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Talking Theology

108 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago - ★★★★ - 9 ratings

The podcast of Cranmer Hall, the theological college within St John's College, Durham University. We explore life’s big questions, and look to join the dots between theology, church, and the world. Philip Plyming, Warden of Cranmer Hall, is joined by a wide range of guests with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

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Episodes

Philip Plyming - Why Did Paul Tell Stories of His Own Hardship and What Does That Mean for Us Today?

July 02, 2023 23:00 - 30 minutes - 13.9 MB

What's striking about the Apostle Paul and the stories he shared? What was first-century Corinth really like, and what was the real problem with the Corinthian church? How was the cross the content of Paul's preaching but also the pattern of his living? And how might Paul's cross-shaped narrative about himself affect the way we tell our stories today? In today's episode we will be talking to Rev Canon Dr Philip Plyming. Philip is warden of Cranmer Hall, as well as the host of Talking Theolo...

Philip Plyming - Why Did Paul Tell Stories of His Own Hardship and What Does That Mean for the Stories We Tell Today?

July 02, 2023 23:00 - 30 minutes - 13.9 MB

What's striking about the Apostle Paul and the stories he shared? What was first-century Corinth really like, and what was the real problem with the Corinthian church? How was the cross the content of Paul's preaching but also the pattern of his living? And how might Paul's cross-shaped narrative about himself affect the way we tell our stories today? In today's episode we will be talking to Rev Canon Dr Philip Plyming. Philip is warden of Cranmer Hall, as well as the host of Talking Theolo...

Paula Gooder - How does imagination help us encounter the teaching of Paul today?

June 18, 2023 23:00 - 32 minutes - 14.7 MB

What did it feel like to be a Christian in the earliest churches? How does telling stories help us understand the role of women in Paul's ministry? How does imagination help us see Paul and his good news in a different light? How might close attention to people's backstories help us to forgive them and indeed ourselves? In this episode, we talk to Canon Dr. Paula Gooder. Paula is a New Testament scholar and Canon Chancellor at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Among her many published works ...

Tom Holland - How is the Story of the West Forged by Christian Faith and Values?

June 04, 2023 23:00 - 28 minutes - 13 MB

What has been the impact of Christianity on western civilisation? How did the shock of the cross change the relationship between the weak and the strong? Where might we see Christian theological dialogue in unexpected places? And why might it be important to reconnect Christian values with Christian stories? In today's show we will be talking to Tom Holland. Tom is an award-winning historian, author and broadcaster, and he co-hosts the popular podcast The Rest is History. His latest work is...

Chloe Lynch - What's Wrong with Servant Leadership and is There a Better Way?

May 21, 2023 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

What values drive contemporary leadership, and how have they influenced the Church? Where did the idea of servant leadership first come from, and why is the answer more surprising that we might think? What are the problems with servant leadership when it comes to power and how we use it? And how is friendship a better model, and what does it mean to lead in love? In today's show we will be talking to Dr Chloe Lynch.  Chloe is a lecturer in practical theology at the London School of Theology...

Mathew Guest - What is neoliberalism and how is it impacting the church?

May 07, 2023 23:00 - 30 minutes - 21 MB

What is neoliberalism and what are the assumptions behind it? How does language of individualism, competition and commodities find its way into the church? What signs might we see of a church swimming with the neoliberal tide? What are the ethical questions raised by a church adopting free market values? In this episode we are talking to Professor Mathew Guest. Mathew is Professor in the Sociology of Religion and Head of the Department of Theology and Religion here in Durham University. His...

David Ford - Why Should we Continually Reread the Gospel of John?

April 23, 2023 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

How is John's gospel both accessible and profound? What does it mean to read John's gospel as the culmination of the New Testament testimony to Jesus? How does John's gospel invite us to improvise in response to the love of God? And how does this gospel allow us to read our way into the presence of Jesus? In today's show we will be talking to Professor David Ford. David is Regius Professor of Divinity Emeritus at the University of Cambridge. He's also chair of trustees of Lyn's House, Cambr...

Giles Waller - What's the relationship between theology and tragedy?

March 26, 2023 23:00 - 29 minutes - 13.6 MB

What is tragedy and how do we see it not only in the arts but also in the Bible? How does tragedy help us see what it is to live as sinners in a fallen world? What is the difference between optimism and hope? How is a tragic view of life actually part of the Good News? In this episode we are talking to Dr Giles Waller. Giles is a research associate at the University of Cambridge and a member of the Cambridge Interfaith Programme. His forthcoming book is entitled, 'Tragic Theology: Drama, th...

