Shows
Faith at the Frontiers#79 Whose Christianity? Which Nationalism? - with Elizabeth BruenigNot every Christian agrees on what a “Christian government” should look like. Whoever is in power will have to decide what form of Christianity to implement, and they are likely to claim it is the only valid kind. In this episode we chat with Elizabeth Bruenig, journalist for The Atlantic, on Christian Nationalism in the US. Does it really represent the values shared by all Christians? Does it have the right to speak in the name of “Christianity”? Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering! 2025-06-0246 minFaith at the Frontiers#78 Nationalism is its own religion - with William CavanaughProfessor William Cavanaugh, author of Migrations of the Holy and The Uses of Idolatry, weighs in on the topic of nationalism. He argues that nationalism is a religion that rivals Christianity and is therefore not compatible with it. Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!2025-05-1441 minFaith at the Frontiers#77 - European Nationalism & Constitutions w/ Marietta van der TolHow can national constitutions persecute religious minorities? What would motivate them to do so, and is this motivation really Christian? These questions and others are addressed by Marietta van der Tol in her book, Constitutional Intolerance (CUP, 2025). In this episode, Barney and Austin draw out some of Marietta’s key insights not only in this book but other of her publications.Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!2025-04-2252 minFaith at the Frontiers#76 - Wrap-up the last series & introduce the next!In this episode, Austin & Barney discuss the key takeaways and insights from the series on Exvangelicalism, and introduce the topic of our next series: Christian Nationalism! Watch this space for interviews with world experts across the spectrum of political opinions on this urgent and controversial topic! Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering! 2025-03-3122 minFaith at the Frontiers#75 The E(x)vangelical Imagination - with Karen Swallow PriorNext up in our Exvangelicalism series, Karen Swallow Prior outlines some of the images that have shaped the social imaginary of evangelicals—for good and ill—and how that has impacted the experiences of exvangelicals .She is the author of The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis (Brazos, 2024).2025-03-1051 minFaith at the Frontiers#74 Loving & leaving Evangelicalism - with Sarah McCammonAnother episode in our Exvangelicalism series, Sarah McCammon shares her story and her research on those who leave the American Evangelical church, to produce a powerful and insightful insider account of the exvangelical experience.Today is the launch day of the paperback edition of Sarah's book, The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church (Macmillan: 2024). Click on the link to get a copy!Thanks to Jamie Maule for audio editing!2025-02-1848 minFaith at the Frontiers#73 What is EXvangelicalism? - with Emma FeyasThe second in our mini-series on Exvangelicalism. Emma Feyas is a PhD candidate researching exvangelicalism. She tells us about the history of the movement and provides insights both from scholarship and from her own experiences. 2025-01-2848 minFaith at the Frontiers#72 What is Evangelicalism? - with Mark NollThe first in our mini-series on Exvangelicalism. It makes
sense to start by asking what Evangelicalism is!
Professor Mark Noll is one of the world’s leading experts on
the history of Evangelicalism. In this interview, we ask him questions like:
When did Evangelicalism begin?
How has the word “Evangelical” changed its meaning over
time?
Why have people abandoned Evangelicalism in the past?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering! 2025-01-0241 minFaith at the Frontiers#71 What is Exvangelicalism?Over 400 million people in the world are classed as Evangelicals. In the USA, their association with the Republican Party has led to a lot of people rejecting the
label and yet remaining quasi-Evangelical in their spirituality. Since 2016 they have come to be known as “Exvangelicals” or “Post-Evangelicals.” Who are they and why are they significant for global Christianity? How are they putting
pressure on the term “Evangelical” and contributing to its changing meaning?
This episode launches the next mini-series which is all about these questions!
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!
2024-12-0217 minFaith at the Frontiers#70 A Greater Challenge to Faith?Is science or history a greater challenge to faith? In this episode, Austin argues that history is a far greater challenge than science. In that light, we review our long series on history and bring it to a close. 2024-11-1826 minFaith at the Frontiers#69 Tradition with Anne CarpenterWhat is tradition and how might it help us deal with both the good and bad in the history of Christianity? Dr Anne Carpenter is Danforth Chair in Theological Studies at St Louis University and the author of 'Nothing Gained is Eternal: A Theology of Tradition."2024-10-301h 01Faith at the Frontiers#68 Colonialism with Willie James JenningsWhat is colonialism and how should white Western Christians think about their own involvement in it? How do we respond, whether Christian or not, to the trajectories of power laid down by our colonial past?
