In this episode, Rayne and guest-host Dr Michaela Richards chat with Emeritus Professor in the Study of Religion, Dr Paul Morris. Paul Morris talks with us about religious diversity and religious literacy, and the state of Religious Studies both globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand. Paul offers an incisive challenge to the ways in which we think about religion, secular privilege, and the role of religious inter-religious dialogue.

In this episode, Rayne and Rayne chat with Rev. Scottie Reeve. Scottie is an Anglican priest located in Brooklyn, Wellington. He is the author of the book 21 Elephants and host of a podcast by the same name. This episode explores themes of faith, intentional Christian community, the risky business of following Jesus, and hope as an interruption to our lives and our current ways of being. While this episode was recorded over a year ago now, and therefore is a little outdated, the themes of hope remain relevant in seeking personal and social transformation.

In this episode, Rayne and Mika chat with Nick Townsend. Nick is an academic and theologian from England who specialises in Christian politics and ethics. The conversation covers the history of individualism in the West, Catholic Social Teaching and Christian ethics, and conceptualisations of the common good. Nick outlines the role of businesses, workers, governments, and citizens in forming and contributing to the common good, in order to build a society where everyone can flourish.

References

• Laborem Exercens (1981) | John Paul II
• CCLA – common-good focused investment bank
• Together For The Common Good (UK charity)
• Charles Taylor, Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity (1989)
• Lynn Stout, The Shareholder Value Myth: How Putting Shareholders First Harms Investors, Corporations, and the Public (2004)
• Nicholas Townsend, 'Blue Labour + Red Tory = Christian Democracy?' (2015)

In this episode, Mika and Rayne chat with Dr Jonathan Cornford. Jonathan is an economist, theologian, and ecologist from Bendigo, Australia. We chat with Jonathan about Christianity and the rise of capitalism, the failures of socialism, Christian economic ethics, and how to expand capitalist-free-zones. Jonathan considers what Christian witness in the midst of capitalism might look like, and how the Gospel is truly good news for everyone.

You can find more of Jonathan’s word at Manna Gum, including more resources on the intersections between economics, ecology, and theology.

In this episode, Mika and Matthew interview Dr Roshan Allpress, the principal of Laidlaw Theological College in Auckland. Roshan's book British Philanthropy in the Globalizing World was recently published by Oxford University Press. His research centres on the British evangelical networks of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, who were instrumental in ending the slave trade in the British empire and beyond, as well as pressing for numerous other social reforms inspired by their evangelical Christian faith. The conversation explores the complexity and compromise involved in achieving lasting social change within the ambiguous economic and power structures that shape our worlds.

In this episode, Mika and friend-of-the-podcast Justine Lee interview Peter Fraser. Peter (Ngāti Hauiti ki Rangitikei) is an economist, academic, and sandblaster from the Hutt Valley. The conversation delves into the shape of the New Zealand economy, the dairy industry, climate change, Maori economic development, and the future of New Zealand. Peter shares his personal journey from growing up in Wellington, working for the government and different departments, to eventually reinventing himself as the "sand blasting economist". Fraser also discusses his viewpoints on New Zealand's economic policies, the impact of the dairy industry on the environment and economy, and the challenges of making significant changes in these areas due to political and economic constraints. He touches upon his experiences in local politics and his candid thoughts about the future challenges facing New Zealand and the world at large, especially in the context of climate change and sustainable practices.

Show notes

• Growing For Good – Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Morgan William’s report on on intensive farming, sustainability and the environment

• Susan Krumdiek, energy transition engineer

• Mike Joy, freshwater ecologist

• Milton Friedman, economist

• Public choice theory

• Robert Muldoon, former prime minister and minister of finance

• Roger Douglas, former minister of finance

• Milked (“White lies in dairy land”) documentary

In this episode, Mika, Rayne, and friend of the podcast Mary Hutchinson chat with theologian Dr. Bethany Sollereder. Bethany is a lecturer in science and religion at the University of Edinburgh, and specialises in theology concerning evolution and the problem of suffering. We chat with Bethany about the intersections between science and religion, the morality of pain, and various theologies of suffering within the Christian tradition. Bethany offers us profound thoughts about suffering and the hope that God’s kingdom continues to come on earth as in heaven.

Show notes

• The Territories of Science and Religion, Peter Harrison (2015)
• Answers in Genesis (Creationist apologetics organisation)
• Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution, Denis O. Lamoureux (2008)
• ‘Mistakes Were Made’, This American Life (18 April 2008)
• Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering, Eleonore Stump (2010)
• ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ – hymn lyrics
• The Third Peacock: The Problem of God and Evil, Robert Farrar Capon (1986)
• The Parables of Grace, Robert Farrar Capon (1988)
• The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection, Robert Farrar Capon (1989)
• Perfectly Human: Nine Months with Cerian, Sarah C. Williams (2005)

In this episode, Rachel and Rayne chat with their former Religious Studies tutor, Cam Graham. Cam recently finished his Masters in Religious Studies, focusing on Christains in leadership within the public sphere. Rachel, Rayne, and Cam talk about the awkwardness of being religious in the public space, religion and deliberative democracy, and dynamics between the secular and the religious within public and political spheres.