Faith Seeking Understanding 2021

This introductory course in Theology is intended to meet the need, expressed by some, to be more literate about their faith. Very often our understanding is more intuitive than explicit and our ability to deal in an informed and enlightened way with many of the complex religious and moral issues that arise can be quite limited. We sometimes wish we had more to draw on so as to be better able to explain how we see things. This series is an attempt to respond to this need and to introduce people who are interested to the wealth of theological insight that is available in the Catholic tradition.

The opening session will be led by two systematic theologians: Dr. John McDade (former principal of Heythrop College, University of London), and Dr Michael Kirwan SJ, who is professor of Catholic Theology at the Loyola Institute, Trinity College, Dublin.

Speakers for the other sessions in the series to be confirmed.

2021 PROGRAMME (delivered live via Zoom)

LECTURE 1 - Wednesday 27 Jan 2021: God, the Father

What does it mean to address God as ‘Father’, and what are the problems with this? For many people, this way of speaking confines us to childish dependency in our faith. And yet, this is the language Jesus used when he addressed God as “Abba” and encouraged us to do the same. Is it possible for us to speak of God as a ‘parent’ without being infantilised?

LECTURE 2 - Wednesday 03 Feb 2021: Jesus, “Risen and Ascended”

At the centre of the Christian faith is the belief that Jesus was ‘raised from the dead’ and ‘ascended to the Father’. It is very hard for us make sense of these claims, or to picture them. Where is Jesus, in his risen life? How do we proclaim a resurrection faith with confidence today?

LECTURE 1 - Wednesday 10 Feb 2021: God the Holy Spirit, the ‘Consoler’

The role of the Spirit in Christian life is often overlooked. And yet it is vital that we have a keen sense of God’s active presence, animating our world, bringing creation to re-birth, but also encouraging us, and empowering us in our weakness.

LECTURE 4 - Wednesday 24 Feb 2021: Modern Christian Saints

The life and work of two very different saints will be considered. John Henry Newman (1801-1890) was a convert from Anglicanism; Edith Stein (1891-1942), was Jewish by birth, becoming a Carmelite nun before meeting her death in Auschwitz. We will consider important aspects of their thought, and examine what led each of them to embrace Catholicism.

Each Lecture will run as follows:

Session 1: 17.30 - 18.30 hrs (GMT)

Artistic Interlude: 18.30 - 18.50 hrs

Session 2: 18.50 - 19.50 hrs

Conclusion: 19.50 - 20.00 hrs

* Your ticket allows you access to all four lectures in the series. All lectures are delivered live and Zoom links will be circulated via email to all ticket holders in advance.

** Refunds are permitted up to 7 days before the first lecture.