Deeper Questions

Episode 5: "Does God care about rising sea levels?"

Climate Change continues to be an incredibly daunting, complex and multifaceted challenge for the future of our planet. It’s an important conversation to be having as individuals, in government, in community groups and in the private sector. But where to start? There’s so much to comprehend, and plenty of directions you can go to learn more. Today we thought we’d start with the poles, and what rising temperatures mean for Antarctica and our oceans in particular.

Matt King is the Professor of Polar Geodesy at the University of Tasmania and Director of the Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science. Much of his work has focused on the changing Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets and the subsequent impact this is having on sea levels. Matt has published more than 140 scientific journal publications, and his research has been recognised by the award of medals from the Royal Society of London and the Australian Academy of Sciences

Other References:

• skepticalscience.com
• carbonactiontracker.org
• creationcare.org
• "Antarctica’s heart of ice has skipped a beat. Time to take our medicine" by Edward Doddridge in the Conversation 18/4/23
• "Record low Antarctic sea ice is another alarming sign the ocean’s role as climate regulator is changing" by Craig Stevens in the Conversation 5/5/23

Got questions?

You can shoot Aaron or Amy an email about anything! We'd love to hear your brutally honest or delightfully encouraging thoughts on the show and the topics that come up each week. There's a good chance we have stuff on our website at Third Space too.

Feel free to suggest potential guests or topics as well. No doubt there are heaps of important ideas and stories out there worth hearing!

Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios

Episode 4: "Can Atheists have mystical experiences?"

Every few episodes we want to take the time to listen to different perspectives and experiences from guests who come from outside of a Christian framework. And what better way to start than by exploring the ambiguous nature of…nature? In particular, the role it can play in facilitating mystical experiences. These kinds of experiences have long been associated with religion and divinity, but this week’s guest suggests that people from a non-religious background can have these experiences too. Maybe you have had one before?

Ariane 'Ari' Moore is a fourth-year PhD candidate in philosophy of religion at the University of Tasmania. Her research falls between philosophy of religion and atheism studies, specifically exploring the intersection between the experience and behaviour of those who do and do not believe. Her PhD thesis aims to provide an account of how the natural environment is not only a unique source of wonder and awe but also holds immense value as the potential source of legitimate secular mystical experiences. You can watch her TEDx talk from 2022 here.

Other References:

• The Varieties of Religious Experience by William James
• Critique of Judgment by Immanuel Kant
• "Mysticism" by Richard Jones and Jerome Gellman in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• "Time in nature is most preferred spiritual practice of Australians in 2021" by Kathy Jacka

Got questions?

You can shoot Aaron or Amy an email about anything! We'd love to hear your brutally honest or delightfully encouraging thoughts on the show and the topics that come up each week. There's a good chance we have stuff on our website at Third Space too.

Feel free to suggest potential guests or topics as well. No doubt there are heaps of interesting ideas and stories out there worth hearing!

Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios

Episode 3: "How do we build tech-healthy habits?"

For this episode we shift our focus away from Christianity's place in society, and more towards a universal issue worth pondering; our relationship with technology. Many of us spend large parts of our working life navigating screens and the internet, only to come home and do the same for our leisure times. We know it's changing us day by day, but not necessarily in a good way. Are there ways we can reclaim our time and humanity? And how do we guide our kids in a rapidly changing landscape when we ourselves are only novices?

Daniel Sih is the CEO and co-founder of Spacemakers – a leadership and productivity consulting company aiming to help busy leaders and their teams make space to think deeply, build habits and get the right things done. As a trainer, coach and keynote speaker, Daniel has worked with CEO’s, executives, and other senior professionals throughout Australia and the world. His book Spacemaker: how to unplug, unwind and think clearly in the digital age continues to scoop up awards in the business world. While his latest book Raising Tech-Healthy Humans helps families and communities navigate the joys and pitfalls of tech together.

Other References:

• Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
• Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkemann
• Death by Meeting by Patrick Lencioni

Got questions?

You can shoot Aaron or Amy an email about anything! We'd love to hear your brutally honest or delightfully encouraging thoughts on the show and the topics that come up each week. There's a good chance we have stuff on our website at Third Space too!

Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios

Episode 2: "Is Secularism good for society?"

To some people, secularism represents freedom to live in a way that suits them, to no longer let majority religions decide what’s right or wrong in society. For others it feels like a threat to their spiritual way of life. So is secularism good for society? For this episode we have Mike Bird joining us to help us think through secularism, what it means for society and religion, as well as Mike’s theories for resolving the conflict between the sacred and the secular.

Michael Bird is an ordained Anglican priest and the academic dean of Ridley Theological College, Melbourne. Mike has taught at a number of theological colleges in Scotland, America and across Australia, he is a prolific author and contributor to many scholarly books and journal articles in the area of New Testament scholarship but he has also made important contributions to discourse on issues of religion in secular society. Mike has been on many podcasts, blogs frequently on his substack and is also very active on Twitter.

Other References:

• Religious Freedom in a Secular Age by Michael F. Bird
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
• Micah 4 from the Bible

Got questions?

You can shoot Aaron or Amy an email about anything! We'd love to hear your brutally honest or delightfully encouraging thoughts on the show and the topics that come up each week. There's a good chance we have stuff on our website at Third Space too!

Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios

Episode 1: "What has Christianity ever done for us?"

We wanted to start our podcast by working with the assumption that Christianity has almost nothing to offer people in a secular, enlightened, post-religious landscape. Is this true? Should we leave faith and religious superstition behind? Or do we perhaps underestimate the legacy of Christian thought and action?

Glen Scrivener is the Director of Speak Life – a Christian organisation that seeks to use creative forms of media to engage sceptics and resource churches. Glen is an award winning author and filmmaker who speaks around the world about the intersection of faith and culture. Originally from Australia, he was educated at Oxford studying philosophy, politics and economics, and is also ordained in the Church of England. He has written nine books including the one discussed at length in this episode - The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe In Freedom, Kindness, Progress and Equality.

Other References:

• The WEIRDest People in the World by Joseph Henrich
• Dominion by Tom Holland
• The Case Against the Sexual Revolution by Louise Perry

Got questions?

You can shoot Aaron or Amy an email about anything! We'd love to hear your brutally honest or delightfully encouraging thoughts on the show and the topics that come up each week. There's a good chance we have stuff on our website at Third Space too!

Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios

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