Selina Stone - How can a rich understanding of the Holy Spirit help us as we attend to a wounded world?

March 13, 2023 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

Where did Pentecostalism start and what can we learn from its history? What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit, personal piety and power and justice? What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the resurrection of Jesus and how does this affect how we see wounds around us today? How can we resist limiting the spheres in which we long to see the Holy Spirit at work? In this episode, we talk to Dr Selina Stone. Selina is a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Theology an...

Israel Oluwole Olofinjana - What Are the Voices We Need to Hear to do Theology Well Today?

February 27, 2023 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

What does the ancient book of Philemon have to say to our modern world? What does it mean to pursue our discipleship from a place of discomfort? What are the different, authentic voices that need to be unmuted for us to hear from God? And what is reverse mission, and how is God speaking to the Church from unexpected places? In today’s show we will be talking Revd Dr Israel Oluwole Olofinjana. Israel is a Baptist minister and  Director of the One People Commission of the Evangelical Alliance...

Ben Quash - How does theology unfold in the drama of life?

February 13, 2023 01:00 - 29 minutes - 13.3 MB

How is theology changed by people, place and time? How is the Holy Spirit leading the Church in the unfolding truth of Christ? How is it the Spirit's distinctive work to maximise gladness? And how can we be opened up by the past to imagine a new future?  In today’s show we will be talking Professor Ben Quash. Ben is Professor of Christianity and the Arts at King’s College London. He explores the theological significance of literature, drama, the visual arts and music, and in particular how t...

Will Foulger - What Does it Mean for the Church to be Present in Every Place?

January 30, 2023 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

Why has place always mattered and why does it matter today? What's the difference between the parish system and the parish vocation? How are we called to love the different places where we have been placed by God? And why has the debate about the role of the parish become so polarised, and what's a better way forward? In today’s show we will be talking to Revd Dr Will Foulger. Will is the Director of Mission and Evangelism here at Cranmer Hall, and also the Director of the Centre for Church...

Andrew Prevot - What is the Relationship Between Everyday Theology and Ordinary Prayer?

January 16, 2023 00:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MB

How does prayer help us integrate our experiences of God with our efforts to understand God? How can we think and talk about prayer in a way that captures its rich diversity? How does contemplating God help us resist the constrictions the world puts on us? And how can thinking prayer help us bring others before God? In today’s show we will be talking to Professor Andrew Prevot. Andrew is Associate Professor in the Theology Department at Boston College. He has written extensively on the rela...

Michael Gorman - How does the Apostle Paul embody a life shaped by the Cross and empowered by the resurrection?

December 12, 2022 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

What did it mean for the Apostle Paul’s existence in Christ to be patterned on the Cross? Why is the Christ-hymn from Philippians 2 Paul’s master story and how does it speak to us, not only as individuals, but to communities of faith? If Good Friday supplies the pattern of Christian lives, how does Easter supply the power? And, what does it mean for the Church to not simply believe the Gospel, but also become the Gospel?   In this episode I am talking to Professor Michael Gorman. Michael is...

Federico Villanueva - What Do the Ancient Psalms Have to Say About the Value of Lament in the Modern World?

November 28, 2022 00:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MB

What's the problem with singing joyful songs in the face of suffering? What do the psalms teach us about staying with suffering, rather than moving too quickly to praise? How is the practice of lament witnessed to across the pages of the Bible, right up to the very end? And how is naming the reality of pain and trials actually an expression of hope? In today’s show I will be talking to Rev Dr Federico Villanueva, who is currently a Commissioning Editor for Langham Publishing and Scholar Car...

Jeremy Begbie - How can music help us imagine and reimagine our understanding of ourselves and God?

November 14, 2022 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

How can music help us to access theological realities to which words bear witness? How can the patterns of Western music provide us with a disarming but compelling way into the heart of the Gospel? How can the uncontainability of music point us to a transcendent God of love and grace? How can music expand our perceptions of what it is to be human and open up conversations of faith? In today’s show we are talking to Professor Jeremy Begbie. Jeremy is a Professor at Duke Divinity School, as w...

Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy - How, in the Struggle Against Racism, Can Theology Help us Reimagine the Future, Transform the Present, and Redeem the Past?

