Podcasts about digital public square

NIMBY. It's a cursed acronym that can send chills down an urban planner's spine and jettison approved building permits into liminal space. It stands for “not in my backyard,” and it can stop even the mightiest projects in their tracks. Blamed for gentrification, urban sprawl, and a myriad of other evils, NIMBYs tend to oppose land use change. So, how does a NIMBY evolve into a YIMBY? (A “yes, in my backyard!”) It's not magic. It's just good public consultation. And there's an app for that. Farhaan Ladhani is the CEO of Digital Public Square and Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. His latest project, Goodbit, is here to transform how we talk with each other about the topics that get us the most… heated.Join the Building Good community today:https://www.buildinggood.caLinkedIn

On today's episode of The Narrative, Jason Thacker, Senior Fellow and Director of the Research Institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), joins CCV Policy Director David Mahan to discuss the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of Christianity. Listen in to find out what makes AI distinct from human intelligence, the danger and benefits it poses, and why it cannot be morally neutral. Before the conversation, David and CCV Communications Director Mike Andrews share the incredible story of how HB183–a bill that preserves single-sex bathrooms–went from being dead on Tuesday to passed out of the Ohio House with a supermajority on Wednesday because of the power of relationships and the engagement of the Body of Christ. More about Jason Thacker Jason Thacker serves as Senior Fellow and Director of the Research Institute at ERLC, focusing on pro-life and other bioethical issues including abortion, reproductive technologies, medical care, euthanasia, and end-of-life decision making. In addition to his work at the ERLC, he serves as assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College and Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author or editor of several books including the Essentials in Christian Ethics series, Baptist Social Ethics (forthcoming), The Age of AI, Following Jesus in a Digital Age, and The Digital Public Square. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee and Southern Seminary, where he is currently a PhD candidate in Christian ethics and public theology.

Over the past few years I've been joined by some of society's most influential thinkers, writers, and leaders to talk about the important ideas shaping our society today, as well as some of the top issues of life in the Digital Public Square. The purpose of this podcast from the very beginning was to equip you to navigate these issues with wisdom.For all good things must come to an end, and this is the last episode of the Digital Public Square podcast given my transition late last year to Boyce College and the shift in my role here at the ERLC. We decided to shift our research podcast strategy and combine efforts with the main ERLC podcast, which many of you already know and love. The change will allow me to continue interviewing top thinkers and writers about their work as part of a larger network of listeners at the podcast. While this may be the end of the Digital Public Square podcast in this season, I hope these resources will continue to bless the church as she engages in the tasks set before us by Christ: to love God and to love our neighbors as our self.If you're not already subscribed to the podcast you can visit ERLC.com/podcast as well as major podcast platforms.—The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Nathan Finn to talk about the volume he co-edited entitled A Handbook of Theology from the Theology for the People of God series with B&H Academic. Today, we discuss the centrality of theology in the Christian life and how our faith informs every aspect of our life.Meet Dr. FinnNathan Finn currently serves as provost and dean of the University Faculty at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina. He is the editor or author of several volumes including the Theology for the People of God series, Historical Theology for the Church, and History: A Student's Guide. He also serves as teaching pastor at Taylors First Baptist Church in South Carolina and a Research Fellow of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.Resources:Historical Theology for the Church by Nathan Finn and Jason DuesingRediscovering Holiness: Know the Fullness of Life with God by J.I. PackerEthics as Worship: The Pursuit of Moral Discipleship by Mark Liederbach and Evan LenowTheology for the People of God series from B&H:The Holy Spirit by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Gregg R. AllisonA Handbook of Theology by Nathan Finn, Daniel Akin, and David S. DockeryHumanity by John Hammett and Katie McCoymore upcoming—The Digital Public Square is a production of the research institute at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

Modern views on how future technology is likely to change our lives range from bloviatingly aspirational visions of utopia to musings on whether the latest advancement in AI will destroy humankind in our lifetime or merely enslave us all in Matrix-style battery capillaries.  Yet debates on whether technology is a neutral tool for our benefit or a near-unstoppable force leading us to a particular destiny are nothing new.  In 1964, French philosopher and sociologist Jacques Ellul wrote The Technological Society, in which he argued technology had a totalizing effect that could potentially dehumanize our world in its never-ending effort to make all things efficient and “useful”.   While he's somewhat critical of Ellul's determinism, this episode's guest—Jason Thacker—gleans much wisdom from Ellul's warnings.  Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis and Jason Thacker discuss competing views of technology and how they might help us for a foundation for dealing with the technological challenges we face in our digital public square.   About Jason Thacker From https://jasonthacker.com/ Jason Thacker serves as an assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College in Louisville, KY.  He also is a research fellow in Christian ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.  He is the author of several books including Following Jesus in the Digital Age and The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity.  He also serves as the editor of The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society and co-editor of the Essentials in Christian Ethics series with B&H Academic.  He is the project leader and lead drafter of Artificial Intelligence: An Evangelical Statement of Principles, and his work has been featured at Slate, Politico, The Week, USA Today, Christianity Today, World Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and Desiring God.   He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies.  He also holds a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is currently a PhD candidate in ethics, public theology, and philosophy.  He serves as an associate fellow with the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge, an advisor for AI and Faith, fellow in science and technology at the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Seminary, and a research fellow with the ERLC Research Institute.  He is married to Dorie and they have two sons.   You can follow Jason on Twitter @jasonthacker   About The Digital Public Square Brooke was one of the contributing writers to the recently published book The Digital Public Square.  In The Digital Public Square, editor Jason Thacker has chosen top Christian voices to help the church navigate the issues of censorship, conspiracy theories, sexual ethics, hate speech, religious freedom, and tribalism.  Many of the contributing writers (David French, Bonnie Kristian, Bryan Baise, and Brooke Medina) have been prior guests on the Saving Elephants show.  

