• Introducing Rachel and Claudine (15 October 2015)
• Christmas and Festivus (24 December 2015)
• Rowena Allen visits the Spirit Lounge (17 December 2015)
• Marhaba (19 November 2015)
• Remembering Orlando – secular and religious memorials (16 June 2016)
• Clothes and religion (14 April 2016)

If you’d like to give us feedback, please fill out our listener survey at bit.ly/slsurvey2016.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 28 July 2016.

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Source: St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne

Craig D’Alton, vicar of St Mary’s Anglican Church in North Melbourne, talks to Claudine and Rachel about Christian voices in the plebiscite debate, Anglican attitudes to marriage equality and LGBTI inclusion, and last month’s interfaith memorial for the victims of Orlando at St Paul’s Cathedral. (Listen to our previous episode on Orlando from 16 June.)

Originally broadcast on Thursday 21 July 2016.

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News item 1: The Anglican Church of Canada narrowly approves same-sex marriage after voting errors are identified.

News item 2: Conservative and Reform Jews sue the Israeli government to allow mixed-gender prayer at the Western Wall.

Claudine spoke about her visit to Bangladesh last November as part of a World Student Christian Federation program to educate young Christian women on LGBTIQ issues. The Bandhu Social Welfare Society is one example of an organisation promoting HIV awareness and LGBTIQ rights in Bangladesh.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 14 July 2016.

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Gough Whitlam and Vincent Lingiari, photo by Mervyn Bishop (National Gallery of Australia)

For NAIDOC Week, Mark and Claudine talked about the impact of Christianity on Indigenous spirituality.

The AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia displays Indigenous language, tribal and national groups in Australia.

The Uniting Church in Australia’s 2016 Easter message was delivered by Stuart McMillan and Denise Champion.

You can learn more about NAIDOC Week on the NAIDOC website.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 7 July 2016.

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Originally broadcast on Thursday 30 June 2016.

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Source: St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne

Like many at JOY and in the LGBTIQ community, we in the Spirit Lounge have been shocked by the murder of 49 LGBTIQ people in Orlando, Florida.

On Thursday 16 June – just before we went to air – Rachel and Claudine attended a vigil in solidarity for Orlando in Federation Square, organised by the Victorian Government. JOY recorded the vigil and individual speeches are available in our community highlights podcast. The Victorian Government is also taking condolences online.

St Paul’s Cathedral hosted a multi-faith memorial service immediately after the vigil. Religious and civic leaders participated, including former Spirit Lounge guests Nur Warsame, Avril Hannah-Jones and Simon Holt. The order of service is available from the Cathedral’s website.

Faith and community leaders at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne

Rachel, Mark and Claudine reflected on the vigil and memorial service and their significance for LGBTIQ and faith communities. We also read from a Multifaith statement against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, published by Victorian religious leaders.

You can find previous interviews with Imam Nur Warsame on the Spirit Lounge and on ABC.

If you need to talk to someone, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or QLife (3pm-12am) on 1800 184 527.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 16 June 2016.

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Mark and Rachel talked about two Christian musicians who have recently come out as gay, Trey Pearson and Tyler Glenn.

They also continued last week’s discussion of celebrities, religion and film.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 9 June 2016.

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Rachel and Paige then talk about some celebrities’ religions.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 2 June 2016.

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Source: premier.vic.gov.au

26 May was National Sorry Day. An Aboriginal flag flew above Victoria’s Parliament House to mark the Government’s apology to Indigenous children who were taken from their families – the Stolen Generations. The Federal government under Kevin Rudd apologised to the Stolen Generations on 13 February, 2008.

The transcript of the National Apology to Stolen Generations is available online, along with a timeline of the Stolen Generations and Sorry Day.

One of our listeners sent us the news story that Carnarvon Shire Council (in Western Australia) voted against flying the Aboriginal flag in NAIDOC Week.

On Tuesday, the rainbow flag flew above the Victorian Parliament as the Premier Daniel Andrews apologised on behalf of past Victorian governments for the criminalisation of gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

For more reports on this apology, listen to the Informer reports from the Monday and Tuesday of this week.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 26 May.

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Source: Uniting Network Australia

We talked to Robert Stringer and surprise guest Rowena Allen about the upcoming Daring Conference held by Uniting Network Australia, the national network for lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and transgender people, their families, friends and supporters within the Uniting Church in Australia.

The theme of this year’s Daring Conference is “Daring to reach out: Honouring our diversity, Connecting interfaith, CALD and LGBTI communities”. See the program and book for the conference and accommodation online.

The conference will be held in Melbourne from 10-12 June. Bookings close Friday 3 June.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 19 May 2016.

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As Australians prepare for a federal election, we ask: what place does religion have in politics, or politics in religion? And we look at some historical examples of how religion and politics, or church and state, have gotten tangled up with each other.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 12 May 2016.

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Martin Luther

Holy days of the week were Yom HaShoah and Ascension.

We talked to Philip Thiel about Lutheranism in Australia, and current discussions on the role of women and LGBTI people.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 5 May 2016.

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We talked to Tiffany Sparks about representing A Progressive Christian Voice on Q&A and about some of the issues that matter to progressive Christians.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 28 April 2016.

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Pesach Seder plate (source: Mark Sobey)

Chag sameach!

