The Political Animals

Jonathan is joined by conservative commentator Gray Connolly for an examination of the good, the bad and the ugly of contemporary conservatism. They cover the traditional conservative understanding of government, authority, society, family, duty, inheritance and culture and the many libertarian (and populist) heresies perverting this understanding amongst so-called "conservatives."

John Milbank joins Jonathan for wide-ranging tour of political theology, contemporary secular politics, contemporary political problems, cultural decadence and the opportunities and challenges for a Christian contribution to our contemporary political malaise.

John Milbank is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Nottingham. He is a co-founder of the radical orthodox movement and author of the seminal book, Theology & Social Theory: Beyond Secular Reason. His work traverses systematic theology, social theory, ethics, aesthetics, philosophy, political theory and political theology.

Knox Peden returns to the show to discuss his interesting, and by today's standard unusual, journey from secular intellectual influenced by Spinoza and Marx to practicing Catholic.

Dr Knox Peden is an intellectual historian who has taught philosophy and history at the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University and the University of Queensland. He has published widely on French philosophy and on a variety of topics in intellectual history, including Spinozism and Marxism.

Constantine Campbell joins Jonathan for a discussion of his provocative book Jesus v. Evangelicals: A Biblical Critique of a Wayward Movement. They discuss Penal Substitutionary Atonement, the hierarchy of evangelical sins, megachurch culture, Evangelical social and political engagement and more.

Jonathan is joined by sociologist Kristina Stoeckl for a deep dive on the Russian Orthodox Church, tracing its complex journey from repression under Soviet communism to support for Vladimir Putin and source of an orthodox nationalist state ideology.

Sociologist John Carroll joins Jonathan for an examination of the decline of Western culture. They discuss the failure of humanism to find meaning on the big metaphysical questions in a post-Christian world, the importance of archetypes and their transmission through a canon of great literature, the way that popular culture has replaced high culture, and why that might be a good thing (it's more conservative than people realise), the role of universities in the decline of Western culture and what is wrong with young people today, plus more!

Mario Baghos joins Jonathan for a conversation about the symbolic and sacred function of ancient cities and the decline and mutation of this function in modern cities.

Michael Bird returns to the show for a discussion about secularism. Jonathan and Michael cover the Christian origins of secularism, why it is in the interests of religious people to have a secular government, the threat to the secular compact by militant secularism and the inimical impact of the contemporary perversion of genuine secularism.

Michael Jensen joins Jonathan for an exploration of the ins and outs of Sydney's unique, and influential, brand of Anglicanism. The conversation covers the historical origins of the Sydney diocese and its distinct character, controversies surrounding the chasuble, lay presidency (administration) and women in ministry, as well as Sydney Anglican politics (ecclesial and secular), and whether Sydney Anglicans (and other Evangelical Anglicans) can, and should, remain part of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Katherine Mangu-Ward joins Jonathan for a conversation about libertarianism. They explore the role of reason and free markets in the libertarian philosophy, the role and legitimate scope of government, progress towards libertarian goals over the 20th century, the tension between libertarianism's future-oriented optimism and conservatism's past-oriented pessimism about the future, the libertarian perspective on the contemporary Left and Right in America, the culture wars and why Christians are finding libertarianism increasingly attractive.

Jonathan is joined by historian Judith Brett for a conversation about the history of liberalism in Australia. They explore the impact of 19th century liberalism on Australian politics and identity, the political struggle between liberalism and the Labor movement in the 20th century, the idea of the 'moral middle class' and its support for the Liberal Party in the early and mid-20th century, the changing demographics and economy of Australia and their impact on liberalism and the fortunes of the Liberal Party.

Journalist Bernard Lane joins the show for a conversation about gender clinics and the way that political ideology, activism, social phenomena, medicine and mental health intersect in the treatment of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria.

Intellectual historian Wayne Hudson returns to the show for a discussion of his recently published book, Beyond Religion and the Secular: Creative Spiritual Movements and Their Relevance to Political, Social and Cultural Reform (Bloomsbury, 2023). Wayne and Jonathan ponder what religion has to offer humanity in advanced technological societies (a question posed in the book), and along the way explore Wayne's critique of the concept "religion," the role of the Enlightenment in the problematic category of "religion," false ontological and epistemological assumptions underpinning contemporary critiques of "religion," problematic dualistic notions of "religion" and the "secular," problems with the new concepts of "post-religion" and "post-secular" and the positive and essential role of spirituality to the processes of human evolution and our future as a species.

