Summary
The following skims themes and lectures given at WYSOCS, by way of an overview of topics tackled so far. We hope this communicates the range and richness of our interests!
1986 to 1990
Developing a Christian Mind – what is a Christian mind? – doing the truth – Salt & Light – can Christians influence society? – Routes in History – holiness – family history – revival, revolution & reform – cell culture – social gospel – Kuyper’s square inch – AIDS – in God’s will – in the Church – in the third world – Child Abuse – misunderstanding child abuse – Just Health – a health service? – School – what is education? – Mental Illness: friendship, caring & support – a biblical perspective.
1991 to 1995
Christians in Politics – politics and unbelief – New Year Celebration – Church music, past present and future – Life Issues (with LICC) – life through death – euthanasia – the use of a life – care of the elderly – genetic engineering – birth control – preparation for childcare – provision for the starving – Holistic Mission (with Tear Fund) – principles of such mission – Christian Philosophy – Herman Dooyeweerd’s work – Religion, Society & the State – territories of state and church – Islamic Britain – Britain today – challenges for Christian integrity – Postmodernism – Jesus in Disneyland – Christian Lifestyle – fashion – economic aspects and visions – Worldviews in the Classroom – poetry, painting and sculpture – listening to children’s worldviews – Homosexuality – theories – views in church history – scriptures – case studies.
1996 to 2000
Christian Witness in today’s universities – The Gospel and Scholarship – biblical studies – ethics in a postmodern age – public justice – mathematics – revelation in an age of science – Spiritual Roots for Geography – God, humanity and nature – The Church’s Mission in Public Life – in western culture – a secular age – pluralist society – economic life – holiness of callings – the creation calling – Counselling (with Network of Christians in Psychology) – sexual abuse – secular and Christian counselling – Can we Know God is real? – a closer look – Gospel, Community and Development – biblical and theological underpinnings – Money Matters! – responsibilities in investment – today’s global economy – money management – The Far Eastern Mind – Bong Ho Son’s impressions – Is there Life outside Church? – sermons with legs – Vocation, Careers & Callings – Kingdom struggles – our multiple callings – The New Millenium – groaning with the creation – the struggle to be human – liberated to love life – 2000 Years of Christian History – Genetics – designer babies – a Christian moral framework.
2001 to 2005
Thinking about God – the ‘C-R’ and the ‘Triple A’ view – Challenging Teaching in a Cool Culture – the Christian community & education – the Christian teacher in a state school – developing schools as Christian communities – Our Celtic Heritage – and the pagan world – Globalisation – a response to capitalism – Abraham Kuyper, from Church minister to PM – Art & Art Education – artist & theory & tradition – as teacher & manager – Religion & International Affairs – a lecture at Leeds Uni – Human Rights – good and bad ways of thinking – Northern Ireland – a peace process? – A Fresh Look at Preaching – battles in heaven and on earth – heroic approaches – The Real C. S. Lewis – reason, imagination, joy – The Ethics of Technology – motives, values and norms – Health: for whom should we care? – patients, power and responsibility – Surveillance – after 9/11 – consumerism, communalism and the Cross – Being Green – sustainably – Science Fiction – human dreams of godhood – Local Government – one Christian’s career – The People of God – in the marketplace – as church – The Idea of a Christian Philosophy – four talks – Lives of Quiet Despair – Existentialism and Nihilism – The Law (Torah) – its relevance today – Islam – the other family of Abraham – understanding terrorism – Art – effects of portraiture in C16 and C17 on our views of history – the artist as workman in C17 and today – Culture & Ultimate Destiny – our future and now – Reading the Bible Historically – from Caesar to Blair – Education: Indoctrination and God – Scaling the Secular City – modernism – postmodernism – modern paganism – liberalism – consumerism – Internet Pornography – its meaning and extent – Do Christians Really Care? – uprooting poverty.
2006 to 2010
Art in the 60s and Now – Peter S Smith’s conversation pieces – the legacy of Hans Rookmaaker – Postmodern Theatre – British Theatre in C20 – a contemporary Christian performance practice – Francis Schaeffer – his life and legacy – Management – the law and the profits – trust and power on the shop floor – a redeemed manager – RealityBites at home – inspiring people – Solomon’s wisdom – crocodiles and Christian philosophy – football and the Kingdom of God – Climate Change – global warming – unmasking ideologies obstructing global economic change – 21st Birthday – thinking about God in tomorrow’s world – whatever did St Paul do with the Kingdom of God? – Genetically Modified Organisms – creation confounded? – A Christian University – its place and task – Visual Encounters & Artistic Practice – a residential workshop – Joint Conference with Christian Academic Network – faith in the academy: shaping our disciplines – Slavery in Worldview Context – how did Christendom become involved? – Wilberforce’s mission unaccomplished? – Multiculturalism – template for peace or recipe for conflict? – Demolishing Strongholds – Colossions remixed – Romans disarmed – The Church of Today and Tomorrow – the journey to arrive where we are – new possibilities for bringers of transformation – The Darwin Debate – the astonishing return of the design hypothesis – Darwin, dominion and duty to nature – science's blind spot – design, information and thermodynamics – intelligent design under fire – Globalisation – historical & religious roots – Religion and Responsibility – the myth of religious neutrality – does religion have any right to be in the public square? – global responsibility - a N American Christian perspective – Christianity and Sexuality in C21 – Colonial Settlement, Indigenous Peoples and the Gospel – settlers, indigenous peoples and rights – missionaries, Maori and settlers – indigenous Christianity at war with colonialism – Human Flourishing in Tomorrow’s world – wisdom – glory – virtue – Islam: The Other Family of Abraham – The Failure of Militarism – Iraq – Afghanistan.
2011 —
The Gospel’s Green Light – A Rocha’s green light – green activism with Christ – Christians in environmental discourse – should Christians be trying to stop climate change? – gospel fuel for green lights – The Sexes and the Kingdom – C.S. Lewis’ journey – gender psychology comes of age – courtship and marriage for C21 – Creation Regained – slaying Goliath: unexpected moves against worldly philosophy – the future of the cosmos according to Peter.
Recordings are available for some of these talks.