Summary
Dr. Neil Shenvi is the author of Why Believe? A Reasoned Approach to Christianity. After receiving his PhD in Theoretical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, Neil has gone on to research nonadiabatic dynamics, electronic structure theory, and electron transfer while in positions at Yale and Duke. In addition to his scientific research, Neil speaks and writes about critical race theory and Christian apologetics. In 2015, he began homeschooling his family with Classical Conversations and now serves as a Tutor at his local Classical Conversations community. In this episode, Robert and Neil discuss homeschooling as a dad, critical race theory, and how to reconcile faith and science.
Quote
“Christianity really is a reasonable faith. It makes sense. And it speaks not just to your mind but to your experience and your heart. It answers your most pressing needs.”
Neil Shenvi
Topics
- Intro to Neil Shenvi [0:49]
- Neil’s journey to Christianity [2:10]
- Taking a Princeton course on the origins of the New Testament [4:36]
- How Neil first got interested in critical race theory [6:04]
- Why CRT is not compatible with a Christian worldview [7:53]
- The long term goal of CRT is equity [11:47]
- Homeschooling with Classical Conversations [13:26]
- Neil’s experience the primary educator as a homeschool dad [15:09]
- Getting the idea for Neil’s new book Why Believe? [16:49]
- Arguments that science and the Christian faith are compatible [20:47]
- How to talk to your children about CRT [26:28]
- Farewell to Neil [32:41]
- “Classical Tools Recap” [34:22]
- “Current Events Discussion”: What is money? (Part 1) [36:18]
- Ad: Brand-New Classical Conversations Podcast on August 4th: Blessings and Motherhood [41:41]
- “Classical Crypto”: Four guidelines for navigating a recession [42:43]
- Outro [50:32]
Mentions
- Princeton University
- University of California, Berkeley
- Why Believe? A Reasoned Approach to Christianity by Neil Shenvi | Amazon
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis | Classical Conversations Bookstore
- CRU
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis | Classical Conversations Bookstore
- Bart Ehrman
- Episode 9: Critical Race Theory vs. Christian Unity with Dr. Carol Swain | Refining Rhetoric
- Black Lives Matter (BLM)
- Crossway
- Patrick Sawyer | UNC Greensboro
- Words That Wound: Critical Race Theory, Assaultive Speech, And The First Amendment by Mari J. Matsuda, Charles R. Lawrence, Richard Delgado, Kimberlè Williams Crenshaw | Amazon
- Ibram X. Kendi
- Challenge III | Classical Conversations
- Challenge B | Classical Conversations
- Challenge A | Classical Conversations
- The Foundations Program | Classical Conversations
- The Essentials Program | Classical Conversations
- Duke University
- Yale University
- The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller | Amazon
- The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus by Lee Strobel | Amazon
- Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism’s Looming Catastrophe by Voddie Baucham Jr. | Amazon
- Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler | Amazon
- The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin | Amazon
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X | Amazon
- @NeilShenvi | (X) Twitter
- Neil Shenvi Apologetics
- Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard J. Maybury | Classical Conversations Bookstore
- Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) Definition | Investopedia