Jonathan is joined by Simon Kennedy for a discussion of Yoram Hazony's celebrated 2022 book, Conservatism: A Rediscovery. They focus on the the contrast Hazony draws between conservatism and liberalism, with particular emphasis on conservative and liberal epistemologies, the role of public religion, the failure of liberalism and the the influence of neo-Marxist ideas in contemporary Western culture and institutions.

Jonathan is joined by fellow conservative podcaster Josh Lewis for a discussion about the evolving realignments on the American Right in the wake of the political earthquake that was (still is) Donald Trump. They explore conservative philosophy, fusionism, the rise of nationalist populism, the state of American culture, the place and role of America on the global stage, the Right's loss of faith in the American project and finding hope amidst a profound and pervasive sense of conservative failure in the US. 

Host Jonathan  is joined by Dan Paterson, a pastor, apologist and evangelist, for an exploration of the challenges and opportunities to introduce young people to the Christian good news in a culture now characterised by widespread ignorance of Christianity and growing hostility towards the faith, yet crying out for meaning.

Martyn Iles joins Jonathan for a wide-ranging conversation about the wisdom of Donald Trump making another presidential bid, the moral equivocation among sections of the Right over Putin's invasion of Ukraine, the need to move on from the trauma of Covid, but also to learn lessons from mistakes in the response, and why Christians need to adjust to living in a modern version of Babylon.

Author and political commentator Gerard Henderson joins Jonathan for a conversation about B.A. Santamaria and the seminal political moments in Australia history that he was involved in. Drawing on his personal recollections of knowing and working with Santamaria, as well as the three books he has written on this "most unusual man," Gerard tells the story of communist influence in the trade union movement and Santamaria's efforts to combat it through "The Movement," the Labor Party split and Labor Party leader Bert Evatt's efforts to lay the blame at the feet of Santamaria and Victoria's catholics, the creation of the Democratic Labor Party, as well as the role of Archbishop Daniel Mannix and Santamaria as tribal Catholic leaders in an age of anti-Catholic sectarianism.

Jonathan is joined by Gary Chartier for a critical dialogue about his forthcoming book, Christianity and the Nation-State: A Study in Political Theology. The book provocatively contends that states are fundamentally illegitimate and dangerous, notwithstanding many Christian attempts at justifying their existence, and that they can be replaced with a stateless world constituted by multiple forces of independent, self-organising, overlapping associations.

Jonathan is joined by Anna White-Atkins for a deep-dive on the Uniting Church from the perspective of its Evangelical pastors and congregations. They explore the good, the bad and the ugly of the Uniting Church and the commitment of its Evangelical members to work for its renewal.

With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the accession to the throne of King Charles III, Jonathan engages in a friendly debate with legal philosopher Joshua Neoh about Australia's constitutional monarchy and its republican alternatives. Joshua outlines his case for monarchy per se, and the British monarchy specifically, followed by Jonathan outlining his case for a minimalist republic. The conversation covers the role of the British monarchy in the Australian constitution, its symbolic force, the changing nature of Australian culture and its evolving relationship to the United Kingdom, the dangers of a popularly elected head of state and the way that different political theologies might lead to the embrace of monarchism or republicanism.

Jonathan is joined by economist Dr Gordon Menzies for a deep dive on neoliberalism. They discuss the concept of free markets and the logic of extending free market thinking to aspects of human life that are not obviously economic. They examine and evaluate the neoliberal economic reforms of the 1980s, including floating the dollar, trade liberalisation and privatisation. They explore the causes of the global financial crisis and the role of neoliberalism in the near collapse of the financial system and the policies employed to deal with it. They discuss poverty and the purported role of neoliberal economic policies in generating, or failing to ameliorate, poverty. And they close with a discussion about the likely moral and economic consequences of a libertarian utopia based on a society organised primarily by market forces. 

Holly Lawford-Smith returns to the show for a discussion about her new book, Gender-Critical Feminism (OUP). Following a quick tour of significant developments in the transgender space since Holly and Jonathan last spoke (December, 2021), the pair delve into gender norms, including their connection to sex, distinction from identity, cultural and political significance, the balance of nature versus nurture in gender differences, whether women can genuinely enjoy and embrace gender norms of femininity, the gender-critical feminist critique of liberal feminism, the problem with intersectionality and woke feminism and the place and role of men in the feminist movement. 

In this episode, Jonathan is joined by Prof Greg Melleuish for a conversation about conservatism in Australia. They explore the dominant liberal tradition in Australian history and the place of conservatism in that tradition, the reasons why the language of conservatism emerges late in Australian political history, the general conservative nature of Australian settler culture, the evolution of the Liberal Party of Australia into a party with liberal and conservative wings and the recent influence of American conservatism on the developing conservative movement in Australia.