October 31, 2022 00:00 - 32 minutes - 22.3 MB

How did the murder of George Floyd confront us with the reality of racism and its impact? How does theology tell stories that recognise the intrinsic value of each human story? What is the concept of Afrofuturism and how might it help us think theologically about God's future? And how can we walk within a hope which is characterised by Black flourishing and not struggle? In today’s show we are talking to Right Reverend Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, who is Bishop of Willesden. Bishop Lusa was previously...

Maggi Dawn - If the whole earth is the Lord’s, how should we worship?

October 16, 2022 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

How do we talk about contemporary worship in a way that describes what is actually going on in the Church today? How do we keep our worship faithful to our beliefs? How do we ensure worship includes both intimacy and awe? And why is worship about God coming to us rather than us working towards God?  In today’s show we are talking to Revd Professor Maggi Dawn, who is a professor in the Department of Theology and Religion here in Durham. Maggi is a theologian, author, musician and priest, and...

Joseph Webster - What Can Immersing Ourselves in the Beliefs of Others Contribute to Our Own Lives of Faith?

October 02, 2022 23:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MB

What's it like to live in the constant anticipation of the end of time? How do communities which see time as short live out their faith and interpret the world around them? How does the study of communities such as the Plymouth Brethren or Jehovah's Witnesses help us think about mainstream Christian theology? And how might personally entering another religious culture inform and challenge our own faith? In today's show we are talking to Dr Joseph Webster. Joseph is an Assistant Professor in...

Nick Baines - Why is engaging in politics part of Christian faithfulness in our world today?

June 19, 2022 23:00 - 26 minutes - 12 MB

Why should Christians be involved in politics? How can theology ask real world questions? What can we learn from Dietrich Bonhoeffer about how theology and politics need to go together? What are the challenges of engaging in faith and politics in a social media context?   And how do prayer and worship help us to see the world around us differently?  In today’s show we are talking with the Rt Revd Nick Baines. Nick is Bishop of Leeds, and an expert in public engagement at the intersection of...

Nick Baines - Why is engaging in politics part of Christian faithfulness in our world today?

June 19, 2022 23:00 - 26 minutes - 12 MB

Why should Christians be involved in politics? How can theology ask real world questions? What can we learn from Dietrich Bonhoeffer about how theology and politics need to go together? What are the challenges of engaging in faith and politics in a social media context?   And how do prayer and worship help us to see the world around us differently?  In today’s show we are talking with the Rt Revd Nick Baines. Nick is Bishop of Leeds, and an expert in public engagement at the intersection of...

Isabelle Hamley - How does the Bible help us embrace justice, beyond judgement?

June 05, 2022 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MB

What do the stories and laws of the Old Testament teach us about a God of justice? How does the incarnation of Jesus shape the way we see issues of justice and mercy today? How does the cross hold mercy and justice together? How can facing up to our own broken humanity help us imagine a world beyond judgement? And what do we do when we are confronted by injustice in the world around us? In today's show we are talking to the Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley. Isabelle is currently the Secretary for E...

How does the Bible help us embrace justice, beyond judgement?

June 05, 2022 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MB

What do the stories and laws of the Old Testament teach us about a God of justice? How does the incarnation of Jesus shape the way we see issues of justice and mercy today? How does the cross hold mercy and justice together? How can facing up to our own broken humanity help us imagine a world beyond judgement? And what do we do when we are confronted by injustice in the world around us? In today's show we are talking to the Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley. Isabelle is currently the Secretary for E...

Elizabeth Hare - What Does The Old Testament Teach Us About Our Loneliness and How God Can Meet Us In It?

May 22, 2022 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

What is loneliness and how does the Bible, and particularly the Old Testament, talk about it? How does the Old Testament's description connect with what we've learned about loneliness in the last 20 years? Why does God care about lonely humans and what does God do about it? How can Christians learn to live well with loneliness, and how can we be good friends in a world where people are lonely? In today’s show  we are talking to Elizabeth Hare.  Lizzie is a pastoral tutor lecturer in the Old...

Mike Snape - What Can History Teach Us About a Christian Response to War?

May 08, 2022 23:00 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MB

What are the different voices in Scripture across the Old and New Testaments on war and conflict? How can a war ever be just?  And why does the Just War tradition still matter today? How does the story of Anglicans living in a time of war provide a cautionary tale for the Church in todays world? How has the relative peace in Europe since World War II led to a functional pacifism in many churches?  And how does the current conflict in Ukraine challenge that view? In today’s show we are talk...

