Talking Theology

Cranmer Hall, Durham

Talking Theology is the podcast of Cranmer Hall Durham, where we explore the best of academic theology, and think creatively about how theological insights can shape Christian life, ministry, and mission in today’s world.

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98 episodes
Updated June 22

Episodes98

Newest first

Nov 8, 2021 · 31 min
Mark Harris - How Does Thinking about Miracles Offer Fresh Insight into Science/Religion Dialogue?
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.
Oct 24, 2021 · 36 min
Bethany Sollereder - How Do Theology and Science Together Help Us Rethink Suffering in Our Evolving World?
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
Oct 10, 2021 · 28 min
Jonathan Jong - What Does Psychology Have To Offer The Life Of The Church Today?
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
Sep 26, 2021 · 32 min
Nick Spencer - What’s The Story Of Science And Faith And What’s It Got To Go With Being Human?
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
Jul 18, 2021 · 34 min
Anna Rowlands - What Is A Theology of Migration And How Does It Speak To Christians Today?
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.
Jul 4, 2021 · 27 min
Simon Gathercole - Jesus BC: Do the Gospels Present an Eternal Jesus?
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.
Jun 20, 2021 · 31 min
Gerard Charles - How Do We Live Faithfully in a Multi-Faith World?
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.
Jun 6, 2021 · 31 min
Sanjee Perera - Why is the Church Called to Embody the Good News of Belonging?
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.
May 23, 2021 · 30 min
Robert Song - Birth, Death, and Everything In-Between: Why does a Theological Response to Bioethics Matter Today?
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.
May 9, 2021 · 31 min
Ian Galloway - How Does the Gospel of John Invite Us into Friendship with God?
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.
Apr 25, 2021 · 28 min
Justin Welby - Why is Reconciliation a Vital Part of Following Jesus Today?
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.
Mar 28, 2021 · 30 min
Helen Collins - How Does Scripture Speak Into Everyday Life?
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.
Mar 15, 2021 · 31 min
Mark Bonnington - How Does the Book of Acts Both Challenge and Inspire the Mission of the Church?
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.
Mar 1, 2021 · 32 min
Hannah Malcolm - Why is a Theology of Climate Grief Necessary for the Church Today?
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?
Feb 8, 2021 · 27 min
Liz Kent - What Role Does Eating Play in a Good Theology of the Body?
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 eating Reverend 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?
Jan 25, 2021 · 30 min
Melody Briggs - How Do Children Encounter The Bible?
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).
Jan 11, 2021 · 29 min
Richard Bauckham - Witness History: Do the Gospels Tell Stories from People Who Were There?
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.
Dec 14, 2020 · 28 min
Alasdair Coles - What Can We Learn About the Connection Between Belief and the Brain?
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.
Nov 30, 2020 · 32 min
John Swinton - How Can A Good Theology Of Mental Health Help Us To Understand Ourselves, One Another and God?
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.
Nov 16, 2020 · 32 min
Paula Gooder - What Does Paul’s View of the Body Say to Us and Our World Today?
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.