Talking Theology

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 Theology. His new book, Being Real: The Apostle Paul's Hardship Narratives and the Stories We Tell Today is being released later this year.

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 are two books based on New Testament characters, Phoebe and Lydia.

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 called Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind.

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, and is also a spiritual director, with a ministry of preaching, teaching, and mentoring church leaders. She published her book, Ecclesial Leadership as Friendship, in 2019.

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 recently published book is titled: "Neoliberal Religion: Faith and Power in the Twenty-first Century". 

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, Cambridge, a Christian community of friendship between people with and without learning disabilities. He's recently published The Gospel of John:  A Theological Commentary.

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, the Cross and the Literary Luther'. 

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 and Religion at Durham University and her research on Pentecostalism and social justice was entitled "Holy Spirit: Holy Bodies."

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. Among his books is the recently published Discipleship, Suffering and Racial Justice: Mission in a Pandemic World.

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 they might stimulate our engagement with the Bible.

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 Planting, Theology, and Research. His new book entitled: Present in Every Place? The Church of England and the Parish Vocation will be published in Spring 2023.

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 relationship between prayer and theology, and his new book on mysticism and the ordinary life is appearing in Spring 2023.

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 the Raymond E. Brown Professor in Biblical Studies and Theology at St Mary's University and Seminary, Baltimore. Michael has written extensively on the theology and spirituality of St Paul.

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 Care Coordinator for Asian Langham Scholars. Federico is an Old Testament scholar, author, minister, preacher and seminary teacher known in particular for his works on the Psalms and Lamentations. 

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 well as being ordained in the Church of England, and a professionally trained musician. He writes extensively on the relationship between theology and the arts, with a particular focus on music. 

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 Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Mission and Ministry Enabler in the Diocese of Leicester and was a member of the Church of England's Anti-Racism Taskforce. 

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 has written extensively on liturgy, art and culture. 

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 the Study of Religion at the University of Cambridge. His research combines theology and anthropology, and engages with big themes such as time, history and violence. 

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 faith and politics, drawing on his background in politics, government and leadership experience in the Church of England. 

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 Ecumenism and Theology on the Church of England's Council of Christian Unity and Theological Adviser for the House of Bishops. Her recently-published book Embracing Justice was selected as the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book for 2022. 

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 Testament here at Cranmer Hall.  She is passionate about the Hebrew Bible and her doctoral research investigated the subject of loneliness in the Hebrew Bible.  Lizzie's current research interests include biblical lament and trauma-informed biblical hermeneutics.  

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 talking to Canon Professor Michael Snape. Michael is the inaugural Michael Ramsey Professor of Anglican Studies at Durham University, and an ecumenical lay canon at Durham Cathedral. He has written extensively on church history, religion and war. His forthcoming book A Church Militant: Anglicans and the Armed Forces from Queen Victoria to the Vietnam War will be published with Oxford University Press this July, based on the 2020 Hensley Henson Lectures. 

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 doctrine of the Trinity for? How can an apophatic approach help theology know its limits? In today's show we are talking to Karen Kilby. Karen is the Bede Professor of Catholic Theology at Durham University and is one of the world's leading systematic theologians. She has written numerous books and articles on a wide range of topics including the Trinity, suffering, apophatic theology, and the major Catholic theologians Karl Rahner and Hans Urs von Balthasar, as well as the medieval theologian Julian of Norwich. Her 2020 book God, Evil and the Limits of Theology was published with Bloomsbury and collects a number of seminal essays published over the last two decades. 

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 and peace? In today's show we are talking to the Rev'd Dr Peniel Rajkumar.  Peniel is an Anglican priest and a theologian.  Last summer he was appointed as the Global Theologian at USPG and as an associate tutor at Ripon College, Cuddeston.  Prior to this he was Programme Coordinator for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation at the World Council of Churches. He has also held teaching positions at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey and the United Theological College in Bangalore, and has written extensively on Dalit theology, missiology and interfaith dialogue.  