Prof. Willie James Jennings is one of the leading voices in postcolonial theology. We are hono(u)red to have him join us in our first discussion on this thorny topic.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!2024-10-0747 minFaith at the Frontiers#67 Religious apathy and religious violence - with Matthew RowleyOur second episode on religious violence, with Dr. Matthew Rowley , author of God, Religious Extremism, and Violence. Dr. Rowley talks about how we should criticize our own tradition first, approaching everything with curiosity and humility. He also questions ideas about what it means to be an "extremist" and whether that's really a bad thing?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!2024-09-1645 minFaith at the Frontiers#66 Religious Violence - with William CavanaughDoes religion cause violence? It's a common notion today, but Professor William Cavanaugh challenges it in an incisive way. Who stands to gain from this idea? Who benefits from laying the blame for violence at the feet of religion? And what definition of 'religion' is operative here?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for editing this video!2024-09-0454 minFaith at the Frontiers#65 Improvising church to face challenges of today - with Mark GlanvilleAn interlude (sort of) in the middle of our present series. It does not address a historical challenge, but starts from the other end. What can Christians do today in responding to these challenges?
Barney interviews Professor Mark Glanville of Regent College, Vancouver, on his latest book, Improvising Church. We discuss questions like:
How can the Bible speak meaningfully to new situations Christians face today?
How can every Christian exercise leadership in his or her church community?
How can you get people to wake up for a prayer meeting at 5:30am?
Thanks...2024-07-1546 minFaith at the Frontiers#64 The challenge of the INQUISITION - with Dr. Dennis CastilloEveryone has heard of the Spanish Inquisition. But how accurate is the popular understanding of it? What really happened and how does it reflect on Christianity? Is this an episode Christians should repent of? What lessons can we learn for the modern day?
These questions and others are discussed in today’s episode. Austin and Barney are joined by Dr. Dennis Castillo who teaches Church History at St. Mary’s Seminary and University.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!2024-06-2453 minFaith at the Frontiers#63 The challenge of the CRUSADES! - with Dr. Mike HorswellContinuing our “Faith and the challenges of history” series, we turn from biblical history to later history. First of all we want to tackle the crusades, one of the most frequently mentioned in debates about the authenticity of Christian claims to bring peace and justice.
We have invited Dr. Mike Horswell to join us in this discussion. He has spent many years studying not only the crusades, but common perceptions of the crusades in the modern era. He is ideally suited to help us unpack: (1) what the crusades actually were? (2) How do people think of the crusades toda...2024-06-031h 02Faith at the Frontiers#62 Austin's NEW BOOK! - and the final episode on biblical historyIt's a big event: our own podcast co-host's first published book: Austin Stevenson, The Consciousness of the Historical Jesus (T&T Clark: 2024).
The book discusses questions like:
What is the movement called 'the historical Jesus' and how should Christians think about it?
How does our own way of doing history depend on our understanding of what it means to be human?
How can we read the history of Jesus in a way that transforms our understanding of ourselves? Can the 'historical Jesus' do that? If not, what can?
Thanks to Jamie Maule...2024-05-1340 minFaith at the Frontiers#61 The history of the biblical text - w/ Dr Jesse GrenzIs our New Testament the same as the original texts written in the first century? How do we know which manuscripts to trust, and who does the work of deciding? What are the implications of the fact that the biblical text itself has a history?
In this episode, we discuss these questions and more with Dr Jesse Grenz, Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Palm Beach Atlantic University.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound editing!2024-04-2249 minFaith at the Frontiers#60 Women and the challenge of history - with Dr. Amy PeelerDoes the Bible value women? Does it make sense to call God ‘Father’ from a feminist perspective? Why did God create gender difference in the first place?
These questions and many more are tackled by Dr. Amy Peeler, New Testament Professor at Wheaton College. Dr. Peeler has recently published Women and the Gender of God which goes into these issues in more depth.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound editing! 2024-03-2656 minFaith at the Frontiers#59 Reading the New Testament Historically with Michael J. GormanIn this episode we talk with Prof Michael J Gorman, New Testament Scholar and author of nearly twenty books including several major works on Paul. In this discussion, Prof Gorman draws a distinction between historical criticism and the historical critical method. He argues that understanding the original context is necessary, but not sufficient when it comes to interpreting the Bible today. 2024-03-0543 minFaith at the Frontiers#58 Lessons so far: insights and takeaways from our Bible scholar intervieweesAustin and Barney go back over the last few episodes and share our thoughts. What did we learn? What did we disagree with? How do we compare and contrast the Bible scholars and theologians we've interviewed so far?
What do YOU think though? Email us your thoughts at
whatdoyouthink (at) faithatthefrontiers.com and we'll dialogue with you in future episodes!
