The Happy Revolution

The Happy Revolution
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This podcast is hosted by Rayne Aldridge, Rachel Tovey, Mika Hervel, and Matthew Bartlett. We are students (and a chaplain) at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. We interview academics, activists, pastors, and public figures about their fields of knowledge and what brings them hope. Thanks to everyone who has made the podcast possible. Music: Toby Sussex. Logo: Adam De Jong. Production, editing, and show notes: Matthew Bartlett and Rayne Aldridge. This podcast is associated with the Christian chaplaincy at VUW Questions? Suggestions? aldridrayn@myvuw.ac.nz

  1. Aug 10

    Why Education Needs God with Dr. Ben Egerton

    This special episode is a recording of a recent talk by Dr Ben Egerton. Ben is the director of initial teacher education here at Victoria University, and a poet. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Rivendell Center for Theology at Yale University. The event was held at Ngā Mokopuna on Kelburn campus, and was the 2026 Ramsey Library Lecture. Some writers, thinkers and works Dr Egerton mentions: Gert BiestaTom Stoppard's play Arcadia Canon Mark OakleyFr Richard RohrGeorge McDonaldMary OliverDouglas CouplandJürgen HabermasAnne LamottTS Eliot, 'Choruses from the Rock'

    Why Education Needs God with Dr. Ben Egerton

  2. Apr 12

    An Orthodox Theology of Peace for Urkraine with Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun

    This special episode is a recording of a recent talk at Chaplaincy VUW by Professor Cyril Hovorun. Cyril is an archimandrite in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and teaches international relations at University College Stockholm. Having worked for a decade as personal secretary to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow — and having since been defrocked by him — Cyril speaks with unusual personal knowledge of the key figures and ideas driving Russia's theology of war. He traces the development of "sacred war" rhetoric in the Russian Orthodox Church, contrasts it with the Ukrainian search for a theology of peace, and draws on the Christological thought of Maximus the Confessor to argue that any genuine peace must be grounded in ethics and justice. The talk is followed by a lively Q&A session. Show notes Vsevolod Chaplin (1968–2020)— right-hand man to Patriarch Kirill The Theology of Maidan, Cyril Hovorun (Dec 2013) Aleksandr Dugin (1962–), Russian political theorist Carl Schmitt (1888–1985), German political theorist Paul W. Kahn, Political Theology: Four New Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty (2011) St Maximus the Confessor (~580–662), theologian Leontius of Byzantium (485–543), theologian Tertullian (155–220), theologian St Augustine of Hippo (354–430, theologian and philosopher

    An Orthodox Theology of Peace for Urkraine with Archimandrite Cyril Hovorun

  3. 09/24/2025

    Fine-tuning the Universe with Dr Luke Barnes

    “The best physics we know about, the deepest we've gone, looks for all the world like it's got fingerprints on it.” In this episode, Rayne and Matthew interview Dr Luke Barnes. Luke is an astrophysicist at Western Sydney University, and was in town to give a lecture called “Why does the universe appear fine-tuned for life?”. Dr Barnes is the arguably the world’s leading expert on the apparent fine-tuning of the universe, working on this from both astronomical and philosophical angles. As well as exploring that topic, we get into a bit of his life story, including growing up in a young-earth creationist church context; the problem of evil; the purpose of academic publishing; and the relationship between science and religious faith more generally. Show notes A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos — Luke Barnes & Geraint Lewis (2016) 'A Reasonable Little Question: A Formulation of the Fine-Tuning Argument', Ergo, Volume 6, No. 42, 2019–2020 Richard Swinburne, The Existence of God (1979)Does Cosmological Evolution Select for Technology?Jeffrey Shainline, Arvix 2019The Penultimate Curiosity: How Science Swims in the Slipstream of Ultimate Questions, Andrew Briggs & Roger Wagner (2016) The Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss , David Bentley Hart, ⁠(2013) Atheist Delusions: The Christian Revolution and Its Fashionable Enemies, David Bentley Hart (2009) The Cosmic Trilogy, CS Lewis (1938)

