Deeper Questions Episode 24: "Does Religion help or hurt social justice?" with Tim Costello
Episode 24: “Does Religion Help or Hurt Social Justice?”
Helen Keller once said "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” And today we want to look at this confrontation between suffering and solace. We’re talking social justice, activism, charity, causes, not-for-profits and some of the reasons why these things exist in the first place. And we’ll get specific and spend a good chunk on gambling reform in Australia - but also other issues in our modern world. On top of that we’ll discuss whether faith is a net positive in building a better world, or whether it hinders these things.
Reverend Tim Costello AO is an Australian Baptist minister, social justice advocate, and former CEO of World Vision Australia (2004–2016). A lawyer by training, he previously served as Mayor of St Kilda (1993–1994) and Executive Director of Urban Seed, working on homelessness and addiction issues in Melbourne. He has also been the Chief Advocate for World Vision Australia, Chair of the Community Council for Australia, Executive Director of Micah Australia and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity (CPX).
Other References:
- She Remains Enchanted by Tim Costello in CPX 'Thinking out Loud', 5th February 2025
- Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda by Tim Costello
- "Crown Casino: Gambling industry 'Australia's equivalent of the NRA', Tim Costello says" by Eliza Buzacott-Speer in ABC News (19th Oct 2017)
- I’ve seen the impact of Trump and Musk’s savagery. What they’re doing is cruel and lethal by Tim Costello in CPX articles (3rd March 2025)
- Why Christians Should Care About the USAID Freeze by Tim Costello on Micah Australia blog (10th February 2025)
- U.S.A.I.D. Memos Detail Human Costs of Cuts to Foreign Aid by Apoorva Mandavilli in The New York Times (March 2nd 2025)
- Isaiah 65 reference
- Micah 6:8 reference
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