Philosophy of Religion Lectures
Divine Power
If a divine being exists, is it all-powerful? Does this mean it can do everything? We will explore differing conceptions of power within as well as across religion.
Does God ‘Act’?
Does God act in our word or is that too anthropo-morphic and simplistic an idea? Is the deepest reality something that acts and intervenes in human affairs?
‘Creator’ (or not?)
The three great Semitic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – all maintain that God created the universe. The great Indic religions, which hold a more ambivalent view of the material world, take a different stance on the relationship between ultimate reality and the material world.
Supreme Being or Beyond Being?
The second most crucial – and divisive – question across faiths is whether divinity is a personal entity or an impersonal reality. Is God a personal reality with whom we can form a relationship? Or is ultimate reality something which transcends the concept of personhood, not so much ‘a being’ as Being itself?
‘The Mountain Has Many Paths’
Hawaiian religion has a saying: ‘The mountain has many paths’. This is immediately appealing for those who would like to believe that all religious people worship the same God, or are in touch with the same Ultimate Reality; a sentiment commonly expressed by those interested in inter-faith dialogue. However, the Hawaiian saying does not say that all the paths lead to the same place
‘In All Things’ or ‘Beyond All Things’
This lecture will explore the diversity of traditions about God or ultimate reality. Is the Deity one with, or present in, the universe – or beyond all, transcendent, ‘Wholly Other’?
I + Thou – Dialogue
The centrality of language in human nature and existence means that relationships are dialogues. Theology and philosophy should also be viewed as dialogues; and inter-faith work demonstrates this pre-eminently. This lecture will explore the place of language in the human self and its role in theological and inter-faith reflection.
The Twosomeness of Life
We must move from ‘The Other’ as a theoretical problematic — to an-other human being as the real person who confronts us and is different. The fundamental importance of ‘relationship’ suggests a new model for consideration of these philosophical and theological issues. I will propose that the fundamental category for future reflection not be ‘substance’, ‘being’, ‘person’, or any of the usual theological and philosophical contenders, but ‘relation’.
From ‘Self’ and ‘Other’ to ‘We’
One of the deepest questions hidden in the question of inter-faith study and inter-faith dialogue is the notion of the Self and of the Other. Different pictures of selfhood are given in different philosophical and religious systems. But arguably the question of identity and difference are problematic human issues that confront us most powerfully when we encounter one who is culturally and religiously other. How does this issue impact not only on inter-faith dialogue but on the underlying metaphysics and theology of this question?
Blinding Darkness
The Isa Upanisad tells us: ‘Into blinding darkness enter those who worship ignorance and those who delight in knowledge enter into still greater darkness.’ The Jaina notion of perspectivism maintains that, on any given matter, there is not one truth but rather at least seven different points of view. Deep investigation of inter-faith questions raises the problem of religious ‘knowledge’ and of the interpretation of human religious experience. But the diversity of religious claims and testimonies also raises questions of multiple perspectives; of relativism or its alternatives.
The Truth is In Between
How do we know that what we believe is true? This question is made more difficult whenever we find someone of good faith who disagrees with us. Can all religions be telling the truth? One of the most important issues in inter-faith reflection is the question of religious ‘truth’. What is it? Must it be self-identical, or can something be ‘true for me’ and not for you? What conception of truth is not only coherent and adequate, but also most conducive to inter-faith understanding?
Divine Knowledge and Human Freedom
Not only are the conceptions of divine knowledge and wisdom diverse; they have a wide ranging impact on how we view humanity, especially human freedom in relation to our future. If God knows in advance what I will do, does that mean that I am no longer free to change my mind?
Why is There Evil?
What explanations do different religious traditions provide for the existence of evil? How do they deal with the most difficult problem for religious believers?
Can We Understand One Another?
Whether in academic writing or broadsheet journalism, we tend to see two different stances taken on the question of multicultural or multifaith understanding. One is the universalist tendency, that says that people are the same all over the world, and differences between cultures are no barrier to understanding. Such people often want to universalise on important ethical issues, such as human rights which are alleged to be universal. The other tendency is to say that culture differences are absolute; that even such a benign concept as human rights cannot be universal; and that there are insuperable barriers to understanding or indeed, as Mary Douglas put it when describing this view, that I have more hope of understanding my dog than a human being from a different culture.Which of these views is right? Is there a way around falling into either of these two conflicting views?
Discussions
Beyond Difference
Indian philosopher Professor Arindam Chakrabarti and Gwen Griffith-Dickson in creative dialogue, jumping across differences in religion, culture, philosophical upbringing, race, gender…
Is Everything That Happens God?
A panel discussion of representatives from different faiths will tease out the implications of tragic events for God’s goodness and God’s power.
Being Different
How do we understand and respond to religious difference? What role is there for interfaith dialogue?
Hawaiian Religion and Dance
Chinky Mahoe is one of Hawaii’s leading ‘Kumu’ or ‘sources’ (teacher, leader) in dance, music and culture. Discussions on his perspectives on religious faith and Hawaiian culture, with particular reference to relations between Christianity and Hawaiian spirituality.
Political Lectures and Discussions
Diversity and Danger – ‘The Liberal and the Plural’ and ‘Clash and Contribution’
This symposium hosted in association with the Lokahi Foundation will examine these paradoxes as they apply to religion, ethnicity, political views and economic systems. It will include the following talks:
- The Liberal and the Plural: The political challenge of diversity to progressive nationalism
- Clash and Contribution: Living with Diverse Beliefs
Countering Extremism and The Politics of ‘Engagement’
Allen & Overy Lecture This talk will survey the range of government responses to extremism and terrorism. What are the different ideologies’ at work in government thinking about engaging with Muslims? What impact are these contrasting approaches likely to have?
Launches and Events
Lokahi Foundation: Harmony from Diversity
The Lokahi Foundation carries out multi-faith research in religion and outreach projects for the community, public servants and other professionals. A group of distinguished speakers spoke at the launch of the Foundation.
Book Launch: Philosophy of Religion
This event celebrated the publication of Professor Griffith-Dickson’s new book, ‘Philosophy of Religion’. Spiritual encounters, the problems raised by evil and suffering, consideration of the concept of God and the existence of God, are the experiences that affect our religious beliefs most powerfully.These issues are considered in the context of the world’s many religions and philosophical traditions, examining the thinkers and ideas of different traditions and bringing them together in the examination of philosophical questions.