Being Human

Being human in a networked world - Part 2 Are conspiracy stories the real pandemic of 2020? Stories like QAnon have spread with just as much vigor and speed as the novel coronavirus. What parables can Christians hear in recent events?    Mark Sayers, author, thinker, speaker, podcaster, and pastor from Melbourne, Australia, joins Jo and Peter for a two-part conversation around what it means to be human in the global network of connections we find ourselves in today.    Listen now to part two of our bonus episode.    Act I (00:00)  01:38 Why is QAnon gaining a global following when it is based on US politics?   08:12 In our age of information overload, we crave prophets and interpreters.    13:58 We are learning more about the power of community in the spread of ideas.    Act II (17:01)  17:12 The global church has an opportunity to offer better communities and stories.   24:15 Crisis elevates and exposes our insecurities and questions.    Act III (25:58)  26:08 How can Christians make sure this crisis moment isn’t wasted?  31:23 Let the British church be the British church, without copying others.  35:47 Churches are learning to “play chess without their Queen” and adapt strategies.   

S2E03: The problem is me What’s wrong with our world? What drives us apart? Things get gritty in this week’s episode of Being Human, as Peter and Jo wrestle with the conflict driving our story forward. We all seem to know something is off, but in the stories we listen to, what carries the plot along? If conflict is the engine, who is driving the car? Are we the heroes in the stories we tell ourselves, and if so, who is the villain? The God story surprises us with an inconvenient narrative. The real problem we feel isn’t outside us but comes right from within us. Sin deceives us with the poisonous idea that God cheats us, and we can do better without Him. This lie drives a wedge between us and God and between our fellow human beings as well. Join us as we consider how the God story gives us a more compelling explanation for the conflict in our heart and in our world.   Introduction (00:00) 00: 17 Welcome back! We’re still in lockdown. 01:55 All good stories have conflict.   Act I (05:17) 05:27 What is the conflict that’s driving our story forward? 09:25 How do we explain horrors like the holocaust? 12:57 In the stories we tell ourselves, are we the hero? Who is the villain?   Act II (16:17) 16:27 The real problem is not outside us but inside of us. 19:15 The original lie is that God is our problem. 23:43 The sin inside us has broken our relationships and our world.     Act III (25:55) 26:05 We are in danger of consuming new ideas faster than ever before. 28:01  The stories around us tell us that the problem is in someone else.

Being human in a networked world - Part 1 The COVID-19 virus has shown us all just how connected our world has become. Just like a tiny virus can spread across the globe, our connected societies have shown us that stories can travel with just as much speed and impact. Mark Sayers, author, thinker, speaker, podcaster, and pastor from Melbourne, Australia, joins Jo and Peter for a two-part conversation around what it means to be human in the global network of connections we find ourselves in today. Listen now to the first of two bonus episodes – part two out next week.   Act I (00:00) 00:20  Meet our guest, Mark Sayers. 02:45  The rate of change is accelerating with the internet and connectedness. 06:10  Globalisation is decentralising and fragmenting power, with surprising results.   Act II (10:05) 10:17  Stories are clashing more than ever in our connected world. 12:50  We are also becoming more suspicious and critical of our stories. 15:24  Cultural and personal narratives are much more fluid in our complex world. 20:00  We have a unique opportunity to live out a story in real-life community.

