All Matters of Life and Death articles
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ShowsUnion and communion: The Trinity demystified
In this episode of Matters of Life & Death, we tackle one of Christianity’s most misunderstood doctrines: the Trinity. Is the idea of one God in three persons just a theological puzzle for scholars, or could it transform our understanding of God and ourselves? Discover how reflecting on Father, Son, and Spirit might unlock new meaning and practical insight for daily Christian living.
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ShowsThe idolatry of Christian Nationalism, with John Heathershaw
This episode of Matters of Life and Death delves into the rise of Christian nationalism in Western politics. John Heathershaw, a Christian professor of international relations, unpacks whether longing for a “Christian nation” is helpful, harmful, or even idolatrous. The episode explores how Christians should engage in politics, what the gospel offers beyond national borders, and how faith responds to a world where power seems to triumph over principle.
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ShowsWhy did a good God create earthquakes and volcanoes? Suffering, creation and natural evil, with Prof Bob White
In this episode, Prof Bob White - renowned geophysicist and former director of the Faraday Institute - tackles some of the toughest questions at the intersection of faith and science. Why do earthquakes, volcanoes, and genetic diseases exist in a world made by a good God? Is suffering in nature a sign of a broken creation, or is there a deeper purpose behind natural disasters? Join us as we explore suffering, creation, and the challenge of “natural evil.”
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ShowsElijah or Obadiah: Should our Christian witness be prophetic, incarnational or both?
This episode explores the tension between being prophetic outsiders - standing apart from culture to call out evil - and incarnational insiders - engaging deeply to influence society for good. Drawing inspiration from the unexpected meeting of Elijah and Obadiah in the Old Testament, we ask: What kind of witness is most faithful to Jesus today?
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ShowsDon’t be afraid: The promise and the peril of AI in healthcare
This episode of Matters of Life and Death explores the rise of artificial intelligence in healthcare. While AI promises faster diagnoses and smarter tech, it also raises questions about the loss of human connection and compassionate care. How can Christian healthcare workers continue to embody Christlike presence as medicine becomes more machine-driven?
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ShowsEuthanasia for newborn babies, pagan philosophies and Christian witness in a post-Christian age
This episode explores the ethical and cultural challenges posed by proposed euthanasia laws for newborns in Canada. It examines the contrasting philosophies behind medical decisions for babies, the early church’s radical witness against pagan practices, and how Christians today can uphold the full dignity of every child in an increasingly post-Christian world.
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ShowsHow we all came to think science and religion were at war
This classic MOLAD episode features Nick Spencer, author of Magisteria, exploring the myth that science and religion are natural enemies. The conversation uncovers the complex history behind this idea, asks whether faith and science really need to be kept separate, and reveals the overlooked spiritual lives of some of history’s greatest scientists.
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ShowsA Womb in Limbo: Life Support, Law, and Medical Ethics
This episode of Matters of Life and Death tackles a controversial case from Georgia, USA, where doctors kept a brain-dead pregnant woman on life support for months so her unborn child could be born. We explore the ethical, legal, and emotional dilemmas this raises for families and medics.
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ShowsHealed by prayer: Should Christian doctors believe in faith healing?
A doctor listener has written in with a fascinating question about miraculous healing. It was clearly a major part of Jesus’s ministry in the gospels, and yet she has doubts despite prayer for healing becoming a larger and larger part of her church’s life.
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ShowsConspiracy theories, mRNA, covid and autism: Why do so many struggle to get on board with vaccines?
This episode examines the rise of vaccine scepticism, fuelled by figures like Robert F Kennedy Jr and pandemic-era hesitancy. It explores the evidence for vaccine safety, questions about side effects and rushed COVID rollouts, and asks why mistrust - especially among Christians - remains high, considering whether the church is particularly susceptible to conspiracy thinking.
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ShowsOne in five pregnancies: How we’re talking differently about miscarriage, and what that may mean for abortion
This classic Matters of Life and Death episode explores how society’s approach to miscarriage and baby loss has shifted toward greater empathy, and what that means for parents and churches. The episode also examines the contrasting ways we talk about abortion and baby loss, asking whether Christians should address these inconsistencies in advocacy.
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ShowsAI scepticism and the end of creativity, with Caleb Woodbridge
In this episode, we discuss these ideas with Caleb Woodbridge, an editor and writer who recently published an intriguing manifesto on how to maintain our humanity in the age of AI.
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ShowsThe Enhanced Games: Should we all want to become superhumans?
This episode explores the controversial Enhanced Games, where athletes can use any drugs or technology to boost their performance. As human enhancement moves from sci-fi to reality, the conversation unpacks ethical questions about biohacking, technology, and how Christian beliefs should guide our response.
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ShowsCan Christians work in the arms industry?
This episode tackles whether Christians can work in the arms industry and how to discern God’s will in tricky ethical careers. It also explores the unintended consequences of at-home DNA testing, reflecting on how Christians should navigate a world obsessed with genetics and family identity.
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ShowsThe new Pope, Catholic Social Teaching and a second industrial revolution
On his second day in office, Pope Leo XIV signalled that Catholic Social Teaching may be vital for today’s AI-driven industrial revolution, just as it was during the age of steam. Catholic theologian Luke Arredondo joins us to explore what this could mean for the Church and society.
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ShowsAbortion decriminalised (Part 2)
The rapid liberalisation of UK abortion law was shaped by precedent in Northern Ireland and accelerated by COVID-era telemedicine, leading to increased prosecutions for late-term abortions. As decriminalisation may soon become law, the pressing question is how Christians and the church should respond—through advocacy, prayer, or practical action to reduce abortion demand.
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ShowsAbortion decriminalised (Part 1)
Parliament has quickly passed a major reform decriminalising abortion up to birth in England, with little public debate or scrutiny. This episode explores how we reached this point, the history of abortion law in the UK, and what these changes mean, with insight from Dawn McAvoy of Both Lives.
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ShowsElizabeth Oldfield: Intriguing non-believers and life in intentional community
Elizabeth Oldfield discusses her new book Fully Alive, the growing curiosity about faith in today’s culture, and her experience living in a modern monastic community practising radical hospitality.
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ShowsWhatsApp, social media and smart devices: Persecution of Christians goes digital
This classic MOLAD episode explores how modern technology has added a new dimension to the persecution of Christians, with oppressive regimes and extremists using digital surveillance, social media, and smart devices to target believers.
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ShowsIs Christianity bad news for women?
This classic episode features Ellidh Cook, a student worker and theologian, discussing the perception of Christianity as “bad news for women.” She explores how faith can be life-giving for both sexes, the church’s challenges in supporting women, and what hope the gospel offers to modern, stressed, and exploited young women.