We have to talk about the new Twitter on the block: Threads. How does it work? And more importantly, how does it compare to Twitter? Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Max Ufberg is back to explain what Mark Zuckerberg's newest platform is, the drama between the two companies, and how Threads' algorithms won't promote hard news or political discourse. And e.l.f CMO Kory Marchisotto talks about the company's successful media strategy on TikTok . . . and why it decided to make a Chipotle-inspired, guac-themed eye-shadow palette.

We have to talk about the new Twitter on the block: Threads. How does it work? And more importantly, how does it compare to Twitter? Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Max Ufberg is back to explain what Mark Zuckerberg's newest platform is, the drama between the two companies, and how Threads' algorithms won't promote hard news or political discourse. And e.l.f CMO Kory Marchisotto talks about the company's successful media strategy on TikTok . . . and why it decided to make a Chipotle-inspired, guac-themed eye-shadow palette.

We have to talk about the new Twitter on the block: Threads. How does it work? And more importantly, how does it compare to Twitter? Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Max Ufberg is back to explain what Mark Zuckerberg's newest platform is, the drama between the two companies, and how Threads' algorithms won't promote hard news or political discourse. And e.l.f CMO Kory Marchisotto talks about the company's successful media strategy on TikTok . . . and why it decided to make a Chipotle-inspired, guac-themed eye-shadow palette.

We have to talk about the new Twitter on the block: Threads. How does it work? And more importantly, how does it compare to Twitter? Fast Company Senior Staff Editor Max Ufberg is back to explain what Mark Zuckerberg's newest platform is, the drama between the two companies, and how Threads' algorithms won't promote hard news or political discourse. And e.l.f CMO Kory Marchisotto talks about the company's successful media strategy on TikTok . . . and why it decided to make a Chipotle-inspired, guac-themed eye-shadow palette.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Daniel Strange to talk about the new edition of J.H Bavinck's classic work The Church Between Temple and Mosque from Westminster Seminary Press. Today, we discuss missiology and cultural engagement in our secular age. Meet Dr. StrangeDaniel Strange is director of Crosslands Forum and the vice president of the Southgate Fellowship. He is a fellow of The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics and is the author of Their Rock Is Not Like Our Rock: A Theology of Religions, Plugged In, and Making Faith Magnetic. He is a contributing editor for Themelios and an elder of Hope Community Church, Gateshead, U.K.Resources:The Church Between Temple and Mosque by Daniel StrangeThe J.H. Bavinck Reader by John BoltonAn Introduction to the Science of Missions by J.H. BavinckThe Riddle of Life by J.H. BavinckPersonality and Worldview by J.H Bavinck, edited by James EglintonDigital Public Square: A conversation with Dr. James Eglinton on Herman Bavinck, theology, and ethics——The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

Author Jason Thacker joins Greg to talk about a wise range of topics related to Christian ethics in a technological society. 

In this brave new digital world, opportunities for hate speech seem ubiquitous and increasingly dangerous.  How should a conservative balance their values of limited-government and protection of the vulnerable in social media?  How do we answer the charges of “silence is violence”, or that speech and equal violence from a legal, cultural, and moral framework?   Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by frequent guest Brooke Medina to grapple with the problem of hate speech.  Josh shares his experiences of being harassed while (briefly) identifying as a woman on Facebook and Brooke draws from her contributing chapter in the recently published book The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society.   About Brooke Medina Brooke Medina serves as Vice President of Communications for the John Locke Foundation, an independent, nonprofit think tank in North Carolina.  There Brooke manages a team of talented communications, design, and media professionals.  Brooke oversees the implementation of the organization's strategic communications efforts and regularly engages with the press and public through written commentary, television and radio interviews, as well as public speaking engagements.  In addition to these roles, Brooke is responsible for creating and implementing the foundation's marketing strategy.   Brooke is a graduate of Regent University, holding a B.A. in Government and a minor in English.  While in college, she attended both the Koch Leaders Program and Koch Communications Fellowship, programs that focus on the philosophical underpinnings of market-based management and classical liberalism.  She is currently a member of the American Enterprise Institute's Leadership Network.   Brooke's writing has been published in outlets such as The Hill, Entrepreneur, Washington Examiner, WORLD, Daily Signal, FEE, and other publications.  She is a frequent podcast guest on a variety of shows, a C. S. Lewis aficionado, and, along with Josh, part of the quartet that make up the hosts of the Are We Right? podcast.   You can follow Brooke on Twitter @Brooke_Medina_   About The Digital Public Square Brooke was one of the contributing writers to the recently published book The Digital Public Square.  In The Digital Public Square, editor Jason Thacker has chosen top Christian voices to help the church navigate the issues of censorship, conspiracy theories, sexual ethics, hate speech, religious freedom, and tribalism.  Many of the contributing writers (David French, Bonnie Kristian, Bryan Baise, and Brooke Medina) have been prior guests on the Saving Elephants show.