This is NOT the end of ‘faith and the challenges of history’: it’s just a pause to catch our breath!
2024-02-1236 minFaith at the Frontiers#57 Historically-sensitive Bible reading: A taxonomy with Matthew J ThomasSo many Bible scholars and methods claim to be ‘historical’, but are they all the same? In this episode, Barney and Austin interview Professor Matthew J Thomas, who has come up with a taxonomy of FOUR methods for reading the Bible that are currently prevalent in scholarship:
Simple historical exegesis: interpreting the Bible with attention to its cultural and historical context.
Investigating the history of the Bible’s composition, known as ‘source criticism’, ‘form criticism’, or ‘redaction criticism’.
Critically assessing the truth of the Bible from another philosophical perspective.
Whatever is popular in Germany right now (!)
Tune in to hear Prof. T...2024-01-221h 04Faith at the Frontiers#56 Theology and the Historical Method - w/ Dr Seth HeringerAustin and Barney interview theologian Dr Seth Heringer, who describes the development of modern historical methods and how these methods have impacted theology. We consider the ways in which not only the results of historical research, but the principles of the historical method themselves might stand at odds with theology. If history isn't as neutral a discipline as it seems, does that open up possibilities for fruitful dialogue with faith?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!2023-12-1947 minFaith at the Frontiers#55 Challenging the challengers: on reasons to trust the biblical witness - with Prof. Iain ProvanBarney and Austin interview Old Testament Professor Iain Provan, who takes a different view to our previous guests on the historical reliability of the Bible. For him, there is every reason to trust the Bible's authors, and no reason not to trust them. Provan also suggests that:
The very idea of history comes from the Old Testament
There is no 'neutral' way of reading the Bible: there are Christian or non-Christian ways of reading.
Jesus gave us these texts, and that is why we read them.
Tune in for more insights on a developing...2023-12-0448 minFaith at the Frontiers#54 Faith and Old Testament historicity - with Prof. Hugh WilliamsonAustin and Barney interview Professor Emeritus Hugh Williamson of Oxford University on how his faith relates to historical enquiry about the Old Testament. We discuss questions like:
How does Prof. Williamson hold together his identity as a scholar and his faith as a Christian? Does he ever see a conflict between them?
What does the historical study of the Bible do for one's faith?
What historical events in the Bible does Christian faith depend on?
Thanks, as always, to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 2023-11-2052 minFaith at the Frontiers#53 History and the Old Testament - with Professor John GoldingayIs the Old Testament historically reliable? What difference does that question make to our faith? What do we mean by 'historical' and 'reliable' anyway?
In this episode, Barney and Austin interview Professor John Goldingay, a retired Old Testament scholar enormously influential in the Evangelical tradition. Prof. Goldingay shares his thoughts about the relationship between faith and biblical history, and then problematizes the question for us: why are we asking about this and in what way should it, and should it not, matter?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound editing!2023-11-0645 minFaith at the FrontiersFaith at the Frontiers#52 Taking the conversation global: science and theology narratives in non-Western contextsLet's open the science & religion debate to include voices from beyond the White Western world! In this episode Barney interviews two Anglican bishops who are doing just that:
Bishop Richard Cheetham, co-director for global engagement with ECLAS & a member of the Anglican Communion Science Commission.
Bishop Joseph Galgalo, provincial secretary of the Anglican Church of Kenya, and assistant bishop of All Saints Cathedral diocese.
This episode is full of insights about the way Africans conceive of the faith/science relationship, and what we can learn from it and other global perspectives.
Thanks to...2023-10-0945 minFaith at the Frontiers#51 Mitres and Microscopes: How church leaders think of science - with Dr. Thoko KamwendoScience is done in a society. Society affects not only what science is done, but how people understand it and its role. Dr. Thoko Kamwendo is part of a growing field of research called ‘science
studies’ which uncovers the social dimension of scientific research. She has studied in particular how church leaders approach science, and how they communicate its meaning and relevance to congregations.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!
2023-09-2529 minFaith at the Frontiers#50 What it means to be human: the faith-enhancing power of science fictionDo you love reading sci-fi or fantasy? Have you ever thought about its theologial potential? In this episode, Barney discusses the value of science fiction for exploring dimensions of the Christian faith, with:
Revd Prof. David Wilkinson
Revd Dr Lucas Mix
Dr Amanda Rees
Revd Prof. Alan Gregory
If you like this episode and want to learn more, visit these ECLAS resources:
Science, Future and the Christian Imagination.
Science Fiction and Public Theology.
