Faith and Focus Podcast

Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 23 - Liberation Theology

In this episode of Faith and Focus, we explore Liberation Theology—a radical movement that applies the message of the Gospel to the realities of poverty, oppression, and injustice—through the lens of Marxist thought.
We cover:
The core ideas of Liberation Theology, including the preferential option for the poor and the focus on orthopraxis (right action over right belief)
How Liberation Theologians use Marx’s analysis of alienation and exploitation to understand structural sin
The critique of capitalism, institutions, and inequality as sources of oppression
The role of the Church in social transformation, and the idea that Christians must act in solidarity with the poor
Tensions between Liberation Theology and official Church teaching, especially under Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI
We also examine whether using Marxist ideas to interpret Christianity strengthens or undermines the Christian message.
🎧 Ideal for anyone studying the Developments in Christian Thought unit or exploring how theology meets social justice and political activism in the modern world.
 
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Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 22 - Secularism

In this episode of Faith and Focus, we explore the growing influence of secularism in modern society and its challenge to traditional religious authority, particularly Christianity.
We cover:
The definition and rise of secularism, including secularisation theory and its social, cultural, and political dimensions
Whether religion still has a role in public life – including education, law, and morality
The views of key thinkers like Charles Taylor and José Casanova on how religion persists in a so-called secular age
The debate over whether secularism is neutral or if it promotes its own worldview
Christian responses to secularism, including Benedict XVI’s warnings about the “dictatorship of relativism”
We also ask whether secularism has led to the marginalisation of religion—or whether it has created a space for genuine religious freedom.
🎧 Perfect for anyone revising the Developments in Christian Thought unit or grappling with the place of faith in a pluralistic, post-religious society.
 
Check out my Shared folder on Dropbox for extra bits and bobs to help you crack your revision:
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Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 21 - Gender and Theology

In this episode of Faith and Focus, we delve into the transformative field of Gender and Theology, asking how feminist thinkers have challenged and reimagined traditional Christian understandings of God, salvation, and scripture.
We explore:
How feminist theology critiques male-dominated images of God
The work of Mary Daly, who argues that “if God is male, then the male is God,” and critiques Christianity’s “Unholy Trinity” of rape, genocide, and war
The theology of Rosemary Radford Ruether, who reinterprets Jesus as the incarnation of female wisdom (Sophia) and calls for a more inclusive vision of salvation
The use of the Bible in feminist critique, including the work of Phyllis Trible (Texts of Terror)
The tension between orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxis (right action) in feminist theological practice
🎧 This episode is essential listening for anyone revising the Developments in Christian Thought unit or wanting to understand how theology is being reshaped through the lens of gender.
 
Check out my Shared folder on Dropbox for extra bits and bobs to help you crack your revision:
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Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 20 - Gender and Society

In this episode of Faith and Focus, we examine the complex relationship between Christianity, gender roles, and society. How have traditional Christian teachings shaped the role of women? And how are these roles being challenged and reinterpreted today?
We explore:
The influence of patriarchal structures in Church and society
The impact of secular feminism on Christian views of family and gender
Debates around the family as a social construct and the idea of the nuclear family
Theologies that challenge traditional gender roles, including liberal theology and Christian egalitarianism
Key thinkers such as Mary Daly and Rosemary Radford Ruether are discussed, along with the ongoing conversation about women’s ordination and leadership in the Church.
🎧 Whether you're preparing for your exam or just curious about how religion interacts with modern gender debates, this episode breaks it all down with clarity, quotes, and critical analysis.
 
Check out my Shared folder on Dropbox for extra bits and bobs to help you crack your revision:
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Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 19 - Pluralism and Society

In this episode of Faith and Focus, we explore the impact of religious pluralism on society, and how Christianity navigates life in a multifaith, multicultural world.
We tackle big questions like:
How should Christians engage with people of other faiths?
What is the role of interfaith dialogue in promoting social cohesion?
Can a Christian maintain their beliefs while supporting freedom of religion and tolerance?
We cover:
The aims and types of interfaith dialogue, including interreligious cooperation and theological exchange
The Catholic Church’s teachings on interfaith relations
The challenge of secularism, migration, and globalisation for Christian identity
You’ll also learn how the Church balances its mission to evangelise with the need to respect other traditions in a pluralist context.
🎧 This episode is perfect for revising the Developments in Christian Thought unit and for reflecting on how theology responds to our increasingly diverse world.
 
