About this Episode
Get ready for an enlightening journey with Mat and Phil from the Way of Life Podcast, as we delve into pressing topics that shape our everyday lives. Mat shares his background of growing up in Australia, being heavily involved in church, and pursuing pastoral ministry, while Phil gives an insight into his life as an underground coal miner and his interest in video production. The conversation also dive into the importance of meeting people where they are and encouraging them to think critically about what they hear.
In our current global climate, how can we ignore the ideological shifts happening all around us? Mat and Phil take us on a fascinating journey, exploring the transformation of the understanding of harm in the progressive movement and its impact on politics in the U.S. and Australia. We probe into the concept of democracy, examining its potential pitfalls, and discuss whether sources of information like TikTok are skewing our perception of harm.
But we don’t stop there. Our conversation meanders into the realm of military alliances, political apathy, and the intertwining of governmental and religious institutions. We scrutinize the US-Australia military alliance, ponder the implications of an increasingly intrusive government, and discuss the possibility of a U.S. government collapse. Are our understandings of freedom without boundaries leading us astray?
In the final part of our discussion, we explore how the concept of freedom without boundaries can lead to a herd mentality and discuss the necessity of teaching people to think independently. We also assess the intertwining of church and state in the United States and how this contrasts with the Australian church scene. Wrapping up, we share the mission of the Way of Life podcast – equipping people to think critically and fostering a space for open dialogue. So, buckle up and prepare to see the world through a unique lens!
Connect with Mat and Phil:
Episode Timestamps:
01:39 Mat’s Background
Christian
drummer
Works with Youth at Church now
Meeting people where they’re at
05:33 Phil’s Background
Underground coal miner
Video producer
Joined ministry at 13
Started a podcast with Mat
09:25 Leaving Mainstream Media for Alternative Sources
Getting information from podcasts
Media Landscape in Australia
Liberal vs. labor parties
Democracy and tyranny
Does the government ensure peace?
15:14 Shifting Definition of Harm among generations
Physical harm vs. psychological harm
Tik Tok, Podcasts, Youtube raising a generation
Role of feedback in forming ideas/beliefs
In such polarized times people are afraid to say something doesn’t make sense
The middle has been eroded
25:19 Australian and US Government Alliance
American government is entertainment for Austrsilians
Click-bait
Gary Johnson
Democrats being anti-war in the past
Yemen and Saudis
Jesus worked towards peace and the government alway does harm
Church is outsourcing charity to the state
Australians don’t like to talk about government as openly as Americans
Christian identity is wrapped up in political identity in from the Australian point of view
Fine in australia for enrolling to vote and not submitting ballot sheet
Australians a generally trusting
Government was less invasive
John Anderson
Small government vs. what exist today
Can we go back?
US involvement with Ukraine
Oil Protectors of America
Poppy fields in Afghanistan
Peter Zhan
US’s role in global trade route “protection”
45:37 How Australian churches Interact with Government
Politics does not make it into the pulpit
Some Christian lobbyist groups
50:51 Way of Life Podcast
post-Christian nation
Freedom without boundary
Never give more than three options in retail
Crippled by information young people go with the herd
Being very passionate about something you have not thought very hard on
Doing show live because Q&A is big portion of the show
Learning to disagree with others in a healthy way
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