Content warning: This conversation touches on the topics of rape, sexual assault and spiritual abuse, so please do look after yourselves.

Alongside her teaching and ministry work, Beth supports victims and survivors of abuse within churches and is involved in the development of the Church of England Redress Scheme. Here she talks about her own experience of abuse and points to some of the things we can be doing to make our church communities safer.

Resources

The Pieces Join: Navigating Faith, Trauma and Recovery (Canterbury Press)

4.2. Spiritual Abuse - Church of England Safeguarding e-manual

Coming up

We’re thrilled to announce our next series launches on Monday 9 November. We’re putting our resident biblical scholar, Dr Charlotte Naylor Davis, through her paces as we dive in the Bible. What exactly is it? Why is it so hard to read? And if it’s so hard to read, why is ‘just read your Bible’ sold in churches as the answer to all of life’s great problems?

Each month there’ll be a conversation and a Q&A so get your questions ready for this one.

About A God We Could Believe In:

A frank and honest look at Christianity as we find it today. We’re examining the things the church says and does that are embarrassing, confusing or even downright offensive. In other religious contexts, your questions might be forbidden but not here. So whether you’re a lifelong churchgoer with the scars to prove it, or you’ve never entered a church and are just interested in the debate, this is a safe space for you.

New episodes are released every other Monday.

Support the project by sharing it widely and join our Substack community for bonus episodes and reflections at agodwecouldbelievein.substack.com.

Stay in touch

Email: agodwecouldbelievein@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/agodwecouldbelievein

Instagram: www.instagram.com/agodwecouldbelievein

Tom and Simon explore the vexed question of ‘What is left of God after deconstruction?’. He shares the story of his own deconstruction journey and why love is the central idea that has shaped his faith ever since.

About Tom

Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. He is a best-selling and award-winning author, having written or edited more than forty books. Academic Influence ranks him among the most influential theologians in the 21st century and he has recently published part one of three volume book series: A Systematic Theology of Love.

Tom directs doctoral programs at Northwind Theological Seminary and directs the Center for Open and Relational Theology. He is known for his research and writing on love, open and relational theology, science and religion, evil and power, and the implications of freedom and relationships for transformation.

Links:

* Buy your copy of A Systematic Theology of Love: Volume 1

* Watch SEER on YouTube

* Follow Thomas Jay Oord on Substack

* Check out Tom’s website

Coming Up:

Recording for our next series is now underway! Expect to see that in your podcast feeds from this Autumn.

About A God We Could Believe In:

A frank and honest look at Christianity as we find it today. We’re examining the things the church says and does that are embarrassing, confusing or even downright offensive. In other religious contexts, your questions might be forbidden but not here. So whether you’re a lifelong churchgoer with the scars to prove it, or you’ve never entered a church and are just interested in the debate, this is a safe space for you.

Support the project by sharing it widely and join our Substack community for bonus episodes and reflections at agodwecouldbelievein.substack.com

Stay in touch

Email: agodwecouldbelievein@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/agodwecouldbelievein

Instagram: www.instagram.com/agodwecouldbelievein

Back in March, we welcomed Revd Dr Helen Paynter to the Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds to question just how Jesus would ‘Unite The Kingdom’, a reference to the rallies held in London by Far Right figurehead Tommy Robinson, the second of which took place just this weekend.

In this talk she explores the ways that groups are fusing Christianity with nationalism, ethnic identity, and anti-immigration rhetoric in ways that threaten liberal democracy and distort the message of Jesus. She then points to some ways that Christians can engage with these groups from across the political divide without resorting to the same hostility and power-driven politics.

About Helen:

Helen is the Director of the Centre for the Study of the Bible and Violence in Bristol, has written and edited several books on Christianity and extremism, and has recently edited a volume titled ‘The Church, the Far Right and the Claim to Christianity’.

Coming up

Our next live Café Theologique event is taking place on Thursday 4 June and features Professor Thomas Jay Oord on the topic of ‘What’s left of God after deconstruction?’. Space is limited and tickets are going fast so if you’d like to join us, book your place asap.

About A God We Could Believe In:

A frank and honest look at Christianity as we find it today. We’re examining the things the church says and does that are embarrassing, confusing or even downright offensive. In other religious contexts, your questions might be forbidden but not here. So whether you’re a lifelong churchgoer with the scars to prove it, or you’ve never entered a church and are just interested in the debate, this is a safe space for you.

Support the project by sharing it widely and join our Substack community for bonus episodes and reflections at agodwecouldbelievein.substack.com

Stay in touch

Email: agodwecouldbelievein@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/agodwecouldbelievein

Instagram: www.instagram.com/agodwecouldbelievein