Greg Melleuish is Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Inquiry at the University of Wollongong, where he teaches Australian politics. He has written widely on Australian political thought and is the author of Cultural Liberalism in Australia, Despotic State or Free Individual and (with Dr Stephen Chavura) The Forgotten Menzies.

How did "Almighty God" come to be mentioned in the preamble to the Australian Constitution? Why and how did a whole provision (s116) find its way into the constitution setting out the Commonwealth's legislative powers in relation to religion? And what are the states' powers to establish religion and pass other laws relating to religion? Jonathan discusses these questions and much more with constitutional scholar Dr Ben Saunders in this episode of The Political Animals.

Ben Saunders is an Associate Professor at Deakin Law School. His principal areas of research interest are constitutional law, the history of federation, and law and religion. Ben also has over ten years of professional experience working in private practice and advising the Victorian and Commonwealth governments on constitutional law and human rights.

Sociologist Ruth Powell joins Jonathan for a conversation about religion and spirituality in contemporary Australia. They discuss the recent historic census which saw those identifying as religious drop below 50%, demographic trends within different Christian denominations, the growth of non-Christian minority religions, the surprising and growing interest in Christianity among younger generations and what surveys are telling us about spirituality and its connection (or disconnection) with religion.

In a first for the show, Jonathan hosts two guests. The topic? Woke theology. The trio explores the definition of woke theology before embarking on a critical engagement of three articles characterisable as woke theology: one on queering Jesus, one in feminist Christology and one on whiteness and Jesus. The three conclude with a discussion of how best to respond to woke theology.

Dr Jacqueline Service is Lecturer in Systematic Theology in the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University. Her research focuses on Trinitarian theology, divine ontology and human well-being. She is on the editorial board of the journal Religion and Development and is a board member of Micah Australia.

Dr Amy Erickson is Lecturer in Theology and Ethics in the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University. Her research interests include figural hermeneutics, ecclesiology, Sabbath and church discipline. She has a PhD in Theology from the University of Aberdeen and is a native of Texas.

Dani Treweek joins Jonathan for a conversation about the place and role of sex and sexuality in contemporary Western cutlure. They examine Carl Trueman's work on the rise and triumph of the modern self, including expressive individualism, the psychologised self and the politicisation of sex. They then pivot to the place of marriage and singleness in the church, particularly against the backdrop of a culture so intent on defining humans by their sexual desires and encouraging their actualisation.

Jonathan is joined by economist and theologian Paul Oslington for a wide-ranging discussion on the intersection of economics and theology. The conversation begins with Adam Smith, the great father of economics, with a particular focus on his idea of the invisible hand and its allusions to providence. The conversation covers the reception, misreception and new (theological) reading of Smith, plus the virtues and limitations of free markets, the idea of capitalism, wealth and the theological roots of economics.

Professor Paul Oslington has PhDs in economics (University of Sydney) and theology (University of Divinity). He currently works at Alphacrucis College, is a visiting fellow at the Australian National University and a Research Professor at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Charles Sturt University. He was previously a Professor of Economics at the Australian Catholic University and an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of New South Wales. He is currently working on a book for Harvard University Press on the history of economic thinking in the Christian tradition. 

Indigenous commentator Anthony Dillon returns to The Political Animals for a conversation about the mooted Indigenous voice to parliament and other aspects of the evolving culture around the place of Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia, including welcome to and acknowledgement of country, the idea of cultural safety, reconciliation, cancel culture in relation to Indigenous issues and the evolving language used to describe Aboriginal, now First Nations, Australians.

Intellectual historian Sarah Irving-Stonebraker joins the show for a conversation about the history of religious liberty, exploring the emergence and development of the concept from its first explicit usage by the third century church father Tertullian to its more recent secular evolution towards the present. Key moments in the history of religious liberty are covered, including the medieval period, the Reformation, colonisation, the American constitution and the French Revolution, conscientious objection and the Australian context. 

Dr Sarah Irving-Stonebraker is Senior Lecturer in History at Western Sydney University and co-editor of the Journal of Religious History. She was awarded her PhD in History from Cambridge University (2007) and has been an Assistant Professor at Florida State University and a Junior Research Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford University. Her first book, Natural Science and the Origins of the British Empire (Cambridge), was awarded The Royal Society of Literature and Jerwood Foundation Award for Non-fiction. She has two current book projects: Forgotten Histories of Religious Liberty in Australia, 1788- Present and The Death of History and the Hope of Christianity.

