Mid-faith Crisis

The now usual batch of interesting, intelligent and often moving feedback. We look at beliefs versus action, beliefs versus knowledge, a four-person Trinity and speaking in tongues. Among other things. A mixed bag, then…

We’re going live! Join us at 19:30 BST on 10 June for a a Mid-faith Crisis lockdown live special.

• A Boy called Sailboat
• The Feast - Guidelines

It’s Pentecost! And, in what must be the most disrupted podcast ever, we discuss the Holy Spirit, and how the church has never known quite how to approach the subject. Also Nick takes several phone calls, Ethel tells us what she’s been doing in lockdown, and we take our first steps into the exciting world of gardening innuendo.

We’re going live! Join us at 19:30 BST on 10 June for a a Mid-faith Crisis lockdown live special.

Does it matter what you believe? Welcome to part two of our discussion – well, round two, maybe, since we end up having an argument about it. But never mind that, we have another load of terrific feedback, including a quote from Hafiz (who was a Persian poet) and a poem from Dave Hopwood (who isn’t a Persian poet). And there’s a lot of people saying nice things which makes Nick very uncomfortable.

We’re going live! Join us at 19:30 BST on 7 June for a Mid-faith Crisis lockdown live special.

Some good feedback this week, including news from down under, another question about hell, and a question that brings up some important questions. How can we reconcile the humanity and the divinity of Jesus? Does it matter what you believe? Is it possible to be a Christian and not worship Jesus? And most important of all, did Gregory of Nazianzus make vegan sausage rolls? These, and many other questions are barely answered at all in this show. Still, at least Joe got to listen to some birdsong.

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What is spirituality? Is it doing 'spiritual things' like praying, meditating, reading the Bible? Or is everything that we do spiritual? Also, some epic emails, we share more of our regular daily practices, and Joe seeks greater insight by wearing multiple pairs of glasses.

• Joe's extra pair of glasses
• Extraction
• Afterlife
• Grayson Perry's Art Club
• Episode 102: Stan has no authority here
• Ronald Rollheiser, The Holy Longing
• Daily Prayer online
• Ancient Christian Devotional
• Time to Pray app

We'd like to say that this is a deeply profound episode. but basically, it's us mucking about. There's a bit about quiet times, and we wonder whether Satan could reschedule. Meanwhile, Joe is getting wet both indoors and out.

What are the origins of Easter? Did Christians build their churches near sacred groves? We touch on Odin, the age of yew trees, and how a man called Gerald invented the entire Wicca religion. Yes, we’re continuing last week’s discussion of pagan myths and origins.

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• History of Wicca
• Ronald Hutton, Modern Pagan Festivals: A Study in the Nature of Tradition
• Jeremy Harte: How Old is that Old Yew?

We explore how scarcity and limitations make us more grateful, how we constantly need to re-learn forgotten skills and habits, and how we all need to cherish the small, often unregarded moments of joy. Also, we celebrate the wisdom of Saint Joni of Mitchell, think about what we are looking forward to doing when all this is over, and Joe enrages Nick with another historical fact.

• Midfaith Crisis Episode 84: Now That’s What I Call Ethel Volume 1
• Saved!
• Schindler’s List
• Son of Rambow
• Hunt for the Wilderpeople
• Stranger than Fiction
• Moana
• Solace Podcast: Calm, Contemplative Worship
• Immerse - Live Wilderthorn Performance
• Henri Nouwen: Return of the Prodigal

It’s Easter, everyone. We talk about celebrating the whole story – even the dark bits and, why, this year, Easter Saturday may be particularly relevant. Meanwhile, we look at how to annoy people into the Kingdom of God, share listeners’ film recommendations, and Joe makes Nick very VERY angry with his ‘fun historical fact’.

• Local Hero
• A River Runs Through It
• Contagion
• Groundhog Day
• Mad Max
• Mad Max: Fury Road
• Mad Max: Fury Road, Black and Chrome Edition
• Pleasantville
• Kenny
• Easter Prayers from Open Doors

We have an interview with Dave Hopwood, who talks about how he uses film to communicate and explore deep truths about Christianity. Meanwhile, Joe is awake, annoyed, and grieving. Nick discusses the morality of buying eggs. We touch on whether Australia actually retained the Ashes in 2019, and why Hugh Grant should actually be the Prime Minister. It’s a very long episode, but let’s face it, what else are you going to do at this time?

• National Theatre: One Man, Two Guv’nors
• The Ashes 2019
• Ben Stokes wins the third test match
• Dave Hopwood: Writer and Speaker
• Austin Kleon: Steal Like an Artist
• The boss who put everyone on 70K
• Joe Lycett: Comedian changes his name to Hugo Boss
• La La Land
• The Green Mile
• Cinderella Man
• Calvary
• The Company Men
• About A Boy
• 1917
• Hamilton
• Mamma Mia!
• Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
• Paddington 2
• Brad Pitt Acceptance Speech