    Fine-tuning the Universe with Dr Luke Barnes

  4. 05/16/2025

    Religious Literacy, Secularism and the Study of Religion with Dr. Paul Morris

    In this episode, Rayne and guest-host Dr Michaela Richards chat with Emeritus Professor in the Study of Religion, Dr Paul Morris. Paul Morris talks with us about religious diversity and religious literacy, and the state of Religious Studies both globally and in Aotearoa New Zealand. Paul offers an incisive challenge to the ways in which we think about religion, secular privilege, and the role of religious inter-religious dialogue.

  5. 04/29/2025

    Hope is a Sewer Rat with Rev. Scottie Reeve

    In this episode, Rayne and Rayne chat with Rev. Scottie Reeve. Scottie is an Anglican priest located in Brooklyn, Wellington. He is the author of the book 21 Elephants and host of a podcast by the same name. This episode explores themes of faith, intentional Christian community, the risky business of following Jesus, and hope as an interruption to our lives and our current ways of being. While this episode was recorded over a year ago now, and therefore is a little outdated, the themes of hope remain relevant in seeking personal and social transformation.

  6. 03/31/2025

    Sources, Concept, and Practice of the Common Good with Nick Townsend

    In this episode, Rayne and Mika chat with Nick Townsend. Nick is an academic and theologian from England who specialises in Christian politics and ethics. The conversation covers the history of individualism in the West, Catholic Social Teaching and Christian ethics, and conceptualisations of the common good. Nick outlines the role of businesses, workers, governments, and citizens in forming and contributing to the common good, in order to build a society where everyone can flourish. References Laborem Exercens (1981) | John Paul IICCLA – common-good focused investment bankTogether For The Common Good (UK charity)Charles Taylor, Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity (1989)Lynn Stout, The Shareholder Value Myth: How Putting Shareholders First Harms Investors, Corporations, and the Public (2004)Nicholas Townsend, 'Blue Labour + Red Tory = Christian Democracy?' (2015)

  7. 11/04/2024

    Christian Witness in the Midst of Capitalism with Dr Jonathan Cornford

    In this episode, Mika and Rayne chat with Dr Jonathan Cornford. Jonathan is an economist, theologian, and ecologist from Bendigo, Australia. We chat with Jonathan about Christianity and the rise of capitalism, the failures of socialism, Christian economic ethics, and how to expand capitalist-free-zones. Jonathan considers what Christian witness in the midst of capitalism might look like, and how the Gospel is truly good news for everyone.  You can find more of Jonathan’s word at Manna Gum, including more resources on the intersections between economics, ecology, and theology.

  8. 10/21/2024

    The Global Evangelical Network that Ended the Slave Trade with Dr. Roshan Allpress

    In this episode, Mika and Matthew interview Dr Roshan Allpress, the principal of Laidlaw Theological College in Auckland. Roshan's book British Philanthropy in the Globalizing World was recently published by Oxford University Press. His research centres on the British evangelical networks of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, who were instrumental in ending the slave trade in the British empire and beyond, as well as pressing for numerous other social reforms inspired by their evangelical Christian faith. The conversation explores the complexity and compromise involved in achieving lasting social change within the ambiguous economic and power structures that shape our worlds.

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About

This podcast is hosted by Rayne Aldridge, Rachel Tovey, Mika Hervel, and Matthew Bartlett. We are students (and a chaplain) at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. We interview academics, activists, pastors, and public figures about their fields of knowledge and what brings them hope. Thanks to everyone who has made the podcast possible. Music: Toby Sussex. Logo: Adam De Jong. Production, editing, and show notes: Matthew Bartlett and Rayne Aldridge. This podcast is associated with the Christian chaplaincy at VUW Questions? Suggestions? aldridrayn@myvuw.ac.nz

Information

  • Creator
    The Happy Revolution
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Happy Revolution
  • Show Website
    The Happy Revolution