Deeper Questions

Ep 25: "Is Christianity good history?" with John Dickson (S2 Finale)

Episode 25: "Is Christianity good history?" (Season 2 Finale) The question we’ve got there is deliberately vague and ambiguous, and I want to play into the double meaning a bit. We’ll be tackling a bunch of questions regarding the historicity of Christianity and the Bible, but also looking at the moral legacy of Christianity, after two thousand years of both triumphal moments and deeply shameful things as well. Professor John Dickson [https://www.johndickson.org/] is an author, speaker, historian, musician, lecturer and media presenter. He was the Founding Director of the Centre for Public Christianity [https://publicchristianity.org/] (2007-17). He has published over 20 books, and held a variety of teaching and research positions over the years; such as within the Ancient History Department at Macquarie University (2002-2015), the Jewish and Biblical Studies Department at Sydney University (2011-2021), Ridley College Melbourne (2019-2022), and the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford (2015-2023). He’s also host of the popular and brilliant podcast Undeceptions [https://undeceptions.com/] which you ought to listen to straight after this.  Other References: * "I'll eat a page from my Bible if Jesus didn't exist" [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-17/dickson-ill-eat-a-page-from-my-bible-if-jesus-didnt-exist/5820620] by John Dickson in ABC opinion (17th October 2014) * Bullies and Saints: An Honest Look at the Good and Evil of Christian History [https://www.amazon.com.au/Bullies-Saints-Honest-Christian-History/dp/0310119375/ref=asc_df_0310119375?mcid=5fa9f6776e7b38cca6033be63d665bee&tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=712377258887&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7710878713050061386&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9072335&hvtargid=pla-1245835632840&psc=1&gad_source=1] by John Dickson * For the Love of God: How the church is BETTER + WORSE than you ever imagined [https://publicchristianity.org/for-the-love-of-god/] by the Centre for Public Christianity  * "The Church of the First Fleet Chaplain Holds January 26 Service of Lament and Thanksgiving" [https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/the-church-of-the-first-fleet-chaplain-holds-service-of-lament-to-mark-january-26/] by Kaley Payne in Eternity News (26th January 2021) * The First Hymn Project [https://undeceptions.com/thefirsthymnproject/] * Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies you've Been Told [https://www.amazon.com.au/Christians-Hate-Filled-Hypocrites-Other-Youve/dp/0764207466] by Bradley Wrighthttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHZO8ZYL6_Awwz_fuyVylpAHk__EnXZHz2ks67KojT9TP81w/viewform?usp=sharing What's next? We'll continue with some other projects for the time being. But there are two major ways you can get in touch with us and stay connected: * Deeper Questions Survey [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHZO8ZYL6_Awwz_fuyVylpAHk__EnXZHz2ks67KojT9TP81w/viewform?usp=sharing] * The Sceptics Book Club [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sceptics-book-club-online-registration-1326148248109?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm_campaign=order_payment_confirm&utm_term=viewevent&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&ref=eemailordconf&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp] Both of these will be a great chance to interact with us and share your thoughts. You can also email us about anything by contacting us at deeperquestions@thirdspace.org.au [https://thirdspace.org.au/] - 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 [https://thirdspace.org.au/] too. Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios [https://www.productionfarm.studio/]

