Matters of Life and Death

Our discussion today begins with the concerning news that a world-leading database of medical records, the UK’s Biobank, has suffered an embarrassing leak after hundreds of thousands of confidential records were put up for sale on a Chinese website. Biobank is a pioneering collection of data from half a million Brits, who altruistically donated their records, blood, DNA and more for medical research. But how can we balance the competing demands of strict medical confidentiality with the growing need for big data for both cutting-edge research and thrusting commercial development? Is privacy a particularly Christian idea anyway? Should we be celebrating these altruistic souls for their service despite the personal risks of leaks? And what does the Biblical narrative and the limitations God places on his image-bearers have to say about our modern grasping for all-encompassing knowledge?

• You can send in your questions for us to discuss on the podcast, or ideas for future episodes, to [email protected]
• Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
• If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
• Find some of Tim's journalism and sign up for free to his weekly church news newsletter The Critical Friend: https://tswyatt.com
• For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Much of the political conversation in the UK and the United States in recent years has been dominated by immigration and asylum. Politicians on both sides of the Atlantic have been competing to offer up ever tougher approaches to cut immigration, deport unauthorised migrants and deter illegal border crossings. There are Christians on all sides of the debate, so how do we discern a truly Christ-centred and ethical policy position? What can we draw from the teachings of Jesus to help us figure out where the church should stand on borders, identity and refugees? This week we’re joined by theologian, writer, charity founder and entrepreneur Krish Kandiah to think through these deeply contested questions.

• You can send in your questions for us to discuss on the podcast, or ideas for future episodes, to [email protected]
• Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
• If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
• Find some of Tim's journalism and sign up for free to his weekly church news newsletter The Critical Friend: https://tswyatt.com
• For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

Our conversation today begins with a report into the significant deterioration of healthcare systems across the Western world in the six years since the covid pandemic. Regardless of billions being poured into them, public satisfaction and health outcomes are steadily declining in hospitals around the world in the aftermath of the covid crisis, as a “doom loop” of waiting lists, more sick patients, and burned out staff cycles round. And it’s not just healthcare: large parts of the modern state seems fragile or crumbling under the strain prompted by our series of geopolitical shocks in recent years, from pandemics and trade wars to shooting wars and energy crises. We then reflect on why it might be harder to encourage people into working for their government or local council these days, and if the church has a role to reinspire interest in public service. Or has the church too become trapped in the hyper-individualism and grasping obsession with self-fulfilment which characterises 21st century culture?

Read The Economist article which inspired our conversation here: https://www.economist.com/international/2026/04/09/hospitals-are-stuck-in-a-deadly-doom-loop

• You can send in your questions for us to discuss on the podcast, or ideas for future episodes, to [email protected]
• Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
• If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
• Find some of Tim's journalism and sign up for free to his weekly church news newsletter The Critical Friend: https://tswyatt.com
• For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

We’ve considered the possible ‘re-enchanting’ of society and shift in the zeitgeist towards the supernatural and mysterious in previous episodes, and also looked at whether the church has neglected the reality of spiritual evil and demonic forces. But what the about the positive, hope-filled side of the immaterial realm – should we be trying to lean into that too? In this episode we think through a few parts of the book of Revelation, much neglected or even misunderstood in modern evangelicalism, and what we can learn from the glimpses of heaven John was given in his vision. Because the book is not just about the end times, but what is going on right now – in all its kaleidoscopic, baffling, dazzling weirdness – in the throne-room of the Almighty, and our prayer has always been that what happens in heaven would come to pass here on earth too…

• You can send in your questions for us to discuss on the podcast, or ideas for future episodes, to [email protected]
• Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
• If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
• Find some of Tim's journalism and sign up for free to his weekly church news newsletter The Critical Friend: https://tswyatt.com
• For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com

We’re away for Easter so here’s a classic episode from the MOLAS vault: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the faster growing mental health diagnoses of our age. More and more people, including those well into adulthood, are seeking out and being diagnosed with ADHD. And the typical treatment plan involves taking powerful amphetamine-based stimulant medication, effectively turbocharging parts of the brain’s cognitive capacity. In this episode, we’re joined by Christian psychiatrist Daniel Maughan to discuss how ADHD works, what impact it has on people, and why diagnosis rates seem to be rising. Should we share concerns around over-diagnosis or the supposed rise of ADHD as a ‘fashionable’ lifestyle or identity? And how should Christians in particular think about taking cognitive enhancing drugs to aid concentration or work faster, rather than to just to treat medical conditions?

• You can send in your questions for us to discuss on the podcast, or ideas for future episodes, to [email protected]
• Subscribe to the Matters of Life and Death podcast: https://pod.link/1509923173
• If you want to go deeper into some of the topics we discuss, visit John's website: http://www.johnwyatt.com
• Find some of Tim's journalism and sign up for free to his weekly church news newsletter The Critical Friend: https://tswyatt.com
• For more resources to help you explore faith and the big questions, visit: http://www.premierunbelievable.com