Being Human

In the final episode of this season, Peter and Katherine ask whether today’s surge in spiritual curiosity is hiding a discipleship deficit: many people are encountering Jesus through online content without anyone guiding them into ongoing faith.

They share personal discipleship stories and highlight the vital role relationships has to play in the discipleship journey. They discuss the rise of online “baby Christians,” including a former tarot reader who publicly converted to Christianity, and note survey findings that 40% of people come to Jesus without someone present at the moment of faith.

The conversation explores why local church community matters, how the online world can be a great tool for evangelism and practical ways churches can respond by offering community, intergenerational relationships, clear signposting, and helping new believers connect to a local church.

00:00 Intro

00:59 Discipleship deficit

01:52 Discipleship stories

03:50 What is discipleship?

04:52 Online conversions

08:23 From screen to church

12:00 Why church matters

14:40 Social media formation

15:31 Healthy online boundaries

23:15 Churches in the digital age

30:20 Intergenerational relationships

32:33 Final takeaways

 

Find a church here: https://www.eauk.org/churches

If you're spiritually curious and looking for meaning, try Ethos a new digital pathway designed just for you: https://ethos.beinghumanlens.com/

In this episode of Being Human, Katherine and Peter explore two big cultural trends happening at the same time: rapid AI acceleration and a growing desire to “go analogue.”

They talk about how AI is already improving everyday tasks but how it is beginning to replace entry-level work like junior lawyers, leaving younger people unsure how to start careers. They discuss the rise of AI therapy and companionship highlighting that AI can mimic language but not real relationship.

As a response, they unpack trends like digital detoxing, “friction-maxxing,” trad wives, and renewed interest in ancient, rooted forms of spirituality. They look at how Christians can engage wisely and point people towards Jesus.

After many years of decline, male church attendance appears to be on the up. It's official – the boys are back!

In this episode, Katherine and Peter look at some of the high-profile men exploring Christianity and what is causing this trend as Christian footballers are casting their crowns, praying and worshipping before and after matches and celebrity converts are encouraging others to explore Christianity.

Delving deeper into the cultural stories, they uncover the consumerist mindset around 'bolt-on' spirituality where the wellness world uses prayer alongside supplements and routines as a way to self-optimise.

The conversation then shifts to political trends which sparks discussions about Christian nationalism and the rallies associated with Tommy Robinson.

 

Show notes:

00:00 Expressions of faith in pop culture
00:55 Men Returning to Church
01:26 Supplements and tracking your existence
02:54 Footballers sharing faith
07:46 Wellness and self-optimisation
11:30 Self-help, discipline and Jordan Peterson's rules
14:04 Prayer as a life hack
15:23 Consumer church mindset
15:40 Young men and right-leaning politics
17:18 Defining Christian nationalism
18:31 Algorithmic influence
19:35 Tommy Robinson rallies
22:06 Charlie Kirk funeral fallout
23:12 Discipling brave and bold believers
23:53 Where do we find our identity?
24:57 Discipling young men in your church
27:34 Our resources and the next episode

Crystals, tarot, manifesting and “Witchtok.” Alternative spirituality has become mainstream.

In this episode, Katherine and Peter explain the differences between manifesting and prayer, how crystals are used for specific intentions and why women seem to be turning to alternative spirituality. They also share stories of people buying spells from “Etsy witches,” using horoscopes on dating apps and the rise of Witchtok.

They discuss the roots of this trend - secularism, individualism, and postmodernism and the pick-and-mix spirituality it has created. They conclude by highlighting both the opportunities and challenges for churches: clearer teaching about Jesus, better discipleship and readiness to address occult involvement, including deliverance and spiritual warfare.

 

Show notes:

00:00 Alternative spirituality is now mainstream
01:42 Gen Z spirituality stats
04:06 Celebs on manifesting
05:09 Manifesting vs Visualising
08:38 Manifesting vs Prayer
10:06 What are crystals?
12:51 Witchtok has gone viral
14:54 Etsy Witches and wedding spells
16:40 Why are people engaging in spirituality?
17:20 Cultural stories of spirituality
18:11 the burden of manifesting
19:00 Pick'n'mix spirituality
20:12 No rules, no authority
22:47 Crystals, manifesting then Jesus?
25:35 What's the church's role in this?
29:59 Jesus is the only way
31:04 What about the men?
33:37 Spiritually curious? Try Ethos
35:42 Next episode: the boys are back!

We're back with Season 8 of the Being Human podcast! In this episode, Peter Lynas is joined by new co-host Katherine Brown to explore "spiritual curiosity" across popular culture. From feminists and historians to podcasters and footballers it seems like many people are curious about faith. They discuss the Bible Society’s “Quiet Revival” report and its retraction, while pointing to other research and many UK stories of people praying, buying Bibles, and simply showing up at church. The episode also highlights challenges like pick-and-mix spirituality and online-only discipleship and stresses the value of local church community. Finally, they introduce Ethos, a digital pathway which includes a quiz, personalised insights and suggested Christian practices to help spiritually curious people explore the way of Jesus.

00:00 Celebs are spiritually curious

01:19 Welcome to Being Human

01:42 Meet the new co-host

03:11 The Jordan Peterson effect

05:18 Theo Von and prayer

06:39 Bryan Johnson tries prayer

08:21 Steven Bartlett is spiritually curious

11:24 Feminist author Louise Perry becomes a Christian

13:11 Ayaan Hirsi Ali: from Islam to Christianity

15:08 The Alex O'Connor effect

17:02 Quiet Revival or a loud awakening?

19:44 Stats and stories of people coming to church

23:29 Cultural shifts in faith

26:45 Pick-and-mix spirituality

28:10 Online discipleship challenges

30:27 Why local church matters

32:56 What's next?

35:18 Ethos: for the spiritually curious

37:20 Connect with us online