Ep 24: “Does Religion help or hurt social justice?” with Tim Costello

Episode 24: “Does Religion Help or Hurt Social Justice?” Helen Keller once said "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” And today we want to look at this confrontation between suffering and solace. We’re talking social justice, activism, charity, causes, not-for-profits and some of the reasons why these things exist in the first place. And we’ll get specific and spend a good chunk on gambling reform in Australia -  but also other issues in our modern world. On top of that we’ll discuss whether faith is a net positive in building a better world, or whether it hinders these things.  Reverend Tim Costello AO is an Australian Baptist minister, social justice advocate, and former CEO of World Vision Australia (2004–2016). A lawyer by training, he previously served as Mayor of St Kilda (1993–1994) and Executive Director of Urban Seed, working on homelessness and addiction issues in Melbourne. He has also been the Chief Advocate for World Vision Australia, Chair of the Community Council for Australia, Executive Director of Micah Australia [https://www.micahaustralia.org/] and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity [https://publicchristianity.org/] (CPX). Other References: * She Remains Enchanted [https://publicchristianity.org/thinking/she-remains-enchanted/] by Tim Costello in CPX 'Thinking out Loud', 5th February 2025 * Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda [https://www.amazon.com.au/Streets-Hope-Finding-God-Kilda/dp/1864488905] by Tim Costello * "Crown Casino: Gambling industry 'Australia's equivalent of the NRA', Tim Costello says" [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-19/crown-casino-gambling-australian-equivalent-nra-tim-costello/9065418] by Eliza Buzacott-Speer in ABC News (19th Oct 2017) * I’ve seen the impact of Trump and Musk’s savagery. What they’re doing is cruel and lethal [https://publicchristianity.org/article/ive-seen-the-impact-of-trump-and-musks-savagery-what-theyre-doing-is-cruel-and-lethal/] by Tim Costello in CPX articles (3rd March 2025) * Why Christians Should Care About the USAID Freeze [https://www.micahaustralia.org/news/why-christians-should-care-about-the-usaid-freeze/] by Tim Costello on Micah Australia blog (10th February 2025) * U.S.A.I.D. Memos Detail Human Costs of Cuts to Foreign Aid [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/02/health/usaid-cuts-deaths-infections.html?unlocked_article_code=1.904.WOGA.Q5jcIqzCUKI_&smid=url-share] by Apoorva Mandavilli in The New York Times (March 2nd 2025) * Isaiah 65 reference [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2065%3A20-25&version=NIV] * Micah 6:8 reference [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah%206%3A8&version=NIV] Got Questions? Email us your questions or feedback to deeperquestions@thirdspace.org.au - we love chatting about anything. Feel free to check out our website [https://thirdspace.org.au] for additional resources too. Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios

Ep 23: “Is Christianity Anti-Intellectual?” with Mark Noll

Episode 23: “Is Christianity Anti-Intellectual?" Historically there have been many reasons to attack and criticise Christianity - but one of the most popular attacks over the last few centuries has been to challenge Christianity's intellectual credibility and its ability to accurately understand and make sense of the world. Rather than taking on arguments and attempting to refute them one by one, I wanted to actually sit with the question and acknowledge where that argument has rung true - mainly by putting fundamentalism under the microscope. Professor Mark Noll is a distinguished historian specialising in American Evangelicalism. He has written over 40 books with one in particular standing out for this conversation. In October 1994 he published The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind [https://www.amazon.com.au/Scandal-Evangelical-Mind-Mark-Noll-ebook/dp/B09HZNV1XX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XPIJGRP1SFVJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TUYplHroSTQ1bHXkuE0Xbo7bItJjrI0QwZgTK41t_3K9hZdNn6UAeof94_-ckwTC9QMnHwMcTOutCfV_nUfvQ8pYxIN7cd0Mrb8Z6FzlKtw.xGl7BGVizsTTT8Ur6DPCO0bjb7ZWHoLq5KnZ6BD1BfU&dib_tag=se&keywords=scandal+of+the+evangelical&qid=1731039508&s=digital-text&sprefix=scandal+of+the+evangelica%2Cdigital-text%2C285&sr=1-1] where he offered a critique and explanation of the Christian intellectual climate - and why Christians have been blinkered, parochial, and even hostile to academia and established knowledge. So we’ll be doing a bit of a retrospective on that 30 years on, and I think this will help us understand the history and complexity of Christianity, evangelicalism, fundamentalism and the place of the mind in Christian life. Other References: * Why I am not a Christian: and Other Essays on Religion and Related Subjects [https://www.amazon.com.au/Why-not-Christian-Religion-Routledge-ebook/dp/B087JRXNJY/ref=sr_1_2?crid=6LSYGSDDKO5R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GY_Rsesm6SFbYY7h3C1kAMuFDAP--0W73lmMjCPNQrgzAibgWYfmOUo-_vqBf0i1.n0SzB5oSzZH2kJUq-Y-r9-u0tw7-CM-UivwxYO-W5W0&dib_tag=se&keywords=why+i+am+not+a+christian+russell&qid=1731039433&s=digital-text&sprefix=why+i+am+not+a+christian+russel%2Cdigital-text%2C264&sr=1-2] by Bertrand Russell (1927) * The Antichrist: A Radical Examination of Religion and Philosophy [https://www.amazon.com.au/Antichrist-Radical-Examination-Religion-Philosophy/dp/B0D91WJZNR/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2WV7XCWIX4ZXD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.quMhDiq34KroSDMdtxDhbX9YwcAyLe3gdK8OjlhUwBk3j-8Y01qiYZW8cilPwHaDq6hZnv922AqT73j1kcgMLRIaG8207xZn_qdx_pFKs7rDOPULoQf1ztaccbjhEOTsP48Dm98QE31LUBbGFV_Fkon1iMB6lWJBCIo4pepmPW0uer2FrMiBiMINdzDnkrO33T9g8MmdG_2vKc-E6TkIgnokAycvDtcg6cTIaJe4SO8q2oRwTvSqe0GZuGO_WVr8sek5gLd46bPkyTTANrlvfChdsxuqb0ejqqd6G7YR4Ak.x3rQoMSNi9mn-7yAMyoJLfSG36kQGyTpkPnwB00vGhA&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+antichrist+nietzsche&qid=1731039297&sprefix=the+antichrist+ni%2Caps%2C251&sr=8-2] by Friedrich Nietzsche (1888) * The God Delusion [https://www.amazon.com.au/The-God-Delusion/dp/B00NODY0BU/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1S07JNY7OR7XQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.L38awwCNkg8rb6eaRL2F_gG2v-ifn64o10eorI7e2Qs9b0GxM65V5JFfEgXANUXDWQkwsBLMBvRyLtXO5HGBu9aRfJUSlZymTsDmdQRQkEyXXVHSjJv6KcTTfeMaxym_NoUMEBoZX0hIsH3H3maia4-3AMGMQ6BONT_ycieBvGzcz09XYIMdiuAe-FXYw3ByxBrjulLdQ72cnLVEpcdzON8FryjrNiEnOf2WCvj-BGo.49oZcQ9mZb6pgz1xpUX9R_zDTvtQHiV_MWnnDcElNh8&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+god+delusion+richard+dawkins&qid=1731039249&s=books&sprefix=god+del%2Cstripbooks%2C379&sr=1-3] by Richard Dawkins (2006) * The End of Faith – Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason [https://www.amazon.com.au/End-Faith-Religion-Terror-Future/dp/0393327655] by Sam Harris (2005) * The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and Its Scientific Implications [https://www.amazon.com.au/Genesis-Flood-50th-Anniversary/dp/159638395X/ref=asc_df_159638395X/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=712260449406&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13038523275060074769&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9072335&hvtargid=pla-433957655721&psc=1&mcid=afb85911fb6131d1a4645c687806803b&gad_source=1] by John Whitcomb & Henry Morris (1961) * Society of Christian Philosophers [https://www.societyofchristianphilosophers.com/] * Francis Collins [https://www.newyorker.com/news/persons-of-interest/faith-science-and-francis-collins] & BioLogos [https://biologos.org/] * Katherine Hayhoe [https://katharinehayhoe.com/] * Mark Dever’s talk on Intellectual Suicide [https://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/sermon/is-christianity-intellectual-suicide/] Got questions?   You can shoot Aaron or Amy an email about anything by contacting us at deeperquestions@thirdspace.org.au [https://thirdspace.org.au] - 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 [https://thirdspace.org.au] 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! Produced by Production Farm Studios [https://www.productionfarm.studio/]

