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. 6d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Jun 23

    Ep. 173 - WHAT? Pornography is a Christian Epidemic? How Can That Be? w/ Dr. Paula Hall

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Pornography is often spoken about as a problem "out there" in the culture, but what if the reality is much closer to home? In this candid and compassionate episode of Theology for the Curious, we sit down with sexual and relationship psychotherapist Paula Hall to explore one of the most significant yet often hidden challenges facing the modern church.  Drawing on years of clinical experience, Paula helps us understand why pornography use is as prevalent within Christian communities as it is outside them and why so many believers find themselves trapped in cycles of shame, secrecy, and repeated failure. We discuss the statistics that reveal the scale of the issue, challenge the assumption that this is a struggle limited to a small minority, and unpack the important distinctions between occasional use, problematic pornography use, compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, and addiction.  Along the way, we explore the psychological and neurological shifts that can move someone from recreational use to compulsive patterns, the role that emotional pain and coping mechanisms often play, and the profound tension many Christians experience between their values and their behaviour. Paula also helps us understand the difference between impulse control problems and genuine addiction, offering practical insight into how these issues can be identified and addressed.  We explore the often-overlooked impact on spouses and loved ones, discussing the pain, betrayal, and confusion that can accompany these struggles, and the liberating truth behind the "three Cs"—you can't control it, you didn't cause it, and you can't cure it. Yet this conversation is far from hopeless. We conclude by exploring Paula's framework for recovery and lasting change, offering a realistic but deeply hopeful vision for freedom, healing, and restoration.  Whether you are struggling personally, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking to understand this issue more clearly, this episode offers wisdom, honesty, and hope in equal measure. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://thelaurelcentre.co.uk https://fightthenewdrug.org/#the-issue https://www.covenanteyes.com 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!  Paula Hall— Understanding and Treating Sex and Pornography Addiction  Jay Springer— Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing  Michael John Cusick— Surfing for God   Patrick Carnes— Out of The Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction  Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  6. Jun 16

    Ep.172 - WHAT? You Can Repent After You Die? How Can That Be? w/prof. James Beilby

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! What happens to those who never heard the gospel? Is death the final boundary of human response to God, or might there be an opportunity for salvation beyond the grave? In this fascinating episode of Theology for the Curious, we sit down with Professor Jim Beilby to discuss his thought-provoking book Postmortem Opportunity: A Biblical and Theological Assessment of Salvation After Death. Together we explore one of the most debated questions in Christian theology: whether there is any possibility of salvation after death and how such a view differs from both universalism and the traditional understanding of eternal judgment. We examine key biblical texts often cited in the discussion, including the difficult passages of 1 Peter 3 and 4, where Christ is said to have proclaimed a message to the spirits in prison, and consider whether these verses suggest a postmortem opportunity for faith. At the same time, we wrestle with passages that appear to teach the finality of death and judgment, such as Hebrews 9:27 and Luke 16. Along the way, we discuss the theological, pastoral, and moral implications of the debate: if another opportunity exists after death, what becomes of the urgency of repentance and evangelism today? How should Christians understand the reality of hell, divine justice, and eternal separation from God? Whether you find Beilby's proposal persuasive or problematic, this conversation will challenge you to think deeply about the character of God, the scope of salvation, and one of the most profound questions facing Christian theology. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode…. https://www.equip.org/PDF/JAJ773.pdf https://bibleq.net/answer/6803/ https://growrag.org/2019/03/28/a-brief-contra-to-the-possibility-for-post-mortem-salvation-with-reference-to-new-testament-teaching/ 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!  James Beilby— Postmortem Opportunity  Ed: Stanley Gundry and Preston Sprinkle— Four Views on Hell  D A Carson— The Gagging of God   Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  7. Jun 9

    Ep.171 - WHAT? God Reprobates People? How Can That Be? w/Peter Sammons

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! Few doctrines generate as much discussion, discomfort, and debate as the doctrine of reprobation. In this episode, the Curious team sit down with theologian Peter Sammons, author of ‘Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty’, to explore one of the most challenging questions in Christian theology: if God graciously chooses some unto salvation, what does that mean for those who are not chosen? Together they discuss the crucial distinction between preterition and double predestination, wrestle with Romans 9 and the hardening of Pharaoh, examine divine love, justice, fairness, and human responsibility, and consider how concepts such as concurrence and compatibilism seek to explain God’s sovereignty without making Him the author of evil. Along the way, Peter offers both biblical and pastoral reflections on how Christians can approach these weighty truths with humility, confidence, and worship. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here for further reflection; https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/double-predestination-biblical https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/doctrine-of-reprobation/ https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/predestination-what-does-mean-non-elect 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 Sammons— Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty  R C Sproul— Chosen by God  John Piper— The Justification of God Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

  8. Jun 2

    Ep.170 - WHAT? Human Will Isn’t Free? How Can That Be? w / Scott Christensen

    Click here to text us your thoughts and questions! What does it really mean to be free? If God is sovereign over all things, are our choices genuinely ours? And if human beings are unable to choose God apart from divine grace, how can they be held responsible for their actions? In this episode, the Curious team sit down with theologian and author Scott Christensen to explore some of the most challenging questions in theology and philosophy. Together they unpack the nature of the human will before and after the fall, the meaning of freewill, libertarian freedom, determinism and compatibilism. They discuss why we do what we do, whether our desires shape our choices more than we realise, and what it means to say that we are free to choose what we want, but we’re not free to choose what we choose! Along the way they tackle difficult questions about God‘s justice, human responsibility, and whether accountability can exist without ultimate self—determination. Whether you are wrestling with these issues for the first time or have studied them for years, this conversation will challenge assumptions and deepen your understanding of one of theology’s most endurable debates. Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here, some of which may not fully capture the convictions of the Curious team, but in the interest of balance they are included; https://www.renewingyourmind.org/2026/03/04/what-is-free-will https://learn.ligonier.org/podcasts/ultimately-with-rc-sproul/do-we-have-free-will https://www.christianity.org.uk/article/predestination-and-free-will 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! Scott Christensen— What about Free Will? Reconciling Our Choices with God's Sovereignty R C Sproul— Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will Edited by David and Randall Basinger— Predestination and Free Will – Four Views of Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom 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
    179
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Theology for the Curious
  • Show Website
    Theology for the Curious