The science, politics and theology

Megan and Michael welcome “ecotheologian” Mick Pope into the studio to talk about climate change. Recorded before Australia’s bushfire crisis worsened, this episode tackles big questions such as “is climate science watertight?” and “what’s more important – climate action or evangelism?”

Our hosts discuss the theology behind climate action and whether or not the church should get involved in this “political” issue.

Also in this ep, an exploration of 2040 – an Aussie hybrid feature documentary by award-winning director Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film). The film explores what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we put our minds to it now.

Links related to this episode: 

• Mick Pope’s books: A climate of justice: Loving your neighbour in a warming world; A climate of hope: Church and mission in a warming world (written with Claire Dawson); and All things new: God’s plan to renew our world
• New York Times article by Richard A. Muller: The conversion of a climate-change skeptic 
• Pope Francis’ letter on the environment and human ecology: Laudato Si
• Eternity article by Mick Pope: A letter to my fellow evangelicals about the environment
• Eternity article by John Sandeman: Climate change versus the Bible
• Example of recent media treatment of ScoMo’s Pentecostal faith relating to climate change: Scott Morrison’s religion and the bushfire crisis (Independent Australia)
• ABC News interactive article: See how global warming has changed the world since your childhood
• Christian Today article by Third Space’s David Robertson: What is the truth about the Australian bushfires?
• Religion Unplugged article on what US evangelicals believe about climate change: Why many evangelicals believe climate change is a hoax
• The Gospel Coalition article on how evangelism leads to care for the environment: Review: ‘Is God Green?’ by Lionel Windsor
• 2040 film

Get to know our guest

Dr Mick Pope – self-described “ecotheologian” – has a PhD in Meteorology from Monash University, and lectures in meteorology and climate. He is currently studying a master’s degree in theology and is Professor of Environmental Mission at Missional University. He is co-author of A climate of hope: Church and mission in a warming world, and author of A climate of justice: Loving your neighbour in a warming world and All things new: God’s plan to renew our world.

WHAT IS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT?

Less aggro, more conversation.

Is it even possible to have a deep discussion without it descending into chaos? Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du Toit think yes, and want to show the rest of us how to do it.

There’s plenty of things they disagree on: free will, feminism, where you should send your kids to school and what type of church you should go to. But there are also plenty of other things that they have in common. They want to talk about all these things with conviction. But they also want the conversation to be constructive. Tune in to find out if that’s possible.