Elon Musk has called himself a “free speech absolutist,” but a recent decision to censor certain content on Twitter ahead of an election casts doubt on the validity of that moniker. Musk argues that it's better to comply with the Turkish government's requests than see the platform shut off in Turkey entirely. Skeptics say Musk should've denied the requests, and, if President Erdoghan shut down Twitter, it would prove he is an authoritarian, which could help inform voters as the head to the polls. What can we learn from this dustup and Twitter's handling of government requests more broadly? Evan is joined by Nathan Leamer, Executive Director of Digital First Project, a tech policy organization. You can read his chapter in “The Digital Public Square” here.

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by Dr. Keith Plummer to talk about his contribution entitled, “The World Is Watching: Proclaiming Truth and Maintaining Our Witness in a Digital Age”. Today, Dr. Plummer and I talk about the works of the late Francis Schaeffer and how technology is shaping our understanding of and witness to the world around us.Meet Dr. Plummer:Keith serves as professor of theology and dean of the School of Divinity at Cairn University. He previously served as a pastor in the Evangelical Free Church of America. Keith is a contributing author to Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstructing Doubt in the Church. He earned his PhD from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.Resources:“Five Things We Need to Know about Technological Change.”He Is There and He Is Not Silent by Francis SchaefferThe Mark of the Christian by Francis Schaeffer—The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by Jeremy Tedesco and to talk about his contribution with Christiana Kiefer entitled, Content Moderation and Suppressing Speech: Are There Limits to Talking about Sexuality and Gender Online?. Today, Jeremy and I talk about the relationship between private companies and free speech as well as how Christians can think about the nature of the digital public square.Meet Jeremy:Jeremy serves as senior counsel and senior vice president of corporate engagement for the Alliance Defending Freedom. In this role, Tedesco leads ADF's efforts to combat corporate cancel culture and to build a business ethic that respects free speech, religious freedom, and human dignity. Tedesco was also a part of the legal teams that successfully litigated Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, and Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization v. Winn, before the United States Supreme Court. He is a graduate of Regent University School of Law.—The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens. 

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by David French to talk about his contribution entitled, “Can the Government Save Us from Ourselves?: The Legal Complexities of Free Speech and Content Moderation.” Today, David and I talk about the debates over regulating the technology industry in light of the challenges to free expression today as well as the role of personal virtue in the public square.Meet David:David is an opinion columnist at the New York Times and previously served as senior editor at the Dispatch as well as a contributing writer for the Atlantic. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, a former lecturer at Cornell Law School, and a past president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. David is a New York Times bestselling author, and his most recent book is, Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. He is a former major in the United States Army Reserve and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he earned a Bronze Star.—The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens. 

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, this week I am joined by Brooke Medina to talk about her contribution entitled, “Defining the Limits of Hate Speech and Violence: Dignity, Truth, and Speech in the Digital Public Square.” Brooke and I talk about the widespread debate over hate speech and how Christians must speak both truth and grace in the public square.Meet Brooke:Brooke serves as vice president of communications for the John Locke Foundation. She has completed numerous programs with the Charles Koch Institute, including the Koch Leaders Program and Koch Communications Fellowship, focusing on the philosophical underpinnings of market-based management and classical liberalism. She also sits on the board of directors for ReCity Network. Her writing has been published in numerous outlets, such as The Hill, the Washington Examiner, the Daily Signal, and FEE. She is a graduate of Regent University.--The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by Joshua Wester to talk about his contribution entitled, “Free to Believe? The Case for Religious Freedom and Free Expression in the Digital Age.” Today, Josh and I talk about the nature and necessity of religious freedom in our technological society.Meet Josh:Josh serves as the lead pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina and is an associate research fellow of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission where he researches issues of public theology, political philosophy, and religious freedom. He holds a ThM in public theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a PhD in Christian ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the author of the forthcoming book A Student's Guide to Politics with Christian Focus Publications.—The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

