Welcome to the Divinity Divulged podcast! The first podcastseries from the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. In each episode we’ll be taking a look at one of the fascinating research projects happening within the Faculty through conversations with the researcher and an expert guest working in their field. With dialogue aimed at all of those studying or exploring religious studies across all levels, you can find details on how this episode relates to A Level and Scottish Highers Specifications as well as a glossary below.

For this episode we are joined by Amen Gashaw. Amen is an MPhil candidate in Christian Theology here in the Faculty of Divinity, where she works on political theologies of migration. Her prior research examined the efficacy of faith-based global development programs and religiosity’s effect on socialbehaviour change outcomes. She is a graduate of Harvard College with degrees in Government on the political economy track and Molecular Biology.

Alongside Prof David Fergusson, Amen talks her through her research at the intersections of political economy and theology, sin, religion and law, and humanitarianism, with a focus on migration theology, hospitality and identity, home and theological grass roots.

Glossary

Angelology – The theologicalstudy if angels.

Christian nationalism – A political ideology that looks for explicit expressions of Christianity in civic life and policy.

Comparative Christologies – The study of how different Christian traiditons understand the nature and role of Jesus.

Ecumenical – The promotion of cooperation and unity between denominations.

Great commandment – Jesus’ response recorded in three of the gospels of which rule in the law of God is the most important, first to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength’ and second to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.

Great commission - Jesus Christ's final instruction to His disciples to spread the Christian gospel and make followers of all nations

Heritage churches - individual Christian congregations, movements, or specific denominations that emphasize afoundational, historical, or traditional commitment to historic Christian doctrines and reformed theology.

ICE – United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A federal law agency in the US charged with enforcingimmigration and carrying out deportations.

Prelapserian – Existing or occurring before the Fall of Man.

Theologies of migration – Frameworks that interpret human movement and displacement through sacred texts and divine mission.

Unitary executive - A constitutional law concept asserting that the President of the United States possesses absolute authority over the entire executive branch.

Vice signalling - The public expression of controversial, cruel, or socially taboo views to signal loyalty to a specific group, appear tough or authentic, or gain social and political capital.

Welcome to the Divinity Divulged podcast! The first podcastseries from the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge. In each episode we’ll be taking a look at one of the fascinating research projects happening within the Faculty through conversations with the researcher and an expert guest working in their field. With dialogue aimed at all of thosestudying or exploring religious studies across all levels, you can find details on how this episode relates to A Level and Scottish Highers Specifications as well as a glossary below.

For this very special episode we went live! Recorded as part of the Cambridge Festival Ideas in 2025 we welcomed Dr Ankur Barua, University Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity here at Cambridge. Offering us their expertise and their reflections was Dr Alexandra Ilieva, Teaching Associate in Buddhist Studies also in the Faculty of Divinity.

Ankur divulged his connections to considerations around timeand space, cognition and intuition, translations, and, most significantly, time travel films.

Glossary

Atomic theory – Scientific explanation which suggests thatall matter is from small particles called atoms.

Dharma- Sanskrit word generally referring to a path of righteousness or duty in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Diachronic – Consideration of the way something,particularly language, has developed over time.

Ethnography – Social scientific descriptions of peoples andcultures through their customs habits and mutual differences through observation.

Existential – The consideration of and ideas relating to existence.

Hermeneutical intent – Attempting to understand a text byseeking to understand the authors meanings and motivations.

Language game – Philosophical concept developed by Ludwig Wittgenstein which refers to simple examples of language and the ideas and actions within them.

Meta philosophy – The philosophical study of the nature,methods, aims and boundaries of philosophy itself.

Metaphysical – Aspects of philosophy that consider thenature of reality and existence beyond the physical world and human perception

Nihilistic – The belief that life is meaningless and arejection of religious and moral principle accordingly

Orientalism – Representations of Asian cultures and peoplesin an stereotyped and essentialised way stemming from and furthering colonialist attitudes

Syllogistic – A type of log where conclusions are reached byapplying deductive reasoning to two general premises

Synchronic – State of operating or developing according tothe same time scale as something else

Tawheed – The Islamic concept of the oneness of God

A Level Specifications –

AQA

Philosophy of Religion

Religious language

Self, death and the afterlife

2a Buddhism

Ultimate reality

Buddhism and science

2c Hinduism

Ultimate reality

Hinduism and science

Dialogues

The dialogue between Hinduism and philosophy

Pearson Edexcel

Philosophy of Religion

1 Philosophical issues and questions

4 Religious language

4A Buddhism

1 Religious Beliefs values and teachings

4C Hinduism

1 Religious Beliefs values and teachings

OCR

2.c Philosophy of religion

1 Philosophical language and thought

4 Theological and Philosophical Developments

5 Religious Language: Negative, Analogical or Symbolic

2.c Developments in Buddhist thought

Foundations

Insight

2.c Developments in Hindu thought

Foundations

Insight

Scottish Highers Specifications

SQA

Buddhism

Beliefs

Hinduism

Beliefs