Dr. Justin Barrett: On Thriving with Stone Age Minds

Foreword

This week, the Foreword Podcast returns with an interview of cognitive psychologist of religion Dr. Justin Barrett, president and co-founder of Blueprint 1543, an organization working at the intersection of Christian theology and the sciences. Justin is also Honorary Professor of Theology and the Sciences at the University of St. Andrews, and has served at Calvin University, the University of Michigan and the University of Oxford. He is interviewed by Drs. James Arcadi and Fellipe do Vale.

Justin begins by describing the path that brought him to doing what he does now, a path that winds through multiple states and countries and involves writing a book as a stay-at-home Dad and serving with YoungLife. On this path, Justin developed a passion for integrating his scientific work with his Christian faith, which eventually led to his work in the cognitive psychology of religion, a discipline he had a significant hand in shaping. Justin reflects on how to integrate science and theology well, which occupies so much of his work today. He also discusses his recent book, Thriving with Stone Age Minds, where he explores what it means to thrive as human beings living in an ever shifting environment always placing new demands on our natures.

Along the way, listeners will discover…

• Why it is not a good idea to wear a necktie with batteries
• Why cities just might be bad for us
• Why donuts are so amazing (from a scientific point of view)

To learn more about Dr. Justin Barrett, you can explore the rich resources he and his team provide at Blueprint 1543 including videos, free courses curated for theologians and ministers (through the TheoPsych program), as well as articles on the integration of science and theology. Consider also his most recent book and the series of interviews he did with Closer to Truth.