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The Sacred

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The Sacred
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  • The Strangeness That Makes Us: David Bennett on Queerness, Polarisation & God
    How can you reconcile all parts of your identity in an increasingly polarised landscape?After a mystical experience in a Sydney bar, David Bennett found himself shifting from queer theory and student politics towards a surprising new centre of gravity: the Christian faith. Today he describes himself as a gay celibate Christian, someone living between two tribes often assumed to be incompatible.In this deep and tender conversation, theologian David speaks with Elizabeth Oldfield about his long wrestle with desire, queer identity and Scripture; why he believes celibacy can be liberating rather than repressive; and how he hopes to build bridges across an increasingly polarised landscape.They explore what happens when your story becomes symbolic in the culture wars, how to refuse weaponisation from both left and right, and what it means to live as a pilgrim - someone always on the way, always becoming.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow David: https://www.instagram.com/davidacbennett/?hl=enChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:48 - What is Sacred to you? David Bennett answers02:00 - Growing Up and Not Fitting In05:00 - Coming Out & the Shockwaves at Home08:00 - Searching for Meaning: A Tour Through Belief Systems11:00 - Encountering God: The Moment Everything Shifted17:00 - Queer and Christian: Living in the Tension20:00 - Queer Side A and B Explained23:00 - Love, Honesty, Humility: The Values That Ground Him26:00 - Navigating criticism from Progressives and Conservatives29:00 - Living authentically with both identities32:00 - Final Reflections: Hope, Courage & Spiritual Belonging49:00 - David's message to the LGBTQI+ community58:30 - Elizabeth's reflectionsKeywords:David Bennett, gay Christian, celibate gay Christian, Side B Christianity, Side A vs Side B, queer Christianity, queer theology, queerness and faith, LGBTQ and religion, gay and Christian, Christianity and sexuality, Christian celibacy, re-sublimation of desire, same-sex attracted Christian, spiritual pilgrimage, faith and identity, culture war debates, progressive vs conservative Christianity, gay celibacy debate, queer identity and church, sexual ethics in Christianity, Romans 8:20 interpretation, Christian views on sexuality, LGBTQ inclusion in church, modern Christian ethics, religious trauma, faith deconstruction, faith reconstruction, conversion experience, encountering God, Christian testimony, reconciling faith and sexuality, Christian community rejection, building bridges across divides, Christian identity struggles, Oxford theology, queer theory and Christianity, celibacy as vocation, Christian friendship and community, Augustine and pilgrimage, Christian witness, culture wars and faith, LGBTQ spiritual journeys, progressive Christian critique, conservative Christian critique, Christian ethics of desire, healthy celibacy, alternative Christian vocations, strangeness of God’s love, living between two tribes
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  • Documenting Cults, Killers & White Supremacists with Mobeen Azhar
    Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Mobeen Azhar and Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about his extraordinary career telling hidden and untold stories - from interviewing white supremacists, extremists, drug dealers, and killers; exposing police corruption, cults, and cover-ups; and told raw stories from inside prisons, mosques, and nightclubs. In an age of outrage and dehumanisation, Mobeen's journalism combats hate and demonisation with empathy and understanding to reveal the human story beyond the headlines.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow Mobeen: https://www.instagram.com/mobeen_azhar/?hl=en-gbKeywords:His award-winning documentaries include Small Town, Big Riot (BBC), uncovering how racism and misinformation fuelled a violent protest in Merseyside; The Battle for Britney, going inside the global #FreeBritney movement; The Satanic Verses: 30 Years On, exploring faith, art, and offence; Hometown: A Killing, investigating a murder in his own community; The Men Who Sell Sex; The Mosque Next Door; The Black and White Killing; The Soldiers That Saved Britain; and The Kandahar Killings. In this episode of The Sacred, journalist and documentary filmmaker Mobeen Azhar talks about racism, faith, and moral courage. Known for BBC documentaries like Small Town, Big Riot, Hometown: A Killing, and The Battle for Britney, Mobeen shares what it’s like to be a Muslim journalist in Britain interviewing racists, extremists, and people on the margins of society. He discusses empathy over outrage, understanding hate, and finding transcendence on the techno rave dance floor. This powerful conversation explores race, religion, identity, decency, and compassion in a divided world — and asks how we can stay human in the face of injustice and polarisation.
