Philosophy and Theology Stream
Friday 21 March (9:00am to 9:00pm) and Saturday 22 March (you are invited to join another stream)
Magdalen College, Oxford
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.
We welcome past as well as new attendees to the Philosophy and Theology Stream on Friday 21 March. On Saturday 22 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 21st March
Please note that the schedule is provisional at this stage
9:00 am Registration in Magdalen College Old Kitchen Bar with coffee & tea
9:30 am God and Analytic Epistemology - Max Baker-Hytch, Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy
Max’s talk explores the history, value and limits of Analytic Philosophical Epistemology with respect to religious belief.
11:00 am Coffee & tea in the Old Kitchen Bar
11.30 am Reading New Testament Metaphors Theologically - Erin Heim, Tutor in Biblical Studies
This session will draw on contemporary philosophical treatments of metaphor and engage with doctrinal treatments of Scripture and Revelation.
1:00 pm Lunch in the Old Kitchen Bar
2:00 pm Panel-led Discussion - Panellists include Alister McGrath, Max Baker-Hytch and Erin Heim.
3:30 pm Coffee & tea in the Old Kitchen Bar
4:00 pm Doing Theology: The Importance of History and the Philosophy of Science - Alister McGrath, Emeritus Andreos Idreos Professor of Science and Religion
In this discussion, Alister McGrath will draw on his experience as Professor of Historical Theology and later as Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion to reflect on the importance of historical location in theological reflection, and the possible roles of the philosophy of science in theology, focussing particularly on some questions in Christian apologetics.
The following events are held jointly with all streams at New College.
6:00 pm Prayer in Magdalen College Auditorium
6:30 pm Walking together from Magdalen College to New College
6:40 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. Program details for these streams can be found at the links above.