Bait the Hook:
Faithful and Faith-Filled Conversations
We’ve had a wonderful year of ‘Bait the Hook’ seminars – stay tuned for new topics in 2025! Each of these monthly sessions takes a different cultural text, genre, topic or idea and considers the way it raises questions of faith, religion and theology. They are engaging discussions and times of fellowship not to be missed.
New Sessions coming in 2025!
PREVIOUS ‘BAIT THE HOOK’ SESSIONS
“Being An Influencer Without Social Media”
Andy started the Red Frog Program in 1997, after seeing the desperate need for a chaplaincy service to safeguard teenagers at Schoolies celebrations. Andy recognised that the culture of young people was dominated by alcohol and that excessive consumption of alcohol and other substances can lead to dangerous and life altering behaviours. Therefore Red Frogs mission is to provide a positive peer presence in alcohol-fuelled environments where young people gather, educate young people on safe partying behaviours, and promote and provide non-alcoholic and/or diversionary activities that engage young people in their environments.
“God Knows Why I Look Like This”
Wednesday 25th September at 6.30pm
Neil Griffiths, warden at Cornerstone Anglican Church and co-owner of Jones’s Tackle in Brisbane presented a humorous and insightful session exploring some of the ways contemporary culture and philosophy have influenced the perceptions we have of ourselves and the world around us. And how differently things can look when we scratch the surface of our reality.
The session covered:
- Is it OK to be special?
- Does my dog really like me?
- Can philosophy really help anyone?
- Do celebrities have anything to offer?
“Theologising with a Hammer:
Professor William P MacNeil on Theism, Atheism and Nihilism in Thor: Love and Thunder“
Wednesday 28th August, 6.30-8pm
In this session, Professor William P. MacNeil lead a critical discussion of the Marvel film Thor: Love and Thunder, its theistic representations and their reflections and resonances with our contemporary culture. These encompass both the pantheon of pagan gods on display (from Thor to Zeus and the multitude in between) and the idol-smashing ‘Gorr the god-killer’ as the villain of the film. At the same time, Bill drew out the way the film’s title and narrative of love and sacrifice, outlines a different theism that is particularly needed in our world today.
Professor William MacNeil, FAAL, is an Honorary Professor of Law at the TC Beine School of Law, University of Queensland, as well as a Distinguished Fellow of the Law and Theory Lab, University of Westminsters and an Adjunct Professor of Law, University of the Sunshine Coast.
“Superheroes, Saviours and a Broken World:
Do We Need Another Hero?”
Wednesday 28th February, 6.30-8pm
What is it about the superhero-saviour that has seen it dominate our popular imaginary—across large and small screens, video games and comics—over the past 20 years? From Superman to She-Hulk, Wonder Woman to Black Panther, Spider-Man to Captain Marvel we have been presented with dozens upon dozens of saviours who rescue the city, nation, planet and galaxy from criminals, evil villains and peril. Is it that with all the difficulties, crises and problems of our world, we desire heroes that are able to save us? Are we looking to be inspired to heroism so that we can also generate solutions to the problems that we face? And how does such a desire for a saviour fit with Christianity—the religion based on the ultimate saviour figure?
Dr Timothy D Peters, Associate Professor of Law and author of A Theological Jurisprudence of Speculative Cinema: Superheroes, Science Fictions and Fantasies of Modern Law, discussed:
- Why we seem to be crying out for a saviour
- Superheroes vs Christianity’s response to evil
- Why we want superheroes to be good but not too good
- The challenges, of guilt, responsibility and great power
- Superpowers, selfishness and selflessness
- The ultimate sacrifice: giving up one’s life
“Fishing for Faith:
The Catch of a Lifetime”
Wednesday 24th January, 6.30-8pm
This session was led by Neil Griffiths, warden at Cornerstone Anglican Church and co-owner of Jones’s Tackle in Brisbane. Neil has been a leader at the church for many years and an avid fisherman all his life. Fishing requires a raft of skills including patience and perseverance. In this insightful and humorous session Neil unpacked the similarities in the skills successful anglers use and those needed for a lifetime of faith. He explored finding faith in today’s world and how landing a fish or two might help us catch onto God’s agenda.
It included:
- Practical ways for us to hook up with God
- Fish finders, God finders and how to use them
- The patience of fishos and the patience of God
- Whether God is as hard to catch as that fish of a lifetime
- Anglers’ overcoming of obstacles and Jesus’ call upon our lives
“Christmas in December:
What’s so Festive about the Festive Season?”
Wednesday 6th December, 6.30-8pm
This session involved a presentation and discussion led by Dr Timothy D Peters, warden at Christ the Cornerstone Anglican Church and Associate Professor of Law at the School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast. In addition to being a committed member of the Church, Tim researches and writes on the way popular culture reflects, engages and participates in contemporary questions of law, theology and religion. This engaging conversation took-up popular conceptions of Christmas, its commercial, religious and social significance and provided an alternative way of approaching the ‘silly season’ as a period of transformation and wonder.
The session included:
- What the festivity of the Christmas season misses in contemporary culture
- Traditions of gift-giving and the problems, perils and possibilities of the ‘Fat-man’
- When the 12 days of Christmas really are – or why, if you take down your Christmas lights on boxing day you’re doing it wrong
- Christmas films, idealism and the desire for the ‘Christmassy Feeling’
- X-mas and the commercialisation of Christmas
- How to invert the ‘silly season’ and not dread the Christmas period
“The Small Voice in a Clamouring World”
Wednesday 8th November, 6.30-8pm
The first of our new series of ‘Bait the Hook: Faithful and Faith-Filled Conversations’ was on Wednesday 8th November. This was an excellent evening of reflection and discussion with Neil Griffiths, warden at Cornerstone Anglican Church and co-owner of Jones’s Tackle in Brisbane. Neil has been a leader at the church for many years and has a gift for communicating complex topics in an easy-to-understand way. This dynamic talk meshed Neil’s personal experiences and the challenges of hearing God in today’s world, into a formula for recognising the voice of God when He speaks to us.
The session covered:
- The original man-cave experience: Elijah on Mt Carmel
- What God sounds like – is that me, God or last night’s pizza?
- Does God want to speak to you? Why can’t we always hear?
- Practical ways to hear more often and how this will positively impact your life
- How to say yes and making time when everything is in demand
Regular events throughout the year at Cornerstone include:
- AGM – last Sunday in February at 11.15am includes door prizes.
- Easter Services including:
- Good Friday service with drama presentation
- Easter Day celebration
- Christmas services and events, including:
- Family Christmas Party
- Christmas Day Services
