Theology for the Curious

Pete Goulding
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Debating theology that makes sense of life and faith. A team of regular people discuss issues of theology, faith and life. Uncovering bible thinking from cutting edge, to conservative, to all things in-between. A lively debate show that gets you thinking, challenging the relevance of God, scripture and faith to today's contemporary outlook.

  1. 1d ago

    Ep. 181 - The Quiet Battles: Mental Health and Your Church! w/Steve Midgley

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! We all fight battles that other people can’t see. For some, it’s anxiety that never seems to quieten. For others, it’s the lingering effects of trauma, depression, grief or simply the relentless pressures of everyday life. Many Christians quietly wonder whether they should be coping better, praying harder or trusting God more. But what if those assumptions are part of the problem? What if the church could become a place where people no longer have to hide their struggles, but instead discover the hope of Christ through honest community and faithful care? In this deeply pastoral conversation, the Curious team sit down with pastor, counsellor and author Steve Midgley to explore how churches can respond to mental and emotional suffering with both biblical truth and genuine compassion. Together we discuss anxiety, stress, trauma, lament, the role of professional care, and how the gospel reshapes the way we understand suffering. Whether you’re walking through your own quiet battle, supporting someone who is, or simply wanting your church to become a place of greater grace and wisdom, this episode offers hope that is both realistic and deeply rooted in Scripture. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://bcuk.org https://www.cmf.org.uk What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Steve Midgley— Understanding Trauma Mental Health and Your Church Kelly M. Kapic— You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good News Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  2. Aug 11

    Ep. 180 - The Book That Won’t Go Away: Can We Trust The Bible? w/Prof. John D Woodbridge

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Can I really believe the Bible? How do I know it’s reliable? Many people say they believe the Bible—but what exactly are they believing? Is Scripture only trustworthy when it speaks about salvation, or can it also be trusted when it records history, geography and the events of the real world? In an age when confidence in truth itself is being challenged, the doctrine of biblical authority has once again become one of the defining issues facing the church. If the Bible is only reliable where we choose it to be, who ultimately becomes the final authority—God or us? In this episode, the Curious team sit down with internationally respected church historian Professor John Woodbridge to explore one of evangelical Christianity’s most significant debates. Together they examine biblical authority, inspiration, infallibility and inerrancy, unpack the famous Rogers–McKim controversy, and ask whether denying inerrancy has deeper theological consequences than many imagine. Whether you’re wrestling with difficult questions or simply want a deeper confidence in God’s Word, this conversation will challenge, encourage and equip you. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here for further reflection; https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/are-biblical-manuscripts-reliable/ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-you-can-trust-your-bible/ https://rts.edu/resources/how-we-know-we-can-trust-the-bible/ What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! John D Woodbridge— Biblical Authority: Infallibility and Inerrancy in the Christian Tradition Benjamin B Warfield— The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible Kevin DeYoung— Taking God At His Word  Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  3. Aug 4

    Ep. 179 - God, Beer and the Meaning of Life - Conversations with Tony - Necessity of Belief, Nature of God and the Problem of the Devil

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Do we actually need God, or have we simply learned to live without him? Is faith genuinely transformative, or is it merely a comforting story we tell ourselves? And if meaning matters, do we create it for ourselves or discover something that was already there? In this final conversation, Pete and Tony venture into some of life’s deepest and most uncomfortable questions: Why believe anything at all? Why this God and not another? Why should Christianity’s claims be taken seriously when so many religions make competing promises? We also step into the questions that often stop people in their tracks. What do we make of difficult passages in the Bible that speak of violence, slavery, and divine judgment? Why does evil seem so persistent, and what do Christians mean when they talk about the devil?  And perhaps most personally of all, if God is real, why does he often seem hidden? Why do so many sincere people search for answers and feel as though they find only silence? This episode doesn’t claim to settle every question, but it does invite listeners into an honest, open, and thoughtful exploration of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/the-hiddenness-of-god/ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/life-without-god-weird/ https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-problem-of-evil/ What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Timothy Keller— Making Sense of God Paul Copan— Is God a Moral Monster?  Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  4. Jul 28

    Ep. 178 - God, Beer and the Meaning of Life - Conversations with Tony - The Bible, Jesus and the State of the World!

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Who really wrote the Bible? Did God write it, did people write it, or is it somehow both? Can we trust documents that are thousands of years old, and why are there only four Gospels? Was Mary Magdalene a repentant prostitute, a devoted disciple, or have we misunderstood her altogether? And if Jesus is sovereign, good, and powerful, why does the world still seem so broken? In this episode of God, Beer and the Meaning of Life, Pete and Tony explore the reliability of the Bible, the person of Jesus, and the biggest questions raised by our troubled world. We wrestle with history, faith, and doubt, asking whether Christianity offers compelling answers or simply more questions. If you’ve ever wondered whether the Bible can be trusted, who Jesus really is, and why God appears silent amid suffering and chaos, pull up a chair and join the conversation. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://www.solas-cpc.org/can-we-trust-the-gospels-in-conversation-with-peter-j-williams/ https://redeemingtruthmedia.org/why-doesnt-god-just-come-and-fix-the-world/ What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Peter J Williams— Can We Trust the Gospels? Lee Strobel— A Case for Christ N T Wright— The Resurrection of the Son of God  Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  5. Jul 21

    Ep. 177 - God, Beer and the Meaning of Life - Conversations with Tony - What About the Tough Questions?