Check out my Shared folder on Dropbox for extra bits and bobs to help you crack your revision:
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Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 18 - Pluralism and Theology

In this episode of Faith and Focus, we dive deep into the challenging and thought-provoking topic of Religious Pluralism and Theology. We explore how Christian thought responds to the existence of multiple world religions, and what this means for salvation, truth, and mission.
We unpack the key positions:
Exclusivism – Salvation through Christ alone (e.g., Karl Barth)
Inclusivism – Christ as the means of salvation, but not limited to explicit belief (e.g., Karl Rahner’s anonymous Christians)
Pluralism – Many paths to God (e.g., John Hick and theological relativism)
We’ll discuss:
The role of interfaith dialogue (the Catholic Church’s Redemptoris Missio)
The implications of pluralism for Christian doctrine and evangelism
Key philosophical and theological critiques of each position
With clear explanations, key scholars, and exam-ready insights, this episode equips you to handle one of the most complex topics in the Developments in Christian Thought unit.
🎧 Perfect for revision or reflection, this episode brings clarity to the conversation around Christianity in a multifaith world.
 
Check out my Shared folder on Dropbox for extra bits and bobs to help you crack your revision:
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Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 17 - Bonhoeffer and Christian Moral Action

In this episode of Faith and Focus, we explore Christian Moral Action, focusing on the life, theology, and ethical teachings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—a theologian who famously opposed the Nazi regime.
We unpack Bonhoeffer’s ideas on costly grace, discipleship, the role of the Church, and civil disobedience, asking: What does it truly mean to live as a Christian in times of moral crisis?
We examine:
The difference between cheap grace and costly grace
Bonhoeffer’s belief in obedience to God above the state
His involvement in the Confessing Church and resistance to Hitler
The relevance of Bonhoeffer’s ethics today
This episode breaks down complex ideas with key quotes, scholarly insight, and clear connections to OCR exam themes, helping you prepare with clarity and confidence.
🎧 Whether you’re revising for your A Level or just curious about how theology inspires activism, this episode is for you.
 
Check out my Shared folder on Dropbox for extra bits and bobs to help you crack your revision:
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Faith and Focus - Episode 16 - Christian Moral Principles

How do Christians know what is right or wrong? In this episode of Faith and Focus, we explore Christian Moral Principles, a key topic in the OCR A Level Religious Studies course.
We break down the role of the Bible, Church authority, reason, and conscience in Christian ethical decision-making. Should Christians rely on Scripture alone (sola scriptura), or do tradition and reason also have a place in forming moral judgments? We examine key debates, including heteronomous vs autonomous ethics, and assess how different denominations understand moral guidance.
With insights from scholars like Richard B. Hays, Joseph Fletcher, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this episode offers essential AO1 knowledge and AO2 evaluation to support your revision and essays.
 
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Faith and Focus - OCR A Level RS - Episode 15 - Jesus

Who was Jesus—just a moral teacher, a political liberator, or truly the Son of God? In this episode of Faith and Focus, we explore the OCR A Level topic The Person of Jesus Christ, examining three key perspectives: Jesus as teacher of wisdom, Jesus as liberator, and Jesus as the Son of God.
We unpack Gospel evidence, theological interpretations, and scholarly views, from N.T. Wright and C.S. Lewis to Gustavo Gutiérrez and E.P. Sanders. We consider how Jesus’ parables, miracles, and crucifixion inform each identity and what this means for Christian belief today.
Perfect for students preparing for exams, this episode includes key quotes, critical debates, and insight into how Jesus is portrayed both in Scripture and modern theology.
 
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Faith and Focus - OCR A level RS - Episode 14 - Knowledge of God

In this episode, we explore how Christians claim to know God—and the debate between natural theology and revealed theology.
We break down key arguments from thinkers like Aquinas, Calvin, and Barth, examining whether human reason, observation of the world, or Scripture and faith are the most reliable paths to divine knowledge. Can we know God through conscience and creation, or is revelation the only secure route?
You’ll get a clear overview of the topic, key scholars and quotes, and evaluative insights that prepare you for AO1 and AO2 success in the exam.
🎧 Tune in to sharpen your understanding of one of the deepest theological debates in the course—and bring your knowledge of God into focus.
 
Check out my Shared folder on Dropbox for extra bits and bobs to help you crack your revision:
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