Karen Kilby - Suffering, Mystery and Christian Doctrine: Why Do Limits Matter for Theology?

April 10, 2022 23:00 - 29 minutes - 13.7 MB

What does it mean to be a theologian, and how does it relate to the everyday faith of the Church? What is a wise theological response to the problem of evil? How can we approach suffering without denying it on the one hand, or sacralising it on the other? How might Julian of Norwich help us hold together our unanswered questions with hope for God's unimaginable future? What's wrong with thinking of the doctrine of the Trinity as a tool for solving practical problems, and what then is the doc...

Peniel Rajkumar - Mission from the Margins: How can paying attention to the witness of the global church renew and reinvigorate Christian mission?

March 27, 2022 23:00 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MB

What does it mean to approach theology ‘feet-first’? Why should churches in the UK and the West more generally engage with global theologies, and what might they learn in the process? What are some ways in which the history of Christian mission is being complexified and re-storied? For instance, how have Dalit Christians been missionaries to the missionaries? And finally, how can learning about different contexts in the global church help reinvigorate the ways we work together for justice an...

Peniel Rajkumar - Mission from the Margins: How can paying attention to the witness of the global church renew and reinvigorate Christian mission?

March 27, 2022 23:00 - 26 minutes - 12.2 MB

What does it mean to approach theology ‘feet-first’? Why should churches in the UK and the West more generally engage with global theologies, and what might they learn in the process? What are some ways in which the history of Christian mission is being complexified and re-storied? For instance, how have Dalit Christians been missionaries to the missionaries? And finally, how can learning about different contexts in the global church help reinvigorate the ways we work together for justice an...

Simeon Zahl - Emotion, Embodiment and the Spirit: What's experience got to do with Christian doctrine?

March 14, 2022 00:00 - 33 minutes - 15.4 MB

How should we think about the place of experience in Christian discipleship, and in what ways can the doctrine of the Holy Spirit help us to approach it wisely? How might paying attention to the emotional and embodied dimension of Christian doctrine help us to retrieve the riches of theologians such as St Augustine and Martin Luther? What can academic theology and the wider church learn from Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity, and what's it got to do with play? How does scientific rese...

Simeon Zahl - Emotion, Embodiment and the Spirit: What's experience got to do with Christian doctrine?

March 14, 2022 00:00 - 33 minutes - 15.4 MB

How should we think about the place of experience in Christian discipleship, and in what ways can the doctrine of the Holy Spirit help us to approach it wisely? How might paying attention to the emotional and embodied dimension of Christian doctrine help us to retrieve the riches of theologians such as St Augustine and Martin Luther? What can academic theology and the wider church learn from Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity, and what's it got to do with play? How does scientific rese...

Karowei Dorgu - We Care, God Heals: How Can Faith and Medicine Work Together for Human Flourishing?

January 31, 2022 00:00 - 30 minutes - 14 MB

How do culture and belief affect the way different people see faith and science? How can faith and science work together for healing? How does the concept of a creative tension help us see faith and medicine as complementary? And how is scientific exploration discovering the footsteps of God? In today's show we are talking to the Right Reverend Dr Karowei Dorgu. Karowei is the Bishop of Woolwich in the Diocese of Southwark. Born and brought up in Nigeria, he trained as a medical doctor bef...

Karowei Dorgu - We Care, God Heals: How Can Faith and Medicine Work Together for Human Flourishing?

January 31, 2022 00:00 - 30 minutes - 14 MB

How do culture and belief affect the way different people see faith and science? How can faith and science work together for healing? How does the concept of a creative tension help us see faith and medicine as complementary? And how is scientific exploration discovering the footsteps of God? In today's show we are talking to the Right Reverend Dr Karowei Dorgu. Karowei is the Bishop of Woolwich in the Diocese of Southwark. Born and brought up in Nigeria, he trained as a medical doctor bef...

Althea Wilkinson - How Can Studying the Stars Help Us Encounter the God of Creation?

January 17, 2022 00:00 - 27 minutes - 12.6 MB

How might the study of astronomy shape the way we see the world and the way we see ourselves?  How might scientific endeavours be part of pursuing knowledge about God?  What role do questions pay in the work of science and faith?  What are the challenges and opportunities that scientists in churches encounter?  How does the perspective of space remind us of the beauty and fragility of our planet? In today’s show we are talking to Dr Althea Wilkinson. Althea was formerly project manager of t...

Steven Croft - How Does The Christian Faith Help Us Reimagine Human Flourishing In A World Of AI?