Jonathan is joined by historian David Furse-Roberts for an exploration of the faith, political philosophy and political career of Australia's longest serving prime minister, Robert Menzies (over 18 years). They explore the Christian theological influences that shaped the faith of Menzies and his worldview, the way his Christian faith shaped his understanding of and approach to politics, society and civilisation, significant moments in Menzies' political career, particularly in the area of education, Menzies' liberal philosophy and the founding of The Liberal Party of Australia, and the contemporary fight over Menzies' legacy on the centre right in Australia today.

Intellectual historian Wayne Hudson rejoins the show for a fresh look at the thought and impact of Karl Marx. They look at Marx's philosophy of freedom, the German intellectual tradition in which Marx arose, Marx's view of utopia, the negative impact of eschatology in Marx's thought, his poor philosophy of history and politics, his reception (or misreception) in Russia, China and the West, the Christian engagement of Marx, Marxist corruptions of Marx's thought, and the relevance of Marx to a critique of contemporary capitalism.

Wayne Hudson is an adjunct professor at Charles Sturt University, the Australian National University and the University of Tasmania. He is a world authority on the philosophy of East German Marxist philosopher Ernst Bloch and author of The Marxist Philosophy of Ernst Bloch (1982) and Reforming Utopia (2003). He is also the author of The English Deists: Studies in Early Enlightenment (2009), Enlightenment and Modernity: The English Deists and Reform (2009), Atheism and Deism Revalued (2014) and Australian Religious Thought (2016). 

In this episode, Jonathan talks to bioethicist Ben Mitchell about transhumanism. They discuss the origins, philosophy and goals of the transhumanist movement, the movement's desire for a post human future, the impact of technology on the human being, including the possibility of uploading consciousness to a computer, or merging the human brain with technology, and finally what it actually means to be human.

Prof Ben Mitchell recently retired after serving ten years as the Graves Chair of Moral Philosophy at Union University, Jackson, Tennessee. He taught ethics at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, where he also served for a time as director of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity. He has served on the NIH Human Fetal Tissue Research Ethics Advisory Committee, been a consultant with the Center for Genetics & Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University and currently serves as Distinguished Fellow of the Tennessee Center for Bioethics & Culture.

In this episode, Jonathan tackles Anglicanism with recently retired Anglican bishop and theologian Stephen Pickard. They explore Anglicanism's long struggle with unity, through the prism of history, ecclesiology, theology, Scripture and the pressures, tumult and anxieties of contemporary secular culture, in relation to both the national church in Australia and the Anglican communion globally.

The Rt Rev Prof Stephen Pickard has served as an Assistant Bishop in the Anglican dioceses of Adelaide and Canberra-Goulburn and held many positions in the church and academy, including director of St Mark's National Theological Centre and Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture at Charles Sturt University.

Political campaigner James Flynn joins Jonathan for a conversation about the techniques, tactics and strategies of contemporary political campaigning, followed by analysis of the recently concluded federal election in Australia.

James Flynn has run 19 campaigns across federal, state and local levels, including House and Senate races in the most recent federal election. He has served as an advisor to ministers and MPs across all levels of government and has worked in business (tech sector).

Jonathan is joined by astrophysicist Dr Frank Stootman for a discussion about the relationship between Christianity and Science. They cover the origins of the universe, young earth creationism, the place of Scripture in science, fine tuning, the multiverse, Darwin's theory of evolution, change and diversity in nature, naturalism, subjectivism and the rise of science scepticism amongst Christians.

Dr Frank Stootman is a retired Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Western Sydney. He is Director of L’Abri Fellowship in Australia: a place where people can receive hospitality and work through questions related to Christianity. He has taught extensively in Australia and internationally on the relationship between Christianity and science.

Jonathan is joined by biblical and systematic theologian Graham Cole for a discussion about men, women, the Bible and the church. They explore complementarianism, egalitarianism, Male headship and the place of women in the church according to the Bible and theological doctrines such as the Trinity. They also discuss the views and applications of these doctrines in different institutional settings, including the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Moore Theological College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Graham Cole is Emeritus Dean and Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Chicago, US. He was previously the Anglican Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, US, Principal of Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia, and has lectured in Christian thought at Moore Theological College, Sydney Australia, and in the philosophy of religion at the University of Sydney. He is the author of many books, including He Who Gives Life: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit; God the Peacemaker: How Atonement Brings Shalom; The God Who Became Human: A Biblical Theology of the Incarnation; Against the Darkness: The Doctrine of Angels, Satan and Demons; and Glorification: An Introduction.

