Notes from Episode 11: If you’re happy and you know it … 

For arguments sake: where we take a debate, cut out the party politics and try to talk it out

Are we as Christians expected to be happy all the time and, if not, do we have a lack of faith? Michael posits that we measure things by ‘happiness’ but, says Megan, there are still different social narratives on how we think happiness is achieved and what kind of happiness is valuable. They discuss Paul Dolan’s book Happy Ever After, which they both read for this episode.

So what exactly is happiness? And what about the recent claims that religious people are happier people? Megan and Michael take a look at happiness vs joy, dig in to what the Bible says on happiness and wonder over its temporal and eternal nature.

Mentioned in this segment:

• Happy Ever After by Paul Dolan 
• The Other Side of Happiness by Brock Bastian
• Is happiness in the Bible? Kirsten Birkett writes for Eternity News 
• Revealed: Religion does make you happier, Eternity News
• Pew Research Center study: Religion’s Relationship to Happiness, Civil Engagement and Health around the World

The secret life of us: in which we try to figure out what makes the other one tick

Are we shiny happy people? Megan and Michael share their experiences of happiness and what they have meant in their lives. Megan shares candidly about her experiences of joy and depression. Is life worth living when we’re not happy? How do we retain faith without happiness? And, if not to offer happiness, what is the point of faith?

Mentioned in this segment:

• Joy unerasable by Megan Powell du Toit for Fixing Her Eyes
• David Malouf: The Happy Life in Quarterly Essay

Do you need help?

Lifeline provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to online, phone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention services.  You can call 13 11 14 any time – it’s open 24 hours.

Marg and Dave: Reviews from two people obsessed by stories. But not always the same ones

SPOILERS AHEAD! Megan and Michael are talking Netflix and Russian Doll. If you haven’t got to episode three of that show yet, you are now warned.

Here’s the premise: In Russian Doll, Nadia keeps dying and reliving her 36th birthday party. She’s trapped in a surreal time loop – and staring down the barrel of her own mortality.

Tune in to here what Megan and Michael think of the show that’s been dubbed “the best show all year”  (and it’s only February!)

Mentioned in this segment:

• Netflix’s Russian Doll is surprisingly, deeply Jewish – alma. 

Want to subscribe? 

Find out more about the hosts of With All Due Respect:

Rev Dr Michael Jensen, rector at St Mark’s Anglican Darling Point, author, public commentator.

Rev Megan Powell du Toit, ordained Baptist minister, Publishing Manager of the Australian College of Theology, editor of the journal Colloquium.

We got the idea of our two-header theology and culture podcast from this show: The Movie Show/At the Movies.