On this episode, Brent Leatherwood and Lindsay Nicolet talk to Jason Thacker about his new book, “The Digital Public Square,” and how Christian ethics apply in a technological society. They discuss the importance of Christians engaging various technological tools with wisdom and the motivation to love God and love our neighbors. Connect with us on Twitter@ERLC@LeatherwoodTN@LindsNicoletSponsors2023 Public Policy Agenda | The first session of the 118th Congress is now underway, and it begins as the nation is grappling with war around the world, inflation at home, and deep division across our nation. This also begins a new era of divided government with a Democratic president, a narrow Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, and a slim Republican majority in the House. This dynamic ensures legislating and governing will be a difficult task. We recently released the 2023 ERLC Public Policy agenda which includes our priorities for religious liberty, sanctity of life, marriage and family, and human dignity. Download the full agenda and learn how your Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is advocating for issues important to Southern Baptists at ERLC.com/policy.Email updates | Now that 2023 is fully underway, we want to make sure you are kept up to date about the important work we are doing on behalf of Southern Baptists. Whether it's our 2023 Public Policy Agenda or another ultrasound machine placement, we want to make sure you know how we are serving our churches and acting as missionaries to the public square. As we move forward in 2023, know that first in our hearts and at the top of our minds are our churches. And we are taking those next steps with a Mark 10:44 mindset: to be a servant of all. The best way to learn more is by joining us at ERLC.com/updates. Signing up for email updates allows you to hear directly from us about our work and ways we are serving you on the issues that matter most to Southern Baptists. You'll learn about our work on your behalf in our nation's capital, about exciting new partnerships with our state conventions and the ways we are working across the convention with our sister entities. Become an email subscriber at  ERLC.com/updates.

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by Bonnie Kristian to talk about her contribution entitled, “Should We Ban Pornography? Navigating the Complexities of Objectionable Content in a Digital Age.” Today, Bonnie and I talk about the moral plague of pornography in our society and the difficulties of banning objectionable content online.Meet Bonnie:Bonnie is a journalist and author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community (2022) and A Flexible Faith: Rethinking What it Means to Follow Jesus Today (2018). She is a columnist at Christianity Today and a fellow at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank. Her work has been widely published at outlets including the New York Times, The Week, USA Today, CNN, and Politico. A graduate of Bethel Seminary, she lives in Pittsburg with her husband and twin sons.--The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by Patricia Shaw to talk about her contribution entitled, "The Global Digital Marketplace: Engaging International Technology Policy from a Christian Perspective". Today we talk about some of the international aspects of the technology policy debate and how nations around the world are thinking through these important issues in their specific contexts.Meet Patricia: Patricia serves as CEO of Beyond Reach Consulting Limited and is based in the UK but advises internationally on AI and data ethics, policy, governance, and corporate digital responsibility. She has twenty years' of experience as a lawyer in data, technology, and regulatory/government affairs and is a qualified solicitor in England and the Republic of Ireland. She has authored and edited numerous works on law and regulation, policy, ethics, and AI.—The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by Nathan Leamer to talk about his contribution entitled, "The Wild West of Technology: A Convergence of Optimism and Pessimism in the United States". Today, we talk about how Christians can think wisely about the role of government and industry in the technology policy debate in the United States.Meet Nathan: Nathan serves as the Executive Director of the Digital First Project and Vice President of public affairs at Targeted Victory. He previously served as Policy Advisor to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. Before working at the FCC, he was a Senior Fellow at the R Street Institute where he managed the institute's government relations and wrote extensively on issues of emerging technology, intellectual property, and privacy.--The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

We now inhabit a digital world. Social media has changed and challenged some of our most basic understandings of truth, faith, and even the idea of a public square. In The Digital Public Square, editor Jason Thacker has chosen top Christian voices to help the church navigate the issues of censorship, conspiracy theories, sexual ethics, hate speech, religious freedom, and tribalism. In this unique work, David French, Patricia Shaw, and many others cast a distinctly Christian vision of a digital public theology to promote the common good throughout society. Connect with Jason Thacker: JasonThacker.com Resources mentioned in this episode: The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society Following Jesus in a Digital Age A Student's Guide to Social Media The Age of AI The Shaun Tabatt Show is part of the Destiny Image Podcast Network.   

As we continue our mini-series on our recently released volume The Digital Public Square with B&H Academic, I am joined by Dr. Bryan Baise to talk about his contribution entitled, Once More, with Tweeting?: Bracketing a Public Square from the Perils of Notoriety. Today, Bryan and I talk about how technology has altered our understanding of a public square and teaching the next generation about social ethics.Meet Bryan: Bryan serves as associate professor of philosophy and apologetics at Boyce College, where he also directs the Augustine Honors Collegium and the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics degree program. He has contributed to edited academic volumes and writes popular-level essays for several Christian outlets. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He resides in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife and three children.—The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

