How do we explain all the religious elements surrounding the inauguration of a new president in a supposedly secular society?

How should we think biblically and theologically about the Notre Dame and Ohio State players invoking the name of God in the national championship game?

And a long-time liberal atheist has second thoughts about the sanctity of life.

We'll address these stories and answer some of your questions that you've sent in to us.

I'm your host Scott Ray and sitting in for Sean who's traveling today is my colleague in theology, Dr. Eric Tonnis.

This is the Think Biblically Weekly Cultural Update from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University.

Eric, glad to have you with us today.

Thanks so much for hanging

with us and joining in today. Good to be here, Scott.

Hey, the news this week obviously has been dominated by the first few days of a new administration,

and we'll have something to say about that, but this is also a reminder that there's other

news out there that's happening that's also worth talking about. But first, on the inauguration

of a new president. On Monday, the same day that we remember the contribution of Martin Luther

King, Jr., we got a new president, and just one day after the nationally recognized Sanctity

of Life, Sunday. Now, you sent me this story from the Pew Research Group

about all the religious elements in the inauguration day, more two days really, about 48 hours,

and it's a whole lot more than I thought. They include a traditional pre-innaugule prayer service,

six different clergy plus the Mormon tabernacle choir participating in

the inauguration itself. The president was sworn in using two Bibles, one the Lincoln Bible and

one owned by MLK. The oath of office closes with the phrase, so help me God. I hadn't always been

in there, but in more recent years has been included. And on the day following the inauguration,

there's a prayer service for the country at the Washington National Cathedral. So Eric, tell me

...