This article by Amanda Rees: Tales Of Technology And Faith
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 2023-09-1153 minFaith at the Frontiers#49 Where Science and Politics Collide: Black Majority Churches and the Covid VaccineBarney interviews Pastor Alton Bell about his experiences persuading his church congregation to take the Covid vaccine. This episode digs into the history of black peoples' engagement with white medicine, and is not always easy listening. But its message is important: science is always communicated by someone, and if that someone is the government, there are political issues at play. Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!2023-08-2826 minFaith at the Frontiers#48 ‘A scientist and a priest walk into a church’: how churches lead on science engagementHow can scientists enrich and enliven their local church communities? We’ve invited Professor David Wilkinson, Petra Crofton, and Deb Fozzard to explore the impact of the Scientists in Congregations project that shows just how much scientists can do. If you want to learn more, check out these free science and faith resources for schools and (church) children’s workers: Wild and Wonderful UK.Also take a look at these children's books on science by Petra Crofton: Science Geek Sam and His Secret Logbook Science Geek Christy and Her Eco-Logbook Finally, take a look at...2023-08-1440 minFaith at the Frontiers#47 Angels, Demons, and Scientists: How Charismatic & Pentecostal Churches engage with ScienceWhat do Charismatic/Pentecostal Christians think of science? Two of their number discuss the distinctives of their tradition on this question:Chris Done, Professor of astrophysics at Durham UniversitySimo Frestadius, executive director of the institute for Pentecostal theologyAmong their many insights are that:Charismatics place a lot of emphasis on experience and experiment - not so different to scientists! Charismatics are keen to ‘demythologise’ the Bible - but not the same way Bultmann did! Enjoy listening! Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering! 2023-07-3136 minFaith at the Frontiers#46 Why teach science in seminaries? - with Revd Dr Lucas Mix & Revd Dr Katy HinmanIt may sound like a strange idea to teach science in seminaries. But after recording this episode, it made much more sense to the hosts! Lucas Mix (ECLAS) and Katy Hinman (AAAS) help run help run ECLAS’ ‘Science for Seminaries’ programme, in which future pastors, priests, and church leaders get to learn what it’s like to engage in science and with scientists. We discuss questions like: Why do people turn to their religious leaders for advice on scientific questions? Why has there been justified suspicion of science from minority ethnic groups, and what do we do about it? What...2023-07-1739 minFaith at the Frontiers#45 The True Story of the Science-Faith ‘Conflict’, from the Galileo affair to Draper and WhiteWhat is really at stake in seeing faith & science as in conflict with each other? What are the origins of this conflict narrative and what were the theological motivations behind it? These questions and others are the driving force behind today's episode, the first in our ECLAS series. We interview David Hutchings and Dr Amanda Rees for their perspective - both practical and academic - on the common perception of a conflict. Note this episode was recorded shortly before the passing of Tom McLeish, who is mentioned near the beginning. Thanks to Jamie...2023-07-0352 minFaith at the FrontiersFaith at the Frontiers#44 How Christianity transforms the most fundamental economic principles - with Prof. Paul WilliamsFor our final episode on faith & economics, we’ve invited Prof. Paul Williams to share his vision for a Christian transformation of economics. Prof. Williams has studied economics and theology, and worked as both an economist and a theology professor for many years. He is uniquely qualified to give insight on our question and this episode is a powerful ending to an incredible series.
Written by Paul Williams:
‘Christianity and the Global Economic Order’, in The Oxford Handbook of Christianity and Economics, ed. Paul Oslington (Oxford University Press, 2014)
Entry on ‘Capitalism’ in The Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics...2023-06-121h 00Faith at the Frontiers#43 What we really think about capitalism and other things - a reflection on recent episodesCarmody & Barney pause to reflect on our recent episodes and the opinions presented by our guests. We appear to have invited quite a few capitalists recently without intending to over-represent one viewpoint. So most of this discussion is our own reflections on the varieties of capitalism that we’ve encountered from our guests. We reflect on things like:
What are the conditions for the possibility of economic activity?
Is there such a thing as an isolated individual?
What happens when you build a worldview out of fear?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound ed...2023-05-2932 minFaith at the Frontiers#42 Christian Finance: Creating a Virtuous Circle - with Pete GladwellCarmody and Barney interview Pete Gladwell, who works for one of the largest investment companies in the UK. Pete explains how he views investment as a community service and tries to make investments that will benefit society rather than only making money for himself or his company.
