Being Human

Who wants to live for ever: Heaven, Mars or life in the cloud?

In the season six finale, Jo Frost and Peter Lynas explore the major cultural shifts shaping our view of the future. From Bryan Johnson’s anti-aging pursuits to Elon Musk’s space ambitions, they unpack what these stories reveal about our hopes and fears. The episode also delves into AI’s growing influence on politics and society. Jo and Peter contrast these secular visions with the Christian narrative - one rooted in hope and purpose. They close with practical tips - using simplicity and Sabbath rest as ways to stay spiritually grounded in an increasingly fast-paced and uncertain world.

00:00 Introduction and Opening Thoughts

00:18 Welcome and Podcast Overview

01:23 Exploring Hope, Progress, and the Future

03:02 The Myth of Progress and Cultural Shifts

07:33 Health, Longevity, and Technological Advances

12:34 AI and the Future of Humanity

15:13 Transhumanism and Technological Utopias

19:52 Cultural Reflections and Influences

29:35 Christian Perspective on Hope and Eschatology

33:34 The Importance of Eschatology

34:46 Misconceptions About Heaven and Earth

35:46 Living in the Now: Balancing Faith and Life

38:33 The Practice of Sabbath

40:47 Simplicity and Submission in Discipleship

Related links:

1. 'My ultimate goal? Don't die' - Bryan Johnson article in The Guardian, 14 September 2023
2. Elon Musk’s Space X Mars & Beyond : https://www.spacex.com/humanspaceflight/mars/
3. More on TESCREAL https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TESCREAL
4. Netflix’s Black Mirror
5. Justin Brierley in conversation with Anthony Bradley: Why men are returning to church.
6. Emily Maitlis interviews Charlie Brooker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV1iF9wMS0g

Help! How do we disciple all these new Christians?

In this week’s episode, Jo Frost and Peter Lynas explore the urgent issue of the 'discipleship deficit' amidst the growing number of young people coming to faith. They discuss the challenges of discipling in a complex world with its constant changes in cultural values and societal shifts.

The conversation delves into the need for new methods of discipleship to bridge the cultural disconnect and align with the gospel's teachings.

The discussion highlights the importance of community and worship while suggesting Biblical practices like digital abstinence to navigate this transformative time. They pull on threads from the gospels and early church practices and provide insights for today’s church to better support this exciting rise in spiritual interest.   

 

00:00 Introduction: The Missional Moment

00:30 Welcome to Being Human

01:53 Exploring the Discipleship Deficit

04:03 Cultural Shifts and Their Impact

07:22 The Role of Community in Faith

11:19 Discipleship in a Complex World

18:33 Jesus' Encounters and Lessons

25:22 Practical Steps for Discipleship

33:03 Conclusion

Why Is Gen Z Finding Jesus?

In this episode of Being Human, hosts Jo Frost and Peter Lynas discuss the increasing interest in Christianity among Gen Z and young men, exploring the profound cultural and spiritual shifts underlying this trend. They highlight the rising curiosity in faith, supported by empirical data and real-life stories.  

Delving into the intellectual journeys sparked by public figures like Jordan Peterson and Russell Brand they look at how these influences shape individuals' exploration of Christianity. They also examine how these cultural shifts align with biblical narratives, emphasising the importance of witnessing and interceding.  

The episode concludes with practical advice for anchoring spiritual growth in daily practices and fostering a supportive community for new believers. 

 

00:00 Introduction: The Growing Interest in Faith 

00:38 Exploring the Cultural Shifts 

01:31 The Quiet Revival: Is It Real? 

