A new podcast from academic Matthew Tan and Sydney Centre for Evangelisation director Daniel Ang aims to bring a light touch to faith, life and “being Asian”. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
The podcast labels itself as “academic theology to lived life as seen through the eyes of two Australian Catholic laymen and doing so Asianly [sic]”.
Dr Tan, dean of studies at Wagga Wagga diocesan seminary’s Vianney College, said he had intended to add an audio component to his Awkward Asian Theologian blog, but the idea did not come to fruition “until a spontaneous conversation” with co-host Mr Ang.
The Awkward Asian Theologian podcast, which releases a new episode every fortnight, combines Dr Tan’s background in academic theology with Mr Ang’s work in parish renewal and aims to fill a gap in the podcast market.
Dr Tan said that given Mr Ang’s involvement in the parish renewal space, it “made a lot of sense to have him as a concrete counterpoint to my often abstract-sounding academic commentary”.
“Despite the differences, we are united in our commitment that the Christian intellectual tradition has something to say to the everyday life of the faithful,” Dr Tan said.
In the first episode, the pair discuss their respective upbringings, their Asian heritage, and how they came to be engrossed in the faith, as Dr Tan says he wants to make the podcast “theological.”
“Nothing is an accident, all these little details, something as simple as where we each have worked, they are all bound up in the workings of grace,” he said.
Dr Tan says this idea will “shape the general orientation of the podcast” as grace guides and ties together “everything that we experience” as Christians.
Mr Ang said he hopes the show might function as a “virtual coffee break” without any “didactic preaching” involved.
“Just some good conversation that might spark a thought or two and reach people who are open to learning more about the concrete gifts and challenges of discipleship,” he explained.
Awkward Asian Theologians is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
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New podcast brings a light touch to faith, life, and “being Asian” (The Catholic Weekly)