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The Holy Political Podcast

News & Politics Podcasts

A semi-serious, semi-informed podcast about the good, bad and bizarre ways Christians mix their faith and politics, and political issues affecting Christians. Mainly accurate, somewhat entertaining, hopefully helpful.

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

A semi-serious, semi-informed podcast about the good, bad and bizarre ways Christians mix their faith and politics, and political issues affecting Christians. Mainly accurate, somewhat entertaining, hopefully helpful.

Language:

English


Episodes

Parish Notice: Sorry we've been away!

4/22/2019
So, you may have noticed we've been away. Hope you didn't miss us too much. We thought it was time to explain why. Hopefully we'll be back to regular episodes soon! Soz x

Duration:00:03:14

Sex Ed and Street Preachers

3/3/2019
Hi ho. This week we've got Jonathan Williams, from CARE, on to talk about why the Government's new Relationships and Sex Education syllabus is causing concern, and also point out what good things it includes. Then Laurence Wilkinson, from ADF International, joins us to discuss the viral video of a street preacher being arrested outside a London tube station. Enjoy!

Duration:00:46:06

Brexit with Jonathan Tame, Jubilee Centre

2/17/2019
Fine then! We'll talk about Brexit... We're joined by the brilliant Jonathan Tame, Director of the Jubilee Centre, who is talking about overcoming post-referendum divisions, off the back of his excellent recent article on the topic. We chat with Jonathan about what Biblical examples can help us overcome these divisions, and how we can be light in our society today.

Duration:00:39:05

Nathan Mladin - 'Forgive us Our Debts'

2/3/2019
We're back (a little late!) in 2019 to chat with Natan Mladin from Theos Think Tank about his new report ‘Forgive us Our Debts: Lending and borrowing as if relationships matter’. Enjoy!

Duration:00:46:08

Persecuted Christians: what should the UK Govt do to help?

12/21/2018
Happy Christmas! This week we're joined by two experts, to talk about persecution of Christians around the world, including Asia Bibi, and what the UK Government is and should be doing to help them. Zoe Smith, Head of Advocacy at Open Doors UK, and Amro Hussain, Parliamentary Officer for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief, join us to help explore this important topic.

Duration:00:37:24

Prof James KA Smith's talk to Christians in Parliament

12/9/2018
This week we're delighted to play you the talk Prof James KA Smith gave to MPs and Peers at Christians in Parliament's event, looking at how Christians should engage in politics between Jesus' ascension and return. In recent years, James KA Smith has become perhaps the leading evangelical theologian and philosopher writing on how Christians should think about engaging in society, and specifically politics. He has recently published Awaiting the Kingdom, the third and final instalment of his widely acclaimed Cultural Liturgies series. Plus, we have to talk about Brexit. Cos that's the law now.

Duration:00:52:24

Ben Ryan on Michael Gove's Theos Lecture, 'Christianism', and Brexit

11/25/2018
Ben Ryan, Head of Research at the think-tank Theos (which focuses on religion and the public square) joins us to talk about the Theos Annual Lecture, given last week by Michael Gove, and about 'Christianism' and how populist parties across Europe may be co-opting the language and symbols of Christianity. Plus, we chat about Brexit cos, you know, it's hard not to.

Duration:00:47:51

Women prisoners and FOBTs

11/11/2018
Rachel Senior, who works with the Bishop of Gloucester, joins us to talk about Prisons week and why it would be better if many women prisoners on short sentences were given community orders and sent to women's centres instead. Plus, we chat about the Government's delay on new regulations to fixed-odds betting terminals (dubbed the 'crack cocaine of gambling') which led the Government's Gambling Minister to resign. It's not all good news though: Johnny's back.

Duration:00:43:56

Philippa Taylor (CMF) on support and law around abortion

10/28/2018
This week the wonderful Philippa Taylor, Head of Public Policy at the Christian Medical Fellowship, joins James to talk about the abortion - both the law, barriers to the support available for women, and the actions by the UK Government to increase the numbers of abortion in the developing world. Enjoy! (Apols from Johnny - I'll be back next week!)

Duration:00:33:42

Prostitution, China and the Catholic Church, and Ashers Bakery

10/14/2018
We’ve got LOADS of big things to talk about this week: 🇨🇳 Ryan Day on the Catholic Church’s big and controversial agreement with the Chinese Government, with Ryan Day 🍰 Simon Calvert on the Ashers Bakery ‘gay cake’ court case ⛓ Lousie Gleich on prostitution and modern slavery 🔵 And Gareth Wallace on the Conservative Party Conference Enjoy! —— Few random links from the episode: Louise mentioned Beyond the Streets and their amazing work. More about the Ashers Bakery case from the Christian Institute and the BBC. And a bit more on the Catholic Church’s deal with the Vatican.

