Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs

Revs Jamie and Daniel get together to discuss the fallout from England's final loss at Euro 2020: Is the UK systemically racists or is this the work of Chinese Twitter Bots? We also talk about the latest movements towards a Covid-19 biostate in England and much more so in France. We cover latest developments in Church of England news, including a large "Thank You NHS" flag draped upon an altar in a building in Tenterden, Kent. And finally we assess the possibility of humans marrying robots within the next thirty years.Our Scripture this week is Psalm 121.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:Marcus Rashford "overwhelmed" as hundreds gather at mural for anti-racism demo Church to apologise for expulsion of Jews from medieval EnglandMacron's Covid CrackdownIt's time to rebel - the Church of England is abandoning its flockSupport the show

Special episode in which Tom and Jamie take on some very interesting questions: Can I be a Christian without the Church? How do we cope with all the pain and suffering in the world? What about that Marian theology? Is there a rapture? Is there salvation outside of Christ?If you would like to send in questions for a future episode, please email us as irreverendpod@gmail.com!Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Jamie and Tom begin with a profound rumination on comedy and contemporary culture before delving into the serious issue of a Labour MP's attempt to introduce abortion up to term for any reason in the UK. We discuss the latest Covid-19 news, including a helpful blog that may assist you or loved ones in climbing down from the fear. We finish up with a discussion of the Church of England's General Synod's plan to plant 1,000 churches in the next ten years and a very moving email of the week.Our Scripture this week is Psalm 139.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comLinks:Right to Life News - Attempt to introduce abortion on demand, for any reason, up to birth failsDaily Mail - Britain won't return to normal until at least next SPRING: Chris Whitty warnsiNews - Local lockdowns could still be imposed after Covid ‘freedom day’ if new variants emerge, Sajid Javid revealsLockdown Sceptics - Pro-Lockdown SAGE Advisor Stephen Reicher Thinks Caring about Freedom is SelfishCoronababble - The 3-Step, COVID-Propaganda Detox PlanChurch Times - Synod to discuss target of 10,000 new lay-led churches in the next ten yearsArchbishop Cranmer - ‘Key limiting factors’: the end of stipendiary parish ministrySupport the show

In this special episode, Jamie sits down with New York based software engineer and cultural commentator Carbon Mike to talk about the general state of things. Topics include gain of function research in the Wuhan lab, Malthusianism and its influence on current affairs, the social and biological catastrophe of lockdowns, the religious significance of the Covid-19 vaccination project, technocracy, the relationship of the state to "science" and the Great Reset and other ostensible conspiracy theories.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

In one of the most significant twists in the Covid-19 story to date, this week the Health Secretary Matt Hancock was exposed by The Sun newspaper as having an affair with an aide in breach of his own social distancing guidelines. Hancock tried to cling on but eventually resigned and was replaced by Sajid Javid. We look at Matthew 23 and ask what Christ's denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees has to teach us about this sordid state of affairs.Before that we review the more positive stories of the week: England doing in well in football! Cycling being interesting (for Tom)! And, of course, the great freedom march that happened in central London on Saturday June 26th. A wonderful time was had by all!Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Revs Jamie and Daniel get together to discuss recent affairs such as the elite's seeming contempt for their own Covid-19 rules and the MOD's government briefing paper on "augmented humanity". We also compile a pretty solid reading list of relevant dystopian novels.Our Scripture this week is taken from Genesis 11, the story of the Tower of Babel. We talk about how this story relates to our contemporary political world encompassing themes of utopianism and a denial of nature as created by God.Notices:Thanks to our Patreons! Support us from £1.50 plus VAT per month: https://patreon.com/irreverendIrreverend Weekly Sermon Audio: https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/IrreverendPodTelegram: https://t.me/irreverendpodEmail: irreverendpod@gmail.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMAcRZPstCujEN4p8dF_ClQOdysee: https://odysee.com/@irreverend:5Audio Podcast: https://irreverend.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