This is a special episode of the podcast as we kick off a new mini-series themed after a new volume that I had the privilege of editing entitled The Digital Public Square: Christian Ethics in a Technological Society. This book is published by B&H Academic and is available Wednesday, February 1st wherever books are sold.This volume along with my other recently released books including Following Jesus in a Digital Age, the companion Bible study, and A Student's Guide to Social Media are part of a larger research project that I have been leading at the ERLC over the last couple of years. The Digital Public Square research project is designed to help Christians think deeply about the pressing questions of faith and the public square as well as take part in a larger conversation about these pressing challenges of technology and social media whether in the halls of Congress, your state capital, on campuses of the largest and most influential technology companies, in academic gatherings, and most importantly your own home. I am joined by 11 other contributors who address issues such as political philosophy, technology policy, free speech and content moderation, religious freedom, hate speech and hate crimes, gender/sexuality, pornography, conspiracy theories and misinformation, and digital authoritarianism as well as Christian discipleship and mission in the 21st century.Over the next couple of months, I am going to be joined by each contributor to talk about their interest in these areas, their chapters, and what if anything has changed since they wrote their chapters given how quickly the field of technology changes.Download a sample of The Digital Public Square--The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker. Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

Spacing and Evergreen proudly present The Future Fix: Solutions for Communities Across Canada, a special podcast series. THIS EPISODE: Digital Placemaking Data and technology allow placemakers to experiment with new ways of measuring, designing, and most importantly engaging with the people they are designing public space for. Ideally, digital placemaking empowers everyone to shape the spaces they use, love, and rely on. Farhaan Ladhani is co-founder and CEO of Digital Public Square, an organization who's ethos is "healthy communities enabled by good technology." Farhaan explains how digital placemaking can help create ideal public spaces for a wide variety of people: “Thinking about the way in which these tools can be used to foster engagement in the community can be really useful for all sorts of things, from consultation, through to participation on decision making, through to the provision of information.”

Joining me today to talk about the all important work of preparing the church to tackle the technological age is Jason Thacker — the chair of research in technology ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). Jason's new book is out now and can be purchased here. For more on Jason's work, I recommend subscribing to his own excellent podcast (Digital Public Square), following him on Twitter (@jasonthacker), & getting his newsletter on weekly tech—all of which can be found here. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Travis Dickinson to talk about his new book Logic and the Way of Jesus from B&H Academic. Today, we talk about embracing the life of the mind and role of logic in the Christian life.Meet Dr. DickinsonDr. Dickinson is a professor of philosophy at Dallas Baptist University. He is the author of three books: Wandering Toward God, Logic and the Way of Jesus and Everyday Apologetics, and the coauthor of Stand Firm: Apologetics and the Brilliance of the Gospel. He holds an MA and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Iowa, an MA in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot School of Theology, and an MA in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.Resources:Logic and the Way of Jesus by Travis DickinsonWandering Toward God: Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions by Travis DickinsonLove Your God with All Your Mind by J.P. MorelandSimply Trinity by Matthew Barret and Scott SwainThe Same God Who Works All Things by Adonis ViduAs a gift to Digital Public Square listeners, use discount code: wander22 for 30% Wandering Toward God at IVPpress.com.The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Kadin Christian. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

Today is the official release of my new book, Following Jesus in a Digital Age, with B&H Publishing. On this special episode of the Digital Public Square, I talk about the book and some of the reasons I wanted to write it. You can learn more at jasonthacker.com/digitalage or purchase a copy wherever books are sold.One of the most common questions I receive is what does the Bible actually say about technology. This question can't really be addressed by looking up social media, algorithms, or the internet in your concordance. It can be easy for the Church to believe that technology might be an issue we will need to address at some point but that it isn't a pressing concern for people today. Part of this apathy may stem from the belief that the Bible really doesn't address the questions we are asking today in our digital society such as the formative nature of social media, questions of content moderation and privacy, how truth is being redefined, or how many of us seek to craft our identities online through these tools.Following Jesus in a Digital Age was written for the everyday believer, not specifically for academics or even ministry leaders. It was written for the Church to aid all believers in thinking wisely about technology through the lens of Scripture and to expose how these tools are shaping how we perceive the world around us. The book is designed to help us understand the deeply formative nature of technology that is not just simply a tool we choose to use in whatever way we want. In reality, we don't use technology as much as it uses us.Purchase a copy of Following Jesus in a Digital Age at Lifeway, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook, Audible, and other major booksellers.

This week is a special week for the Digital Public Square podcast as we celebrate the 100th episode with a special mix-tape version highlighting some of my favorite episodes from these past few years.We hope you enjoy, and we are very excited about some of the episodes coming out over the next few months.The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

