Podcasts from Questions Of Faith related to Economics

This week Marc looks at the idea that 'Money is the root of all evil' and out obsession with wealth and materialism. Diana Chambers, the family wealth mentor joins Marc to discuss this idea and what religion has to say on the subject of money.

One of the big focuses of the Autumn Statement was housing, with pledges to build more affordable homes. But where does the statement stand on a spiritual level. Marc Spoke to Jacob Quagliozzi, deputy Director of Housing Justice and Paul Morrison from the Methodist Church, to go over the chancellors statement.

All religions would say they welcome anyone who wants to worship. But there can be a lot of challenges, such as access to old religious buildings if you are in a wheelchair, or being able to read the small print of a bible if you are visually impaired. Marc Shoffman looks at the theological teachings behind disability with Naomi Lawson Jacobs, who is researching Disability and Christianity for a PHD. Reverend Bill Braviner and Dave Lucas, both from Disability and Jesus, and Dr Zachariah Duke, Academic Assistant to the Dean Lecturer in Theology and Biblical Studies at the Broken Bay Institute, speak to Marc ahead of Living Fully, a conference in Rome this week that looks at disability and religion.

Marc Shoffman focuses on the ongoing issue of tax avoidance after it was revealed that the Church of England is investing in Google. The 2015 annual report from the Church Commissioners, which is the investment arm of the Church of England, revealed Alphabet Inc, parent company of the search engine, was among its top 20 holdings. Edward Mason, Head of Responsible Investment for the Church Commissioners, Toby Quantrill, Principal Adviser for Economic Justice at Christian Aid, and Mark Harper, Adviser for Trinity Wealth Management, join Marc to discuss this issue.

This week Marc discusses what are different religious communities looking for in a new mayor? In recent weeks’ candidates such as the Tory's Zac Goldsmith and Labour's Sadiq Khan, and others, have all been grilled on what they will do for the capital. Their actions and policies can also feed into the rest of the country in terms of wealth and prosperity created. But religious communities also have a stake in the vote and have their own concerns that they have been raising during the campaign period. Marc is joined by Danny Webster from the Evangelical Alliance, Justin Cohen from the Jewish News and Fiyaz Mughal from Faith Matters to discuss the religious angle in the campaign.