This is thinking in public, a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about

front-line theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping them.

I'm Albert Moller, your host and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in

Louisville, Kentucky.

John Anderson is the former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia.

He served almost 20 years in the Australian Parliament,

including six years as Deputy Prime Minister and leader

of the National Party of Australia from 1999 to 2005.

He is a reformed Evangelical Anglican, well known during his time in Parliament and his long tenure

in Australian public life for his Christian faith. He is now an esteemed elder statesman in Australia,

his commentary is even now sought out. He has recently published on topics such as

civic freedom, global food security, modern slavery, and the economy.

He currently farms on his family's sixth generation farm while being active through various

directorships, through public speaking, and his involvement in the nonprofit sector.

John Anderson, welcome to thinking in public.

John is an honor to have this conversation with you today and I'd like to begin

by asking you to describe your country, its culture, it's Christian heritage,

because I think a lot of American evangelicals in particular aren't really certain about how Christianity

came to be in Australia and the profile of Christianity in Australia today.

Where do I start?

Same size of Continental USA in terms of geographic landmass, but only 24 million people. Settled after independence here in America as a penal colony but also for Britain to you know

flights flag on the great south land that they knew was down there that Captain

...