In this episode Jonathan talks to Dr Mark Durie, author of The Qur'an and Its Biblical Reflexes: Investigations into the Genesis of a Religion. They explore the theological relationship between Christianity (and Judaism) and Islam, with a particular focus on explaining the large presence of Biblical material in the Qur'an and whether this constitutes theological continuity or discontinuity. The pair also discuss the implication's of Mark's thesis that Islam constitutes a theological innovation rather than a continuous development from Christianity for inter-faith dialogue and pluralism in Western liberal democracies.

This episode covers all things euthanasia, from the origins and drivers of the pro-euthanasia movement, to the medical, social, cultural, economic, political, legislative and ethical circumstances surrounding it. The episode, however, is much more than merely a deep dive on euthanasia; it is an exploration of death, existential crisis and the way Western liberal democracies handle (and mishandle) the important role and function of death in the lives of its citizens.

Megan Best is an Associate Professor with the Institute for Ethics and Society at the University of Notre Dame Australia. She has a clinical background in palliative medicine and her research interests include spirituality in healthcare, existential suffering, psycho-oncology, and whole person care and ethics at the beginning and end of life. 

Jonathan talks to strategist, author and former Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan about the war in Ukraine and the future of warfare. They discuss the current strategic, operational and tactical situation in Ukraine, failures of the Russian military, the role and future of the tank, the role of human will and cognitive ability in warfare, the role of technology, the significance of time management and exploitation in warfare, the critical role of failure and adaptation in the outcome of war, the multi-domain nature of modern warfare and the prospect of militaries enhanced by AI and robotic technology in the future.

Former Queensland Premier and Liberal Democrats Senate Candidate for Queensland, Campbell Newman, joins Jonathan for a chat about Australian politics and the 2022 Federal Election. They discuss Newman's decision to leave the Liberal Party and join the Liberal Democrats, the Liberal Democrats' Freedom Manifesto, libertarianism in Australia, differences between libertarians and conservatives on moral questions, the role of the media in contemporary politics and reflections on Newman's time as Premier of Queensland.

Intellectual historian Wayne Hudson rejoins the show for a discussion about atheism and modern philosophy. The discussion covers the history of atheism, shifts in its meaning over time and place, the purported role of the enlightenment in its rise, the difficulty of understanding what people actually mean today when they declare themselves to be atheists, common mistakes made by both atheism and theism, the failure of modern philosophy to make any serious advance in knowledge, the challenges facing theology in the 21st century and the role of science and mathematics in our understanding of reality.

Wayne Hudson is an adjunct professor at Charles Sturt University, the Australian National University and the University of Tasmania. He is the author of many books, including: The English Deists: Studies in Early Enlightenment (2009), Enlightenment and Modernity: The English Deists and Reform (2009), Atheism and Deism Revalued (2014) and Australian Religious Thought (2016).

Catholic theologian Matthew Tan joins Jonathan for a conversation about the contemporary face of Catholicism in Australia. They explore the breadth and depth of diversity in Australian Catholicism, its impact on Australian society, its relationship to Protestantism, popular perceptions and misperceptions about the denomination and new inter- and intra-ecclesial sectarian alignments in Australian Christianity generated by the influence of politics.

Lyle Shelton discusses the sorry saga that led to the dissolution of the Christian Democratic Party in NSW, the lessons to be learned from it and future strategies for Christians seeking to make a difference in the political arena. 

Historian Michael Gladwin joins the show for a conversation about the role and impact of Christianity on the European settlement and foundation of Australia. They look at the role of clergy in the early colonial period, the relationship between church and state and the cultural and political impact of Christians in the formation of Australia. They also discuss the failure of Australian historians to take proper account of the importance of religion in Australian history.

Dr Michael Gladwin is Lecturer in History at St Mark’s National Theological Centre in the School of Theology, Charles Sturt University, Canberra. A graduate of the Australian National University and the University of Cambridge, his research interests include the religious and cultural history of Australia and the British Empire. Michael is the author of Captains of the Soul: a history of Australian Army chaplains (2013) and Anglican clergy in Australia, 1788–1850: building a British World (2015). 

Terrorism scholar Kristy Campion joins the show for a deep dive on right wing extremism. Kristy and Jonathan cover the definition of right wing extremism, its history and its diverse ideologies, including white supremacism, ethnonationalism, Christian Identity, Odinism, Satanism, the sovereign citizen movement, Qanon and ecofascism. They also examine the anti-Islam ideologies of right wing terrorists Brenton Tarrant and Anders Breivik.

