GodPod

Does religion shape violence or does violence shape religion? Is John Lennon right, would all wars cease if religion were to vanish? And, finally, what is the theology of conflict? These are topical, real-time, questions – all of which are explored in this episode of GodPod, with the help of Dr Ziya Meral. Ziya is a lecturer in International Studies and Deplomacy at SOAS (School of African and Oriental Studies), researcher and advisor specialising in global conflict and the role of religion.For Ziya’s book: How Violence Shapes Religion: Belief and Conflict in the Middle East and Africa : Meral, Ziya: Amazon.co.uk: BooksFor more from Seen and Unseen: Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)For more about St Mellitus: Home Page | St Mellitus

What does the possibility of life on other planets mean for the incarnation? Why is there so much fear and panic around theology? Is it merely a set of rigid rules, or is it something more expansive than that? These are just some of the questions pondered by our three presenters – Jane Williams, Micheal Lloyd and Graham Tomlin – along with Andrew Davison, Canon and Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University.For more about Professor Andrew Davison: Faculty of Theology and Religion Announces New Regius Professors | Faculty of Theology and Religion (ox.ac.uk)For more from Seen and Unseen: Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)For St Mellitus College: Home Page | St MellitusFor Wycliffe Hall: Home | WYCLIFFE HALL (ox.ac.uk)

How well do we deal with our own death? What is a ‘technology-dependant death’, and should we want it? Just because we can prolong our lives, should we?These are just some of the questions pondered by our three presenters – Jane Williams, Micheal Lloyd and Graham Tomlin – along with physician and ethicist, Dr Lydia Dugdale.Lydia talks the presenters through the historical shifts that have caused us to go from speaking about death openly and honestly, to having a newfound societal imagination that tells us that ‘death won’t come to us’ – and why that’s a problem.This is one of the most thought-provoking episodes of GodPod yet.For more about Lydia and her bestselling book – The Lost Art of Dying: Lydia S. Dugdale (lydiadugdale.com)For more from Seen and Unseen: Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)

What is the cost of ambition? Does it make us a better version of ourselves, or does it diminish us? What’s a theological response to meritocracy and comparison? What makes a life worth living?These are just some of the questions pondered by our three presenters – Jane Williams, Micheal Lloyd and Graham Tomlin – along with renowned theologian, Miroslav Volf.Miroslav is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and the founder and director of the Yale Centre for Faith and Culture. He has written or edited more than 20 books, over 100 scholarly articles, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Christian Century, Sojourners, and several other outlets.For more from Miroslav: Miroslav Volf | YCFCFor more from Seen and Unseen: Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)

What did Paul think of Jesus? How did he understand sin? Why does he rub people up the wrong way? Did he have a sense of humour?These are just some of the questions that old friend of the podcast, Chris Tilling, helps Graham and Jane to ponder in this episode of GodPod.Chris Tilling is Head of Research and Senior Lecturer in New Testament at St. Mellitus College in London. Specialising in the writings of Paul, Chris has researched and written on topics such as Christology, justification, the historical Jesus, Paul S. Fiddes, Karl Barth, the theology of Hans Küng and much more. He is also co-host of his own podcast, Onscript.For more from Chris: Dr Chris Tilling | St MellitusFor more from Seen and Unseen: Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)

What is ‘good’ hope? Does God show up in tangible ways? How can we work for a better world, without burning ourselves out? These are just some of the questions that Dr Selina Stone helps Graham, Jane and Micheal to ponder in this episode of GodPod.Selina is currently at Durham university but has just been appointed Lecturer in Theology and Ethics at the University of Edinburgh, remarkably making her the first black female theologian to have obtained a lectureship in a British University. She is also the host of ‘Sunday School for Misfits’ podcast and author of ‘Tarry Awhile’, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2024 – which can, and should, be read all year round. Join us for this honest, profound and hope-filled conversation.For Selina’s book: Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of FaithFor more from Seen and Unseen:  Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)For more about St Mellitus:  Home Page | St Mellitus

This episode is a little bit special. Recorded live as a part of HTB’s 2024 Leadership Conference, GodPod’s Graham Tomlin interviews Dr Johannes Hartl. Johannes is a philosopher, theologian, spiritual leader, musician and author, dealing in topics of meaning, connectedness, beauty and faith. He is also the founder of the House of Prayer in Augsburg and, more recently, Eden Culture.Graham and Joahnnes, joined by a live audience, speak of the self, language, how the transcendent is understood in our cultural moment and the power and beauty of prayer. This conversation is diverse and rich, and absolutely not to be missed.  For more from Johannes: Homepage - johanneshartl.orgFor Johannes’ talk on the LC main stage (along with other curated highlights for the event): LC24 — Leadership ConferenceFor more from Seen and Unseen:  Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)For more about St Mellitus:  Home Page | St Mellitus

We’re back again.In this, the second episode of the re-launched GodPod, Graham Tomlin and Jane Williams (no Miketoday, but rest assured – he’ll be back soon) are joined by Roger Bretherton, Associate Professor ofPsychology at the University of Lincoln, accredited clinical psychologist and regular writer for Seenand Unseen.Together, Jane, Graham and Roger discuss the many places where faith and psychology meet –talking through the nature of humility, mindfulness, grace, self-esteem, community and characterformation. This is a discussion brimming with wisdom, and therefore, not to be missed.For Roger’s book: Being Mindful, Being Christian: A guide to mindful discipleship: Amazon.co.uk:Joanna Collicutt, Roger Bretherton, Jennifer Brickman: 9780857217295: BooksFor more from Seen and UnseenFor more about St Mellitus

GodPod is back.In this, the first episode of the re-launched podcast, Graham Tomlin, Jane Williams and Micheal Lloyd are joined by Prof. Nigel Crook, an expert in AI and robotics. Together, they discuss their hopes and fears when it comes to the impact that AI is about to have on society and culture, as well as our obsession with our own image and our constant desire to ‘play God’.For Nigel Crook’s book on the subject: Rise of the Moral Machine: Exploring Virtue Through a Robot's EyesFor more from Seen and Unseen. For more about St Mellitus.