Skip to main content
Faith at the Frontiers

Faith at the Frontiers

By Barnabas Aspray and Austin Stevenson

A podcast that confronts challenges to the Christian faith with hope. Hosted by Dr Barnabas Aspray & Dr Austin Stevenson. Current series: Faith and the Challenges of History Previous series: Refugees, Climate Change, Science & Religion, Faith & Economics, Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS). Anticipated future series: - Religious pluralism - Christian Race Theory (CRT) - The problem of evil/suffering - Post-evangelicalism - Violence in the Bible
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Doing science as a Christian Platonist - with Dr Andrew Davison

Faith at the FrontiersSep 27, 2022

00:00
47:45
Women and the challenge of history - with Dr. Amy Peeler
Mar 26, 202456:51
Reading the New Testament Historically with Michael J. Gorman

Reading the New Testament Historically with Michael J. Gorman

In this episode we talk with Prof Michael J Gorman, New Testament Scholar and author of nearly twenty books including several major works on Paul. In this discussion, Prof Gorman draws a distinction between historical criticism and the historical critical method. He argues that understanding the original context is necessary, but not sufficient when it comes to interpreting the Bible today.

Mar 05, 202443:08
Lessons so far: insights and takeaways from our Bible scholar interviewees

Lessons so far: insights and takeaways from our Bible scholar interviewees

Austin and Barney go back over the last few episodes and share our thoughts. What did we learn? What did we disagree with? How do we compare and contrast the Bible scholars and theologians we've interviewed so far?

What do YOU think though? Email us your thoughts at whatdoyouthink (at) faithatthefrontiers.com and we'll dialogue with you in future episodes!

This is NOT the end of ‘faith and the challenges of history’: it’s just a pause to catch our breath!


Feb 12, 202436:08
Historically-sensitive Bible reading: A taxonomy with Matthew J Thomas

Historically-sensitive Bible reading: A taxonomy with Matthew J Thomas

So many Bible scholars and methods claim to be ‘historical’, but are they all the same? In this episode, Barney and Austin interview Professor Matthew J Thomas, who has come up with a taxonomy of FOUR methods for reading the Bible that are currently prevalent in scholarship:

  1. Simple historical exegesis: interpreting the Bible with attention to its cultural and historical context.
  2. Investigating the history of the Bible’s composition, known as ‘source criticism’, ‘form criticism’, or ‘redaction criticism’.
  3. Critically assessing the truth of the Bible from another philosophical perspective.
  4. Whatever is popular in Germany right now (!)

Tune in to hear Prof. Thomas unpack these four categories and their relevance for our faith today!


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Jan 22, 202401:04:36
Theology and the Historical Method - w/ Dr Seth Heringer

Theology and the Historical Method - w/ Dr Seth Heringer

Austin and Barney interview theologian Dr Seth Heringer, who describes the development of modern historical methods and how these methods have impacted theology. We consider the ways in which not only the results of historical research, but the principles of the historical method themselves might stand at odds with theology. If history isn't as neutral a discipline as it seems, does that open up possibilities for fruitful dialogue with faith?


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

Dec 19, 202347:32
Challenging the challengers: on reasons to trust the biblical witness - with Prof. Iain Provan

Challenging the challengers: on reasons to trust the biblical witness - with Prof. Iain Provan

Barney and Austin interview Old Testament Professor Iain Provan, who takes a different view to our previous guests on the historical reliability of the Bible. For him, there is every reason to trust the Bible's authors, and no reason not to trust them. Provan also suggests that:

  • The very idea of history comes from the Old Testament
  • There is no 'neutral' way of reading the Bible: there are Christian or non-Christian ways of reading.
  • Jesus gave us these texts, and that is why we read them.


Tune in for more insights on a developing conversation.


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

Dec 04, 202348:47
Faith and Old Testament historicity - with Prof. Hugh Williamson

Faith and Old Testament historicity - with Prof. Hugh Williamson

Austin and Barney interview Professor Emeritus Hugh Williamson of Oxford University on how his faith relates to historical enquiry about the Old Testament. We discuss questions like:

  • How does Prof. Williamson hold together his identity as a scholar and his faith as a Christian? Does he ever see a conflict between them?
  • What does the historical study of the Bible do for one's faith?
  • What historical events in the Bible does Christian faith depend on?


Thanks, as always, to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

Nov 20, 202352:07
History and the Old Testament - with Professor John Goldingay

History and the Old Testament - with Professor John Goldingay

Is the Old Testament historically reliable? What difference does that question make to our faith? What do we mean by 'historical' and 'reliable' anyway?


In this episode, Barney and Austin interview Professor John Goldingay, a retired Old Testament scholar enormously influential in the Evangelical tradition. Prof. Goldingay shares his thoughts about the relationship between faith and biblical history, and then problematizes the question for us: why are we asking about this and in what way should it, and should it not, matter?


Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound editing!

Nov 06, 202345:07
New series! ‘Faith and the Challenges of History’

New series! ‘Faith and the Challenges of History’

Introducing the new co-host, Austin Stevenson, and our new topic for the next series. Austin and I will be wrestling with how the Christian faith relates to its own history. We'll be asking questions like:

  • Do Christians have to believe the Bible is historically reliable?
  • Is there evidence to suggest the Bible is historically reliable?
  • How ought Christians to read and interpret the Bible from a historical point of view?
  • How should Christians think about the troubling aspects of their own history after the Bible: crusades, inquisition, colonialism?

Tune in soon for the first episode in the series!


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Oct 30, 202311:48
Taking the conversation global: science and theology narratives in non-Western contexts

Taking the conversation global: science and theology narratives in non-Western contexts

Let's open the science & religion debate to include voices from beyond the White Western world! In this episode Barney interviews two Anglican bishops who are doing just that:

This episode is full of insights about the way Africans conceive of the faith/science relationship, and what we can learn from it and other global perspectives. 


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

Oct 09, 202345:23
Mitres and Microscopes: How church leaders think of science - with Dr. Thoko Kamwendo

Mitres and Microscopes: How church leaders think of science - with Dr. Thoko Kamwendo

Science is done in a society. Society affects not only what science is done, but how people understand it and its role. Dr. Thoko Kamwendo is part of a growing field of research called ‘science studies’ which uncovers the social dimension of scientific research. She has studied in particular how church leaders approach science, and how they communicate its meaning and relevance to congregations. Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!

Sep 25, 202329:37
What it means to be human: the faith-enhancing power of science fiction
Sep 11, 202353:52
Where Science and Politics Collide: Black Majority Churches and the Covid Vaccine

Where Science and Politics Collide: Black Majority Churches and the Covid Vaccine

Barney interviews Pastor Alton Bell about his experiences persuading his church congregation to take the Covid vaccine. This episode digs into the history of black peoples' engagement with white medicine, and is not always easy listening. But its message is important: science is always communicated by someone, and if that someone is the government, there are political issues at play.


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Aug 28, 202326:11
‘A scientist and a priest walk into a church’: how churches lead on science engagement

‘A scientist and a priest walk into a church’: how churches lead on science engagement

How can scientists enrich and enliven their local church communities? We’ve invited Professor David Wilkinson, Petra Crofton, and Deb Fozzard to explore the impact of the ⁠Scientists in Congregations project that shows just how much scientists can do.

If you want to learn more, check out these free science and faith resources for schools and (church) children’s workers:

Also take a look at these children's books on science by Petra Crofton:

Finally, take a look at Petra Crofton's top book recommendation: Francis Collins, The Language of God.


As always, thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Aug 14, 202340:17
Angels, Demons, and Scientists: How Charismatic & Pentecostal Churches engage with Science

Angels, Demons, and Scientists: How Charismatic & Pentecostal Churches engage with Science

What do Charismatic/Pentecostal Christians think of science? Two of their number discuss the distinctives of their tradition on this question:

  1. Chris Done, Professor of astrophysics at Durham University
  2. Simo Frestadius, executive director of the institute for Pentecostal theology

Among their many insights are that:

  • Charismatics place a lot of emphasis on experience and experiment - not so different to scientists!
  • Charismatics are keen to ‘demythologise’ the Bible - but not the same way Bultmann did!


Enjoy listening! Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Jul 31, 202336:04
Why teach science in seminaries? - with Revd Dr Lucas Mix & Revd Dr Katy Hinman
Jul 17, 202339:14
ECLAS 1: The True Story of the Science-Faith ‘Conflict’, from the Galileo affair to Draper and White

ECLAS 1: The True Story of the Science-Faith ‘Conflict’, from the Galileo affair to Draper and White

What is really at stake in seeing faith & science as in conflict with each other? What are the origins of this conflict narrative and what were the theological motivations behind it?

These questions and others are the driving force behind today's episode, the first in our ECLAS series. We interview David Hutchings and Dr Amanda Rees for their perspective - both practical and academic - on the common perception of a conflict.

Note this episode was recorded shortly before the passing of Tom McLeish, who is mentioned near the beginning.

Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Jul 03, 202352:58
Teaser episode: introducing the next series

Teaser episode: introducing the next series

News from Faith at the Frontiers:

  • We’re at the end of the Faith & Economics series. What a thought-provoking series it was!
  • Goodbye to Carmody! She has had to step down because she was too busy to keep it up. A new co-host will be joining us in the series after next.
  • Introducing the next series: in partnership with Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS), we are running a second series on science & religion, much more practically oriented than the last. First episode will be out next week!
Jun 26, 202302:30
How Christianity transforms the most fundamental economic principles - with Prof. Paul Williams

How Christianity transforms the most fundamental economic principles - with Prof. Paul Williams

For our final episode on faith & economics, we’ve invited Prof. Paul Williams to share his vision for a Christian transformation of economics. Prof. Williams has studied economics and theology, and worked as both an economist and a theology professor for many years. He is uniquely qualified to give insight on our question and this episode is a powerful ending to an incredible series.

Written by Paul Williams:

Books/articles recommended by Paul Williams:

  • Peter J. Buckley and Mark C.Casson, “The moral basis of global capitalism: Beyond the eclectic theory,” International Journal of the Economics of Business, 8(2), 2001, pp.303-327.
  • Donald A. Hay, Economics Today: A Christian Critique (Regent College Publishing, 2004).
  • William T. Cavanaugh, Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008).


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Jun 12, 202301:00:53
What we really think about capitalism and other things - a reflection on recent episodes

What we really think about capitalism and other things - a reflection on recent episodes

Carmody & Barney pause to reflect on our recent episodes and the opinions presented by our guests. We appear to have invited quite a few capitalists recently without intending to over-represent one viewpoint. So most of this discussion is our own reflections on the varieties of capitalism that we’ve encountered from our guests. We reflect on things like:

  • What are the conditions for the possibility of economic activity?
  • Is there such a thing as an isolated individual?
  • What happens when you build a worldview out of fear?


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

May 29, 202332:14
Christian Finance: Creating a Virtuous Circle - with Pete Gladwell

Christian Finance: Creating a Virtuous Circle - with Pete Gladwell

Carmody and Barney interview Pete Gladwell, who works for one of the largest investment companies in the UK. Pete explains how he views investment as a community service and tries to make investments that will benefit society rather than only making money for himself or his company.


This episode is really interesting to compare to the previous one with Robert Netzly: two Christian investors with different visions of what Christian values in investment look like.


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

May 15, 202347:22
God, Mammon, and Ethical Investing - with Robert Netzly

God, Mammon, and Ethical Investing - with Robert Netzly

Barney and Carmody interview Robert Netzly, founder and CEO of Inspire Investing. Robert recently made the decision to withdraw all ESG investment on the basis that it has been overtaken by a Marxist agenda. We ask Robert about his understanding of faithful Christian investment and the principles on which he founded his business.


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

May 03, 202352:60
The power of the free market to create wealth - with Dylan Pahman

The power of the free market to create wealth - with Dylan Pahman

Barney and Carmody interview Dylan Pahman on whether there is any such thing as ‘Christian economics’, or whether economics is a value-neutral space like mathematics. We discuss questions like:

  • Is the free market the most natural and universal economic system?
  • Should theologians stay out of economics?
  • Should economists stay out of theology?
  • What should our goals for society be in the first place?


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

Apr 17, 202341:42
Transforming economic theory through the Christian tradition - with Helen Alford

Transforming economic theory through the Christian tradition - with Helen Alford

We interview Helen Alford, one of the leading voices in Christian economics. Helen offers an amazing array of insights. Helen had a transformative experience upon reading the following article:

  • Howard Rosenbrock, 'Engineers and the Work People Do', in The Experience of Work, ed. Craig Littler.

The key insight was that 'If engineers could think of people as if they were robots, they would give them more human work to do'.

This led Helen on to a journey of discovery about the Christian tradition's perspective on economics and the need to address the problems we are seeing in the present day.


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Mar 30, 202358:37
Freedom and Loneliness: Reflecting on recent episodes

Freedom and Loneliness: Reflecting on recent episodes

Barney and Carmody respond to feedback and reflect on the last two episodes (with Ondrej & Jared, and with Adeel Malik). Themes that appear include: 

  • What role does freedom play in an economic system ?


Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

Mar 13, 202320:21
Investing in your success: Islamic economics and the role of community - with Professor Adeel Malik

Investing in your success: Islamic economics and the role of community - with Professor Adeel Malik

Carmody & Barney invite Adeel Malik of Oxford University to discuss the Islamic view of economics and finance. We discuss questions like:

  • Why is lending money at interest banned in traditional Islam, Judaism, and Christianity?
  • Why can economics never be separated from morality and religion? 
  • Why is community a neglected dimension of economic theory? 

Hope you enjoy the episode!

Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering! 

Feb 27, 202351:34
Is capitalism the only fair system? - a debate

Is capitalism the only fair system? - a debate

In the middle of our faith & economics series, this episode features a debate between Carmody, Barney, Ondrej, and Jared about whether or not it's possible to think beyond the typical polarities of capitalism/socialism. We also discuss:

  • What does it mean to ‘own’ something? 
  • Can anyone own the climate, and is that a problem for the climate?
  • What is the purpose of ownership?
  • Who or what determines whether I own something?
  • Can the idea of property be extended beyond individual ownership?

Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 

Feb 13, 202358:10
Is veganism impossible? - a response to listener feedback

Is veganism impossible? - a response to listener feedback

This short episode is prompted by a listener who sent us a voice message. He questioned Carmody's point about veganism (made in this episode), and in this episode Carmody responds to the point. Questions discussed in this episode:

  • Is veganism too hard or too expensive for most people?
  • How much can people be held responsible for their buying habits?
  • Is there a difference between concern for animal welfare and concern about climate change? 

Have something to say? Send us a message and join the conversation! 

Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 

Jan 30, 202327:39
Economy as gift: beyond the capitalist-socialist dichotomy - with Edward Hadas

Economy as gift: beyond the capitalist-socialist dichotomy - with Edward Hadas

Carmody & Barney interview Edward Hadas, research fellow in moral economics at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford. He tells us what he thinks is wrong with the current way of debating economics and offers a whole new paradigm to help us imagine our labour and consumption differently.

Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing!

Jan 16, 202352:41
Can we really choose how we spend our money?

Can we really choose how we spend our money?

Barney and Carmody kick off a new series on ‘Christian Economics’, asking difficult questions about the limits of our financial freedom. Our present economic system is neither inevitable nor ethically neutral, but it does have a huge impact on how we spend our money. What might we be able to do about it?

Dec 19, 202233:40
Is Viktor Orbán a Genuine Christian? - Faith & Politics in Hungary, with Alex Faludy

Is Viktor Orbán a Genuine Christian? - Faith & Politics in Hungary, with Alex Faludy

Barney interviews Alex Faludy on the religious dimension of Hungarian politics. Alex argues that the Hungarian Prime Minister is not simply using religion as a tool, but has a genuine faith. If we accuse him of being selective about which aspects of Christianity he embraces, we must also look at ourselves to see whether we're not also being selective. 

Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!

Dec 05, 202243:43
Science & Religion - What we learned

Science & Religion - What we learned

In this final episode of the Science & Religion series, Barney & Emily discuss highlights, unanswered questions, and key takeaways about the whole debate. 

Nov 22, 202225:23
Witnessing to the trauma of the earth - with Tim Middleton
Nov 07, 202241:33
Artificial Intelligence: Threat or Opportunity? - with Beth Singler
Oct 24, 202237:34
Does evolution debunk religious beliefs? - with Christopher Bennett
Oct 10, 202259:56
Doing science as a Christian Platonist - with Dr Andrew Davison

Doing science as a Christian Platonist - with Dr Andrew Davison

What is ‘Christian Platonism’ and why is it the best theological position for engaging with science? 

This episode is all about these two questions. Emily & Barney interview Dr Andrew Davison, who is the Starbridge Associate Professor in Theology and the Natural Sciences at Cambridge University. We ask him tough and challenging questions like:

  • Isn’t it better to be just a Christian than a Christian Platonist? 
  • Doesn’t Platonism inhibit scientific research? 
  • Why can’t an apple also be an orange? 
  • Why can a piece of paper also be a love letter?

Check out Dr Davison’s book, Participation in God, which we talk about in the episode. 

Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound editing! 

This episode is produced in collaboration with The Tablet.

Sep 27, 202247:45
What if the quantum multiverse is real? - with Emily Qureshi-Hurst

What if the quantum multiverse is real? - with Emily Qureshi-Hurst

Barney and Bethany interview Emily on the ‘many worlds’ interpretation of quantum physics. If there are thousands or millions of versions of you and me in other worlds, each living ever-so-slightly different lives, what does that imply for theology? What does it mean about who God is? 

Sep 13, 202236:52
Suffering and death before Adam and Eve? - with Bethany Sollereder

Suffering and death before Adam and Eve? - with Bethany Sollereder

Emily and Barney interview Bethany, who has researched the problem of death and suffering from an evolutionary point of view and how that affects our understanding of creation and fall in the book of Genesis. Did God create death? Is death necessary for life? Does this idea conflict with the biblical picture? Did God guide evolution or did animals have a certain freedom in how they evolved? Join us for this episode to discuss these questions and more! 

Aug 29, 202250:27
Do ‘science’ and ‘religion’ even exist?
Aug 15, 202258:41
Science & Religion: Mapping the Terrain - with Prof. Alister McGrath
Aug 01, 202240:41
New series on Science & Religion! - Trailer
Jul 25, 202201:59
Rescuing refugees at the Ukraine border - with Rev Ryan Cook
Jul 13, 202236:21
Climate change denial and the politics of science - with Dr Ondrej Dyck
Jun 10, 202201:04:16
Populism, Elitism, and healing the divide - Part 2 with Dr Tobias Cremer
May 19, 202242:53
What has right-wing populism to do with Christianity?
May 03, 202235:56
Western culture is not relativist & the Ukraine War proves it
Mar 28, 202228:43
Putin’s Crusade: the religious side of the Ukraine War
Mar 11, 202238:07
Climate refugees in a climate of fear: why catastrophizing makes things worse
Mar 04, 202230:34
The Limits of Freedom: or, Why it's So Hard to Act on Climate Change
Feb 22, 202231:55
Are we thinking about climate change all wrong?
Jan 25, 202244:06