January 03, 2022 15:00 - 30 minutes - 14.1 MB

Is Artificial Intelligence just about robots in the future or technology in the present? What are the tensions between human flourishing and human fallibility in the development of AI? How do different world views and value systems affect the way AI is being developed and implemented? How can Christian perspectives on being human shape our approach to new technology? How can the Beatitudes speak to humans amidst the growth of AI technology? The Right Revd Dr Steven Croft is the Bishop of Ox...

Tom McLeish - Created for Creativity: What is the Role of Imagination in Scientific Exploration?

December 06, 2021 00:00 - 32 minutes - 14.8 MB

How might medieval history help us rethink contemporary assumptions about science?  How does being made in the image of God affirm our vocation to creativity?  How do poetry and science belong together?  How do contemplation and imagination contribute to scientific endeavour?  How can churches recognise science as God's good gift and not just an obstacle to be overcome? Our guest for this episode is Professor Tom McLeish.  Tom is a physicist, academic interdisciplinary leader, and writer. H...

Praveen Sethupathy - How Does the Study of the Human Genome Add Surprising Colour to Our Vision of the Creator God?

November 22, 2021 00:00 - 32 minutes - 14.8 MB

Why is genomics one of the most exciting areas of scientific discovery today?  Where is God to be encountered in the study of the human genome?  What role do faith and doubt play in scientific exploration?  How do genomic discoveries invite us to worship a God who gives us room to change and grow? Our guest today is Praveen Sethupathy. Praveen is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences and Director of the Center for Vertebrate Genomics at Cornell University, where he directs a researc...

Mark Harris - How Does Thinking about Miracles Offer Fresh Insight into Science/Religion Dialogue?

November 08, 2021 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MB

How do science and theology come together to transform the way we look at the world? How has the philosophy of science affected the way we think about miracles, in the Bible and today? How might studying history be a bridge between science and faith? And why do we need both science and theology to explore life's biggest questions? Mark Harris is Professor of Natural Science and Theology at the University of Edinburgh, where he directs the Science and Religion Programme. Prior to his ordina...

Bethany Sollereder - How Do Theology and Science Together Help Us Rethink Suffering in Our Evolving World?

October 24, 2021 23:00 - 36 minutes - 16.5 MB

Does suffering belong to a good creation, or is it just a result of the fall?  How does evolution challenge traditional understandings of the presence of suffering in out world?  What does God's power and love look like in a world of pain?  In a world facing ecological catastrophe, where might hope be found?  How does the way we understand suffering affect the way we experience hard times, for ourselves and for others? Dr Bethany Sollereder is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Science and R...

Jonathan Jong - What Does Psychology Have To Offer The Life Of The Church Today?

October 10, 2021 23:00 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MB

What does studying human behaviour have to offer the dialogue between science and faith? What might religious perspectives have to offer studies in human behaviour? How does the fear of death affect belief? And what can theology learn from the self-critical mode of psychological study? The Revd Dr Jonathan Jong is a Research Fellow at Coventry University where he is Deputy Director of the Brain, Belief and Behaviour group. He is Senior Researcher at the Institute for Cognitive and Evolution...

Jonathan Jong - What Does Psychology Have To Offer The Life Of The Church Today?

October 10, 2021 23:00 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MB

What does studying human behaviour have to offer the dialogue between science and faith? What might religious perspectives have to offer studies in human behaviour? How does the fear of death affect belief? And what can theology learn from the self-critical mode of psychological study? The Revd Dr Jonathan Jong is a Research Fellow at Coventry University where he is Deputy Director of the Brain, Belief and Behaviour group. He is Senior Researcher at the Institute for Cognitive and Evolution...

Nick Spencer - What’s The Story Of Science And Faith And What’s It Got To Go With Being Human?

September 26, 2021 23:00 - 32 minutes - 14.8 MB

What do people mean when they talk about science and religion, and why do those assumptions matter? Where does the science and religion conflict myth come from and how is it perpetuated today? How does exploring our humanity help us navigate the significance of science and faith? And why do the incarnation and crucifixion of Jesus matter for our approach to science and faith? Dr Nick Spencer is Senior Fellow at Theos Think Tank, where he leads their work on Science and Religion. He is the a...

Anna Rowlands - What Is A Theology of Migration And How Does It Speak To Christians Today?