S2E02: Foundation stories What are the stories that we build our lives on? Are they strong enough for us to build our purpose, identity and behaviour upon?  Join us for a new episode of Being Human as our hosts Jo and Peter examine the different stories that are trying to frame the deepest parts of who we are. Some of the narratives promoted by public figures in our culture—from David Attenborough, to Marie Kondo, to Jordan Peterson—may offer some helpful advice or call us to do good and noble things. But underneath all of their “what?” and “how?” answers to our questions about being human, they leave us hanging and fail to provide a satisfying answer to the deepest “why?” questions. The opening to the God story was written to challenge other ancient foundation stories, and ultimately teaches us that humans are made in the image of God. We are earthlings made from the earth, and because we are part of God’s good creation, we matter. As God’s image bearers, we join him in caring for our fellow humans and the rest of God’s creation. Join us as we consider how Jesus brings order to the chaos and is the author of the only sufficient  foundation story for us to build our lives upon.   Prologue (00:00) 00:19  We’re back for episode 2! Recap of last week: Whose lives matter? 02:43  Introduction to foundational stories 04:28  The bigger Being Human project: rival stories about what it means to be human   Introduction (05:12) 05:12  Stories shape help who we are and how we view the world around us 06:51  Foundational stories: the stories upon which we build our lives   Act I (09:29) 09:38  Sir David Attenborough’s foundation story 14:55  Marie Condo, Jordan Peterson, and our responses to chaos 17:33  The cracks in our foundation stories are showing   Act II (18:47) 18:56 Our witness statement: the Biblical vision for a renewed humanity 23:19  Human beings in the image of God, earthlings from the earth 25:02  The foundational story that tells us why human beings exist   Act III (27:32) 27:42  Jesus brings order to our chaos and gives us purpose 29:25  Sometimes the God Story has been misused 31:05  The quest for control in a chaotic world and Sabbath rest

S2E01: Whose lives matter? Through the global pandemic, black lives matter and political crises, why does it feel like the protection and affirmation of human rights is a zero-sum game? Diving in at the deep end, Jo Frost and Peter Lynas are back for a new season of the Being Human podcast. In this episode we compare two very different stories that offer an answer to the question, whose lives matter? The world tells a story of ​“utilitarianism,” which claims that useful lives matter. Jo and Peter help us to start considering the serious flaws in this story and questioning its basic assumptions.  In the God story, we see a very different answer to the question, whose lives matter? Human lives matter because they are all created in the image of God. Even more importantly, God gave human life unspeakable dignity when he himself took on humanity in the person of Jesus Christ.  Join us as we consider the discipleship opportunities for this intersection God’s story and the world’s story.    PROLOGUE (00:00) 00:18 Welcome back! What have we been up to over break? 03:24 We’re back for season 2 and launching the Being Human website 04:53 Introductions: Who are your hosts? Peter Lynas and Jo Frost INTRODUCTION (05:33) 05:33 Episode Intro: Whose lives matter? 10:44 What are the stories we tell ourselves? ACT I (12:44) 12:56 What are the world’s stories about whose lives matter? 16:27 The story of utilitarianism 19:23 What are the main flaws of this idea? ACTII (26:24) 26:37 What does the God Story tell us about which lives matter? 29:03 The image of God in Jesus Christ and his new humanity 32:06 Wrapping it up: How is Jesus encountering our cultural moment? 34:52 What are some discipleship opportunities for us?

Being Human in lockdown; special edition. Peter and Jo are back! With a series of specials looking at the effects of the coronavirus crisis on the fundamental questions we ask about who we are and how we are to live. In this episode we look at dignity and the value of life.

Episode 8: I'm only human after all. Jo and Peter, separated thanks to the coronavirus, chat through the series so far. Reflecting on some of the bigger stories we've looked at, from Love Island to China, from Augustine to Donald Trump we are asking what does being a person of freedom look like when we live through times of extreme restriction. As well as looking back, we also look forward to conversations we have planned for Being Human; image, identity, relationship and purpose are all in our future. And what a future it is!

Episode 7: Free speech. Through issues surrounding no platforming, cancel culture, Donald Trump and hospitality, Peter and Jo discuss many of the stories that have been hitting our news feeds recently. Exploring the idea of freedom of speech, and the role of control, we chat about how we can extend hospitality to those we disagree with.

Episode 6: Freedom, justice and jubilee. Jo and Peter discuss stories and ideas around the massive ideas of forgiveness, reconciliation, power and retribution. With a minor diversion to tech and social media and some misquoting of the Bible, we look at the intractable relationship between freedom and justice, issues of the misuse of power in places like Myanmar and how poverty feeds injustice. We look at the impact of focusing on Jesus at the centre of our story, and how understanding jubilee can be about the proclamation of justice to others.

Episode 5: Freedom, liberalism and democracy. Jo and Peter geek-out exploring the critical role of the public square. From Reith lectures, through pelagianism, with a brief stopover with Harry and Meghan, to Tim Farron and the current state of political parties. Throughout it all we're asking "Is liberal democracy under threat and should we care?"