The Natural Philosopher

Episode 31: Damn your denial and re-enchanting creation

In this episode, I condemn climate change denialism as a denial of the Christian valuing of truth. I also explore how we might re-enchant God's good creation and learn to see the divine presence in it.

Episode 30: Easter and the reconciling of all things to God

Easter sermons are often an appeal to individual repentance. But what if they described a bigger picture of new creation and God's reconciling all things to Godself?

Episode 29: Palm Sunday and climate refugees

Is Palm Sunday just a day of pious reflection, or is it a worthwhile thing to march for fairer treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. What if they have been displaced by climate change?

Episode 28: Australia's Overshoot Day and respecting limits

Australia ranks 12th in the date it uses its natural resource allowance for the year. What is the underlying logic of this that we need to repent of? How does an organization like Extinction Rebellion show the way forward?

Episode 27: Creation is sacred - understanding Genesis 1

Genesis 1 represents the divine defeat of the forces of chaos and the protological enthronement of God. Creation is sacred space. Likewise, the Sabbath day is the creation of sacred time. For the Christian, creation is sacred and should be treated with care.

Episode 26: Jesus appears to Mary. International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, I look again at John 20 and how in the project of the new creation how women have an equal standing with men.

Episode 25: The Day after tomorrow? The weakening AMOC

A recent paper has shown the overturning ocean circulation in the Atlantic is weakening due to climate change; it's weakest in over 1000 years. In this episode I explain why this is such a big deal.

Episode 24: Blues for a red planet: Mars, environmentalism, and faith

With the Perseverance mission just having landed on Mars, it's worth thinking about whether we should be exploring the planets while our own is suffering. Here I reflect briefly on issues such as money, exploration, technology, and the question of whether we are alone.

Episode 23: Pale Blue Dot: Carl Sagan, the bible, and ethics for the Anthropocene

Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot identifies the earth and humans as an insignificant speck in the universe, but encourages us to be kind to each other and care for the Earth. In this episode, I engage with his ideas theologically.

Episode 22: A very present help in trouble. Psalm 46 and ecotheology

Psalm 46 contains evocative language alluding to the Flood of Noah. This episode considers how we might apply this Psalm to thinking about ecotheology and the present ecological crisis.