All spirituality articles
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #177 Alister McGrath: Emotions, sentimentality and rational truth
Would Lewis have any advice for anyone struggling to make sense of their emotions? How do we respond to a culture or a generation who often prioritise emotional truth over rational truth? How do we avoid sentimentality? Are there any ways that Lewis has been particularly powerful spiritual mentor for you personally? How can Lewis’ lived out faith be helpful for us?
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ArticleFrom meaningless atheism to the satisfying answers of faith: the story of Christine Mooney-Flynn
A former atheist finds God at the end of a long spiritual quest through nihilism and despair
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ArticleLife, Death, and Sacrifice: A Christian Explanation of Near-Death Experiences
Apologist Erik Strandness explores the profound effects of NDEs on those who have experienced them and asks: what depiction of God best fits with this amazing love?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #176 Alister McGrath: Feelings, desire and religious experience
Why are we often hesitant to talk about our feelings? What did Lewis mean by “joy” and how did he search for it? Can our feelings help us to find God or to grow in our faith? How did Lewis view aesthetics? What should we do when our feelings seem opposed to our faith? How important was religious experience for Lewis? Professor Alister McGrath continues to explore how we can use Lewis as a resource for the Christian life.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #174 Alister McGrath: Can Lewis help us to find meaning?
What did Lewis mean by “big pictures” and how did he use them in his work? How can he help those struggling to find their purpose in life? Why are people so concerned about a lack of coherence and can Lewis be of assistance? Can creeds help us? Professor Alister McGrath explores how Lewis can be a pathfinder and a resource for the Christian life.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #173 Alister McGrath: How do we tell good stories?
How can our individual stories find new meaning and significance from Christianity’s “grand story”? In what ways did Lewis tell the Christian story? And what can we learn from this? How do we share our own story? Professor Alister McGrath explores how we can use Lewis as a resource for our Christian life and looks at some of Lewis’ favourite stories, including The Pilgrim’s Regress.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #172 Alister McGrath: Why do stories matter?
Which stories impacted Lewis as a young child? Why is story so important? How does imagination help convey truth? What did Lewis mean by “myth” and how did that impact his thinking? Where did JRR Tolkien help with this? How do we allow the Christian story to shape our own? Professor Alister McGrath explores how we can use Lewis as a resource for our Christian life.
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #171 Alister McGrath: Spiritual disciplines, young people and the academy
Professor Alister McGrath continues to explore how we can use CS Lewis as a resource for our Christian life. How did Lewis’ conversion change his life? What habits did he put in place to establish a rhythm of life for his faith? In what ways does Lewis speak to Christian academics? What inspiration can writers draw from Lewis? Does he offer any advice for young people living out their Christian faith today?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #170 Alister McGrath: Is Lewis a helpful spiritual mentor?
How did CS Lewis live out his Christian faith? What practical tools or approaches can he offer to inform our spiritual practices? How can Lewis help us work out our vocation? Does he have any advice for those experiencing doubt? Professor Alister McGrath explores how we can use Lewis as a resource for our Christian life.
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ShowsMatters of Life & Death: Psychedelics, spirits and the philosophy of Harry Potter
Culture is increasingly interested in psychedelic drugs. Whether it’s Silicon Valley execs micro-dosing LSD to turbocharge their meetings, Americans booking ayahuasca weekends in Mexico, or rafts of studies suggesting ketamine can really help in treating depression, we’re all taking drugs much more seriously than any time since the 1960s counterculture.
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ShowsUnbelievable? Can Christians watch occult and horror content? Exploring Faith and Entertainment Jenn Nizza vs Peter Laws, hosted by Billy Hallowell
Occult-inspired imagery and storylines pervade much of popular culture. Horror has become mainstream. The debate is on entertainment choices for Christians. Should Christians watch whatever they want?
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ShowsThe CS Lewis Podcast #128 Perelandra: It’s not for nothing that you are named Ransom
Looking at Perelendra, Alister McGrath explores key questions raised by CS Lewis: What is good? Should we be frightened of God? What is significant about Ransom’s name?
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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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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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ShowsUnbelievable? The occult, demons and exorcism: Is modern-day deliverance ministry biblical? With ex-psychic Jenn Nizza, pastor Mike Signorelli hosted by Billy Hallowell
Is the occult just harmless fun? Or are there hidden dangers to alternative spirituality, satanism, and even new age practices? Increasingly the debate is not about good vs evil but my truth vs your truth.
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ArticleWomen in apologetics: How a spiritually confused comedian became an apologist
Author Judy Salisbury has a passion for equipping women to be confident and forthright about their Christian beliefs. Apologist Joel Furches shares some of her story here
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ShowsUnapologetic #46 John Swinton: darkness, death and extreme suffering - how Holy Week brings hope
In part two of his discussion with Ruth Jackson, Professor John Swinton shares what Holy Week means to him and explores what impact the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus has on a world in need of hope.
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ShowsUnapologetic #45 John Swinton: a psychiatric nurse-turned practical theologian on suffering, faith and spiritual care
Ruth Jackson speaks to John Swinton, professor in practical theology and pastoral care at Aberdeen University. Having spent 16 years as a psychiatric nurse, John speaks about the importance of spiritual care in medicine. He also shares his thoughts on the problem of suffering.
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ArticleIs the Western Church’s problem that it is too self-centred?
Digging deeper into Gungor’s rejection of Christian faith suggests so, says Heather Tomlinson
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ArticleAnything But God: Adrienne Johnson's unlikely conversion to Christianity
With tales of Santa, flying reindeer and magical elves, the Christmas period is often brimming with make believe - something Adrienne Johnson also equated with the Christian story. However, through a long period of discovery, she came to see there was truth behind these ancient beliefs