On this episode of the Global Exchange, Chris Waddell speaks to Luiza Ch. Savage, Peter Donolo, Marcus Kolga, and Farhaan Ladhani about how to protect democracy in the face of disinformation. This episode is an extract from our conference "After the War: What Kind of World for Canada?" which happened on May 10th, 2022. This event was made possible thanks to the support of our strategic sponsors Lockheed Martin Canada, General Dynamics, Irving Shipbuilding, and Davie Shipyard, and of our Bronze conference sponsors, Enbridge and TD. Participants' bios Luiza Ch. Savage is the executive editor for growth at POLITICO and a CGAI Fellow. https://www.cgai.ca/luiza_ch_savage Peter Donolo is the Vice Chair at Hill + Knowlton, a fellow at CGAI, and was the director of communication to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. https://www.cgai.ca/peter_donolo Farhaan Ladhani is co-founder and the CEO of Digital Public Square. https://www.digitalpublicsquare.org/who-we-are/farhaan-ladhani Marcus Kolga is the founder and director of DisinfoWatch and a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/cm-expert/marcus-kolga/ Hosts bios Christopher Waddell is a professor emeritus at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication, and a CGAI fellow. https://www.cgai.ca/christopher_waddell Colin Robertson is a former diplomat, and Senior Advisor to the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, www.cgai.ca/colin_robertson Recording Date: 10 May 2022. Give 'The Global Exchange' a review on Apple Podcast! Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on Linkedin. Head over to our website www.cgai.ca for more commentary. Produced by Charlotte Duval-Lantoine. Music credits to Drew Phillips.

In this episode, I am joined by Jake Meador, Editor-in-chief at Mere Orthodoxy and author of a new book with IVP titled What Are Christians For? Life Together at the End of the World. Today, we talk about politics, ethics, and the common good.Meet Jake: Jake is the author of two books, including his first book was In Search of the Common Good: Christian Fidelity in a Fractured World. His work has been published in First Things, National Review, Books & Culture, Commonweal, Christianity Today, Front Porch Republic, and the University Bookman. He lives with his wife and children in his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska.Resources:What Are Christians For? by Jake MeadorAggressively Happy by Joy ClarksonChristian Worldview by Herman BavinckBavinck by James EglintonInstruction in Christian Love by Martin BucerPodcast: “A conversation with Dr. James Eglinton on Herman Bavinck, theology, and ethics”The Digital Public Square is a production of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and is produced and hosted by Jason Thacker.Production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. Technical production provided by Owens Productions. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jordan Ballor, director of research at the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy as well as co-editor of Abraham Kuyper's Collected Works in Public Theology with Lexham Press. Today, we talk about the life and work of Abraham Kuyper, as well as the task of public theology and Christian ethics.Meet Dr. Ballor: Dr. Ballor earned his doctorate of theology in reformational history from the University of Zurich and PhD in moral theology from  Calvin Theological Seminary. In addition to his role at the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy, he is also the associate director of the Junius Institute for Digital Reformation Research at Calvin Theological Seminary.Resources:Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham KuyperCenter for Religion, Culture & DemocracyLectures on Calvinism by Abraham KuyperCalvinism for a Secular Age by Jessica and Robert JoustraAbraham Kuyper: An Introduction by Richard MouwAs a special treat for newsletter and podcast subscribers, we have partnered with Lexham Press to offer 30% off the newly completed Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham Kuyper in hardback or Logos editions.Use code DPSFEB22 or visit lexhampress.com/digitalpublicsquare to learn more. This special discount expires on April 30th.The Digital Public Square is an audio production of Owens Productions. It's produced by Jason Thacker and production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this 120th in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we discuss the state of the world through an evolutionary lens. This week, we discuss the definition of woman. What are women? Adult human females. What are adults, and humans, and females? Are we suffering a plague of sophistry? (Yes.) Must we turn this around? (Yes.) Are humans ever hermaphroditic? (No.) What about banana slugs? (Yes. What about them?) And clown fish? (Also yes—again, so? They're clown fish, not humans.) We discuss the evolution of sex and sex roles (aka gender). We talk about Genetic Sex Determination and Environmental Sex Determination. We discuss anisogamy and monoecious and dioecious plants, and it's interesting and not full of uninterpretable words. We do not discuss the paired hemipenes of snakes and lizards. Our apologies. ***** Blinkist: Learn big ideas fast from best-selling non-fiction. Get a 7-day free trial & 25% off a Premium membership at https://Blinkist.com/DARKHORSE MDHearingAid.com: Use promo code DARKHORSE to receive a significant discount off your order of already inexpensive, high-quality hearing aids, plus receive a free extra charging case. Or call 1-833-772-1392. Ned: is a CBD company that stands out, with USDA certified organic full spectrum hemp oil, and specialty blends like de-stress and sleep. Visit www.helloned.com/darkhorse to get 15% off. ***** Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century, is available everywhere books are sold, and signed copies are available here: https://darvillsbookstore.indielite.org Check out our store! Epic tabby, digital book burning, saddle up the dire wolves, and more: https://store.darkhorsepodcast.org Heather's newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.com Find more from us on Bret's website (https://bretweinstein.net) or Heather's website (http://heatherheying.com). Become a member of the DarkHorse LiveStreams, and get access to an additional Q&A livestream every month. Join at Heather's Patreon. Like this content? Subscribe to the channel, like this video, follow us on twitter (@BretWeinstein, @HeatherEHeying), and consider helping us out by contributing to either of our Patreons or Bret's Paypal. Looking for clips from #DarkHorseLivestreams? Check out our other channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAWCKUrmvK5F_ynBY_CMlIA Theme Music: Thank you to Martin Molin of Wintergatan for providing us the rights to use their excellent music. ***** Q&A Link: https://youtu.be/ilHD18Bqnkw Mentioned in this episode: Digital Public Square – bringing a plug-and-play experience to the decentralized web: https://www.samizdapp.com/ Akira the Don, Dr. Seuss, and Bret Weinstein: https://youtu.be/1pJhF2GjwDM Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominee to the Supreme Court of the U.S., is asked what a woman is: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ketanji-brown-jackson-says-she-can-t-define-woman-because-i-m-not-a-biologist/ar-AAVnX6b Dictionary.com definition of woman: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/woman(also see: the Oxford English Dictionary, and also A Dictionary of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics (2nd ed, Lincoln, Boxshall and Clark), for a definition of “female”) Daly and Wilson 1983. Sex, Evolution and Behavior. https://books.google.com/books/about/Sex_Evolution_and_Behavior.html?id=VodHAAAAMAAJLeshem 2016.  RSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bretweinstein)