The Lowy Institute's Sam Roggeveen joins Jonathan to discuss the rise of Chinese military power, its implications for American power, the prospects of great power conflict in the Asia Pacific, scenarios regarding Taiwan, the American response to China's rise and the defence strategy and military configuration Australia should be pursuing in light of changed strategic circumstances in the region.

On the occasion of Australia's two year anniversary of its first confirmed case of Covid, Jonathan sits down with vocal government critic Kurt Mahlburg to review Australia's response.

Jonathan is joined by medical doctor and psychotherapist Carlos Raimundo for an exploration of the human capacity for violence in the name of political ideology. Carlos recounts his personal experiences of political violence during the "dirty war" in Argentina and the life long study of psychology, philosophy, theology and neuroscience it prompted in him in aid of trying to understand the human condition.

Dr Carlos Raimundo trained and worked as a doctor and surgeon in Argentina before moving to Australia in 1986 to work as a Baptist Pastor to the Spanish-speaking community of Western Sydney. He has practiced as a psychotherapist in both Argentina and Australia, studied theology under Francis Schaefffer, is the developer of the award winning psychodrama technology Play for LIfe, currently works as a leadership coach and trainer for the corporate sector and is researching the neuroscience of emotions, behavioural modification and relationships.

In this episode, intellectual historian Knox Peden joins Jonathan for a deep dive on cultural marxism. Along the way, they explore the intellectual history of marxism, including Western marxism, the political history of marxist revolutionaries, the Frankfurt School, critical theory, cultural studies, right-wing polemical uses of the term "cultural marxism" and the relationship (and tension) between today's progressive identitarian politics and marxist theories of class conflict.

In this throwback episode, Simon Kennedy joins Jonathan for a discussion of Roger Scruton's classic work The Meaning of Conservatism. In particular, they hone in on Scruton's conception of freedom and authority and its potential illumination in the current political turbulence of the covid era.

In this episode, political philosopher and gender critical feminist Holly Lawford-Smith talks to Jonathan about sex, gender and the conflict between the radical feminist movement and transgender activists. They cover gender critical feminism, the conflation of sex and gender, the impact of subjective gender identity on women and the law, biology versus identity, non-binary gender identity, the relationship between LGB and T in LGBT, the transgender movement and why our culture has proved so receptive to gender identity at the expense of sex. Holly also talks about how she came to be banned (for life) on Twitter and efforts to get her fired from her academic job at the University of Melbourne. 

Holly Lawford-Smith is an Associate Professor in Political Philosophy in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the University of Melbourne. She works in social, moral, and political philosophy, with a particular interest in feminism, climate ethics, and collective action. Most of her current research is centered on the conflict of interests between gender identity activism, on the one hand, and both women’s rights, and lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) rights, on the other hand. Her research can be accessed at https://hollylawford-smith.org. 

Alex Naraniecki joins Jonathan for a conversation about multiculturalism. Among other things, they discuss the origins of Australia's bipartisan policy of multiculturalism, how that policy morphed from a strategy for managing migrant integration to a celebration of cultural diversity, the Cronulla riot and its fall out, the role of law in successful multiculturalism, the reasons why multiculturalism has fallen out of public discussion, Australia's "thick" and "thin" culture, the intersection of multiculturalism and political liberalism and the potential threat of civilisational states on Australia's cultural cohesion and security.

Dr Alex Naraniecki is a researcher from the Institute for Ethics, Law and Governance at Griffith University’s Law Futures Centre. He did a post-doc at Deakin University on multiculturalism and is also a scholar of Karl Popper.

In this episode, Jonathan talks to American evangelical James Stamoolis about the evangelical movement in America, including its embrace of Trump, the loss of millennials, media constructs and distortions, the problem of defining evangelicals, cultural influence and its loss, the appeal of Trump, the need for evangelical revival and the myth of 1950s America.

Dr James Stamoolis has been a missionary, worked for the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students and the World Evangelical Fellowship, served as a dean at Wheaton college and was a senior vice-president and dean at Trinity International University.

Martyn Iles returns to the show for a chat about the challenges of being a Christian in an age of deep political anxiety, from the stresses of covid and the increase in government power and control over life and death to the new religion of secular political power and the attendant temptation of political Christianity.

In this episode, Jonathan chats to Kevin Donnelly about the degeneration of education. They focus on when, how and why education went into decline in Australia in both schools and universities, covering changes in pedagogy, the role of teachers, the purpose of education, the ideology of educators and academics, the corporatisation of the university and more.

