FS04 Jeff Fountain on What it Means to have a Passion for Europe

In this episode of Rethink John Melville Baker, a former British banker, takes us on a journey that begins with a child passionately reading The Children’s Book of the World andcarries us from London to South Africa, Austria, and India. As a travel enthusiast, John shows us where a cheerful and spontaneous sense of adventure can lead, guided by an open heart and a deep curiosity for people, places, and cultures. Along the way, we discover how and where John came to know God, and how he recognised Jesus Christ as the great planner behind his journeys. Through John's voice, we feel a deep passion for exploring and experiencing the richness of the world and those who inhabit it, from the diversity of animal and plant life to cultural landscapes and human creativity. From the grand halls of banking, found all over the world, to a wide range of artistic processes, we see just how diverse our ways of perceiving can be, and how many different perspectives we are capable of experiencing. We also witness what can emerge when people meet, and when there is a deep, genuine desire to support one another (the beauty of human interaction, the beauty of encounter). Whether in the world of art, where different artists come together, or in philanthropic work that supports regions by, for example, creating better educational opportunities for children. We sense here, too, how God makes such encounters possible, and how He works through people in countless places across our shared globe. John’s voice enables us to perceive aspects of God's ideas for us as humans. Ideas which are not about destruction or isolation but about coming together as His creation and encourage one another to flourish. Therefore, "fear not", for there is a lot to explore, or to quote Bilbo Baggins: "You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."Feel free to listen to John’s story on your favourite podcast platform. (Podcast RETHINK from the Quo Vadis Institute, www.qvi.eu).

Our Birdview building is based in Salzburg, a city that washome to the writer Stefan Zweig for some 14 years. In 1934, Zweig left Salzburg, first for London and later into exile in Brazil. He would never return – neither to Salzburg, nor to Europe.A committed advocate of European unity, Zweig becameincreasingly disillusioned as he watched that vision disintegrate in the face of rising fascism, division, and hate.It is this very vision, and its relevance today, that JasperKnecht explores in conversation with Jeff Fountain. After serving as director of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Europe, Jeff went on to found the Schuman Centre for European Studies, an initiative dedicated to exploring European history and current affairs, reflecting on Europe’s future, and fostering intercultural dialogue and studies.In the conversation, Jeff challenges Jean-François Lyotard’sclaim of the collapse of metanarratives in the „postmodern“ era. He emphasises the importance of thinking about Europe’s story in the context of Christianity, arguing that large parts of both our history and our present can not be properly understood if we lose sight of that aspects in our history. If you're curious about the European Idea, its history, andRobert Schuman (perhaps a different kind of composition), join us in this conversation that challenges us to rethink Europe and our relationship with it.Links: Schuman Centre: https://www.schumancentre.eu/Jeffs weekly Blog: https://weeklyword.eu/en/

In this episode of Flourishing Stories, Jasper Knecht engages in a conversation with Kosovar performance artist, educator, author, screenwriter, and director Arijeta Ajeti.
 Together, they delve into the world of performative art, drama, and fiction – asking how the arts, shaped both by Kosovo’s multi-layered history and its present-day realities, can open up distinct forms of expression and communication.Can artistic practices create shared spaces of social life – spaces where histories, memories, and everyday realities intersect with the textures of place, the rhythms of daily life, and the presence of those who inhabit them? And in what ways can the arts also question these very processes, highlighting complexity, resisting simplification, and opening space for critical reflection on the desire to belong?As a passionate Christian, Arijeta also reflects on her personal journey as an artist and the importance of calling and spiritual gifts in creative work. How do the arts speak of God, even when they don’t directly draw on biblical stories? And how has God opened doors in her work, connecting her with new people, ideas, and collaborative paths?Here your can find Arijeta's books: Sparkhue City and Ok, Google! or Ok, God!Feel free to listen to Arijeta’s story on your favourite podcast platform. (Podcast RETHINK from the Quo Vadis Institute, www.qvi.eu).Photo Credits: ishad24 (pixabay) and private

In this episode of Flourishing Stories, Jasper Knecht and Andrzej Turkanik embark on a journey through history. Together, they explore Central Europe in the late 8th and early 9th centuries—a pivotal moment in European history: the Carolingian Renaissance. With Jasper and Andrzej, we uncover the foundations of Carolingian rule, its rise to power, and the lasting impact of its ambitious projects.One figure stands out among all the transformative reforms and unification efforts: Alcuin of York, the central figure of ourFlourishing Story. Andrzej and Jasper examine his crucial role as an advisor and leader of the Carolingian reforms—a unifier who brought together the foremost intellectual, theological, and political minds of his time, and a visionary who sought to rethink and reshape existing systems across multiple fields.Alcuin guided far-reaching reform projects aimed at standardization, including the unification of timekeeping and the calendar, the Latin language used in scholarship and official documents, typography through the Carolingian minuscule, as well as reforms in education, liturgy, and monastic practices. At the same time, these projects sought to preserve, produce, and document knowledge. Many ancient texts have survived to this day thanks to the meticulous efforts undertaken during the Carolingian Renaissance, when scholars copied, translated, and safeguarded invaluable works of antiquity and central theological texts, ensuring their transmission through the centuries.Andrzej and Jasper take us into a story of collaboration—one driven by grand ideas and their practical implementation. A story that shaped governance, education, religion, and daily life throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. And a story that highlights the art and enduring impact of interdisciplinary cooperation.

