In his book, The Body God Gives: A Biblical Response to Transgender Theory, Dr. Robert S. Smith offers a biblically grounded critique of transgender theory’s central claim that there is no inherent connection between the sexed body and the gendered self. In this episode, he joins Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss how he came to be interested in this subject; some of the factors that have led to the current confusion about the relationship between biological sex and gender; and what biblical revelation reveals about the significance of embodiment for sexuality, marriage, and personal identity.

Courtesy of Lexham Press, we have a copy of The Body God Gives to give away to one of our listeners. The giveaway closes September 15, and you can enter here. Defragmenting listeners can also purchase a copy for 30% off (with free shipping!) through October 1 at lexhampress.com/defragmenting.

Many believe higher education is facing an existential crisis. While nonprofit and for-profit schools are battling issues of affordability, enrollment, and latent COVID realities, the need for Christ-centered, academically rigorous, and biblically faithful institutions of higher education remains.

In this episode, Dr. Todd J. Williams, president of Cairn University, and Dr. Allen Guelzo, American historian and senior research scholar in the Council of the Humanities and director of the Initiative on Politics and Statesmanship in the James Madison Program at Princeton University, discuss the history and future trajectory of Christian higher education; the genesis of their love of history, civics, and deep thinking; and the lasting value of biblical worldview formation in the life of the student.

Emily Harrison, author of the Substack newsletter Dear Christian Parent, sits down with Dr. Keith Plummer to explore the impact of technology on children and teens. They discuss a four-part series she wrote on what parents need to know about Artificial Intelligence (AI) that covers its pervasive presence in daily life, its implications for education, the dangers of AI-created deep fakes, and its impact on artistic creativity. They also discuss the importance of fostering real-world skills and the need for collective action within the church to help families navigate the challenges of the digital age.

We are most vulnerable to drifting from the core teachings of the Christian faith when we find them boring, irrelevant, or embarrassing. Dr. Trevin Wax wrote his book The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith to counteract the familiarity with Christian teaching that he says is “the enemy of wonder.” He joins Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss a wide array of topics including the subtle yet often imperceptible ways that we drift from the gospel; how ancient summaries of scriptural teaching like the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian creeds serve as valuable maps and grammars; why doctrinal details matter; and how Christian orthodoxy, contrary to its detractors, is actually broader, richer, and more satisfying than its heretical contenders.

Drawing from his own journey of deconstructing and reconstructing his Christian faith, Ian Harber describes deconstruction as an existential crisis of faith that consists of much more than intellectual questioning. In this episode, he joins Dr. Keith Plummer to offer insights about how we are to understand and accompany loved ones in the midst of such crises. Among the topics they discuss are contributing factors to deconstruction, the importance of a theology of suffering, and the vital roles that sound biblical truth and genuine Christian community play in healing and reconstruction.

Two years ago, Dr. Randy Newman joined Dr. Keith Plummer on Defragmenting to discuss the third edition of his book, Questioning Evangelism: Engaging Peoples’ Hearts the Way that Jesus Did. Dr. Newman went to be with the Lord a year ago this month. To honor his legacy, we have re-released his conversation with Dr. Plummer, which still holds just as much relevance and application as it did when it was first released. In this episode, they discuss why asking questions and listening well are so important, some of the top questions non-Christians ask about Christians, why the new edition of his book includes a new chapter on science and Christianity, the difference between evangelism and pre-evangelism, and more.

Because the triune God has graciously revealed himself, he is knowable. But because he is infinite, there is always more to him than finite creatures can comprehend. Dr. Ronni Kurtz explains and explores the profound and often overlooked doctrine of incomprehensibility in his book Light Unapproachable: Divine Incomprehensibility and the Task of Theology. In this episode, he and Dr. Keith Plummer discuss the biblical basis of the doctrine; its historical development; and why its contemplation should elicit worship, foster humility, and produce joy-filled hope.

Reading and interpreting the Bible is more, never less, than applying the correct principles. That's because the Scriptures are unlike any other writing in that they are God's words to his people. In his book Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What it Means to Read the Bible Theologically, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer writes, “Biblical interpreters are answerable not only for the ‘correctness’ of their reading but for the way they respond to what they read, and to the one who is saying it.” In this episode, he joins Dr. Keith Plummer to discuss his book and what truly faithful biblical integration looks like.