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  • The Healing Power of Humour in Grief with Cariad Lloyd
    Grief, peace, and the search for steadiness of soul - comedian, writer and Griefcast host Cariad Lloyd joins Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about the gift and absurdity of grief. Cariad opens up about her father’s death, comedy as survival, and the small, sacred acts that keep her grounded. She also shares what it means to raise her kids with honesty about loss and how humour helps us stay human in the face of death.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Listen to Cariad's Griefcast Podcast: https://cariadlloyd.com/griefcastChapters00:00 Intro01:42 What is Sacred to you? Cariad Lloyd answers11:43 Growing up spiritual18:30 Grief, Spirituality and Doubt 24:32 Grief becomes a part of you27:14 The Role of Comedy in Grief35:00 Sharing Grief Stories38:52 How to be there for people who are grieving44:07 Are there gifts in grief?50:02 Death in children's books?Keywords:Cariad Lloyd interview, The Sacred podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield, grief podcast, grief and loss, dealing with grief, how to talk about death, finding peace, mental health, anxiety, parenting, motherhood, faith, spirituality, meaning, purpose, finding what’s sacred, inner peace, steadiness of soul, moral courage, emotional resilience, grief and comedy, using humor to heal, British comedian, Griefcast host, You Are Not Alone book, Where Did She Go book, grief for children, death in children’s books, coping with bereavement, mindfulness, self-compassion, anxiety and rest, the power of rituals, modern spirituality, finding calm, spiritual grounding, how to support someone grieving, death and culture, secular spirituality, community and loss, talking about death honestly, creative process, storytelling and healing, grief and art, grief and performance, how to live with loss, moral honesty, authenticity, being a decent human, emotional honesty, spiritual strength, learning from pain, comedy and tragedy, British podcasts about meaning
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  • Why We Need to Talk About Class, Privilege, and Race with Jeffrey Boakye
    Why honest conversations about race, class and power make us defensive - and why should we face them anyway.Author, teacher and broadcaster Jeffrey Boakye joins Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about truth, joy, race and power and why he believes we can’t fix what we’re too scared to face.We speak about:👊🏾 Jeffrey's fusion of Black British identities from growing up in Brixton ✏️ The role of a teacher and finding his voice in a mostly white education system⚡ Learning how to challenge dominant power structures like whiteness, class and Britishness This is a conversation about courage, fear, and how we can talk about race, class and identity without tearing each other apart.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/👉 Follow Jeffrey Boakye: https://x.com/jeffreykboakyeChapters:00:00 - Intro01:06 - What is Sacred to you? Jeffrey Boakye answers06:23 - Growing up in Brixton as a Ghanaian Catholic15:30 - Cultural Identities: Black Britishness and Jamaican youth culture 26:00 - “I became a white woman” teaching while Black33:00 - Why conversations about race make us defensive and what to do about it42:00 - Power, fear, and the culture wars50:00 - Why it’s race and class - not race or class55:47 - Class and it's connection to the slave trade 56:27 - Anti-immigrant propaganda targeted at the working class57:54 - Reflection by ElizabethKeywords:Jeffrey Boakye delves into the complexities of power dynamics and the importance of challenging power through truth and joy. He explores cultural identity, drawing from his experiences growing up in Brixton, and discusses the intersectionality of race and class within the education system. The conversation touches on societal structures, the role of religion and community, and the need for empathy in public discourse. Boakye highlights the influence of Caribbean culture and the significance of language in shaping identity. As a teacher, he emphasises the importance of education as a tool for social change, advocating for educational reform and equity. The discussion also covers themes of privilege, patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, homophobia, and misogyny, while celebrating the richness of Black British culture and multiculturalism. Through storytelling and narrative, Boakye shares his personal values and life philosophy, encouraging social justice, diversity, and inclusion. The episode invites listeners to reflect on social norms, personal growth, and the power of dialogue, understanding, and compassion in fostering human connection and systemic change. With a focus on critical thinking, reflective practice, and educational equity, Boakye inspires empowerment, creativity, and collaboration, urging us to embrace curiosity, exploration, and authenticity in our pursuit of knowledge and wisdom
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  • Trees, Magic, and Why Ancient Wisdom Still Matters with Philip Carr-Gomm
    What can an ancient tradition like Druidry teach us about living well today?In this episode of The Sacred Podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and longtime leader of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. They explore how trees and nature are sacred, the meaning of magic in everyday life, and why ancient wisdom traditions might be exactly what we need in an age of ecological crisis and polarisation.🌳 Why trees, forests, and nature are sacred🤝 Why Buddhism felt more appealing than Christianity in his early years✨ What “magic” really means in psychology and spirituality🌍 How ancient wisdom, Celtic spirituality, and eco-spirituality can guide us todayThis conversation touches on modern druidry, earth-based spirituality, mindfulness, interfaith dialogue, and spiritual growth with insight into how we can find the sacred in everyday life and respond with wisdom to our times.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 🌀 Follow Philip Carr-Gomm's work: https://philipcarr-gomm.com/Chapters00:00 Intro01:10 What is Sacred to you? Philip Carr-Gomm answers 03:00 Why Trees Hold the Secret to Spiritual Enlightenment09:00 The Influences of a Druid's Childhood18:00 Diversity and Inclusivity in Druidry 27:00 Art and Nature Collide: The Untold Story of Druidry36:00 Magic and The Transformative Secrets of Druidry45:00 Masculine and Feminine Energies54:00 Druidry's Historical Tapestry01:03:00 The Divine Child: A Controversial Bridge Between Faiths01:12:00 Gender in Spirituality: The Debate That’s Changing Everything01:21:00 Can Spiritual Dialogue Break Down Barriers?KeywordsIn this conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and modern druid, about the wisdom of Druidry, Celtic spirituality, and the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. They explore why trees are sacred, the role of nature in spirituality, and how ancient wisdom traditions can guide us today. Philip explains the meaning of magic, the connections between Buddhism, Christianity, and earth-based spirituality, and how practices of eco-spirituality, mindfulness, and nature connection can help us find the sacred in everyday life. This episode of The Sacred Podcast is for anyone curious about spiritual growth, interfaith dialogue, ancient traditions, modern druidry, psychology and spirituality, exploring faith, and spiritual wisdom in an age of ecological crisis and cultural polarization, polarisation.
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About The Sacred

The Sacred is a podcast about our deepest values, the stories that shape us and how we can build empathy and understanding between people who are very different. Each episode features a conversation with someone who has a public voice, from academics to journalists, playwrights and politicians. We ask them where they have come from, what they are trying to do and what might help heal our very divided public conversations. The Sacred is hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield, former director of Theos. For more information about the people and ideas behind the podcast, visit https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/about/who-we-are or follow us on Twitter @theosthinktank, @sacred_podcast and @ESOldfield.
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