Canon Dr. Anthony Lees-Smith: "Does religion need diversity?"

About this episode

David Escobedo interviews Canon Dr. Anthony Lees-Smith about the need for diversity in religion and the evolving role of religious institutions.

With the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally being named, I was curious as to if religion needed to diversify? And if it current institutions need to, how can they? Because isn't religion set in stone? Also, does "religion" need anything, or is religion just an existing thing? I had all these questions swirling in my head. So I went to ask someone I hold in high regard who may have more insight. I went to ask my friend, Canon Dr Anthony Lees-Smith from the Chester Cathedral. I am not a religious person, you may already know that. But I LOVE what he is doing at the Cathedral. You may be like me, prone to suspicion of organized religion. But the events being held at the Cathedral lately make me so happy. The discussions on AI, the recent performance of Jay Hulme (transgender poet), the Jugalbandi (classic Indian music) concert, and the humility by which Dr Lees-Smith interacts with people ... I mean, if I were to be religious THAT is how I would want my church to be. So, not only did I feel comfortable enough to ask, I trusted the discussion to be set in logic/humility and not in missionary language. (With even an awareness of colonisation) So I asked him. And his…

People in this episode

Host: David Escobedo

Guest: Canon Dr. Anthony Lees-Smith

Topics covered

• religion
• diversity
• organized religion
• community events
• AI discussions

Keywords

• religion
• diversity
• Chester Cathedral
• AI
• community events
• Jay Hulme
• organized religion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chester Cathedral

More episodes of David is Curious

• Sally Moss - Part 1 · June 3, 2026 · 34 min
• CHRIS MEAD! Do you hear me!?!? (horn sounds) · May 19, 2026 · 42 min
• Greg Metcalf · May 4, 2026 · 46 min
• Margot Escott LCSW · April 6, 2026 · 55 min
• Katy Schutte · March 28, 2026 · 1h 4m
• Ange Langly and Stu Hughes &(leopard) Me · February 6, 2026 · 37 min