In this episode, I am joined by Tony Reinke, a non-profit journalist and author of numerous books including God, Technology, and the Christian Life. Today, we talk about a biblical theology of technology and how it affects the Christian life.Meet Tony: Tony Reinke also serves as senior teacher and host of the Ask Pastor John podcast at Desiring God. He is the author of Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books, Competing Spectacles, and 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You.Resources:God, Technology, and the Christian Life by Tony ReinkeCommon Grace by Abraham Kuyper12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You by Tony ReinkeAs a special treat for newsletter and podcast subscribers, we have partnered with Lexham Press to offer 30% off the newly completed Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham Kuyper in hardback or Logos editions.Use code DPSFEB22 or visit lexhampress.com/digitalpublicsquare to learn more. This special discount expires on March 15th.The Digital Public Square is an audio production of Owens Productions. It's produced by Jason Thacker and production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Benjamin Gladd, associate professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary and editor of a series of volumes on biblical theology with InterVarsity Press. Today, we talk about biblical theology and the image of God.Meet Dr. Gladd: Dr. Gladd earned his PhD from Wheaton College and prior to joining the RTS faculty, he served as an adjunct faculty member at Wheaton, teaching New Testament exegesis and interpretation, Greek, and introductory courses on the Old and New Testaments. In addition to his work at RTS, Dr. Gladd has been a member of the editorial board for the online journal, Themelios, since 2019. He is the author of numerous works and serves as the series editor for Essential Studies in Biblical Theology, which includes his work From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God.Resources:From Adam to Israel by Benjamin L. GladdEssential Studies in Biblical Theology edited by Benjamin L. GladdCreated in God's Image by Anthony HoekemaAs a special treat for newsletter and podcast subscribers, we have partnered with Lexham Press to offer 30% off the newly completed Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham Kuyper in hardback or Logos editions.Use code DPSFEB22 or visit lexhampress.com/digitalpublicsquare to learn more. This special discount expires on March 15th.The Digital Public Square is an audio production of Owens Productions. It's produced by Jason Thacker and production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

In this episode, I am joined by my Drs. Jessica and Robert Joustra, co-editors of a new volume called Calvinism for a Secular Age: A Twenty-First-Century Reading of Abraham Kuyper's Stone Lectures. Today, we talk about Kuyper's influence and a Reformed approach to our secular age.Meet Jessica: Jessica Joustra (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary and the Free University of Amsterdam) is assistant professor of religion and theology at Redeemer University and an associate researcher at the Neo-Calvinist Research Institute at the Theological University of Kampen (NL). She is an editor and translator of Herman Bavinck's Reformed Ethics and associate editor for the Bavinck Review.Meet Robert:Robert J. Joustra (PhD, University of Bath) is associate professor of politics and international studies and the founding director of the Centre for Christian Scholarship at Redeemer University College. He is the author of The Religious Problem with Religious Freedom and the coauthor of The Church's Social Responsibility, The Persecuted Church, How to Survive the Apocalypse, and God and the Global Order.Resources:Calvinism for a Secular Age by Jessica and Robert JoustraCollected Works of Public Theology by Abraham KuyperAbraham Kuyper by James BrattAbraham Kuyper: An Introduction by Richard MouwTo Be Near unto God by Abraham KuyperHoney from the Rock by Abraham KuyperChrist and Culture by Klaas SchilderAs a special treat for newsletter and podcast subscribers, we have partnered with Lexham Press to offer 30% off the newly completed Collected Works of Public Theology by Abraham Kuyper in hardback or Logos editions.Use code DPSFEB22 or visit lexhampress.com/digitalpublicsquare to learn more. This special discount expires on March 15th.The Digital Public Square is an audio production of Owens Productions. It's produced by Jason Thacker and production assistance is provided by Cameron Hayner. It is edited and mixed by Mark Owens.

Could the ABC have a platform on which any media outlets could share information, for free?  This is one idea for a 'digital public square'.

Bruce Shapiro on the latest court cases holding America's attention, Peter Lewis on creating a digital public square and Marion Maddox on Charles Strong's Australian Church (and on the Religious Discrimination Bill).

