Episodes

  • S13 E3: The One With Lord Bilimoria
    Sep 27 2024

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    Many of your will know the cross bench peer, Lord Bilimoria. With his Zoroastrian parsi background, his passion for RE and his success in business, I knew this would be a fantastic episode and it did not disppoint. Lord Bilimoria was open and generous and explained why RE is such an important subject to make our students work ready, not only in terms of critical thinking but also in terms of compassion and building trust.
    We cover the need for war, the important of art and music, a little but about the Zoroastrian religion.
    My favourite quote which I misquote in the episode is 'the price of freedom isn't free.'

    Please find below links to his open letter article in the business times as to why business leaders must support RE in schools, as well as the video he made for Culham St Gabriel

    https://www.rethinkre.org/ready-for-work-campaign

    https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/why-business-leaders-back-religious-education-schools/opinion/article/1867687

    https://www.cstg.org.uk/campaigns/promotional-film-collection/

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    39 mins
  • S13 E3: The One About Sikhi
    Sep 20 2024

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    This is certainly not a comprehensive account of Sikhi, but what I hope this is is a brief overview to help you feel more confident in teaching this beautiful way of thinking.
    If you are new to teaching Sikhi and want a starting point, or you are a new RE teacher, or someone embarking on training to be an RE teacher, then this may be a good jumping off point. Or maybe you want to direct your students to this episode if Sikhi is on your syllabus or curriculum.
    This episode goes through;

    • The history of Sikhi and Guru Nanak
    • Beliefs about God and the Mool Mantar
    • The Ten Gurus
    • Guru Gobind Singh and the formation of the Khalsa
    • The Five Ks
    • The Gurdwara
    • Festivals of Vaisakhi and Diwali

    Link to Head of RE Job at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace
    https://www.harriscareers.org.uk/200/search-our-vacancies/career/44046/head-of-religious-education?type=permanent&academy=Harris%20City%20Academy%20Crystal%20Palace&job_alert=false

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    Webiste: www.therepodcast.co.uk

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    33 mins
  • S13 E2: The One Where God Is Not A White Man
    Sep 13 2024

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    In the wake of the far right riots that are happening across the country in August 2024, I talk to Theos Director, author, broadcaster and Canon Chine McDonald about her upbringing, Christian faith and why we need a book to remind us that God us not a white man, or even a man. This is about reframing our unconscious bias to create a better tomorrow and how we can do this. Chine makes a few references throughout the conversation - please find the links below

    God is not a white man by Chine McDonald
    https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/chine-mcdonald/god-is-not-a-white-man/9781529349078/

    What white people can do next by Emma Dabiri
    https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/443684/what-white-people-can-do-next-by-dabiri-emma/9780141996738

    The Shack (movie)
    https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/the-shack

    Lemonade (Full Album) by Beyonce
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHYwerZbMS4

    Unmaking Mary - The Myth of Divine Motherhood by Chine McDonald
    https://www.chinemcdonald.com/blog/coming-in-2025-unmaking-mary-the-myth-of-divine-motherhood

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    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
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    43 mins
  • S13 E1: The One About Ethics
    Sep 6 2024

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    I wrote and recorded this episode in August 2024 when everytime I caught the news there was warnings of another far right riot. While my initial reaction was one of anger and fear, the RE teacher in me took a step backwards. Those are the same emotions which fuel the far right. So why am I allowed to be angry if they are not? Why are they wrong and I am right? How do we even know what is right or wrong in a pluralist society? In this episode I look at the history of ethics throughout human evolutions, both from religious and non-religious worldviews, and then I look at three Ethical Theories;
    Deontology
    Utilitarianism
    Situation Ethics.

    I don't know if the episode answers all our questions about morality, but I hope it serves as an overview of ethical thought for those embarking on teaching or about to study ethics.

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    34 mins
  • S12 E12: The One With A Gay Marriage In A Church
    Jul 12 2024

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    In 2021, the Methodist Church voted 692-51 in favour of gay marriages. Two years later, the first gay marriage was performed in a Methodist Church - I think they were expecting more of a rush! In this episode I chat to Rev John Squares who performed the ceremony between John and Les.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cqll85zq5v0o

    We discuss how gay marriage can be compatible with the Christian faith but more importantly, the need to love yourself before you can love others!

    We also discuss the danger in extreme homephobic view points so a warning not to listen to this episode in front of young children or anyone who might be upset by it's content. Specifically we mention Matthew Shepard;

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-45968606

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    42 mins
  • S12 E11: The One About Miracles
    Jul 5 2024

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    What are miracles? Do they happen? Are there any other explanations for them? Does believing in miracles open you up to being manipulated by faith healers? Do the presence of miracles in different religions cancel each other out?
    I look into miracles. We look at Hume, Aquinas, Flew, RF Holland and Swinburne to help me do this.
    I make reference to Miracles for Sale - the Derren Brown documentary which you can watch here.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuP5uOI7Xwc&t=3281s

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    27 mins
  • S12 E10: The One About REsources
    Jun 28 2024

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    Karenza Passmore has been a valued member of the RE Community for well over 30 years. In her role in the North East Religious Resources Centre, she has emersed herself in RE resources so she is here so offer some of her insights.
    Karenza is a passionate advocate for RE combining experience with Neuroscience to offer inspiration to all of us classroom teachers.
    Below are some of the links of things that Karenza mentions

    RE Hubs
    https://www.re-hubs.uk/get-involved/resource-centres/

    Areiac
    https://www.areiac.org.uk/join-areiac

    Gill Vaisey
    https://www.booksatpress.co.uk/religiouseducation.html

    RE Today membership
    https://www.retoday.org.uk/school-support/natre-membership/

    Please get in touch and let Karenza and I know what your one take away is from our episode!
    @Karenza_RRC

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    Twitter: @TheREPodcast1
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • S12 E9: The One About Veganism
    Jun 21 2024

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    In this episode I talk to former CPS Barrister Michelle St John from VinE, and Heather Marshal from Edgehill University in Birmingham about Veganism as a worldview and how we can teach it in the classroom. We discuss;
    What veganism is and why it is an important topic to discuss in the 21st century, why and how we should teach it, including how it is a unifying factor between religious and non-religious worldviews.

    There were lots of places mentioned to find some great resources

    www.teachvine.org

    https://www.animalaid.org.uk/education/
    https://climatehealers.org/
    https://plantbasedhealthprofessionals.com/

    https://www.cowspiracy.com/
    https://gamechangersmovie.com/What the health
    https://www.dominionmovement.com/watch
    https://eating2extinction.com/

    https://animal-interfaith-alliance.com/

    https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/?s=vegan

    https://www.natre.org.uk/about-natre/projects/spirited-arts/spirited-arts-gallery/2023/?ThemeID=109

    https://www.laudatosi.org/the-letter/encyclical-letter/

    https://www.almizan.earth/

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    47 mins