Biblical Identities in an Age of Wokism & Transhumanism

Dr. Ryan C. MacPherson is Director of the Center for Apologetics and Worldviews, chair of the History Department at Bethany Lutheran College, the author of several books, including Rediscovering the American Republic (2 vols.), The Culture of Life, and Debating Evolution before Darwinism. As an adjunct professor for the M.A. in Theological Studies program at Martin Luther College, he teaches courses in Creation Apologetics and Bioethics. He lives with his wife Marie and their seven homeschooled children in Mankato, Minnesota. He also serves as President of the Hausvater Project, which mentors Christian parents.

Brandon Steenbock currently serves as Family Minister at St. Mark Ministries in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area. Previously he served as Family and Youth Minister at St. Paul’s in New Ulm, Minnesota. Brandon is a 2006 graduate of the Staff Ministry program at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, and holds a Master of Arts in Family Education from Concordia University–St. Paul (2013), and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Martin Luther College (2021). He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Ministry at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Brandon’s Master’s thesis at Martin Luther College, “Do Cyborgs Have Hope?,” investigated the hope claims of Transhumanism versus the hope offered in the Incarnation of Christ. Brandon is married to Nikki, and they have two sons, Athan (15) and Paladin (14).

Joshua Pauling worked in public education for thirteen years as a high school history teacher and coach, and is now a classical educator. He writes and speaks at the intersections of Christianity and culture, and runs a family business building custom furniture. He is a frequent guest on the Issues, Etc. radio show, and his writings have been featured in Areo Magazine, Forma Journal, Front Porch Republic, Mere Orthodoxy, Modern Reformation, Public Discourse, Quillette, Real Clear Education, Salvo Magazine, The Imaginative Conservative, and Touchstone Magazine. He studied at Messiah College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Winthrop University. He is head elder at All Saints Lutheran Church, while he and his wife Kristi have two children who are being classically homeschooled.