This episode is really interesting to compare to the previous one with Robert Netzly: two Christian investors with different visions of what Christian values in investment look like.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!2023-05-1547 minFaith at the Frontiers#41 God, Mammon, and Ethical Investing - with Robert NetzlyBarney and Carmody interview Robert Netzly, founder and CEO of Inspire Investing. Robert recently made the decision to withdraw all ESG investment on the basis that it has been overtaken by a Marxist agenda. We ask Robert about his understanding of faithful Christian investment and the principles on which he founded his business.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!2023-05-0352 minFaith at the Frontiers#40 The power of the free market to create wealth - with Dylan PahmanBarney and Carmody interview Dylan Pahman on whether there is any such thing as ‘Christian economics’, or whether economics is a value-neutral space like mathematics. We discuss questions like:
Is the free market the most natural and universal economic system?
Should theologians stay out of economics?
Should economists stay out of theology?
What should our goals for society be in the first place?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 2023-04-1741 minFaith at the Frontiers#39 Transforming economic theory through the Christian tradition - with Helen AlfordWe interview Helen Alford, one of the leading voices in Christian economics. Helen offers an amazing array of insights. Helen had a transformative experience upon reading the following article:
Howard Rosenbrock, 'Engineers and the Work People Do', in The Experience of Work, ed. Craig Littler.
The key insight was that 'If engineers could think of people as if they were robots, they would give them more human work to do'.
This led Helen on to a journey of discovery about the Christian tradition's perspective on economics and the need to address the problems we are...2023-03-3058 minFaith at the Frontiers#38 Freedom and Loneliness: Reflecting on recent episodesBarney and Carmody respond to feedback and reflect on the last two episodes (with Ondrej & Jared, and with Adeel Malik). Themes that appear include:
What role does freedom play in an economic system ?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!2023-03-1320 minFaith at the Frontiers#37 Investing in your success: Islamic economics and the role of community - with Professor Adeel MalikCarmody & Barney invite Adeel Malik of Oxford University to discuss the Islamic view of economics and finance. We discuss questions like:
Why is lending money at interest banned in traditional Islam, Judaism, and Christianity?
Why can economics never be separated from morality and religion?
Why is community a neglected dimension of economic theory?
Hope you enjoy the episode!
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering! 2023-02-2751 minFaith at the Frontiers#36 Is capitalism the only fair system? - a debateIn the middle of our faith & economics series, this episode features a debate between Carmody, Barney, Ondrej, and Jared about whether or not it's possible to think beyond the typical polarities of capitalism/socialism. We also discuss:
What does it mean to ‘own’ something?
Can anyone own the climate, and is that a problem for the climate?
What is the purpose of ownership?
Who or what determines whether I own something?
Can the idea of property be extended beyond individual ownership?
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 2023-02-1358 minFaith at the Frontiers#35 Is veganism impossible? - a response to listener feedbackThis short episode is prompted by a listener who sent us a voice message. He questioned Carmody's point about veganism (made in this episode), and in this episode Carmody responds to the point. Questions discussed in this episode:
Is veganism too hard or too expensive for most people?
How much can people be held responsible for their buying habits?
Is there a difference between concern for animal welfare and concern about climate change?
Have something to say? Send us a message and join the conversation!
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 2023-01-3027 minFaith at the Frontiers#34 Economy as gift: beyond the capitalist-socialist dichotomy - with Edward HadasCarmody & Barney interview Edward Hadas, research fellow in moral economics at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford. He tells us what he thinks is wrong with the current way of debating economics and offers a whole new paradigm to help us imagine our labour and consumption differently.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!2023-01-1652 minFaith at the Frontiers#33 Can we really choose how we spend our money?Barney and Carmody kick off a new series on ‘Christian Economics’, asking difficult questions about the limits of our financial freedom. Our present economic system is neither inevitable nor ethically neutral, but it does have a huge impact on how we spend our money. What might we be able to do about it?2022-12-1933 minFaith at the Frontiers#32 Is Viktor Orbán a Genuine Christian? - Faith & Politics in Hungary, with Alex FaludyBarney interviews Alex Faludy on the religious dimension of Hungarian politics. Alex argues that the Hungarian Prime Minister is not simply using religion as a tool, but has a genuine faith. If we accuse him of being selective about which aspects of Christianity he embraces, we must also look at ourselves to see whether we're not also being selective.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!2022-12-0543 minFaith at the Frontiers#31 Science & Religion - What we learnedIn this final episode of the Science & Religion series, Barney & Emily discuss highlights, unanswered questions, and key takeaways about the whole debate. 2022-11-2225 minFaith at the Frontiers#30 Witnessing to the trauma of the earth - with Tim MiddletonThis episode combines themes from two series: climate change and science/religion. Our interviewee, Tim Middleton, looks at climate change through the lens of trauma. Is the earth traumatised? What would that mean? What sort of call to action does it lead to? Join us to find a powerful new way of looking at our relationship to the planet!