In this episode, we talk to Sarah-Joe Burn about what drives her as a scholar and a Christian. How does she see her role as a data scientist who works primarily with selection traits in dairy cattle and why we need to breed cattle that emit less methane? Is there a reason why she decided to pursue this field? DIin Sarah-Joe Burn grew up at 1300m in the Bernese Alps (Switzerland). SJ has long been fascinated by the tranquillity of cows. Caring for creation, sustainability, and improving animal welfare in general, are very important to her. She studied agriculture and obtained her Bachelor's degree in Zurich, Switzerland (ETH). She holds a Master's degree in Livestock Sciences from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, Austria, where she is currentlywriting her thesis on "Direct and indirect traits for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in dairy cows".  (Project: https://www.rinderzucht.at/projekt/breed4green.html)Driven by her IFES background, she is also involved in various other projects aimed at nurturing and connecting people in their Christian faith, such as serving as President of theBoard of ÖSM (Austrian IFES). For her work, SJ measured methane on 30 different Austrian farms and explores how methane correlates with milk yield and health traits. Through the conversation, we found out why rumination is actually a smart way for us as humans to thrive!  Tune in to this episode of the revamped RETHINK podcast from the Quo Vadis Institute (www.qvi.eu).

Welcome to the first episode of our new podcast! Our host, Jasper, who will also guide you through the upcoming episodes, begins by introducing the podcast, along with our ideas and vision behind it. Our future episodes will unfold in two formats: Flourishing Stories and Flourishing Ideas. You’ll soon see that “flourishing” lies at the very heart of this podcast. In this episode, Jasper reflects on what flourishing can mean in general and what it means to us.   In Flourishing Stories (FS), we talk with (or about) people, their work, and their contributions to the public sphere. What drives them? What truly matters to them? How do they, as Christians, approach their work, the significance of their actions, and the importance of actively shaping and creating? Given Jasper’s background as a theologian and church historian, we also explore the lives of historical figures, diving into their stories and considering how and why these narratives still resonate with us today. In Flourishing Ideas (FI), we engage in conversations about ideas and the history of ideas across various fields. What ideas influence and shape our lives and societies—whether through political systems, healthcare, education, legislation, or other areas? We also discuss innovative ideas with our guests, exploring how these concepts are grounded in, informed by, and express a Christian understanding of the person and the public sphere. We’re thrilled to begin this journey and look forward to growing and flourishing together in the episodes to come! RETHINK Podcast from the Quo Vadis Institute (www.qvi.eu).

In this episode of our podcast #Rethink, Jasper Knecht engages in a conversation with Sam Mabley, a young Christian from Bristol (UK), who founded a fashion company (YesFriends) centered around the idea of making ethical clothing affordable. Sam shares his story and discusses how he became intrigued by issues in the fashion industry. To quote from their website: „Clothes are the products with the 2nd highest risk of modern slavery in their supply chain and use around 10% of global greenhouse gases“.    There's an inherent awareness that something doesn't quite add up when we purchase a T-shirt for a mere 5-10 euros from a mainstream fashion chain. Maybe we've caught wind of the harmful impact of dyeing methods, releasing alarming quantities of toxic chemicals into rivers and triggering catastrophic effects on nearby ecosystems and communities. The pressing question, however, remains: What actionable steps can we take? The prevailing industry operates within these established “norms”, and the prospect of transitioning to alternatives, often considerably pricier, poses a financial challenge for many. How do we address this dilemma and contribute to positive change?  Sam, who faced the same problems, decided to change something right here and create a way to offer fashion that is both ethically produced and affordable. In the conversation, he meticulously describes the processes necessary for making this possible and also paints a broader economic picture, showing how we, as consumers, can support a change in the way fashion is produced and perceived.   Moreover, Sam describes how, as a Christian, he reflects on issues of justice and perceives a clear mandate in the Bible to contemplate justice and social conditions, as well as to actively get involved when unjust conditions are observed or become salient.  Sam Mabley studied music at the university of Bristol. He is a co-founder of the ethical clothing company Yes Friends.

In this episode, Elaine Pountney shares about her life as a counsellor. She reflects on the nature of wellbeing, the connection between flourishing and relationships, and whether flourishing is possible after trauma. We loved our conversation so we hope you’ll enjoy it as well. Photo Credit of Featured Picture: Gary Barnes | Pexels

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Foot discusses her work as a Palliative Care Physician. What does good, holistic care look like? Foot explains that a physical problem does not always have a physical solution and that much of her job is also to help patients navigate choices and decisions. Important in this process is to define what success means in this context? Even though ‘curing’ a patient is not often a realistic aim, it is very rewarding to help people manage pain and support them in achieving their goals. Featured Photo by truthseeker08 | pixabay

Revd Dr Dave Bookless is Director of Theology for A Rocha International. A Rocha is an international Christian organisation engaging in scientific research, environmental education and community-based conservation projects across six continents. In this conversation, Dr Bookless talk more about his heart for Creation Care and the ways in which he think those issues are connected with Human Flourishing. Photo Credit of Featured Picture: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels