Faith at the Frontiers

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.

Anticipated future series:
- Religious pluralism
- Christianity & Racism
- The problem of evil/suffering
- Exvangelicalism
- Violence in the Bible

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21 episodes
monthly
Avg 48 min
English

Episodes 21

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August 31 · 42 min
#101 Public Theology - with Christine Schliesser
What is public theology—and how does it differ from political theology, apologetics, or cultural witness? What does it look like to bring theological ideas into public life, especially in societies where the language of theology can feel increasingly foreign? In this episode, we talk with theologian Christine Schliesser about the task of public theology and the role theologians can play in contemporary society. We explore how public theologians in Europe understand their work, how their approach compares with theologians in the United States, and what it takes to translate theological convictions into language that can meaningfully engage the wider world.
August 10 · 1 hr 1 min
#100 Cultural Witness - with Graham Tomlin & Belle Tindall-Riley
Welcome to a new series about Cultural Witness! In this episode Bishop Graham Tomlin and Dr Belle Tindall-Riley join us from the Center for Cultural Witness based in London. Their work is the inspiration for this series, which considers the role and posture of Christianity and the church within society. What do Christians have to offer culture? How does 'cultural witness' relate to apologetics and political theology? Check out their books here: Belle Tindall-Riley, The Sacred Ache Graham Tomlin, Blaise Pascal
July 13 · 57 min
#99 A.I. Wrap-Up and Returning to Hope
In this episode Barney and Austin look back over the series on A.I. and discuss their favorite takeaways, lingering questions, and what exactly it means to confront challenges to the Christian faith with Hope. We also discuss our upcoming series on Cultural Witness.
June 22 · 56 min
#98 Hope in the age of A.I. - with Michael Burdett
What does it mean for Christians to have hope in relation to A.I.? Are we putting our hope in the right thing? What are we hoping for? How can we have hope if the situation looks hopeless? Professor Michael Burdett guides us in answering these questions in this episode. Michael is the author of Eschatology and the Technological Future (Routledge, 2015). He has a background in Christian thinking about technology and the future, and here he applies it to A.I. specifically. We also address questions like: What kind of people do we need to be to use A.I. well? What kind of people do we need to be to create the right kind of A.I.? What vision of human flourishing should drive our production and use of A.I.?
May 28 · 50 min
#97 Will the Pope’s Wisdom on A.I. Be heard? - with Nicholas Hayes-Mota & Silvianne Aspray
Professor Nicholas Hayes-Mota and Dr Silvianne Aspray guide us through the insights of Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. We discuss questions like: Why is the Pope weighing in on A.I.? What vision of humanity is A.I. cultivating? How do we protect against the illusions of objectivity and of human connection? What agency do normal A.I. users have to shape how it affects our world? Is A.I. helping us to become the kind of people we were created to be?
May 25 · 46 min
#96 How Faith Can Help A.I. - with Lyndon Drake
Dr Lyndon Drake has two PhDs: one in theology and one in A.I. Now a research fellow at Oxford, he wants to help us think through chatbots in a rigorous and careful way. Let’s be conscious of the pitfalls and dangers, but let’s also explore the opportunities. Christians have been wrestling with what it means to be human for centuries, and producers of A.I. technology can benefit from those insights. Lyndon is one of the producers of the Oxford Oath on A.I., modeled after the Hippocratic Oath, to guide users and developers in how to use A.I. for the common good of humanity.
May 6 · 37 min
#95 Navigating the Digital Empire with Autumn Ridenour
In this episode, we’re bringing the thought of Augustine into the conversation with the help of Autumn Ridenour, the author of Restlessness and Belonging: Augustinian Wisdom for the Digital Empire. We explore this concept of a digital empire for thinking about the dangers and possibilities of A.I. and social media in ways that parallel what the Roman Empire was to St Augustine.
#94
April 13 · 42 min
#94 A.I. is a big moment for Humanity! - with Katherine Schmidt
Social media helped people communicate with each other. AI does the opposite: people talk to it instead of another living being and become isolated. Human interaction, according to Katherine Schmidt, is one of the big differences between the two most recent technological revolutions, and why she is enthusiastic about the first but concerned about the second. Katherine Schmidt is Associate Professor and Chair of the Theology and Religious Studies Department at Molloy University. In this interview she tackles some of the big problems with AI, especially for education, before turning to some of the more hopeful opportunities it creates: such as forcing us to educate better and think better about what it means to be human. Thanks to Jamie Maule for audio editing!
March 26 · 51 min
#93 The Real Significance of A.I. with Carmody Grey
We're excited to have Carmody Grey back on the show to discuss LLMs from the perspective of theology. We talk about the possible threats posed by A.I., the political questions it raises, and its deeper significance for how it is changing us.
March 5 · 1 hr
#92 Theological Anthropology and A.I. with Ollie Wright and Marie van Emerick
This Episode is *Not* about Angels... Join us as we talk with Marie van Emerick and Oliver Wright: two scholars at Pembroke College Oxford who are working in the area of theology, philosophy, and artificial intelligence. They emphasize the role of the humanities in responding to and engaging with big questions raised by LLMs, especially when it comes to questions about what it means to be human. What do these technologies reveal to us about ourselves, and how are they shaping us?
February 9 · 53 min
#91 Mythbusting AI & its true potential - with Josh Lawman
Josh Lawman, a software engineer who works with LLMs, gives us the inside look at how they work. Are they really a groundbreaking innovation like the printing press and the internet? What are the dangers of thinking they can solve all the world's problems? What perspective does Christianity bring to the debate? These and other questions are discussed in this episode. Enjoy! Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!
January 19 · 47 min
#90 Thinking with wisdom about AI - with Ruth Okediji
Welcome to a new series on Artificial Intelligence! In this episode Professor Ruth Okediji joins us on the show to talk about the rapid rise of Large Language Models (LLMs). Why have they been so quickly adopted by so many people? What ethical and legal challenges do they present? How can we use them wisely and responsibly to help us and our society become better from a Christian point of view? This is the first of a wide variety of perspectives on AI from many different areas of expertise. Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!
Dec 17, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
#89 - What is Political Power For? with Nick Townsend
In this episode Nick Townsend revisits the distinction between nationalism and patriotism by noting the difference between nationalism as a claim about where political power should lie (that is, with the nation state), and nationalism as a claim about what political power is for.
Dec 1, 2025 · 1 hr
#88 Faith, Nationalism & Immigration - Barney’s (& David’s) new book!
Barney’s new book is out, coauthored with Professor DavidElcott! On the Significance of Religion in Immigration Policy. You can buy the book here or download it free here. The book guides you through the Jewish and Christianarguments made for many different immigration policies throughout history and in the present day. It has sections that discuss: Bible verses used on all sides of the debate The state of Israel Christian values and US Immigration policy Ambiguities in the Jewish tradition European Immigration in medieval times and today Differences between Catholic, Orthodox, & Protestant approaches to immigration In this conversation, Austin asks us questions about theintended audience of the book, its goals and aims, and we also talk a bit about the disagreements we had to overcome in order to have a truly interreligious publication!
Nov 17, 2025 · 34 min
#87 ‘A Gift to be Shared’ - Faith & National Identity with Rowan Williams
In this episode, Barney and Austin interview the Rt. Rev. Rowan Williams for his views on Christian nationalism. He offers us wisdom that seeks what is good about both sides of the debate and aims to synthesise them into a thoroughly Christian way of thinking about national identity.Thanks to Jamie Maule for his sound engineering!
Nov 3, 2025 · 40 min
#86 The BIG DEBATE - Barney vs. Austin on Christian Nationalism!
In this episode, Barney & Austin stage a head-to-head on whether Christian nationalism is a good thing or not! It’s time to gather the insights from our past episodes together and see which argument is strongest. Barney takes the “pro-Christian Nationalism” side and Austin takes the “anti-Christian Nationalism” position. Who is going to win? IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: views expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent the real views of the speakers.Resources mentioned in this episode: Alasdair MacIntyre, After Virtue (University of Notre Dame Press, 2007). Alasdair MacIntyre, Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry (University of Notre Dame Press, 1994). Luke Bretherton, Christianity and Contemporary Politics (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010). Hugo Rahner, Church and State in Early Christianity (Ignatius Press, 1992). N. T. Wright and Michael Bird, Jesus and the Powers (Zondervan, 2024). Pope Leo XIII, Rerum Novarum. Ha-Joon Chang, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You about Capitalism (Bloomsbury, 2012). Thanks to Jamie Maule for the post-production!
Oct 17, 2025 · 41 min
#85 - Christian Nationalism in Russia - with Cyril Hovorun
Is Christian nationalism the proper term for what is happening in Russia? What is unique about Putin's claims of civilizational superiority compared with western nations? What does orthodox theology offer into this mix that is distinct from Catholic or Protestant theologies? We talk with Cyril Hovorun to consider these and other questions in the next installment in our series on Christian nationalism.
Sep 22, 2025 · 52 min
Thick & Thin Types of Nationalism - with Nick Spencer
Stretchy definitions of ‘Nationalism’ can be a useful political tool, says Nick Spencer, senior fellow at Theos Think Tank. People can give a ‘thin’ definition while their actions suggest something ‘thicker’ and more like 19th century definitions. But all Christians want their country run according to Christian values, and no government can avoid having a coercive dimension. Nick gives us a vision of Christian engagement in politics that navigates through the tricky waters of coercion vs. persuasion and offers some much-needed wisdom in the conversation.
Sep 1, 2025 · 40 min
#83 Balancing Local & Universal: What Catholic Nationalism Teaches Us - with Colt Anderson
"It is a Catholic axiom that in order to lead someone away from error, you must recognize the truth that gives power to the error." Thus writes Professor Colt Anderson in Faith, Nationalism, and the Future of Liberal Democracy (University of Notre Dame Press, 2021). In this episode, we ask him how we can take that insight and use it to understand nationalism, especially Catholic nationalism. Anderson is clear that he thinks it is an error. But it also teaches us important things about the priority of the local. Thanks to Jamie Maule for sound engineering!
Aug 11, 2025 · 44 min
#82 Cruciform Political Power - with Mike Gorman
The power of the cross is weakness, according to the apostle Paul. How does that idea translate into the dog-eat-dog world of politics? In this episode we interview Dr. Mike Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary's Seminary and University. He shares the content of a forthcoming book which explores, among other things, what the apostle Paul might say to the christian nationalist movement. This is a link to the article by Barney mentioned in the episode: Love is Not an Executive Order. Thanks for listening!

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