinism entered the stage as a scientific theory and then took over as a worldview that permeated not only science, but every area of life. But is a theistic approach to science is experiencing a renaissance? Jon says yes. Know why by listening to this episode, and tuning back in for Part 2 next week!
What caused the Ice Age? Returning for Part 2 of his conversation with the Know Why Podcast, Dr. Jake Hebert, a research scientist with the Institute for Creation Research, explains why the global flood described in the Bible would have created the perfect environment for an Ice Age. In fact, he argues the evidence for a flood-induced Ice Age is more compelling than the reigning theory, which depends on manipulated calculations and questionable science.
Skeptical? Listen and let us know what you think—and don’t forget to read more at the resources below.
In the next installment of our “Know About Science and Faith” series, Dr. Jake Hebert, research scientist at the Institute for Creation Research, joins the Know Why Podcast to discuss evidence for extreme longevity of ancient humans and other species. He also talks about problems with the theory of natural selection. Listen to hear about fascinating discoveries that are puzzling evolutionists and contributing to the theory of Intelligent Design. Be sure to check back next week for Part 2 of this conversation, where Dr. Hebert shares his research on causes of the Ice Age.
If you’ve ever felt that belief in science and belief in God are incompatible, you’ll want to hear this interview, republished in honor of Know Why’s current series, “Know About Science and Faith.” In this interview (originally posted in July of 2023) Jonathan, Executive Editor of Discovery Institute Press, explains how the scientific method was born out of a biblical worldview, provides examples of modern scientists who profess faith in God, and points to major scientific discoveries that point to God’s existence.
Famous Scientists Who Were Also Religious
“The Christian worldview actually gave birth to science,” Jonathan told Know Why Podcast. The Judeo-Christian worldview prevalent in renaissance Europe “fired the imaginations and it ordered the reasoning of those that gave birth to the scientific revolution.”
In the 16th Century, Anglican thinker Sir Francis Bacon developed the scientific method, which uses experimentation and inductive reasoning to learn more about the natural world.
In the 17th Century, Galileo, a Christian, advanced groundbreaking discoveries, including that the earth revolved around the sun, and argued that science does not contradict the Bible.
“There are scientists in our age who see nature, see even recent discoveries pointing to God intelligent design, pointing to evidence of a God,” Jonathan said, mentioning Nobel Prize winning physicists Arno Penzias, 90, and Charles Townes (1915-2015) as examples.
Francis Collins, former director of the National Institutes of Health and a leading scientist in DNA research, is a current example of a prominent scientist vocal about his Christian faith.
There are plenty more examples of men and women combining faith and science throughout history and today. Modern scientists aren’t as hostile to religion as people may think. Many scientists around the world acknowledge the possibility of a spiritual realm. And the majority of people working in science-related fields are religious.
Understanding the Bible
Still, sometimes scientific discoveries seem to go against something the Bible says. That’s why it’s important to understand what the Bible is.
The Bible claims to be the true, authoritative word of God, given to human authors to write down throughout multiple centuries and locations. It contains poetry, prophecies, parables, genealogical records and historical accounts. Combined, these writings tell the story of God and his love for humanity.
The Bible never claims to be a comprehensive textbook of science or history. So when reading books within the Bible, it’s important to consider their historical, literary, and cultural context in order to interpret them correctly — something theologians have been doing (and sometimes disagreeing about) for centuries. For instance, the Bible claims that God created the universe, but even Christians often disagree about how he created it.
Where Christians will land in this debate depends on their interpretation of Genesis. Genesis is the first book in the Bible, and its first two chapters focus on creation. According to the biblical creation account, God created the universe in six days, with man being his final creation.
Theistic evolutionists argue the story of creation is meant to be symbolic or allegorical — that the six days of creation actually represent ages of time during which evolution took place under God’s guidance. Others, called creationists, hold that the story of creation is literal. They believe the six days of creation were actually six 24-hour days, and that God created all living things by speaking them into existence.
As Jonathan acknowledged on Know Why, “Whereas God is infallible and his Word is infallible, our understanding of Scripture is not necessarily infallible.”