Ep 22: "What is the value of art?" with Daniela Gjocaj & Nicole O'Loughlin

Episode 22: What is the value of art? It’s been said that Art can be a Mirror or a Window to Society. Revealing deep truths about ourselves and reality. And so art plays an important prophetic role in shaping cultural conversations and bringing to life stories, themes and ideas that matter. And so for this episode we’re going to be talking with a couple of talented and thoughtful local artists. Together we chat all things art and culture and want to give you an insight into the life of an artist, and whether we, as a society, place value and importance on the practice and process of creating. Daniela Gjocaj [https://www.instagram.com/_conscious_colour_/] is an emerging Tasmanian artist and colour specialist, having worked throughout her life in the arts and fashion. Daniela spoke at Tedx Hobart in 2023 on ‘The power of colour and light [https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaY2BEbA3ABvGcU3bm5kUlQubIzpYeLjKYiF_eJc-xoHbV-ky5uWD8PXQT0_aem_ziU6dan41r1OeO05drwoPQ&v=A707pD7Ev1Q&feature=youtu.be]’. Her bold and colourful artworks invite the viewer to experience, engage and explore all the ways in which colour can impact us. Nicole O'Loughlin [https://www.nicoleoloughlin.com/] is a PhD Candidate at the School of Creative Arts and Media at the University of Tasmania, where she also lectures. She’s devoted the last few years to researching the impact of arts and creativity on health and well-being with a focus on people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds. Other References * Male artists overrepresented in Australian galleries and museums, research shows [https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/apr/30/male-artists-overrepresented-in-australian-galleries-and-museums-research-shows#:~:text=Shows%20in%20state%20galleries%20featuring,did%20not%20declare%20their%20gender] by Kelly Burke in the Guardian (Aus), 30th April 2024 * Australia should have a universal basic income for artists. Here’s what that could look like [https://theconversation.com/australia-should-have-a-universal-basic-income-for-artists-heres-what-that-could-look-like-182128] by Jo Caust in The Conversation, 2nd May 2022 * Australian artists only earn $23,200 a year from their art – and are key financial investors in keeping the industry afloat [https://theconversation.com/australian-artists-only-earn-23-200-a-year-from-their-art-and-are-key-financial-investors-in-keeping-the-industry-afloat-228792] by David Throsby & Katya Petetskaya in The Conversation, 7th May 2024https://hyperallergic.com/925633/real-photographer-beats-out-robots-in-ai-art-competition/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Humans%201,%20Robots%200&utm_campaign=D061724 * Real Photographer Beats Out Robots in AI Art Competition [https://hyperallergic.com/925633/real-photographer-beats-out-robots-in-ai-art-competition/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Humans%201,%20Robots%200&utm_campaign=D061724] by Rhea Nayyar in Hyperallergic, 16th June 2024 * The Birth of Tragedy [https://www.amazon.com.au/Birth-Tragedy-Friedrich-Nietzsche/dp/0140433392] by Friedrich Nietzsche * Christ of Saint John of the Cross [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_of_Saint_John_of_the_Cross] by Salvador Dali (Image) * Rembrandt is in the wind [https://www.amazon.com.au/Rembrandt-Wind-Learning-Through-Faith/dp/0310129729/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1729QC7DMT1VL&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PJmyX5kH0RUC9pvoFugXw3gN2GlKqfLMjyNVh9Yf1PM.1zYJvg1ni8NyCc55AZbr9LFMCjqXA9Lj7OevoZKUyg4&dib_tag=se&keywords=rembrandt+is+in+the+wind+by+russ+ramsey&qid=1727935302&s=books&sprefix=rembrandt+is+in%2Cstripbooks%2C345&sr=1-1] by Russ Ramsey Got questions? You can shoot us an email about anything at deeperquestions@thirdspace.org.au [https://thirdspace.org.au/] - 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 [https://thirdspace.org.au/] too. Feel free to follow us on social media too. * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ThirdSpace.org.au] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thirdspaceau/] * Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thirdspaceau] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ThirdSpaceAu]  Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios

Ep 21: "Is meaning overrated?" with Wendy Syfret

Episode 21: Is meaning overrated? In 2021, 38.9% of respondents to the census declared themselves to be “no religion” in Australia [https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2021-census-shows-changes-australias-religious-diversity]. That was almost 10 million people. You might also have heard about “the meaning crisis” Some secular thinkers like John Vervaeke have been exploring the void of anxiety and emptiness since around 2017. Many thinkers in this “meaning crisis” movement have explored Eastern religions and other philosophies to find a way to quench that thirst for meaning.  But what if there was another way to think about meaning? What if meaning was just overrated? Do we ascribe meaning to things we don’t need to? Is there a surplus rather than a deficit of meaning? To explore this question, we reached out to Wendy Syfret [https://www.wendysyfret.com/], author of “The Sunny Nihilist: how a meaningless life can make you truly happy”. She has some interesting ideas that we can all benefit from, regardless of whether we are religious or of 'no religion'.  Other References: * The Sunny Nihilist: how a meaningless life can make you truly happy [https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-sunny-nihilist-wendy-syfret/ebook/9781782838043.html?srsltid=AfmBOooGb23tOeQMCIFC5xeZMBQWP5KFBawMPQtfBWxxn_MwLSOyl4EF], by Wendy Syfret. * Optimistic Nihilism [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBRqu0YOH14] from the Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell [https://www.youtube.com/@kurzgesagt] Youtube Channel.  * The Book of Ecclesiastes [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes%201&version=NIV] from Biblegateway  * John Vervaeke’s [https://www.youtube.com/@johnvervaeke/videos] Youtube Channel Got questions? Some people find this philosophy liberating, others might find it confronting, let us know how it made you feel. You can shoot ushttps://thirdspace.org.au an email at deeperquestions@thirdspace.org.au - 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 [https://thirdspace.org.au] too! Feel free to follow us on social media too. * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ThirdSpace.org.au] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thirdspaceau/] * Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/company/thirdspaceau] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ThirdSpaceAu]  Deeper Questions is produced by Production Farm Studios