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering skills!
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.2022-11-0741 minFaith at the Frontiers#29 Artificial Intelligence: Threat or Opportunity? - with Beth SinglerHeard of robot priests? Or robot rabbis who can answer any question about Judaic law? Do these things sound great or scary to you?
In this episode we interview Dr Beth Singler about AI, the effect of online space on religious communities, and other interactions between religion and the digital world.
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering! 2022-10-2437 minFaith at the Frontiers#28 Does evolution debunk religious beliefs? - with Christopher BennettWe interview Chris Bennett, who has researched the ‘evolutionary’ reasons for religious beliefs such as attributing personal agency to storms, trees, etc. What should religious people think of such arguments? How should they respond to them? What about evolutionary accounts of other mental functions, like mathematics, morality, or even the notion of causality that evolutionary explanations themselves depend on? Tune in to hear all these things discussed!
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule as always for his patient and tireless sound editing!2022-10-1059 minFaith at the Frontiers#27 Doing science as a Christian Platonist - with Dr Andrew DavisonWhat is ‘Christian Platonism’ and why is it the best theological position for engaging with science?
This episode is all about these two questions. Emily & Barney interview Dr Andrew Davison, who is the Starbridge Associate Professor in Theology and the Natural Sciences at Cambridge University. We ask him tough and challenging questions like:
Isn’t it better to be just a Christian than a Christian Platonist?
Doesn’t Platonism inhibit scientific research?
Why can’t an apple also be an orange?
Why can a piece of paper also be a love letter?
Check out Dr Davison’s book...2022-09-2747 minFaith at the Frontiers#26 What if the quantum multiverse is real? - with Emily Qureshi-HurstBarney and Bethany interview Emily on the ‘many worlds’ interpretation of quantum physics. If there are thousands or millions of versions of you and me in other worlds, each living ever-so-slightly different lives, what does that imply for theology? What does it mean about who God is? 2022-09-1336 minFaith at the Frontiers#25 Suffering and death before Adam and Eve? - with Bethany SollerederEmily and Barney interview Bethany, who has researched the problem of death and suffering from an evolutionary point of view and how that affects our understanding of creation and fall in the book of Genesis. Did God create death? Is death necessary for life? Does this idea conflict with the biblical picture? Did God guide evolution or did animals have a certain freedom in how they evolved? Join us for this episode to discuss these questions and more! 2022-08-2950 minFaith at the Frontiers#24 Do ‘science’ and ‘religion’ even exist?Carmody questions whether there is any stable meaning to our definitions of science and religion. Barney & Emily offer various definitions of science and religion, and Carmody knocks them all down!
This episode produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 2022-08-1558 minFaith at the Frontiers#23 Science & Religion: Mapping the Terrain - with Prof. Alister McGrathEmily Qureshi-Hurst & Barney interview Professor Alister McGrath on the whole area of science & religion. We discuss questions like:
Why do many people think that science has disproved religion?
Why do many religious people distrust science?
Is science a body of knowledge, or a method of inquiry?
Can we trust experts?
A fascinating and illuminating episode with one of its greatest practitioners who has made the field what it is today!
This episode produced in collaboration with The Tablet, generously supported by the Ian Ramsey Centre.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering! 2022-08-0140 minFaith at the FrontiersFaith at the Frontiers#22 Rescuing refugees at the Ukraine border - with Rev Ryan CookBarney interviews Rev Ryan Cook about his experiences transporting refugees from the Ukraine border to south Germany. We discuss questions like:
What’s it like to befriend people when you don’t speak a common language?
What are the practical nitty-gritty difficulties of integrating refugees into a new country? What are some of the unexpected challenges?
Why does Ryan call love a ‘painful word’?
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for the sound engineering!2022-07-1336 min
Faith at the Frontiers#21 Climate change denial and the politics of science - with Dr Ondrej DyckWe (Barney, Carmody, & Bethany) interview Dr Ondrej Dyck (material science PhD) on whether climate change is really happening and, if so, whether we should care. This episode goes to the heart of questions about how far we should trust science in a world saturated with political agendas and hidden motivations. And even if we agree on the facts, what ought we to do in light of them? That, we all recognise, is not a scientific question at all.
Here are links to the two documents we mention in our conversation:
- IPCC Mitigation of Climate...2022-06-101h 04Faith at the Frontiers#20 Populism, Elitism, and healing the divide - Part 2 with Dr Tobias CremerHow do we stop living in echo chambers that only repeat what we already agree with? How do we ensure everyone's opinion is taken seriously and represented in positions of power? This is Part 2 of the double episode with Dr Tobias Cremer of Oxford University. After some more discussion of Christianity and right-wing populism, the conversation turns to questions of what we do about populism and the elitist backlash against it. It turns out that religious institutions like churches and mosques have a unique capacity to do something here, for reasons you may not have thought of.