02:41 Focus on Young Men and Gen Z 

05:35 Public Figures and Faith 

09:21 Generational Trends in Faith 

14:27 The Role of Intellectuals and Public Discourse 

19:14 Biblical Stories and Their Relevance 

28:41 Witnessing and Intercession 

35:24 Conclusion 

 

Links to items discussed 

1. The Rest Is History Podcast 
2. Joe Rogan interviews Wesley Huff, January 7, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwyAX69xG1Q 
3. The Times, Gen Z survey January 25, 2025 
4. Bible Society report, ‘The Quiet Revival’ April 2025:  https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival 
5. Dominion – Tom Holland.  
6. Giles Coren article in The Times, This Lent I will turn atheism into ashes  
7. The Best of Friends – Phil Knox 

The vibe shift is coming for us all

Join Jo and Peter in a new episode of Being Human as they reflect on the concept of the 'vibe shift' and its far-reaching effects on today’s cultural and social dynamics. They explore real-life examples from changes in corporate culture and political realignments to the evolving ways people express their faith in public. Through their discussion, they emphasise the importance of grounding oneself in scripture and liturgy to navigate these shifting cultural landscapes, offering a stable foundation in Jesus. Tune in for an engaging exploration of how to live truly and fully human in today's ever-changing world.

 

00:00 Introduction: Cultural shifts

00:30 Welcome to Being Human

01:20 Exploring the Vibe Shift

03:21 Cultural Examples of the Vibe Shift

14:23 Faith and the Vibe Shift

26:15 Practices for Navigating in Changing Times

 

Links mentioned

Santiago Pliego: pliego.substack.com/p/vibe-shift

Alison P. Davis New York Magazine article: A Vibe Shift Is Coming. Will any of us survive it? www.thecut.com/a-vibe-shift-is-coming

Unpacking Freedom: Cultural stories and biblical practices

Jo and Peter return to unpack freedom, chatting through insights on the topics of free speech, social justice and asking if it's okay to stop others from exercising their freedom to protect your own.

Explore the dynamic exchange between Jo Frost and Peter Lynas as they delve into cultural conversations and biblical practices to explore what freedom, faith, and being truly, fully human looks like today in our latest podcast episode! Tune in for an engaging discussion that resonates with current debates and timeless truths. 

00:00 Introduction: Absolute freedom is a myth  

00:33:  JD Vance and free speech 

01:35:  What is freedom?  

02:12:  Freedom and Individualism  

06:58: Are our freedoms under threat? 

07:03: Coercion and Assisted Suicide 

10:57: Freedom in the Digital Age 

13:42: Biblical Perspective on Freedom 

25:41: Christian Practices for Freedom 

Being Human in the chaos of Trump, tech bros and global crisis

In the first episode of the Being Human podcast season six, Jo Frost and Peter Lynas dive into the widespread feeling of chaos in today's world, exploring its implications on personal, cultural, and societal levels. Chatting through the different cultural stories, from politics to technology that contribute to this sense of chaotic madness, they pull on the threads of the God story to help us make sense of what’s happening and ask how practices such as fasting, hospitality, and worship can bring order and peace.  

Time stamps 

00:00 Introduction: It’s a mad, mad world 

00:47 Exploring Cultural Stories 

01:55 Understanding Chaosity 

04:08 Global and Technological Chaos 

10:48 Personal and Community Chaos 

13:24 Biblical Perspective on Chaos 

25:54 Christian Practices for Order 

36:10 Conclusion and Call to Action 

Health and wellness

In the final episode of the season, hosts Jo Frost and Peter Lynas discuss the intricate relationship between health, wellness, and what it means to be truly, fully human. Exploring the cultural stories that shape our view of health and wellness, they delve into topics such as nutrition, sleep, body image, and mental well-being.

As with all episodes in this season, Jo and Peter use the Being Human lens to analyse these aspects through the aspects of presence, significance, participation, and connection. They highlight the cultural contradictions surrounding health and wellness and emphasise the importance of community, hospitality, and generosity for a holistic and healthier life. Practical applications like fasting, simplicity, and hospitality are recommended to cultivate wholeness and better health.

00:00 Season Finale Announcement

01:13 Today we’re chatting health and wellness

02:23 Recap on the Being Human lens

04:07 The importance of sleep

07:50 Health span vs. Life span

09:17 Holistic health and wellness

12:57 What does the God story tell us about healthy bodies?

