Tent Talks with Dr Stephen Backhouse

Elizabeth Oldfield is the Director of the think tank Theos and the host of The Sacred, a podcast which attracts an astonishing array of diverse people to talk about what they hold sacred in life.  More about Elizabeth and her work can be found HERE Has anything we make been interesting, useful or fruitful for you? You can support us by becoming a Fellow Traveller on our Patreon page HERE

Shane Claiborne heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks who are committed to living "as if Jesus meant the things he said." Amongst other things we talk about nationalism, capital punishment and his project turning guns into gardening tools.  You can find out more about Shane HERE. Read, sign, and endorse Christians Against Christian Nationalism HERE. Has anything we make been interest...

Graham Singh is the founder of director of the Trinity Centres Foundation, an exciting venture bringing new communities to life through their old religious buildings. He is also the rector of St. Jax, an Anglican Church in the heart of Montreal, and a friend to Tent Theology. Indeed, you cannot find an older friend. Fun fact: he made up the name! You can find out more about Graham and the work of...

Steve Bell is a singer, songwriter, poet, teacher and a living legend in the music industry. He joins the Tent to talk about making beautiful things during an ugly time, rediscovering the gospel, and what he did (and did not) learn from protest folk rocker Bruce Cockburn. We also talk about the political theology running throughout his latest album, "Wouldn't You Love to Know". You can find out mo...

For people obsessed with spiritual warfare, they are crucial concepts. But have you ever noticed how deeply political demons, angels, Satan and the Sons of God are? Now you will. Has anything we make been interesting, useful or fruitful for you? You can support us by becoming a Fellow Traveller on our Patreon page HERE .

Guli Francis-Dehqani is the Bishop of Chelmsford and the first ever Bishop for Housing in the Anglican Church. She is a priest, a theologian and a leading advocate for displaced persons, refugees and migrants, herself having been forced to flee her own native land following the Iranian Revolution in 1979. You can find out more about her work and life HERE and HERE. Has anything we make been intere...

Jesus told his disciples to buy a sword, so clearly that means his followers should amass handguns, stand their ground and drop nuclear bombs. Right? Time to take a look again at Luke 22. For information on 'The Sermon on the Mount' Tent Spring School see HERE or email info@tenttheology.com Has anything we make been interesting, useful or fruitful for you? You can support us by becoming a Fellow T...

Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. Oord is a best-selling and award-winning author, having written or edited more than twenty-five books. He directs a doctoral program at Northwind Theological Seminary and the Center for Open and Relational Theology. A twelve-time Faculty Award-winning professor, Oord teaches at institutions around the globe. O...

Friend of the show Justin Barringer ("The Business of War") comes back to the Tent to help us address common questions which arise whenever anyone tries to tell Christians about Jesus. You can find out more info about Justin and his books at: http://www.rogueminister.org/ For information on 'The Sermon on the Mount' Tent Spring School see HERE or email info@tenttheology.com Has anything we make be...

Dr. Melody Green is the Dean of Urbana Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Christianity and Culture, where she often teaches courses on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, or the Inklings. She joins the podcast today to discuss the political dimensions of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, especially within The Lord of the Rings. You can find our more about Urbana Seminary (where you'll find the classes s...

'Love your enemies' is not hard to understand but it is hard to do. The first of a series of sessions considering lethal and non-lethal violence and the mental gymnastics Christians go through to enthusiastically exempt themselves from the way of Christ. For information on 'The Sermon on the Mount' Tent Spring School see HERE or email info@tenttheology.com Has anything we make been interesting, us...

Archbishop Justin joins the Tent to talk about the powerful force of the NIMBY, the gospel of good neighbourhoods and what he says when people query whether a guy who lives in a palace can comment on the housing crisis. More about the Archbishop's Commission on Housing, Church and Community HERE .  For information on 'The Sermon on the Mount' Tent Spring School see HERE or email info@tenttheology....

Dr Graham Tomlin is the Bishop of Kensington and a commissioner for the Archbishop's  Commission on Housing, Church and Community, which can be found HERE.  Graham's latest book "Why Being Yourself is a Bad Idea" can be found HERE For information on 'The Sermon on the Mount' Tent Spring School see HERE or email info@tenttheology.com Has anything we make been interesting, useful or fruitful for you...

Brian has been a pastor longer than he has been an adult. He is the author of many brilliant books and is a leading light in the movement away from American Christian Nationalism. He joins the Tent to talk about his life, work, and the recent movie made about his book 'Postcards From Babylon'.  More about Brian HERE and you can watch 'Postcards From Babylon' HERE For information on 'The Sermon on...

It is a truth universally acknowledged that God appoints leaders. Hmmm. Has anything we make been interesting, useful or fruitful for you? You can support us by becoming a Fellow Traveller on our Patreon page HERE .

Kathi and David Peters are Americans who grew up with impeccable conservative christian pedigrees. Yet somewhere along the line the wheels fell off their patriotic evangelical wagon and they had to learn a new Way. They are filmmakers and their latest work is "Postcards from Babylon", a documentary based on the book of the same name by Brian Zahnd. The film tackles head-on and close-up the reality...

Revd Dr Sharon Prentis is all about enriching the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves. She joins the Tent to talk about the state of theological education, recruiting and training clergy from all walks of life, and how to set spaces to talk about race and ethnicity within our church circles. She wants us create places of peace, not just for ourselves but for other people. Along the way we as...

The second series of Followers of the Way launches with a look at the politics of prophecy, speaking truth to power and telling itching ears what they want to hear. And just what is the testimony of Jesus that is the spirit of prophecy, anyway? We are able to make a second season thanks to our patrons. You too can become a Fellow Traveller on our Patreon page HERE .

So. 2020. 'Nuff said? Stephen, Chris and Sean debrief the year, and reflect on the podcast journey so far. Turns out even Tents need a State of the Union from time to time. Lots of good stuff planned for 2021!  Thanks to all our dear listeners and patrons for keeping us going. You too can become a Fellow Traveller on our Patreon page HERE .

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Tent Theology This track and more like it can be found HERE

“Most people come to rough areas to ‘bring Jesus to the poor’ and then they are distressed to discover that he is already there and the poor already know him!” Aaron is the most culturally aware and widely read person you’ll hear this year. He is smart and kind and writes beautiful books of his own. He is co-national director of 24-7 Prayer Canada and has been known to lead teenagers on peaceful p...

“The Evangelical movement right now is like a cruise liner that has been hit by a bunch of torpedoes.” Political theologian Vincent Bacote wants to be part of a movement that not only proclaims good news, it performs good news.  Stephen sits down with Vince to be schooled in the ways of the politician and theologian Abraham Kuyper. We find out what drew Vince, an evangelical African American acade...

Based on his book 'Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas,' co-host Chris Marchand explores the social and political implications of Serving at Christmas.  Sean and Stephen join the discussion at 35:40.  This is the first of two episodes reimagining serving others at Christmas. Episode 2 will be available to Patreon subscribers, which can be found HERE . In the years to come Chris will be recording...

Putting the "theology" back into political theology with Lucy Peppiatt! Dr Peppiatt is the Principal of Westminster Theological Centre. She joins the Tent to talk with Stephen about all sorts of good things, including ways that trinitarian theology does and does not help us think about society and politics. You can find out more about Lucy, her teaching and her writing HERE You can find out more a...

A study of Mark 3:1-21. The conversation with Sean and Chris starts at 32:25. This is the fourth and final episode on the Gospel of Mark we are releasing on the podcast. For those who want to go deeper, the entire series on Mark is available to Patreon subscribers. You can become a Fellow Traveller HERE .