Episode description

Christianity and Islam are the two biggest religions on the globe, accounting for just over half the world’s population combined. Most of us know about the religion we belong to and too often learn about other religions from the actions of extreme fundamentalists, mediated by the news, and by politics. 

In this episode we go back to basics, to find out what Christianity and Islam actually believe. What are the essential building blocks of their theology? What do you need to believe as true? What is god, what is a soul, and what happens after death? And what exactly is the promise of the religion, whether it’s salvation or eternal life, and how do you achieve it?

The stakes are incredibly high when it comes to theology. Countless wars have been fought in the name of christianity and islam, both between these religions and between different sects within them. And whilst there are considerable overlaps which we will explore in this episode, there are also irreconcilable differences, differences not in mere preferences and values, but in the claim to the absolute truth of the nature of the universe, our place in it, the laws of how to live, our path to salvation and our purpose in life.  

Guests

Professor Robyn Horner

Professor Robyn Horner is a teaching and research academic within the School of Theology, and a member of the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry (IRCI) at Australian Catholic University. From 2010-2015, she held the position of Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) of the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy.

Formerly a teacher in Catholic primary and secondary schools, Robyn is a liturgical musician and composer, 

Professor Mohamad Abdalla

Professor Abdalla has worked in the field of Islamic Studies for over 25 years and played a leading role in establishing Islamic Studies across Australian universities. He is currently the Founding Director, the Centre for Islamic Thought and Education (CITE). In 2020 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his outstanding service to education in the sphere of Islamic Studies. He established and led the Griffith University Islamic Research Unit (GIRU), at Griffith University in Brisbane (2006-2008); the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies (NCEIS), a dynamic collaboration between the University of Melbourne, Griffith University and the University of Western Sydney (2008-2016). 

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Your hosts are Lloyd Vogelman and Emile Sherman.

Find Lloyd @LloydVogelman on Linked in

Find Emile @EmileSherman on Linked In and Twitter.

This Podcast is Produced by Jonah Primo and Bronwen Reid

Find Jonah at jonahprimo.com or @JonahPrimo on Instagram 

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