...2022-05-1942 minFaith at the Frontiers#19 What has right-wing populism to do with Christianity?Right-wing populism is growing in the West and its members talk a lot about recovering Christian values. But how Christian are they really, what do they mean by Christian values, and does the media tell the truth about who they are?
This is part one of a double episode with Dr Tobias Cremer of Oxford University. He surprised us all with his insights about ‘cultural evangelicalism’, the tension within the idea of ‘liberal democracy’ and what right-wing populists say when you ask them ‘What is Christianity?’
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks...2022-05-0335 minFaith at the Frontiers#18 Western culture is not relativist & the Ukraine War proves itIs Western culture relativistic? Has it ever been relativistic? We were raised with the answer ‘yes’, but now Carmody, Bethany, and I are doubting this claim. The Ukraine War seems to have evoked a strong reaction from everyone that points in the direction of universal moral principles, whether one agrees with them or not.
What do you think? Share your views using the Spotify poll, or tweeting us @atthefrontiers, or emailing us.
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!2022-03-2828 minFaith at the Frontiers#17 Putin’s Crusade: the religious side of the Ukraine WarBarney, Carmody, and Bethany are back for an episode on the Ukraine War. We discuss questions like:
What are Putin's real reasons for attacking Ukraine? Are they religious or political?
Why is the media not discussing these reasons?
Why does Bethany know how to do Ukrainian dancing?
Why does Barney have an icon in his house that came from Putin's confessor?
The article from The Tablet that we refer to is here. Tune in to join the conversation!
Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing.
This episode produced in collaboration with The T...2022-03-1138 minFaith at the Frontiers#16 Climate refugees in a climate of fear: why catastrophizing makes things worseBarney, Carmody, and Bethany are back for a third episode on how we conceptualize climate change. We address questions like:
Why is there so much resistance to welcoming migrants?
Why do we feel that things are getting worse all the time?
Do we expect more comfort and security than we ought?
Is climate change a punishment for greed and negligence?
Join us for a rollicking ride through these questions!
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!2022-03-0430 minFaith at the Frontiers#15 The Limits of Freedom: or, Why it's So Hard to Act on Climate Change
Why is it so hard to believe that our daily actions cause changes to the climate?
Why is it so hard to act in ways that are environmentally responsible?
How much responsibility do we have as individuals to make ecological choices?
These questions and others are discussed by Carmody, Bethany, and Barney in a follow-up to the previous episode.
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for the sound editing! 2022-02-2231 minFaith at the Frontiers#14 Are we thinking about climate change all wrong?We tend to think about climate change in terms of crisis, apocalypse, and personal responsibility. But is this the best way to understand what is going on? Barney chats with Drs Carmody Grey and Bethany Sollereder about how we conceptualise the changes that are going on in our world, and how there are other surprising ways to interpret them.
The article Carmody mentioned, 'Losing Earth', is available here.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for audio editing!
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.2022-01-2544 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: Opening our eyes to the vulnerable people around us - with Cardinal Michael CzernySeeing refugees as a ‘global phenomenon’ is dangerous because it may cause us to lose focus on the needs of particular refugees in our locality, says Cardinal Michael Czerny, under-secretary for the Migrants & Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development at the Vatican. The first step in cultivating a welcoming attitude is to open our eyes to the vulnerable people in our midst, who many things prevent us from seeing. This leads to four verbs of action that characterize how we should respond not only to refugees but to any vulnerable people we encounter: welcome, protect, promote, and...2021-12-0634 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: Welcoming the Stranger as Family in the Old Testament - with Mark GlanvilleWhat evidence is there that the Bible is pro-foreigners? What about the xenophobic parts of scripture? Should we only care for ‘legal’ immigrants? How do we live out the biblical vision of the stranger as kindred? Barney puts these questions & others to Professor Mark Glanville of Regent College in a powerful and moving episode that unfolds the beauty of God’s compassion and love for every part of his creation.
Check out Mark’s book, Refuge Reimagined.
This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound editing this epi...2021-11-2946 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: Are churches helping asylum seekers ‘game’ the system? Emad Al Swealmeen & the Liverpool bombing - with Anna Rowlands and Dave SmithFollowing the Liverpool bombing on November 14th by Emad Al Swealmeen, newspapers like the Telegraph and Express have accused the church of helping potential terrorists to remain in the UK by allowing them to convert to Christianity and helping them ‘game the system’. In this episode, Barney interviews Professor Anna Rowlands and Dave Smith (who we also interviewed in episode 4) to discuss whether these accusations are true, and whether the church should be doing so much to help asylum seekers.