July 18, 2021 23:00 - 34 minutes - 15.8 MB

What happens when we read scripture as the story of God’s migrant peoples? How has the Church both flourished and failed in embracing migrant communities? How does Catholic Social Teaching help us engage theologically with the lived experiences of migration? How should the stories of migrants shape the life and thought of the Church today? Dr Anna Rowlands is St Hilda Associate Professor of Catholic Social Thought and Practice at Durham University. She teaches on political, moral, and pract...

Simon Gathercole - Jesus BC: Do the Gospels Present an Eternal Jesus?

July 04, 2021 23:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MB

What do we mean by the 'pre-existence' of Jesus, and where do we find it in the Bible? Do the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke present Jesus as just a special prophet, or something more? How do the four Gospels present a coherent view of Christ? And how does recognising an eternal Jesus help us see the miracles of the gospel? Simon Gathercole is Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Cambridge University. For more information about Simon, see here.

Gerard Charles - How Do We Live Faithfully in a Multi-Faith World?

June 20, 2021 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MB

How did Jesus and the early Church engage with people of other faiths? What does the Christian idea of salvation look like in a multi-faith context? Why is being a better neighbour part of living out our Christian calling? How might the Christian mandate for justice challenge the Church’s in-action on discrimination and prejudice?    Dr Gerard Charles spent 10 years working in China connected to a missionary society. He undertook doctoral research on the challenges of identity for Chinese ...

Sanjee Perera - Why is the Church Called to Embody the Good News of Belonging?

June 06, 2021 23:00 - 31 minutes - 14.4 MB

What does psychology have to say about identity and belonging in the world and the church? How does Scripture challenge the idea that belonging to one another involves being homogenous? How do stories of people being excluded within the church undermine the gospel? Why does pursuing belonging require transformation rather than staying the same? How do we see the Holy Spirit in the Church taking us on a journey of authentic belonging?   Dr Sanjee Perera is a cognitive ecclesiologist and is t...

Robert Song - Birth, Death, and Everything In-Between: Why does a Theological Response to Bioethics Matter Today?

May 23, 2021 23:00 - 30 minutes - 14.1 MB

What is bioethics and why does it dominate our ethical discussions today? What stories about our bodies does our culture tell us, and what might a theological account look like? How does a Christian view of life on earth challenge ideas of autonomy and freedom as the goal of human flourishing? And what difference does the resurrection of Jesus' body make to our imagination and hope for a bodily future? Robert Song is Professor of Theological Ethics at Durham University. For more information...

Ian Galloway - How Does the Gospel of John Invite Us into Friendship with God?

May 09, 2021 23:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MB

What is it that's so special about the Gospel of John? How do the stories of people meeting Jesus get us to the heart of the Fourth Gospel? What does life as friends of Jesus really involve? And what hope does it offer us today? Ian Galloway is director of the Free Church Track at Cranmer Hall in St John's College, Durham University. He previously spent over 30 years planting and leading City Church in Newcastle, and authored a book, Called to be Friends: Unlocking the Heart of John's Gospe...

Justin Welby - Why is Reconciliation a Vital Part of Following Jesus Today?

April 25, 2021 23:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MB

What is reconciliation really about, and why is it central to our understanding of the gospel? What's the link between prayer and reconciliation? What are the habits of a reconciling life? And how does embodying reconciliation witness to God's good news for the world today? The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby has been Archbishop of Canterbury since 2013, and before that he served as Bishop of Durham, and was also a canon at Coventry Cathedral where he worked extensively in r...

Helen Collins - How Does Scripture Speak Into Everyday Life?

March 28, 2021 23:00 - 30 minutes - 13.8 MB

How do we connect scripture with living faithfully in the world? What are the habits that help the Church listen to the voice of God together? What happens when we read the Bible with those who are different to us? And what does it mean to grow in expectation that we will hear God today? Reverend Dr Helen Collins is currently Tutor in Practical Theology and Director of Formation at Trinity College in Bristol. She recently published Reordering Theological Reflection: Starting with Scripture....

Mark Bonnington - How Does the Book of Acts Both Challenge and Inspire the Mission of the Church?

March 15, 2021 00:00 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MB

Is the Book of Acts just the story of what happened then or what could also happen today?  What does the book of Acts tell us about the gospel that really changed the world? What was so distinct in those early Christian communities? And why is it important for the book of Acts to challenge us today? Dr Mark Bonnington is the Senior Leader at King’s Church Durham and teaches on the book of Acts within the MA programme here at Cranmer Hall. For more information about Mark see here.

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