All People & Influential Figures articles – Page 5
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ShowsUnapologetic #83 Bishop Arun Arora: Stormzy, women ordination and the hope of Christmas
In the final part of his discussion with Ruth Jackson, Bishop Arun Arora, author of Stick With Love, looks at some modern day saints including former Archbishop John Sentamu, Stormzy, Cardinal Van Thuân and Rev Dr Florence Li Tim-Oi. Why did Stormzy’s mum skip his Glastonbury performance to go to church? And how does the Christmas story speak hope to a dark world?
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ArticleAlex O’Connor and Ben Shapiro: Do we need God to be good?
Erik Strandness reflects on a recent Big Conversation discussion asking whether religion is good or bad for society
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #136 David Bates: Was Lewis a bit of a grumpy old man when it came to Christmas?
What did CS Lewis say about Christmas? David Bates from Pints With Jack discusses some of Lewis’ poetry and prose on this topic. What did he mean by the “commercial racket” of Christmas? How does he depict the incarnation? And what is the significance of Father Christmas in the Narnia Chronicles?
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ArticleDid CS Lewis like Christmas?
Professor Alister McGrath shares his thoughts about how Lewis perceived the festive season and what we can learn from him
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #135 David Bates: What did Christmas mean to Lewis?
David Bates from Pints With Jack shares some of CS Lewis’ thoughts about Christmas. What are some of his key works that elucidate this topic? Did the festive period lose its significance when Lewis became an atheist? Plus, we catch up on how the inaugural CS Lewis Reading Day went last month.
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ArticleDid life begin in an instant of pure chance? - a complaint to the BBC
Retired vicar Graham Buttanshaw wrote to the BBC to complain about some of the assumptions made in their Earth series
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #133 Alister McGrath: Was Lewis a prophet and does he speak to contemporary cultural issues?
Professor Alister McGrath and Ruth Jackson continue their discussion about whether CS Lewis is still relevant. Was he something of a prophet? What can we learn about the way Lewis engaged with modern media? How did he make complicated theological concepts relatable? In what ways has Lewis influenced our culture and is he able to speak to contemporary topical issues, such as transgenderism?
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ArticleThe inaugural CS Lewis Reading Day: Why should Tolkien geeks have all the fun?
CS Lewis podcaster, David Bates, shares why he helped initiate a campaign to commemorate Lewis with an annual Reading Day on November 29th
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ShowsUnbelievable? 60 years after his death, are CS Lewis and his God still relevant?
Ruth Jackson hosts a discussion about a 20th Century British writer and lay theologian who is arguably one of the most influential voices in modern Christianity. On November 22nd 1963, Clive Staples Lewis – Jack to his friends – died in Oxford, England. However, 60 years after his death, is CS Lewis still relevant?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #132 Alister McGrath: 60 years after his death, does Lewis still speak to our heads and hearts?
On November 22nd 1963, Clive Staples Lewis – Jack to his friends – died in Oxford, England. 60 years after his death, we discuss whether he is still relevant today. Are any of the accusations levelled against Lewis legitimate? Why does he continue to speak to our rationality and imagination? Plus, Professor Alister McGrath shares the influence Lewis had on his own journey of faith.
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ShowsUnapologetic #78 Amy Orr-Ewing: Why are women central to the Christian story?
Dr Amy Orr-Ewing, author of Mary’s Voice, explores the context of Mary, mother of Jesus, and looks at why women play such a significant role in Christianity. Plus, what is the Magnificat, why is it so revolutionary? And how is it relevant today?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #131 David Bates: CS Lewis Reading Day
David Bates and his team at Pints With Jack have helped establish a day to celebrate CS Lewis and his work. His fellow Inkling, JRR Tolkien, already has a special reading day, but “why should the Tolkien nerds have all the fun?”! Listen in to hear why David thinks Lewis is still relevant today and how you can get involved with the inaugural CS Lewis Reading Day on Lewis’ birthday - November 29th.
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ArticleCobbler turned missionary: How William Carey brought hope to the hopeless
Author Mark Roques explores the life of Baptist preacher William Carey
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #127 Perelandra: Evil, suffering and sin
Alister McGrath continues to discuss Perelandra, looking particularly at the topics of evil, suffering, sin, demon possession and divine justice. How can God allow suffering? What can be done to redeem evil?
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ShowsUnapologetic #73 Peter Byrom: Dawkins’ argument from complexity
In the final part of their discussion, Peter Byrom delves into Dawkins’ argument from complexity, suggesting it may be a circular assumption. They unpack Dawkins’ fascinating exchange with Francis Collins in 2022, where Dawkins admits he may have a presupposition towards materialism. Plus, what does the future hold?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #126 Perelandra: Free will, desire and the Fall
Alister McGrath unpacks some of the theology within the second book of the Space Trilogy. What was Lewis’ understanding of the Fall? What if the Fall hadn’t happened? How does he explore the concepts of free will, desire, good, love, truth and demon possession in Perelandra?
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ShowsUnapologetic #72 Peter Byrom: Disillusioned with Dawkins
Peter Byrom continues to share his faith journey as told in the chapter he contributed to Coming to Faith Through Dawkins. He discloses how challenging Richard Dawkins on why he wouldn’t debate William Lane Craig led to him becoming something of a YouTube sensation! Peter also shares why he believes apologetics is important and what the final nail in his atheist coffin was.
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ShowsUnapologetic #71 Peter Byrom: Discovering Dawkins
In the first episode of this three-part series, Peter Byrom shares his fascinating story as told in the chapter he contributed to Coming to Faith Through Dawkins. He outlines how he encountered the apologist William Lane Craig via the New Atheists and discusses his growing disillusionment with Dawkins’ “devastating” argument from complexity.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #124 Perelandra: Scientism, spirituality and magic
Professor Alister McGrath explores the second book of CS Lewis’ space trilogy, Perelandra, looking at some of its key themes, characters and questions. Could the Fall have been prevented? What if it hadn’t happened? How did Lewis perceive magic? Where do we find meaning? Is there a limit to science?



