Philosophy and Theology Stream
Friday 20 March (9:00am to 9:00pm) and Saturday 21 March (you are invited to join another stream)
New College (Friday) and Jesus College (Saturday), Oxford
Conveners: Max Baker-Hytch, Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy, Wycliffe Hall; David Downs, Clarendon-Laing Professor in New Testament Studies and the Laing Fellow in Theology and Religion, Keble College
Student Conveners: David Williams, JRF, Christian Ethics; Duncan McKellar, Philosophical Theology
How should we pursue the truth, Christ, relating to Him not as an object but as a person, one of the three persons of God, who is love?
Integrating study with worship challenges Christians across the university, but particularly philosophers and theologians. Our work penetrates to the very foundation of our beliefs. Disciplinary assumptions about religion, ethics, and other existential questions can contradict the God we encounter in our daily activities, quiet times, and churches. Meanwhile, courses along with research projects may expose tensions in our views that resist simple solutions. And classmates, colleagues, students, supervisors, or the broader public often push us to concretely serve our neighbors as Christ would.
The Philosophy and Theology Stream will help postgraduates, postdocs and academics, drawing on experience from many years, to discuss how our scholarship and spirituality not only inform but also strengthen each other. We will explore uniting our hearts and heads so as to wholly champion the Kingdom of God.
Speakers for the 2026 Conference include Mark Wynn (Philosophical Theology), Markus Bockmuehl (New Testament Studies), Jack Levison (Hebrew Bible), and Priscilla Pope-Levison (Practical Theology).
We welcome past as well as new attendees to the Philosophy and Theology Stream on Friday 20 March. On Saturday 21 March, participants are encouraged to attend one of the other Streams: Humanities, Natural/Medical Sciences, or Social Sciences & Law. Each combination will advance the philosophical and theological quest for wisdom, supplying a holistic vision of learning in faith.
**Please note our eligibility criteria: This event is for University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes postgraduates, postdocs, academic staff. If you do not fit this criteria, are DCM Alumni, or in a continuing education program, please complete this form and we will review your request **
Friday 20TH March
9:00 am Registration in New College with coffee & tea
9:30 am Session 1
11:00 am Coffee & tea
11.30 am Session 2
1:00 pm Lunch
2:00 pm Session 3
3:30 pm Coffee & tea
4:00 pm Session 4
The following events are held jointly with all streams at New College.
6:00 pm Prayer in New College Chapel
6:30 pm Drinks at the New College Bar
7:30 pm Dinner in the New College Dining Hall
The Friday 21st ticket also includes admission on Saturday 22nd to one of the following streams: Humanities, Natural/Medical Sciences, or Social Sciences & Laws. Programme details for these streams can be found at the links above.