Public Lectures 2003

Note: This programme of lectures has now finished. Latest lecture programme.

A very warm invitation to join us on Thursday evenings for three public lectures.

The great success of our annual Lent Lectures has encouraged us in 2003 to widen our range of public lectures on Christian themes, particularly towards topics in science, the arts, or social issues. Four special lectures were given in the first six months of the year and we complete our current programme with three further public lectures.

Each lecture will be given at the church at 1945 and is planned to occupy 45 to 50 minutes. This will be followed by questions to the speaker from the audience. There will be an opportunity, with light refreshments, for informal discussion after the lecture.

We have been pleased to gain the support of highly distinguished speakers and the details of the lectures are given below:

Date	Details
25th September	Mysteries of Life and the Cosmos Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and Royal Society Professor of Astronomy, University of Cambridge Cosmologists have made great progress in understanding how our Universe has evolved over a time of about 14 billion years, from a mysterious Big Bang to its present complex state. But, as always in science, each advance brings new problems into sharper focus. What happened in the first tiny fraction of a second? Is there something special about the laws of nature which have governed cosmic evolution? Is life just a sideshow in the cosmos, or does it have a central role? And, having understood something of the huge timespan in the past what can we say about the far future?
23rd October	Believing in Science: Believing in God Rev Dr Philip Luscombe, Principal of Wesley House, Cambridge "While poetry titillates and theology obfuscates, science liberates" (Peter Atkins). At first glance science and religion are very different. Does it make sense to talk of "believing" in science, as we might believe in Christianity? Do recent developments such as the "Science Wars" and the development of Science Studies bring science and religion closer together or force them further apart? At popular and academic levels both science and religion face increasing challenges-how can we "know" anything in today's confusing world?
20th November	The Music of God and the God of Music Rev Professor Jeremy Begbie, Associate Principal Ridley Hall, Cambridge, Honorary Professor University of St Andrews The marriage between music and the Christian faith has been long and persistent, though sometimes a rough one. This lecture will explore some of the distinctive capacities of music which make it especially well suited to mediating the life and presence of the triune God of Jesus Christ, and in the process, how these capacities can increase our wisdom about God. The lecture will be illustrated throughout by live musical performance, recordings and slides.

Date

Details

25th September

Mysteries of Life and the Cosmos

Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal and Royal Society Professor of Astronomy, University of Cambridge

Cosmologists have made great progress in understanding how our Universe has evolved over a time of about 14 billion years, from a mysterious Big Bang to its present complex state. But, as always in science, each advance brings new problems into sharper focus. What happened in the first tiny fraction of a second? Is there something special about the laws of nature which have governed cosmic evolution? Is life just a sideshow in the cosmos, or does it have a central role? And, having understood something of the huge timespan in the past what can we say about the far future?

23rd October

Believing in Science: Believing in God

Rev Dr Philip Luscombe, Principal of Wesley House, Cambridge

"While poetry titillates and theology obfuscates, science liberates" (Peter Atkins). At first glance science and religion are very different. Does it make sense to talk of "believing" in science, as we might believe in Christianity? Do recent developments such as the "Science Wars" and the development of Science Studies bring science and religion closer together or force them further apart? At popular and academic levels both science and religion face increasing challenges-how can we "know" anything in today's confusing world?

20th November

The Music of God and the God of Music

Rev Professor Jeremy Begbie, Associate Principal Ridley Hall, Cambridge, Honorary Professor University of St Andrews

The marriage between music and the Christian faith has been long and persistent, though sometimes a rough one. This lecture will explore some of the distinctive capacities of music which make it especially well suited to mediating the life and presence of the triune God of Jesus Christ, and in the process, how these capacities can increase our wisdom about God. The lecture will be illustrated throughout by live musical performance, recordings and slides.

Lecture coordinator : Professor Ron Burge

Getting to the church

Previous lectures:

January-May 2003 | Lent 2002