Fisher House Podcast

Paul Norris speaks to Sr Ann Catherine Swailes, Dominican sister based in Cambridge and chaplain at Fisher House, about her PhD research into what she calls Paschal Simultaneity, the idea that something of the Resurrection is present in the Passion and vice versa.

The image used on the poster that we refer to is Salvador Dalí's 1951 depiction of the crucifixion.

Alexander van Dijk interviews David D'Avray, a fellow of the British Academy and Emeritus Professor of History at University College London. Prof D'Avray talks about whether his faith influences his research, and vice versa. He also emphasises the importance of vocation in secular life, and of church history for all Catholics. He concludes with a take on "postmodern" philosophy quite different to Ryan Haecker's in the previous episode, saying that “Foucault is for people who don’t have a head for theory, but think they do”.

On this episode Paul speaks to Dr Philip Beer and Dr Andrei Smid, both of whom work in cancer research, as well as singing in the Fisher House choir and, in Philip's case, playing the organ. The conversation covers their musical and medical backgrounds, and considers the age-old problems of why God created a world with such horrible suffering, as well as more unexpected territory, like why it's dangerous for haematologists to be too empathetic.

On this episode Paul talks to Ryan Haecker, a 4th year PhD student at the Faculty of Divinity, about the secularisation of universities, postmodernism, and why it's important to write academic papers on fantasy and science fiction.

Ryan suggests that we have something to learn from all good philosophy and literature, even if it doesn't seem to support Catholic ideas. He refers to the early Church Fathers' position on Greek philosophy, that even if it's not explicitly Christian, it can reveal something of the truth: "the spoils of Egypt should be stolen by the Hebrews".

Julia Wdowin, a PhD student at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, speaks to Zuzanna Kotrych about the Church's 'hidden treasure' of teaching on poverty, the environment and social justice.

You can find more details about Catholic Social Teaching here. The seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching are outlined here.

Fr Robert Verrill OP speaks to Paul Norris about how he went from being a software engineer to a Dominican priest, and about his research into the connections between the theology of Thomas Aquinas and quantum physics.

Paul Norris reads a talk that Monsignor Mark Langham gave to Fisher House students three years ago today, about two key documents of the Second Vatican Council say about the Church and its place in the modern world.