Matters of Life and Death Cultural witness and the purpose of theology, with Graham Tomlin
Apr 16, 2025
Graham Tomlin, a vicar and former Bishop of Kensington, leads the Centre for Cultural Witness, aiming to integrate faith into modern life. He recounts his journey from childhood faith to atheism and back, stressing the accessibility of theology. Tomlin discusses the Church of England's struggles with human sexuality debates and its relevance to contemporary identity issues. He emphasizes the importance of making Christianity appealing in a secular world and argues for the resilience of faith amidst skepticism.
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Theology's Cultural Disconnect
- Much theology stays within the Christian bubble, rarely engaging wider culture.
- People often leave church because it feels disconnected from their everyday lives.
Bridging Faith and Culture
- Neither liberal accommodation nor rigid evangelicalism alone adequately relate faith to culture.
- Theology must help people see the world through Christian lenses to engage culture effectively.
Overcoming Fear of Theology
- Anti-intellectualism in evangelical circles caused suspicion of theology as faith-destroying.
- Some modern evangelical scholars demonstrate that theology can deepen rather than threaten faith.
