The Natural Philosopher

Issues polarize, and Christians sometimes polarize into "Conservative" and "Progressive." What can we learn about this from Jesus' challenge to the Sadducees over resurrection in Luke 20?

In the last episode for the year, I look at what Christian materialism is, based on a reading of John's gospel. This is our guide to having a truly Merry Christmas

Christian thinkers throughout the ages, from Augustine to Walter Wink have discussed and argued about the nature of The Fall. In this episode, I conduct a brief survey of some of this work and its implications for how we understand the Anthropocene.

Sea level rise due to climate change threatens millions, yet Christians often argue that the promise to never flood the world again in Genesis 8 means we can ignore the science. In this episode, I examine why a proper understanding of the flood and the language of chaos means this isn't the case.

God is Trinity, and hence love as expressed by an eternal loving relationship, and self-emptying as demonstrated on the cross. This provides us with a profound ethical basis for acting in lovingly and sacrificially in the Anthropocene.

With Evangelicalism being a tarnished brand for some, is it time for a different way of thinking about the Christian faith in the increasingly non-Christian west? Here I tentatively offer the idea of Christian Humanism as an alternative.

Do aliens exist, and if they do are they also at risk of self-annihilation due to destroying their planets? In this episode I look at this question as a "theological thought experiment" through the work of theologian and physicist John Polkinghorne.

In an age of climate change, artificial intelligence, and political chaos, does the book of Revelation tell us that things can only get better, or worse? Or does it tell us that God is in charge of history, and that we have a job to do?

What does Genesis 1-2 have to do with growing food, and why should Christians get into the garden?

This episode looks at the idea of tipping points in society, and how keeping the Sabbath provides us as a way of tipping history in the right direction.