Duration:00:46:29

Christians in immigration, the workplace, and the Labour Party Conference

9/30/2018
This week we're joined by a plethora of fantastic guests! Attieh Fard, the Founder and Director of Fard and Co Solicitors, talks about how new post-Brexit immigration laws could affect Christians going to and from Europe to do ministry. Hannah Rich, Vice-Chair of Christians on the Left, talks about the Labour Party Conference and what Christians on the Left are doing to be a positive Christian influence in the Labour Party. And we're joined by Jenn McKelvin, Acting Director of the Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, to co-host and talk about the LCF's new resource to help explain the Christian faith to employers, and how Christianity can impact the workplace. Ten points if you spot the legal eagle... Enjoy!

Duration:00:40:02

Vote Welby?

9/16/2018
Hello again! We're back and with a bang! Thanks to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, for sparking a big debate this week on Christianity and politics, after he co-wrote a report with the left-leaning think tank the IPPR, and then spoke to the Trades Union Congress. We got three great Christian political thinkers round the table to hammer out all the questions it raised. From think tank Theos Hannah Rich, who is also Vice-Chair of Christians on the Left; from the Evangelical Alliance, Danny Webster; and joining them is Gareth Wallace, Director of the Conservative Christian Fellowship. Enjoy!

Duration:00:46:55

From the Archives 3/3: Tim Farron - David Alton and Nick Spencer

9/10/2018
We're back soon, but in the run up to the new term we're playing you three of our favourite interviews from the archives. This week, we're replaying the interview we did after Tim Farron resigned as leader of the Lib Dems, citing treatment of him as a Christian. We spoke to former Liberal MP and Chief Whip, and former Lib Dem Peer, Lord David Alton, who had his own run-ins with the party on issues of conscience; and Nick Spencer, the highly respected Senior Fellow at Theos, made the step up to the big time, from just doing interviews on the Today Programme. Enjoy!

Duration:00:16:55

From the Archives 2/3: Michael Wear

9/3/2018
We're back in a few weeks, but in the run up to the new term we're playing you three of our favourite interviews from the archives. This week, we're replaying our interview with Michael Wear, the former White House adviser to Barack Obama, who particularly worked on issues related to faith communities. Michael came on the podcast to talk about his experience there and also about his book, Reclaiming Hope, where he writes candidly - and sometimes critically - about the Obama administration's record on issues related to Christians. Enjoy!

Duration:00:11:42

From the Archives 1/3: Andy Flannagan

8/27/2018
We're back in a few weeks, but in the run up to the new term we're playing you three of our favourite interviews from the archives. This week, we go back to January 2017 and our second podcast, when I went to chat to Andy Flannagan, who was then Director of Christians on the Left. Andy's since moved on to greater things, and Louise Davies, his brilliant successor, came on the pod back in April, but the interview is still fascinating and well worth a listen. Enjoy!

Duration:00:22:18

Review of the Year

7/29/2018
Sam Hailes, Editor of Christianity Magazine, steps in this week for Johnny (who is off ill), and Sam and James look back at the year gone since the election - including the election, Brexit, and the role of Christianity in a changing Britain. Enjoy!

Duration:00:47:23

Brexit's Coming Home - or is it?

7/15/2018
Johnny's away this week, so James is joined by a Brexiteer and a Remainer to talk about Theresa May's new position on Britain's exit from the EU. David Scullion (Deputy Editor at Brexit Central) steps up to co-host, and Ben Ryan, from Theos, chats to James about how the referendum itself left the Prime Minister's hands tied. Enjoy!

Duration:00:33:21

National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast - and killer robots

7/1/2018
This week we look back at the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast - Parliament's biggest annual Christian event - with the guy that made it happen: James Lee, from Christians in Parliament. And we listen to some of Tim Keller's talk at the Prayer Breakfast. Plus, James chats about why there was a Christian policy conference last week all about the future of robotics. Enjoy!

Duration:00:50:34

Dawn McAvoy (Both Lives Matter) and North Korea

6/17/2018
We're delighted to have the extraordinary Dawn McAvoy, Co-Founder of Both Lives Matter, on the podcast to unpack the recent debates on abortion law in Northern Ireland. Plus, our in-house 'expert' discusses the significance of Donald Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. And we chat about the key Brexit votes in Parliament this Monday, and the SNPs brave moment of defiance/cheap media stunt.

Duration:00:47:16

Njoki Mahiaini - Being Christian in the public square today

6/3/2018
This week the fantastic Njoki Mahiaini steps in for James and chats about Christians in the media and public square, from her experience working in the UK Parliament, the BBC, Brussels and the Jubilee Centre. It's fascinating and really helpful! Plus, we chat about anti-semtism in the Labour Party, islamophobia in the Conservative Party, and whether Ruth Davidson could be the next Prime Minister. Enjoy!

Duration:00:36:18