Anglican minister and ethicist Andrew Errington joins the show for a discussion about vaccine mandates, vaccine hesitancy, freedom of conscience and churches. The discussion also covers the issues of vaccine mandates per se, the nature and function of contemporary liberal democracies, managing moral disagreements, the nature and purpose of Christian churches, the grounds upon which individuals can be excluded from church and safety considerations in the context of churches. 

Indigenous commentator Anthony Dillon joins the show for a discussion about indigenous affairs. Anthony provides a fresh perspective that is critical of what he calls "blacktivism," the grievance industry and the view that Australia is a racist country. Issues covered in the conversation include poverty, child abuse, incarceration, Aboriginal deaths in custody, indigenous incarceration rates, the infamous Bill Leak cartoon, Bruce Pascoe's Dark Emu and the fraught issue of Aboriginal identity.

In this intellectual snack, Jonathan reflects on Edmund Burke's conservative understanding of politics as the pragmatic art of managing human necessities within the constraints of human nature, and why we ought to be sceptical of abstract political thinking in that endeavour.

The Centre for Public Christianity's (CPX) Natasha Moore joins host Jonathan for a conversation about public Christianity. They begin with an overview of the work of CPX, before moving on to the question of how to define and understand public Christianity more broadly, particularly in light of Christian division, denominational particularity and an often uninterested or hostile secular public. They then take a close and considered look at Marilynne Robinsons's Pulitzer Prize wining novel Gilead as an example of public Christianity. This sparks an unexpected and interesting detour into gender before the pair return to the question of public Christianity to close out the show.

Ben Myers joins host Jonathan in this episode for a deep dive on the fascinating life, times and thought of John Milton (1608–1674). They cover everything from the English Civil War, regicide, political authority, republicanism, the Protestant Reformation, tyranny, censorship, theology, exegesis, the individual conscience, freedom, marriage and divorce, poetry and more. 

In this, the second episode in the show's two-part series on European philosophy, polymath guest Wayne Hudson and host Jonathan Cole discuss the contribution and legacy of French philosophy. The enigmatic, controversial and influential thought of Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze serves as a springboard for a wide-ranging diagnostic conversation about contemporary politics, culture and education.

Wayne Hudson is a Research Professor at Charles Sturt University. He is an intellectual historian and a social philosopher who works across the areas of philosophy, history, politics and religion. His research covers religious thought, utopianism and social reform, the Enlightenment and the postsecular. He is recognised as the English language expert on the Jewish German Philosopher Ernst Bloch and is also a leading historian of English deism. He delivered the first lectures on postmodernism at Oxford and taught philosophical anthropology for seven years at the University of Utrecht.

In this episode, the first in a two-part series on European philosophy, returning guest Prof Wayne Hudson examines the legacy of German philosophy. He explores the contribution of German giants Kant, Hegel and Schelling and explains the ways in which their thought has been misunderstood in the English-speaking world. He and host Jonathan then embark on a discussion about contemporary science and culture, civilisational decline, the cognitive evolution of the human being and the fate of humanity.

Wayne Hudson is a Research Professor at Charles Sturt University. He is an intellectual historian and a social philosopher who works across the areas of philosophy, history, politics and religion. His research covers religious thought, utopianism and social reform, the Enlightenment and the postsecular. He is recognised as the English language expert on the Jewish German Philosopher Ernst Bloch and is also a leading historian of English deism. He delivered the first lectures on postmodernism at Oxford and taught philosophical anthropology for seven years at the University of Utrecht.

Eminent constitutional scholar Nicholas Aroney joins host Jonathan in this episode for a wide-ranging discussion of life in the era of covid. They discuss the Australian Constitution, federalism, the legislative power of State and Territory governments, the legal basis of lockdowns and associated measures, legal challenges to lockdown measures, vaccine passports and mandates, the power of health bureaucrats, the place of death in our culture, the modern tendency to over-legislate and the impact of covid on our personal freedoms.

Rebecca Hilton joins the show in this episode to discuss the neglected history of women in the Australian Church through her doctoral research into the roles, contribution and identity of Australian Baptist Women 1882–1945. Tune in to learn about the remarkable women who drove missionary work, established and financed churches, preached, contributed to the suffrage movement and the intellectual life of the church.

Presbyterian pastor and blogger Nathan Campbell joins the show this week for an examination of social media. Nathan and Jonathan explore the formational effects of social media, its vices (and virtues), the nature of communication in the 21st century, the impact of social media on the church, society and politics, whether social media is a help or hindrance to the gospel and Nathan's own controversial role in the strange ecosystem of Christian social media.

