Matters of Life and Death

Martin Rees 3: Pre-emptive science fiction, the morality-reality gap, adventurers on Mars, and the mind of the Creator

In the third and final installment of John’s discussion with Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal, they discuss Martin’s views on the future of space travel and astronauts, and whether some robotic future progeny of humankind will eventually replace us in exploring the universe. Would this be any bad thing, or should we resist efforts to gradually supplement and even supplant our biology with novel biotech? And without any Christian belief, how can we justify our ethical reservations about transhumanism or explain the correspondence between our minds and the cosmos we are understanding better every year.
This discussion was first broadcast as part of the Big Conversation podcast, hosted by Justin Brierley, which is also part of the Premier Unbelievable network - https://www.thebigconversation.show/
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Martin Rees 2: Blurred humanity, re-dignifying care work, algorithms reading lung X-rays, and the risks of virtual life

Happy New Year! Today’s episode continues the Big Conversation between John and Martin Rees, the astronomer royal. In this part, they respond to robotics experts who welcome the arrival of non-human machines which could take over care work, healthcare, and even become our lovers. Is it healthy to replace jobs done by people with robots, especially when that work involves interacting with vulnerable people? How will we re-order society if widespread super-capable AI renders a lot of our white-collar industries redundant? And are the risks of blurring the lines between the real and the virtual, the human and the machine, being underestimated in our dash towards progress?
This discussion was first broadcast as part of the Big Conversation podcast, hosted by Justin Brierley, which is also part of the Premier Unbelievable network - https://www.thebigconversation.show/
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Martin Rees 1: Advances in artificial intelligence, the Eliza effect, passing the Turing Test, and the problem of other minds

Today’s episode is a little different from normal as we’re going to begin a short series sharing a recent conversation John had with Lord Martin Rees, the astronomer royal. As well as a highly distinguished cosmologist and astrophysicist, Martin is also an author whose recent books have explored some themes familiar to Matters of Life and Death listeners, including the rise of artificial intelligence and the future of humanity.
Their chat was first broadcast as part of the Big Conversation podcast, hosted by Justin Brierley, which is also part of the Premier Unbelievable network - https://www.thebigconversation.show/
 
Support our End Of Year Appeal: https://gtly.to/aAxRk0kQs
 
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Social media and politics 2: A mucky business, the ultimate conspiracy theory, ‘showbiz for ugly people’, and and atomised individuals

In the second half of our conversation with Tim Farron, we discuss his conviction that Christians should get stuck into politics despite its compromises and challenges. Why did his own term as leader of the Liberal Democrats come unstuck so badly, and does he believe there actually is a ceiling on ambition for Christian politicians who wish to hold onto their integrity? What impact is social media and our accelerating, atomised society having on our politics, and how can we as believers resist being dragged along with this?
 
Premier's End Of Year Appeal: https://gtly.to/aAxRk0kQs
 
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Social media and politics 1: The judgemental society, 3,000 offensive tweets a day, freedom from vs freedom to, and Elon Musk’s Twitter

This week we’re joined by the former leader of the Liberal Democrats Tim Farron to discuss social media and politics. Research suggests UK members of parliament like Tim get sent thousands of offensive tweets every single day. Why have social networks become such toxic, hateful places? Is this a technology problem to be solved with better moderation, a policy issue solved by government regulation, or a spiritual affair reflecting the sinfulness of the human heart? And should Christians avoid these online worlds to remain unpolluted, or stick around to act as salt and light regardless?
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Mental health 2: Emotional resilience, the bio-psycho-social model, the power of story, and depression in the Psalms

In the second half of our discussion with Christian psychiatrist Daniel Maughan, we work through some ways in which the church might play in role in supporting those struggling with their mental health back to fullness of life. But is there also a place for the church in gently pushing back on the medicalisation of ordinary emotions and modelling a greater sense of mental resilience? And what kind of narratives within the Christian faith and scriptural tradition might help us move away from damaging or judgemental stereotypes about mental health?
Some useful resources recommended by Daniel:
The Mind and Soul Foundation
Tackling mental illness together, by Alan Thomas
Christianity and Depression, by Tasia Scrutton
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Mental health 1: Power dynamics, the psychiatrist as brick wall, casualties of social media, and over-pathologising distress

Since the covid pandemic there has been an alarming rise in people presenting with mental health problems. Today we speak with Christian psychiatrist Daniel Maughan to better understand why this might be happening, how our mental healthcare systems are coping (or not), and how his faith intersects with his work diagnosing and treating those with psychosis. Can professional mental healthcare workers bring their Christianity into the treatment room? What can we do to protect ourselves and especially our younger people from this tsunami of anxiety and depression? And has society over-corrected in its desire to eradicate mental health stigma?
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Dependence 2: The Panopticon at home, evangelising to retirees, existential angst in the House of Lords, and rejecting self-sufficiency

In the second part of our conversation on ageing and dependence, we think about how secular society has tried to ameliorate the crisis of isolated older people with technological solutions. Can the smart home or robotics really save us from having to care for our elders ourselves? And if this isn’t the whole answer, what does the Church have to bring to the table? How can we as believers plausibly offer up the countercultural idea of embracing dependence in old age and indeed at every stage of life, and make it real through practical service?
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Dependence 1: Isolated elderly people, altruistic suicide, a second childhood, and a crucified hero

We’ve discussed in previous episodes the looming ‘demographic timebomb’ – a growing mass of elderly and increasingly chronically ill people in many developed nations, expected to place huge strain on public resources. The policy debates around this issue often emphasise the importance of not ‘being a burden’ on others, with some even suggesting there could be a ‘duty to die’ by assisted suicide for those who become old and infirm. Why does our contemporary culture have such a horror of the idea of becoming dependent on our families or the state? And what does the Christian story have to say about the value of dependence versus autonomy, especially as we near the final seasons of our lives?
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Protestant Social Teaching 2: The ars moriendi, open casket funerals in Derry Girls, the end of Christendom and ethical quietism

Resuming our conversation with Rhys Laverty from the Davenant Institute, we look at John’s contribution to the Protestant Social Teaching book – a chapter exploring post-Reformation tradition around death and dying. What might medieval and early modern approaches to the end of life be able to teach us modern Christians about how to die well? How was the hospice movement inspired by this, and how has it lost its way amid debates over assisted suicide? And what can the Protestant Church do if it wishes to renew its interest and investment in ethics and social teaching?
Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com