We explain why we are launching a new podcast voice into the cyber-sphere. We also introduce something about ourselves individually, and in doing so share a little of how important shalom is for our own personal thinking and acting in today’s world.
After some introductory material, we begin the conversation at 1:15-2:20, with a quote from and comment on a quote from Yuval Noah Harari (‘21 Lessons for the 21st Century’, 2019), considering his claim that, in our current context (in the west), we face large-scale global challenges, but lack a comprehensive story for engaging those challenges—without a shared narrative we don’t know how to make collective sense of recognized challenges.
The global Covid-19 pandemic is then discussed (2:20-5:25) as an example of this story-less yet commonly-recognized challenge, including a quote from Edward Lorenz regarding the “butterfly effect” (on the BBC News Channel, Dateline London, 11:30 am, March 28, 2020; here’s a link).
We then turn (5:25-6:30) to our conviction that, in spite of the global challenges we face, and the lack of a shared story to frame these challenges, this might be the most exciting time to be Christian. There is a “space,” in the current cultural moment, for a new story, a new vision, to be put forward. And that is what we take the biblical notion of shalom to be (6:30-7:30)—an orienting vision for speaking into and “framing” our current moment.
Both Tim and Noel, the show’s host, identify as Christians, and both of them have come to a shalom vision or orientation for Christian faith out of fundamentalist/evangelical backgrounds, before moving into their current Anabaptist and “emerging” convictions. Though similar in various ways, there are also differences of age and experience, location and context, all touched on from 7:30-10:15.
As an introduction, the episode then moves toward a conclusion by touching on the range of topics the podcast hopes to explore (10:15-11:30), including both conversation about reflection and action—our posture of “contemplative activism”—along with some reference points that will keep coming up along the way (11:30-13:35).
Yes, I think this is the perfect start; brief, clear, pointing to the future. I too liked the weather chat at the end – a surprise, but relaxed and personal. I love the music too! I also like the use of pictures all around the site. Noel