Revs Tom, Jamie and Daniel discuss the entirely unsurprising extension of the lockdown beyond June 21st, touching on the effects upon the NHS and the implications for weddings specifically. We also discuss the vaccine roll-outs and concerns around children's vaccination. We finish with something completely different (thankfully!).Our Scripture this week is taken from Ephesians 6:10-20, as Rev Daniel compares the shield of full armour of God to the contemporary shields of masks and PPE.Links:Dr Renee Hoenderkamp - We cannot allow our country to become a draconian dystopiaMartin Robinson - Wedding chaos caused by lockdown extensionBret Weinstein - How to Save the World in Three Easy Steps (video) and podcast versionNeville Hodgkinson - This untested vaccine should never have been released. The truth will out and heads will rollSteve Kirsch - Should you get vaccinated? Dr Ros Jones, Rev'd Dr William Philip, Rev'd Dr Jamie Franklin - The Pulse, Child Vaccination EthicsNotices:Thanks so much to all of our new Patreons! Your support is overwhelming and encouraging. If you would like to join our Patreon community, please go to https://www.patreon.com/irreverend. You can support us starting from £3 a month (plus VAT).If you would like to listen to our sermons, please have a look at our sister podcast, Irreverend: Sermon Audio at https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.com!Please email us at irreverendpod@gmail.com. Please also follow us on Twitter @irreverendpod, find our YouTube channel if you prefer video, find our Telegram channel by searching Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs into Telegram, and rate and review us on iTunes!Support the show

Laura Dodsworth joins Revs Jamie and Tom for the second half of this episode. Before that we discuss latest developments including identity politics in football and cricket, the lockdown probably not ending on June 21st, and a joint letter from Humanists UK and Churches Together urging as many people as possible to get vaccinated.We speak to Laura about her fantastic new book, A State of Fear, and all sorts of issues arising from it, including the Church's response, how to bring about reconciliation and healing and where we go from here.Our Scripture this week is taken from John 8:31-38, 44-45: the lies which enslave and the truth which sets us free.Notices:Thanks so much to all of our new Patreons! Your support is overwhelming and encouraging. If you would like to join our Patreon community, please go to https://www.patreon.com/irreverend. You can support us starting from £3 a month (plus VAT).If you would like to listen to our sermons, please have a look at our sister podcast, Irreverend: Sermon Audio at https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.com!Please email us at irreverendpod@gmail.com. Please also follow us on Twitter @irreverendpod, find our YouTube channel if you prefer video, find our Telegram channel by searching Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs into Telegram, and rate and review us on iTunes!Links:For Laura Dodsworth, find her website at www.lauradodsworth.com and follow her on Twitter @barereality.For Humanists and Christians: https://humanism.org.uk/2021/06/02/humanists-and-christians-urge-as-many-as-possible-to-get-vaccinated-against-covid-19/ and https://humanism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021-05-11-PG-Covid-19-vaccine-Churches-statement.docx.pdfFor Jamie's piece on ethical issues arising from Covid-19 vaccines: https://jamiefranklin.wordpress.com/2021/05/31/ethical-considerations-concerning-covid-19-vaccinations/Support the show

We're off on our hols this week, so we thought we'd put out our first ever episode on the Fear of Death from all the way back in October 2020. We hope you enjoy going with us right back to the beginning of the podcast and look forward to being with you properly again next time!Notices:Thanks so much to all of our new Patreons! Your support is overwhelming and encouraging. If you would like to join our Patreon community, please go to https://www.patreon.com/irreverend. You can support us starting from £3 a month (plus VAT).If you would like to listen to our sermons, please have a look at our sister podcast, Irreverend: Sermon Audio at https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.com!Please email us at irreverendpod@gmail.com. Please also follow us on Twitter @irreverendpod, find our YouTube channel if you prefer video and rate and review us on iTunes!Support the show

Revs Tom and Jamie are joined by the Rev'd Dr Bernard Randall for the second half of this special episode. In this first half, we discuss John 3:16-21 and what it tells us about lies and truth in the modern world, Dominic Cummings' latest foray into public life, vaccine efficacy, how to pray, the "COVID pantomime", cognitive behavioural therapy and the NHS's "biggest data grab in history". In the second half, Bernard Randall tells us the story of how he was attacked and fired from his job as chaplain of Trent College for preaching a sermon on critical thinking and making up your own mind. And we discuss many of the implications of this sad turn of events.Notices:Thanks so much to all of our new Patreons! Your support is overwhelming and encouraging. If you would like to join our Patreon community, please go to https://www.patreon.com/irreverend. You can support us starting from £3 a month (plus VAT).If you would like to listen to our sermons, please have a look at our sister podcast, Irreverend: Sermon Audio at https://irreverendsermonaudio.buzzsprout.com!Please email us at irreverendpod@gmail.com. Please also follow us on Twitter @irreverendpod, find our YouTube channel if you prefer video, find our Telegram channel by searching Irreverend: Faith and Current Affairs into Telegram, and rate and review us on iTunes!Links:https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/13/nhs_data_grab/https://christianconcern.com/news/school-chaplain-reported-to-terrorist-watchdog-for-sermon-on-identity-politics/ Support the show