Also check out the Broadcasting House coverage of the same event.
This podcast is produced in collab...2021-11-2234 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: ‘Love the legal immigrant as yourself’: borders, checkpoints, and visas in the Bible & the modern West - with James HoffmeierWhat does the Bible really say about loving the stranger? How can Old Testament law guide our national immigration policy? What criteria should governments use to decide who to admit into their territory? In this episode we put these questions and more to James Hoffmeier, professor of Old Testament and author of The Immigration Crisis: Immigrants, Aliens, and the Bible (2008), a popular and influential book in its time although currently out of print.
This podcast is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.2021-11-1558 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: State sovereignty, open borders, and national responsibility for refugees - with Prof. Luke GlanvilleThe most political episode so far. Should nations have an ‘open borders’ policy? Or do they have the right to restrict entry to whom they choose? Should the secular state be expected to enact Christian principles? In this episode, Barney puts these hard-hitting questions and others to Luke Glanville, Professor of International Relations at Australia National University. It’s a no-nonsense episode that gets straight to the heart of the controversies!
Check out Luke’s book, Refuge Reimagined.
This podcast is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.
Many thanks to Jamie Maule for his audi...2021-11-0833 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: Action and Contemplation in the Sermon on the MountThis is an unusual episode because Barney is not interviewing, but interviewed for a course on 'contemplative well-being' by Nadya Pohran. Nadya asks Barney lots of questions about the Sermon on the Mount and its relation to social action and contemplation. Only the first 30 minutes are about refugees, but the rest is there in case you find it interesting.
First we discuss refugees as those who "hunger and thirst for justice" (Mt 5:6) and as those who are persecuted (Mt 5:11).
Then we move on and ask: do you have to be a Christian in order to live by Jesus' t...2021-11-011h 07Faith at the FrontiersRefugees: How can churches be effective in welcoming refugees? - with Emily HoldenBarney interviews Emily Holden, co-founder of Welcome Churches, a charity that equips churches to welcome refugees of all kinds. In the face of an often hostile and unwelcoming host country, how can churches offer a different experience, helping refugees to find community and friendship? What about refugees of other faiths or no faith? Can they be welcomed without feeling the pressure to convert? And what is Emily's take on the Nationality & Borders Bill? We hope you enjoy the episode!
You can find the Welcome Churches website here.
This podcast is produced in collaboration with The T...2021-10-2531 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: Refused Asylum Seekers and the Nationality & Borders Bill - with Dave SmithBarney interviews Dave Smith, founder of The Boaz Trust and author of The Book of Boaz and Refugee Stories. We talk about what it means to be a failed/refused asylum seeker, the urgent need for accommodation and the poor options currently available, and Dave gives his frank opinion of the upcoming Nationality & Borders Bill in Parliament.
This podcast is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.2021-10-1843 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: Focusing on the Future, the Afghanistan Crisis, and avoiding the ‘Savior Mentality’Barney chats with two representatives of Refugee Education UK: Cat Gladwell, Chief Executive, and Shna Olesczcuk, a trustee and also formerly a refugee herself.
We talk about the importance of hope for refugees, the Afghanistan crisis, problems with the ‘savior mentality’, and the challenges of being a young refugee.
Visit the REUK website here.
This podcast is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.2021-10-1148 minFaith at the FrontiersRefugees: Listening to refugees themselves & the struggle to find an identity - with Professor Peter RonaBarney interviews Professor Peter Rona, a Hungarian refugee from 1956.
It's easy to talk *about* refugees without taking time to listen *to* refugees. In this episode, Peter Rona describes his experiences of being a refugee in the 1950s. We talk about the identity crisis that comes from being forced to be part of a new culture, the kindness of the native population in Austria and America, and how America has changed since then.
This podcast is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.2021-10-0438 min
Faith at the FrontiersRefugees: Why should any Christian care? With Matthew SoerensWhy are refugees a Christian and biblical issue? Are they a drain on the economy? Should we get involved politically, personally, or both? If so, how?
These questions and more are discussed by Barney Aspray and Matthew Soerens.
Relevant links:
- Learn more about World Relief, the organization Matthew works for.
- Learn about the Evangelical Immigration Table of which Matthew is the national coordinator.
- Check out Matthew’s two books, Seeking Refuge and Welcoming the Stranger.
This podcast is produced in collaboration with T...2021-09-2732 min