The digital age promised deep connections, rich communication, and more access to information than we could ever imagine. But while technology has brought incredible benefits and conveniences into our lives, it also has led to countless unintended consequences and deep ethical challenges that push us to consider how to live out our faith in a technological society.This week, Chelsea Sobolik's ERLC colleague Jason Thacker joins her to discuss his new project, the digital public square and important tech policies that you need to know about.Guest BiographyJason serves as chair of research in technology ethics at the ERLC. He also serves as an adjunct instructor of philosophy, ethics, and worldview at Boyce College in Louisville, KY. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Following Jesus in the Digital Age with B&H Publishing, as well as The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity with Zondervan. He also serves as the editor of a forthcoming volume with B&H Academic on Christian ethics and the digital public square, focused on content moderation and online governance. He is the project leader and lead drafter of Artificial Intelligence: An Evangelical Statement of Principles, and his work has been featured at Slate, Politico, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and World Radio.Resources from the ConversationFollow Jason Thacker's workThe Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity by Jason Thacker Preorder: Following Jesus in a Digital Age by Jason Thacker Subscribe to the Digital Public SquareSubscribe to ERLC's Policy NewsletterSubscribe to ERLC's The Weekly

In Obama's final speech, at the end of his term of office, he spoke about how the internet and social media has made it easier for people to dig into and validate their own views. He was cautioning that the internet makes it so easy to find what you are looking for that without an open mind, people tend to seek out information that validates their own ideology and leads to less diversity and potentially a crisis of communication. In the same speech, Obama spoke optimistically about how throughout history, humankind always finds a way to move forward beyond the challenges and limitations of the present time. As much as nefarious forces and bad actors enter the scene from time to time, human ingenuity and the desire to improve quality of life for future generations eventually overcomes. This is where my next guest and this episode fits in. Farhaan Ladhani is the CEO and Co-Founder at Digital Public Square. After years of working in private and government enterprises in Washington DC, Cairo, Afghanistan and Ottawa, he and his company are working hard to leverage the power of the internet and the field of behavioural economics to gently nudge people to expand their perspectives on the most difficult issues of our time. If he is successful, we just may start coming together from the polar ends of our ideologies to improve life for all of us.

Starting September 27th, we are relaunching WeeklyTech as the Digital Public Square podcast. Starting next week, I will be joined by some of our society's most influential thinkers and leaders to talk about the pressing issues of theology, ethics, and philosophy in the public square. If you already have subscribed, you will automatically get the new episodes or you can subscribe here.

In this episode, Lindsay and Brent discuss how toxic instagram is for teens, how the FBI failed USA gymnastics, how 1 in every 500 U.S. residents have now died of COVID-19, California voters reject the governor recall, Texas judge agrees to consider a block of the Texas abortion ban, and the profile for the next ERLC president. They also give a rundown of this week's ERLC content including Jason Thacker with “How can Christians navigate the digital public square? Introducing a new ERLC research project on ethics and religion for a technological society,” Jill Waggoner with “4 ways the church can serve Afghan and other refugee communities: An interview with a pastor born in Syria,” and Willis Deitz with “5 things I've learned about children's ministry and volunteers.”ERLC ContentJason Thacker with How can Christians navigate the digital public square? Introducing a new ERLC research project on ethics and religion for a technological societyJill Waggoner with 4 ways the church can serve Afghans and other refugee communities: An interview with a pastor born in Syria Willis Deitz with 5 things I've learned about children's ministry and volunteersCultureFacebook knows Instagram is toxic for teen girlsFacebook tried to make its platform healthier. it got angrier.USA gymnasts describe how FBI lied about their allegations into Larry Nassar1 in every 500 US residents have died of Covid-19Gov. Newsom Keeps His Seat As A Majority Of California Voters Reject The RecallJudge agrees to consider temporarily blocking Texas abortion banERLC trustees approve profile for next presidentLunchroomBrent: All civilian space flight takes to the skiesLindsay:  Traveling with small children.  Connect with us on Twitter@ERLC@LeatherwoodTN@LindsNicoletSponsorsThe Death of Porn: Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility. by Ray Ortlund || Pornography may seem inescapable, but God can free us from its destructive power. In this book, Ortlund writes six personal letters, as from a father to his son, giving hope to men who have been misled by porn into devaluing themselves and others. The Death of Porn inspires men to come together in new ways to fight the injustice of porn and build a world of nobility for every man and woman—for the sake of future generations. ||  Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/plus to find out how you can get 30% off + a free copy of the ebook. What God Has to Say about Our Bodies || There's a danger in focusing too much on the body. There's also a danger in not valuing it enough. In this book, Sam Allberry explains that all of us are fearfully and wonderfully made, and should regard our physicality as a gift. He offers biblical guidance for living, including understanding gender, sexuality, and identity; dealing with aging, illness, and death; and considering the physical future hope that we have in Christ. || Pick up a copy wherever books are sold or visit crossway.org/plus to find out how you can get 30% off + a free copy of the ebook.