In this special episode, host Jonathan talks to a young politically and theologically conservative Christian who is same-sex attracted and called to singleness. Jonathan's guest talks honestly and courageously about his struggle to come to terms with his sexuality and his faith growing up in a conservative Christian home and belonging to a theologically conservative church. In addition to the guest's personal story, they discuss the theology of same-sex attraction, conversion therapy, the ex-gay movement, Milo Yiannopoulos, the secular LGBTIQ movement and the contemporary church's attitude to same-sex attracted believers.

This week, returning guest Stephen Chavura joins host Jonathan for a deep dive on the political and cultural legacy of one of our age's most significant public intellectuals: Jordan B. Peterson. Has Jordan Peterson saved a generation of young basement dwelling deadbeat males from doom? Has he undermined the influence of ideological feminism? Is he one of the greatest theologians of the early 21st century? These are just some of questions Stephen and Jonathan explore in this appreciative tour of the Peterson phenomenon.

Dr Stephen Chavura lectures in history at Campion College and Dr Jonathan Cole is Assistant Director at the Centre for Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University.

This week, Jonathan discusses religious freedom with John Steenhof, principal lawyer at the Human Rights Law Alliance. John provides insight into the types of religious freedom cases he handles, the legislative situation regarding religious freedoms in Australia, the developing cultural climate that imperils the free practice of religious faith, the reasons secular society struggles to comprehend the importance of religious freedom and how the situation in Australia compares to that in America and elsewhere.

In this episode, Jonathan talks to social and political commentator Parnell Palme McGuinness. They cover Parnell's "small 'c' conservatism," Australian politics and society, the art of communication, the culture wars, cancel culture, objective truth, tradition and the social value of religion (even for the non-religious).

This week, Jonathan talks to Federal Liberal Member for Goldstein Tim Wilson. They discuss modern liberalism, conservatism, the same-sex marriage plebiscite, religious freedom and more.

Tim was elected to the federal parliament in 2016. He was formerly Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner and a policy director at the Institute of Public Affairs. He has also run his own business and served on major boards, including Monash University and Alfred Health. 

This weak Jonathan enters the "birdcage" to discuss the fate and fortunes of Evangelicalism in a woke world with Michael Bird. They explore the contemporary meaning(s) of the term "Evangelicalism," the politicisation and fragmentation of the Evangelical theological tradition and its place in a secular and hostile social context. Sidebars are aplenty in this rollicking conversation, including on the ABC, Q&A, the ACL, Margaret Court, Israel Folau, Cancel Culture, George Orwell's 1984, civic totalitarianism, the modern media, progressive Christianity and the meaning of Conservatism.

How did it come to this: the pornification of our society? Our children and youth now contend with peer sexual assault and sexual harassment at growing rates and disturbingly young ages. This week Jonathan sits down with Melinda Tankard Reist of Collective Shout for a very honest conversation about the widespread sexual dysfunction of our age and its catastrophic consequences for our children.  

Dave Pellowe is on the show this week to talk about the Church and State Summit that he founded and which has been the source of recent controversy. Articles in the Sydney Morning Herald and Eternity Magazine depicting Dave as a leading figure in a sinister Christian Right in Australia generated unprecedented debate and contention in the usually staid waters of Australian Christian political discourse. Dave discusses his interesting political journey, the origins, conception, aims and purposes of the Summit, the Christian Right and the controversial photo that recently (re)featured in an Eternity article in which Dave appeared with some Australian Proud Boys, one of whom is alleged to have made a white power symbol with his fingers.

This week, Jonathan sits down with Lachlan Macquarie Institute Director, Dan Anderson, to discuss the formation of Christian citizens and political leaders. What is Christian citizenship? What if anything makes it distinct from other conceptions of citizenship in contemporary Western liberal polities? Is politics a legitimate vocation for Christians? How does a political vocation relate to the church's core gospel mission, if at all? Join Jonathan and Dan as they explore these questions and much more. 

This week, Jonathan sits down with long time friend Richard Shumack to unpick the shocking revelations regarding the sexual misconduct of Ravi Zacharias, one of the biggest global evangelists since Billy Graham. Richard has an association with RZIM going back to 2005. He has worked on several RZIM projects, taught and conducted training on behalf of the organisation and has deep and longstanding friendships with figures throughout the organisation, including in the executive.

After discussing Richard's personal experience of RZIM, the way the organisation has handled the allegations against Ravi from the time they first arose to the report released by the Board on 9 February, where culpability lies in relation to the scandal, and what the future portends for RZIM, Jonathan and Richard embark on a wider discussion about Christian leaders behaving badly and what this says about Christianity in the 21st century.