Elections, democracy and the rise of nationalism

Welcome back to season five! Jo Frost and Peter Lynas return, exploring what it means to be human in 2024.  

In this first episode, Jo and Peter are chatting all things elections, democracy and nationalism. With four billion people headed to the polls this year, how does the God story affect our engagement with politics? From Taiwan and India to the Trump vs Biden rematch and our own issues on domestic soil, this is shaping up to be a big year.  

This season we’re going to be using the Being Human Lens, which focuses on four core aspects of humanity: significance, connection, presence, and participation, as a framework to help think through these big issues. Amongst divisive issues like abortion and Israel-Palestine, the concerning rise of Christian nationalism and the votes of young people in the UK – is it possible for our connections, place, and participation to play a positive role in our lives and politics? We’re asking how we as followers of Jesus can model a better story when it comes to disagreeing well and being others-orientated, as well as exploring some everyday spiritual habits to help us follow the way of Jesus as we engage with our democracy.    

Part 1 (00:00)  
00:00 Welcome to season five: exploring what it means to be human in 2024! 
01:41 This season, we are taking the big issues of our day and looking through the Being Human Lens to understand how we form and shape our humanity. 
03:24 With four billion people heading to the polls this year, lets deep dive on elections, democracy, and nationalism. From Taiwan and India to the Trump vs Biden rematch and our home soil: the elections we can anticipate this year.  
09:53 Refresher: what is the Being Human Lens? How might we use it to understand our world?  
12:26 Israel-Palestine, US polarisation and exploring significance in divisive political landscapes. How might an identity in Christ affect our engagement in politics?  

Part 2 (20:37) 
20:54 Connection in democracy: building coalitions and community amidst a society that emphasises the needs of the individual above others.  
28:58 Nationalism and migration – is it possible for place and presence to play a positive role in our lives and politics?  
36:36 As Christians, how might we creatively and compassionately participate in democracy beyond just voting? 
42:30 Intercessory prayer, digital abstinence, and hospitality: everyday spiritual habits to help us grow into the likeness of Jesus as we engage with politics.