#230 Alister McGrath: Theology, miracles and imagination

Ruth Jackson speaks with Lilian Lindén about CS Lewis’ early philosophical development and his long-running debate with his friend Owen Barfield, the so-called “Great War.” They unpack Lewis’s shift from realism to idealism, explore Barfield’s influence through anthroposophy, and consider how figures like Rudolf Steiner shaped their discussions. The conversation also looks at Lewis’ rejection of materialism, why these philosophical questions still matter, and how his early intellectual battles continue to speak into today’s sceptical and materialist culture. + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Ruth Jackson speaks with Lilian Lindén, who has a degree in philosophy of religion, about how CS Lewis continues to shape faith and thought today. They discuss how she first encountered Lewis, the impact his writings have had on her life, and why his ideas remain so compelling more than 60 years after his death. Lilian also presented a paper at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, titled "Did Lewis Credit Barfield for What He Learned from Steiner?" which we will be hearing in an upcoming episode. For the Paul Anderson episodes: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-223-paul-anderson-cs-lewis-and-the-gospel-of-john/19932.article + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Ruth Jackson is joined again by Professor Alister McGrath, to discuss theology in a multi-part series. They explore what those in Christian ministry learn from C.S. Lewis - the “very ordinary layman” who helped shape modern faith. Alister reflects on Lewis’s approach to prayer and spiritual growth, his vision for Mere Christianity and how his theology speaks to the challenges of living faithfully in a post-Christian culture. The conversation also considers how Lewis’ thought encourages unity across denominations and offers wisdom for addressing today’s ethical and social issues. + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

In today's episode, Ruth Jackson is joined again by Professor Alister McGrath, to discuss theology in a multi-part series. They explore Lewis' view on miracles, his belief on the importance of imagination, and how Lewis' arguments stand up against the New Atheism movement. + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

In today's episode, Ruth Jackson is joined again by Professor Alister McGrath, to discuss theology in a multi-part series. They reflect on Lewis' work as a theologian, covering questions such as: What are some of the key theological topics Lewis unpacks in his work? Has Lewis influenced the development or direction of modern Christian theology? What are some notable critiques of Lewis' theological views? + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

In today's episode, Ruth Jackson is joined again by Professor Alister McGrath, to discuss theology in a multi-part series. Why do people not consider Lewis a theologian? Who are some of the people who do take him seriously as a theologian, and has he become one in modern times? What can we learn from Lewis’ approach to theology? + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

In today's episode, Ruth Jackson is joined again by Professor Alister McGrath, to discuss theology in a multi-part series. How do we define theology? What is Alister's experience with it? Was Lewis considered a theologian by others, or even himself? Episode one dives into all of this, and more. + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

We are joined again by Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox Uni­versity in Oregon, for the final episode in this series. In today's episode, we get to hear his paper, which was titled Fern-Seed, Elephants, Bultmann, and Lewis - Varied Expertise in Critical Perspective, live from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference. Paul also provides helpful insight behind his paper. For more on Paul Anderson: George Fox University: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/anderson.html Amazon author's page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-N.-Anderson/author/B001HODFI2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true   Academia and Digital Commons Pages: https://georgefox.academia.edu/PaulAnderson   The JJH Homepage: https://johannine.org/JJH.html   The Fourth Quest paper: https://sats.ac.za/conspectus/conspectus-32/   + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Paul Anderson, a Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox Uni­versity in Oregon, is back to discuss C.S. Lewis’ approach to the Bible and theology. They explore how Lewis read and interpreted Scripture, how his literary background shaped his perspective, and how he balanced critical scholarship with personal devotion. What can we learn from Lewis about holding faith and reason together? They also consider Lewis’s influence on contemporary debates around miracles, biblical authority, and New Testament studies, and whether his insights still resonate in today’s increasingly sceptical culture. For more on Paul Anderson: George Fox University: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/anderson.html Amazon author's page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-N.-Anderson/author/B001HODFI2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true   Academia and Digital Commons Pages: https://georgefox.academia.edu/PaulAnderson   The JJH Homepage: https://johannine.org/JJH.html   The Fourth Quest paper: https://sats.ac.za/conspectus/conspectus-32/   + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website

Ruth Jackson is joined again by Dr Paul Anderson, Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox University. Paul, a prolific scholar and founding member of the "John, Jesus and History" project, shares insights from his paper presented at the 2024 conference at George Fox University. Together, Ruth and Paul explore Lewis’ classic essay "Fern-seeds and Elephants", in which Lewis critiques biblical scholarship with his memorable “four bleats.” Paul reflects on Lewis’ concerns about critical naturalism, the dismissal of miracles, and the tendency to “read between the lines” while missing the heart of the text. The conversation also considers Rudolf Bultmann’s influence, the challenges of theological education, and how Lewis’ reflections remain relevant today. For more on Paul Anderson: George Fox University: https://www.georgefox.edu/academics/undergrad/departments/religion/faculty/anderson.html Amazon author's page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Paul-N.-Anderson/author/B001HODFI2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true   Academia and Digital Commons Pages: https://georgefox.academia.edu/PaulAnderson   The JJH Homepage: https://johannine.org/JJH.html   The Fourth Quest paper: https://sats.ac.za/conspectus/conspectus-32/   + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website