Mark talked us through the story of Pesach (Passover) and the fifteen steps that make up the Pesach Seder.

Haggadot (source: Mark Sobey)

For next week’s show, you may want to watch Q&A on ABC on Monday night first. One of the panellists, Tiffany Sparks from Progressive Christian Voice, will be our guest on Thursday 28 April.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 21 April 2016.

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A tzitzit worn by Jewish men (source: Mark Sobey)

Holy day of the week was the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi.

This led us into a discussion of different types of clothes that are significant in religion, including:

• The Five Ks of Sikhism
• Tzitziyot and kippot in Judaism
• Chasubles and Hawaiian shirts for worship leaders

Originally broadcast on Thursday 14 April.

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Originally broadcast on Thursday 7 April.

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https://youtu.be/B5RtDpva7nE

Rachel and Claudine asked and answered a few frequently asked questions about religion, including:

• What are the main Christian denominations?
• What is the difference between “Christian” and “Catholic”? (quick answer: ask a different question)
• What does it mean to be atheist or agnostic, and what is the difference?
• What is the fastest growing religion in Australia?

Originally broadcast on Thursday 31 March 2016.

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Claudine was in church for Maundy Thursday so she was replaced by a bear in the studio.

Rachel read the text from the Lego Easter Story by BW Animations.

There are 14 or 15 Stations of the Cross depending on who you ask.

Mark wore a bear-et to celebrate Purim. Here’s a short video of Mark and Claudine the bear dancing to Esther’s a Jew.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 24 March 2016.

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Our second holy day this week is Palm Sunday (20 March). After we learned about palms, processions and donkeys, we talked to Sr Brigid Arthur, from the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project, about the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees.

The Melbourne walk starts at the State Library of Victoria with music and speeches from 1pm on Sunday, 20 March.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 17 March 2016.

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Originally broadcast on Thursday 10 March 2016.

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Two weeks ago we discussed a few local controversies and we revisited them this week.

Mentioned in the show:

• Q&A on 29 February
• ABC story on Catholic “Don’t mess with marriage” brochure
• Why I support Safe Schools as a principal by Jim Laussen (Overnewton College)
• Mardi Gras marching order (2016)

And see the Australian Equality Party’s video: I am a Christian and the ACL doesn’t speak for me.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 3 March 2016.

If you need to talk to someone, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or QLife (3pm-12am) on 1800 184 527.

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Nigel introduced The Junction, a new group where LGBTIQQ young adults and their friends can meet to explore Self, Sexuality and Spirituality in a safe space. The first meeting is this Sunday, 6 March. Find out more about The Junction and sign up on Facebook.

Mark, Rachel and Claudine shared some of the songs that have inspired us:

• Isaac – Madonna
• Fame – Irene Cara
• Vito’s Ordination Song – Sufjan Stevens
• Hallelujah – Rufus Wainwright

Originally broadcast on Thursday 25 February 2016.

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Claudine, Mark and Rachel discussed some of the week’s hot topics, including:

• Sky News interview with Lyle Shelton and Jason Tuazon-McCheyne and MattGlover’s open letter to Lyle Shelton
• “Come Home (Cardinal Pell)” by Tim Minchin

If you need to talk to someone, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 18 February 2016.

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Southbank CNY Monkey (c) Betty Sujecki

Happy Year of the Monkey!

We talked to Michelle Trebilcock about Lent and various Lenten practices including fasting and meditation, and some of the different meanings of purple across different cultures.

A four-minute video introducing Lent, by Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 11 February 2016.

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Holy days of the week were Transfiguration Sunday, Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday.

We talked to Carly Greening about her missionary work with the Joshua School in Arusha, Tanzania. Find out more on the Facebook page for Carly’s Tanzanian Times.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 4 February 2016.

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We then talked about some of our favourite films with religious topics or themes. Here’s some of the ones we came up with: do you have any to add?

• Dogma
• Groundhog Day
• Harry Potter
• Legally Blonde
• Monty Python’s Life of Brian
• The Passion of the Christ
• Prince of Egypt
• Schindler’s List
• Sister Act I and II
• South Park

Originally broadcast on Thursday 28 January 2016.

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Holy observance was the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

We talked to Srini Madhavan about his experiences growing up in a Hindu family.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 21 January 2016.

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Claudine, Rachel and Mark talked to Fr Stuart Soley from St Mark’s Anglican Church in Fitzroy about Midsumma Mass and the parish’s ministry to the Fitzroy community.

St Mark’s is holding Midsumma Mass on Friday 5 February at 7pm. St Mark’s is located at 250 George St, Fitzroy. Nearest trams are 86 and 112.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 14 January 2016.

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Mark and Rachel talked to Rabbi Kim Ettlinger from Temple Beth Israel, about Pride Shabbat and the Union for Reform Judaism’s Resolution on the Rights of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People.

Temple Beth Israel is holding Pride Shabbat on Friday 15 January at 6:15pm. TBI is located at 76-82 Alma Rd, St Kilda. If you can’t attend, you can watch the service streamed live on TBI.TV.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 7 January 2016.

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Rachel and Claudine talked to Nur from Marhaba, a support group for LGBTI people from Muslim backgrounds, which recently celebrated their second anniversary.

For more information, visit Federation Story and Global Queer Muslims, or email marhaba.melbourne@gmail.com.

Originally broadcast on Thursday 19 November 2015.

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