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 research on social cognition help us to get beyond the binary of individual vs collective salvation? And what does all of this mean for the plausibility and persuasiveness of Christian mission? In today's show we are talking to Simeon Zahl. Simeon is the University Associate Professor in Christian Theology in the Divinity Faculty at the University of Cambridge. In recent years, Simeon's research has focused on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit and the role of emotion and embodiment in Christian experience. His most recent book on The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience was published in 2020 with Oxford University Press. 

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 before training for ordination in the Church of England. This season of podcasts exploring science and faith is supported by @eclasproject Science in Seminaries.  For more information see www.eclasproject.org.

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 the University of Manchester's Square Kilometre Array Group, building the world's largest radio telescope. She now works with the same project part time. She was formerly project manager on the UK low frequency instrumentation for Planck, the European Space Agency cosmology mission. She has previously been involved in science-faith communication with Scientists in Congregations and the God and the Big Bang project.This season of podcasts exploring science and faith is supported by @eclasproject Science in Seminaries.  For more information see www.eclasproject.org.

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 Oxford and a founding member of the UK Centre for Ethics and Innovation. He has served on the House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence. His blog can be found here. This season of podcasts exploring science and faith is supported by @eclasproject Science in Seminaries.  For more information see www.eclasproject.org.

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. He is inaugural Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics at the University of York, and is also affiliated to the University's Centre for Medieval Studies and Humanities Research Centre.  As well as researching the properties of soft matter, Tom is interested in the theory of creativity in art and science, and has writing several books on the subject including The Poetry and Music of Science.  Tom is a Council Member for the Royal Society and has been awarded the Lanfranc Award for Education and Scholarship by the Archbishop of Canterbury in recognition of his contribution to science and the dialogue of science and faith. 

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 research lab focused on genomic approaches to understand human health and disease. He received his BA degree from Cornell University and his PhD in Genomics from the University of Pennsylvania. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Human Genome Research Institute, he moved in 2011 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics. In 2017, he returned to Cornell University as an Associate Professor. Praveen has authored over 95 peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and has served as a reviewer for over 35 different journals. Alongside his career in genomic science, Praveen is a prominent speaker and advisor on the relationship between science, ethics and religion.This season of podcasts exploring science and faith is supported by @eclasproject Science in Seminaries.  For more information see www.eclasproject.org

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 ordination as an Anglican priest, he worked as an experimental physicist. He leads the Theology of the Quantum World Project and the God and the Book of Nature Research Network.This season of podcasts exploring science and faith is supported by @eclasproject Science in Seminaries.  For more information see www.eclasproject.org.

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 Religion at the Laudato Si' Research Institute at Campion Hall and the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at the University of Oxford. She has written numerous articles in academic and popular forums, as well as the book God, Evolution and Animal Suffering: Theodicy without a Fall (Routledge 2018). Her new book Why is There Suffering? Pick Your Own Theological Expedition will be published with Zondervan in November 2021.This season of podcasts exploring science and faith is supported by @eclasproject Science in Seminaries.  For more information see www.eclasproject.org

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 Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford. Jonathan is also an Anglican priest and serves as part-time Rector of Cocking with West Lavington, Bepton and Heyshott. For more details about his work, see here. This season of the podcast explores science and faith and is supported by the Equipping Leadership in an Age of Science project. For more information see www.eclasproject.org

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 author of several books, including The Political Samaritan: How Power Hijacked a Parable and The Evolution of the West. He presented the BBC Radio 4 series ‘The Secret History of Science and Religion' and hosts the podcast Reading Our Times. For more about Nick, see here.This season of the podcast explores science and faith and is supported by the Equipping Leadership in an Age of Science project. For more information see www.eclasproject.org

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 practical theology, and also works closely with a number of leading Faith-Based charities. For more about her work, see here. 

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.

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 Muslims. He now lecturers on  cross-cultural ministry including at Cranmer Hall. For more info about Gerard see here.

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 the Archbishops' Adviser on Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns for the Church of England.  

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 about Robert, see here. 

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 Gospel.For more information about Ian, see here.

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 reconciliation ministry.For more information about Justin see here.

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.  For more information about Helen see here. 

