The Manosphere And The Radical Right - With Guest Julia DeCook Guns And God podcast

50:29

In this episode, Helen speaks with Revd Dr Simon Woodman. Simon is minister at Bloomsbury Baptist Church London, and formerly New Testament lecturer at Cardiff University. He is the author of a number of books and articles including two which are under discussion here: The Book of Revelation (SCM core texts) and a chapter entitled “Fire from heaven” in a book he co-edited: The Book of Revelation. Currents in British research on the apocalypse . We discuss the ancient context of the book, whether or not it urges violence to its original readers, and contemporary ways of reading it in a troubled world.…

Guns and God

1
Modern appropriation of the book of Joshua - with guest Rachel Havrelock 1:00:57

4 years ago1:00:57

1:00:57

In this episode, Helen speaks with Dr Rachel Havrelock about her new book The Joshua Generation: Israeli Occupation and the Bible . Rachel is Professor of English at the University of Illinois . In our conversation we discuss how the first Israeli prime minister David Ben Gurion used the conquest of Joshua to assist him in state-building; and the resources which the book itself offers to readers who wish to resist such nationalism.…

Guns and God

1
Baptists Across Europe - challenges and priorities. With guest Tony Peck 38:37

4 years ago38:37

38:37

In this episode Helen talks with Revd Anthony Peck, General Secretary of the European Baptist Federation . In the light of current challenges such as migration, the Crimean conflict, and the rise of far right populism, they discuss the challenges that Baptists face, and the distinctives that they can offer to their societies. During the conversation, Tony and Helen make reference to this paper on Christian nationalism.…

Guns and God

1
Catholic Social Theology in Northern Ireland - with new co-presenter Maria Power 48:51

4 years ago48:51

48:51

In this episode Michael and Helen interview Dr Maria Power . Maria is a Catholic social historian, and Senior Research Fellow in Human Dignity at the Las Casas Institute for Social Justice. We discuss the role of Cardinal Cahal Daly in Northern Ireland, and his pursuit of a peaceable kingdom. Our discussion is focussed around Maria's new book Catholic Social Teaching and Theologies of Peace in Northern Ireland .…

Guns and God

1
The kingship of God and the Hebrew Bible - with guest Sam Brody 51:32

4 years ago51:32

51:32

In this episode Michael and Helen talk with Dr Samuel Brody about Martin Buber's theology of the kingship of God, and how this might influence modern politics. Sam is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Kansas. We discuss his latest book Marbin Buber's Theopolitics , and also - briefly - this blog post .…

Guns and God

1
Being evangelical and non-violent, with guest Ron Sider 51:00

4 years ago51:00

51:00

In this episode, Michael Spalione and Helen Paynter talk with Dr Ron Sider about non-violence, with particular reference to his recent book If Jesus is Lord: Loving our enemies in an age of violence . Ron is Emeritus Professor of Theology, Holistic Ministry, and Public Policy at Palmer Theologial Seminary.…

Guns and God

1
Human rights and dealing with difference - with guest David Montgomery 44:16

4 years ago44:16

44:16

Helen and Matthew talk with Dr David Montgomery, Associate Research Professor at the Centre for International Development at the University of Maryland, and Director of CEDAR . Among other works, he is the co-author of Living with Difference: How to Build Community in a Divided World . We discuss the usefulness of the language of human rights, in this blog post co-authored by David Montgomery and Adam Seligman, and this follow-up by David. We also discuss community building between individuals of different faiths and other significant differences, which David undertakes in some of the most troubled regions of the world.…

Guns and God

1
Prosperity gospel or good news to the poor? - with guest Danielle Mayfield 48:41

4 years ago48:41

48:41

In this episode, Michael Spalione and Helen Paynter speak with Danielle (D.L.) Mayfield, author of The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power . Danielle tells how her own experience of living with the 'exiled' changed her view of how her Christian faith should be expressed. This conversation takes place 'within' the (broadly) evangelical Christian tradition, and Helen even talks a bit about the Old Testament.…

Guns and God

1
Evangelical Christianity and liberal politics in the USA - with new co-presenter Michael Spalione 36:20

4 years ago36:20

36:20

In this episode we introduce Dr Michael Spalione , who will be co-hosting some future episodes. Michael has recently gained his PhD in political theology from Durham University (UK), although he is a native and resident of the USA. He is also one of the Research Associates of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. Helen and Michael talk about the role of the church, Christian nationalism and the evangelical label, and music. The episode was recorded at the end of 2020.…

Guns and God

1
The myth of Islamisation in Central Asia - with guest John Heathershaw 53:58

4 years ago53:58

53:58

In this episode, Helen and Matthew speak with Dr John Heathershaw, professor in the College of Social Sciences and International Studies at Exeter University. Is Central Asia really a crucible for Islamic terrorism? And how are such myths instrumentalised by others? In our conversation, we refer to two briefing papers. This one was written for Chatham House in 2014, and this one was published three years later by Open Democracy.…

Guns and God

1
The image of God and human violence - with guest Richard Middleton 44:31

4 years ago44:31

44:31

In this episode, Helen and Matthew speak with Dr Richard Middleton , Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary, Rochester. Our conversation centres on ideas discussed in Richard's book The Liberating Image . We discuss the extent to which the biblical creation myths endorse or challenge violence in the ancient and modern world.…

Guns and God

1
The German Church and the Confessing Church in the lead-up to World War II - with guest Frank McDonough 41:29

4 years ago41:29

41:29

In this episode, Helen and Matthew speak with historian Frank McDonough , about the crackdown on the Confessing Church in Germany in the year 1937. Dr McDonough is Professor of International History at Liverpool John Moores University. The new volume of his book The Hitler Years is available here

Guns and God

1
Religion and Colonialism in Ireland and Rhodesia with guest Donal Lowry 46:38

4 years ago46:38

46:38

In this episode Helen and Matthew speak with historian Dr Donal Lowry , senior member of Regents Park College, Oxford. Donal is an expert on the British Empire, particularly Rhodesia and Northern Ireland, and in our conversation he traces fascinating links between the situation in 1920s Ireland and Britain's colonial history in Rhodesia. The chapter we discussed is in the book The Break-up of Greater Britain, which will be published in 2021, edited by Stuart Ward and Christian Pedersen.…

Guns and God

1
Religious language in the 'secular' mainstream - with guest Valerie Hobbs 54:13

4 years ago54:13

54:13

In this episode, Helen and Matthew talk with Dr. Valerie Hobbs, Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Sheffield. We talk about the way that religious language pervades and influences mainstream political discourse. Valerie's book, An Introduction to Religious Language , was released on 14th January, 2021. Listeners may also be interested to read this blog post which Helen and Valerie co-wrote about the use of religious apocalytic language by QAnon.…

Guns and God

1
Political Islam and interfaith conversations - with guest Hifsa Haroon Iqbal 40:52

4 years ago40:52

40:52

Matthew and Helen talk with Muslim community leader Hifsa Haroon Iqbal, MBE, about political elements of Islam, violence within the Q'ran and the Bible, dialogue between Jewish and Muslim women, and Christmas. Hifsa is trustee of the Islamic-Jewish women's network Nisa-Nashim . Hifsa's website is here and the blog post we discuss is here . We finish the year on an optimistic note!…

Guns and God

1
The myth of redemptive violence and gun culture - with guest Steve Harmon 50:33

5 years ago50:33

50:33

Can we defeat the dragon without becoming the dragon? In this episode, Helen and Matthew talk with Revd Dr Steve Harmon, Professor of Historical Theology at Gardner-Webb University, North Carolina. Steve is the author of a number of books, most recently co-editor of Sources of Light: Resources for Baptist Churches Practicing Theology . We begin our discussion with reference to this blog post which he wrote.…

Guns and God

1
Should Christians have a privileged voice in society? - with guest Paul Lusk 57:37

5 years ago57:37

57:37

In this episode Helen and Matthew talk with Paul Lusk about the role that the church should occupy within the public square. Paul is the author of The Jesus Candidate: Political Religion in a Secular Age , and this blog post on the origins of the Religious Right.

Guns and God

1
Islamist extremism and the mainstream - with guest David Toube 47:42

5 years ago47:42

47:42

Helen and Matthew talk with David Toube , director of policy at Quilliam, the counter-extremism organisation. Based on this briefing paper , written by Quilliam for the British government, we discuss the mainstreaming of Islamism, and the benefits and challenges of a liberal society.

Guns and God

1
The Manosphere and the Radical Right - with guest Julia DeCook 50:12

5 years ago50:12

50:12

Helen and Matthew talk with Dr Julia DeCook , assistant professor at the School of Communication, Loyola University, and Research Associate of the Centre for the Analysis of the Radical Right. Julia is a specialist on online extremist movements, specifically male supremacist groups. In this episode, we begin with a discussion about a blog post she wrote on the connections between the manosphere and the radical right. This episode was recorded on 11th September 2020.…

Guns and God

1
The Moot: seeking a way out of fascism - with guest Jonas Kurlberg 45:44

5 years ago45:44

45:44

In this episode, Helen and Matthew talk with Dr Jonas Kurlberg, about his book Christian Modernism in an Age of Totalitarianism . In the book Jonas explores 'The Moot', an informal think-tank composed of a wide diversity of intellectuals, which met in Britain before, during and after the Second World War. The Moot was committed to trying to help Britain find its way out of the mire of the political crisis of its day. What surprising conclusion did they come to, and what relevance might that have for us today?…

Guns and God

1
The American Right, the Left, and how history is remembered - with guest Matthew Rowley 48:32

5 years ago48:32

48:32

In this episode Helen and Matthew talk with Matthew Rowley about his new book Trump and the Protestant Reaction to Make America Great Again . We discuss the ways that Protestants on both wings of the USA's political spectrum make use of American history. In his book, Matthew offers a constructive way forward, which we explore with him. Dr Matthew Rowley is Honorary Visiting Fellow at the University of Leicester , and Research Associate at the Cambridge Institute of Religion and International Studies .…

Guns and God

1
Antisemitism, tolerance and the limits of diversity - with guest Keith Kahn-Harris 45:20

5 years ago45:20

45:20

In this episode, Helen and Matthew talk with Dr Keith Kahn-Harris , sociologist and author of Strange Hate . We discuss antisemitism, national repentance, and why 'strange hate' might be a better way forward for societal cohesion than love.

Guns and God

1
Black Lives, History and the Power of Symbol - with guest Liam Liburd 33:50

5 years ago33:50

33:50

In this episode, Helen Paynter and Matthew Feldman talk with Dr Liam Liburd, historian at the University of Sheffield, whose special interest is decolonisation. We talk about the toppling of the Colston Statue, the Black Lives Matter protests, and the power of historical memory and symbolic action.

Guns and God

1
Helen and Matthew introduce 'Guns and God' 31:54

5 years ago31:54