19:18 Health inequality and the challenge of dignity and respect

23:33 Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit

24:26 Participation and the sedentary lifestyle

26:27 Health data and health tracking

29:22 The influence of social media on health

31:27 Connection through food and relationships

34:45 Health as a justice issue

37:33 Practices for health and wellness

43:51 That’s a wrap!

Race and ethnicity

In this episode Jo and Peter welcome their friend and head of public policy, Alicia to the conversation. This time ethnicity is placed the centre of the lens and through significance, connection, presence and participation, they track some of the major cultural shifts in this vital and global conversation. From the murder of George Floyd in the US to the case of Child Q in the UK, they lament over the prevalence of injustice, while looking to the God Story for a more hopeful narrative. Alongside personal stories the conversation touches on how Christians might seek wisdom when it comes to language and ideas like intersectionality. And admits a culture that so often only wants to deconstruct, they look to the opportunity for hospitality, relationship and rebuilding in Jesus’ name to bridge divides. They ask what can the story found in scripture tell us about difference, identity and community when it comes to thinking about ethnicity?  

Part one (00:00) 
00:07 Welcome and introductions with Alicia.  
01:43 Framing today’s topic: ethnicity and identity.  
06:17 Looking at language: race, ethnicity and nationality.  
12:18 Putting ethnicity in the centre of the lens.  
13:18 Significance and the murder of George Floyd.  
18:19 Why we might struggle to recognise our own sin and prejudice. 
21:12 The God story: liberation, redeeming identity and the story of Hagar.   

Part two (26:17)
26:20 Connection, Christian global community and building peace. 
30:01 Friendship and combatting the fear of misspeaking. 
33:11 Biblical mandate: being sanctification and made holy. 
36:11 Presence: Child Q as a moment of reckoning. 
41:28 Deconstruction, intersectionality and rebuilding in Jesus's name. 
45:35 The good shepherd. 
48:05 Participation: migration and the mandate of hospitality. 
52:55 Practicing gratitude. 
54:12 Practicing study and intercession.  

Generational perspectives on work, rest and play

In this episode of Being Human, Jo and Peter are joined by their twenty-five-year-old team member Emma to discuss the generational shift in perspectives on work, rest, and play. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, they explore how different age groups approach work-life balance, purpose, and identity. Diving into the world of intergenerational workplace dynamics, the impact of digital culture, hobbies, mental health and the quest for a meaningful rest vs work ethic, they draw on the wisdom of the God Story to seek a better narrative. The episode wraps up with three practical spiritual habits – rest, solitude and communion - for navigating these challenges.  

Part one (00:00)  
00:40 Meet Emma: behind the scenes to on the mic.
01:10 Today’s topic: generational perspectives on work, rest, and play. 
02:39 Gen-z, millennials, Gen-x and boomers: understanding the generational categories.  
05:06 The Being Human lens: a way to explore the cultural stories. 
07:06 Participation: what does each generation look for in work? 
14:31 Play and rest: hobby and volunteering culture across generations.  
16:40 The God Story: purpose and gifting. 

Part two (19:58) 
20:00 Significance: does your identity come from your work?   
25:52 Anxious generations: shifts in work perception and uncertainty. 
29:05 Work, identity, and rest: a biblical perspective.  
33:30 Connection: gen-z in the digital age and conflict in relationships.  
38:50 Presence and place: flexibility and the future of work. 
45:15 A better story with three spiritual practices: rest, solitude and communion.  
49:22 Finishing up: do get in touch!  

Being Human webinars: join us this June

We are taking a short break in the season, but while you wait for the next episode why not join us for our webinar series? Join us for three 60-minute online webinars on June 11, 18 and 25 with Jo and Peter as they explore Being Human as a new apologetic for the 21st century and unpack its resources for your church. These interactive webinars will cover a range of topics: from the cultural stories of our day, to the narrative of the God story, as well as research on the different kinds of attitudes you might find in your church, and how we can be reaching out more to one another.

We would love to see you there. Find out more here: https://beinghumanlens.com/being-human-webinars-june-2024