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Why is the Bible open to so many interpretations? Why do Christians only have these books in the Bible and not others? Is faith alone really enough—or is that just one religion’s claim among many? And what do we do with science, evolution, Adam and Eve, the flood, suffering, talking serpents, and people living for hundreds of years? In this episode of God, Beer and the Meaning of Life, Tony and Pete from the Curious Team tackle the questions that many people quietly wonder about but rarely ask out loud. We don’t pretend to have every answer, and we’re not afraid of uncertainty. Instead, we explore why these questions matter, what Christianity has historically said, and why wrestling honestly with difficult issues can sometimes lead not to weaker faith, but to deeper curiosity. If you’ve ever thought, “I believe… but what about this?”, this conversation is for you. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://frame-poythress.org/does-science-really-contradict-scripture-eleven-principles-for-apparent-tensions/ https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/why-would-a-good-god-allow-so-much-suffering/ https://biologos.org/articles/evolution-and-original-sin-the-historical-ideal-view What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Rebecca McLaughlin— Confronting Christianity John H. Walton— The Lost World of Genesis One  Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  6. Jul 14

    Ep. 176 - God, Beer and the Meaning of Life - Conversations with Tony - Why Are We Even Talking About This?

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Why are we even talking about God? It’s a fair question. In a world of deadlines, distractions, and endless entertainment, why spend an evening discussing faith over a pint of beer? Yet despite all our progress and technology, the big questions refuse to disappear. Why are we here? Does life have meaning? Is there something—or Someone—beyond ourselves? In the first episode of ‘God, Beer and the Meaning of Life’, Pete from the Curious Team sits down with his friend Tony, who isn’t a Christian but is curious enough to ask questions that many people think about but rarely say out loud. Together we explore where that curiosity comes from, whether belief in God is rational or merely emotional, and whether the God question actually matters at all. If God doesn’t exist, does it change anything? And if He does, could there be any more important question to ask? This isn’t a debate to be won or a sermon to be endured—it’s the beginning of an honest conversation about the questions that lie just beneath the surface of everyday life. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/what-scientific-proof-do-we-have-that-there-is-a-god/ https://activechristianity.org/from-atheism-to-christianity-how-i-know-god-exists https://philosophynow.org/issues/99/Does_God_Exist What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! C. S. Lewis— Mere Christianity Timothy Keller— The Reason For God  Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  7. Jul 7

    Ep. 175 - Help My Device is Killing Me! w/Dr. Felicia Wu Song

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! We have never been more connected, and yet many of us have never felt more distracted, hurried, and restless. Our phones sit beside our beds, our notifications interrupt our conversations, and our attention is constantly being pulled in a thousand directions. We can reach almost anyone at any time—but what might this perpetual connectedness be doing to our souls? In this episode, the Curious team sit down with sociologist and author Dr. Felicia Wu Song to explore the promises and perils of life in the digital age. Together we ask some unsettling questions: How is technology shaping our understanding of personhood, presence, and community? Why do so many of us struggle to be still? What happens when there is never silence, never solitude, and never a moment when we are simply present before God? While recognising the remarkable benefits of digital technology—education, support, and meaningful connections—we also consider its hidden costs and the practical wisdom needed to reclaim attention, recover deeper relationships, and cultivate spaces where our hearts can once again hear the voice of God. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here for further reflection; https://www.christianitytoday.com/podcasts/viral-jesus/felicia-wu-song-perils-of-digital-discipleship/ https://publicchristianity.org/podcast/the-year-of-getting-off-your-phone/ https://youtu.be/J71qzk_wMd4?is=TCwnKvZUt1go1QSW What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy!  Felicia Wu Song— Restless Devices – Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age Amy & Andy Crouch— My Tech-Wise Life: Growing Up and Making Choices in a World of Devices Samuel James— Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  8. Jun 30

    Ep. 174 - WHAT? Calvinism Isn’t Healthy? How Can That Be? w/prof. Ken Stewart

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Few theological labels generate as much heat—and as many misconceptions—as Calvinism. In this episode of Theology for the Curious, we sit down with historian and theologian Ken Stewart to discuss his insightful book Ten Myths About Calvinism and to separate fact from fiction when it comes to one of Christianity's most debated traditions. Is Calvinism simply whatever John Calvin taught? Must every Calvinist subscribe to TULIP as the ultimate test of orthodoxy? Does belief in God's sovereignty inevitably portray God as unloving, arbitrary, or selective in His affections? Together we examine some of the most common objections levelled against Reformed theology and ask whether they genuinely reflect what Calvinists have historically believed. We explore the perennial questions of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, wrestle with accusations that Calvinism undermines free agency, and consider whether doctrines such as election discourage evangelism, missions, prayer, or personal holiness. We also discuss the pastoral concerns often raised against Calvinism: Does it produce spiritual anxiety, fatalism, or doubt about salvation? Or can it, rightly understood, foster assurance, humility, confidence in God's grace, and zeal for gospel ministry? Throughout the conversation, Ken Stewart brings both historical depth and theological clarity, helping listeners understand how Calvinism has been caricatured, where legitimate criticisms should be acknowledged, and what a healthy, Christ-centred expression of Reformed theology should sound like in the church today. Whether you are convinced by Calvinism, sceptical of it, or simply curious about what it actually teaches, this episode offers a thoughtful and charitable exploration of one of the most influential streams within Christian theology. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/what-is-reformed-theology https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/does-calvinism-discourage-evangelism/ https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-does-a-sovereign-god-love What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy!  Kenneth J Stewart— Ten Myths About Calvinism  R C Sproul— Chosen by God Michael Horton— For Calvinism  Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

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About

Debating theology that makes sense of life and faith. A team of regular people discuss issues of theology, faith and life. Uncovering bible thinking from cutting edge, to conservative, to all things in-between. A lively debate show that gets you thinking, challenging the relevance of God, scripture and faith to today's contemporary outlook.

Information

  • Creator
    Pete Goulding
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    183
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Theology for the Curious
  • Show Website
    Theology for the Curious