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.

What is climate grief, and what has God got to do with it? How does Jesus grieving over the particular help us understand how we might focus our climate grief? How does being attentive to what's in front of us help us to both grieve and hope? And how does all this help us follow Jesus day by day? Hannah Malcolm is currently training for ordained ministry and writing a PhD on theology, climate and ecological grief. She campaigns around the subject of climate justice and recently edited a book entitled Words for a Dying World: Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church. Our question today: why is a theology of climate grief necessary for the Church today?

Do our bodies really belong to us? How did Jesus eat and how does it speak to how we eat today? How do the sacraments speak to our bodily identity? What does it mean to break bread together? Where’s the good news for those of us who struggle with how we see food?Note: This podcast includes discussion of disordered eatingReverend Dr Liz Kent is the Director of the Wesley Study Centre at St John’s College in Durham and a Methodist minister in Chester-Le-Street. Her doctoral research at Durham University explored the Church and Eating Disorders. Our question today: What Role Does Eating Play in a Good Theology of the Body?

Is reading the Bible about more than simply looking for the right answer? What happens when you let children read a book of the Bible for themselves? What role should imagination play in enabling the scriptures to speak? And how can we all get to know the world of scripture? Dr Melody Briggs is Director of Studies at Lindisfarne College of Theology. She has taught theology in a range of churches, colleges and mission organisations for the last 30 years. She has has written several books on the ways children engage with scripture, including 'How Children Read Biblical Narrative: An Investigation of Children's Readings of the Gospel of Luke' (2017).

What sort of evidence do we have about the historical Jesus? What sources do the earliest accounts of Jesus draw on? What's at stake when people are named or unnamed in the four Gospels? Does eyewitness testimony help us resolve the tension between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith? How can the Gospels feed our faith today?Richard Bauckham is Professor Emeritus at St Andrews University and Senior Scholar at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Richard predominantly focuses on New Testament Writings and is the author of many books, including Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony.For more information about Richard Bauckham see here.

Is there a God spot in our brain? What does 2+2 have in common with belief in god? How is our brain designed to help up experience god? Why might religious experience not be all it’s cracked up to be? How does the plasticity of our brain give us hope?Alasdair Coles is professor of neuroimmunology at the University of Cambridge, an honorary consultant neurologist to Addenbrooke’s and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals and also an ordained minister in the Church of England. While his main academic focus is into new treatments for multiple sclerosis, his academic research has also led him to investigate religiosity and spiritual experiences from the standpoint of neurology.

What is health really all about? Why should we avoid obvious and quick answers to mental health challenges? Why do names matter more than diagnosis? Can the faithful taking of medication be a spiritual practice? How might a perceived absence of God be part of faithful living?Professor John Swinton is Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen, and founded the university’s Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability. For more than a decade John worked as a registered mental health nurse, and his academic career has seen him publish many books on the theology of disability, dementia, and mental health. His latest book, published this year is: Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges. For more information about John Swinton see here.

Is the Bible body positive? Were Paul and Plato singing from the same hymn sheet, or were their views of the body very different? How might seeing our bodies as precious change the way we take care of ourselves? What does real beauty look like? And what are our bodies telling us at the moment?Paula Gooder is a writer and lecturer in the New Testament and Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Her research areas focus on the writings of Paul with a particular focus on 2 Corinthians and on Paul’s understanding of the Body.For more information about Paula Gooder, see here.

How have multiculturalism and evangelism been entwined since the first days of the Church’s mission? How is multiculturalism part of the Christian faith’s DNA? Why is the Church of today more tribal than it was 2000 years ago? How should an awareness of each others gifts change how we do Church and leadership? How is the medium the message?Harvey Kwiyani lectures in African Christianity and Theology at Liverpool Hope University and has previously taught courses in Theology, African studies, and Mission at several colleges across Europe and Africa, as well as in the U.S. He is the founding editor of Missio Africanus: The Journal of African Missiology and his latest book, published this year, is Multicultural Kingdom: Ethnic Diversity, Mission and the Church.For more information about Harvey Kwiyani see here.