4th October

An evening in honour of George MacDonald (1824 - 1905)

Dawn Merz, Grace Pepper, Lacey Shelton, L’Abri Workers

This December marks the 200th anniversary of George MacDonald's birth.  He is regarded by many as the father of modern fantasy literature, and wrote books that have baptised many people's imaginations, including C.S. Lewis, who said that he thinks he has "never written a book in which I did not quote from him".  We want to spend an evening introducing him to those of you who might not know much about him, sharing a few of our favourite books (The Princess and the Goblin, Phantases, At the Back of the North Wind), and honouring this man, whose every printed word points to a God whom he believes comes to meet us wherever we are and to point and draw us to Himself. 

11th October

The Christian Mind and the Roots of the University

Peter Merz, L’Abri Worker

Although now spread all around the globe, universities first came into being in the middle ages in Western Europe and nowhere else. What was it about mediaeval Western Eruope’s culture that allowed for the rise of these particular communities of learning? This lecture will examine the roots of the university in relation to key aspects of the mediaeval Christian mind, namely its emphasis on rationality, logic, and the unity of all knowledge, pagan and Christian, under the God of the Bible 

18th October

What Money Can't Buy: a reflection on different kinds of capital

Josué Reichow, L’Abri South Brazil

In this lecture, we will explore the world of economics from a different angle. Borrowing upon the language of economics, we will be looking at transactions that do not require money to be done and what they tell us about what it means to be human, discussing how they can enlarge our understanding of social life. From this perspective, our very categories of poor and rich are challenged and put in a different framework.

(This lecture will be presented via Zoom.)

25th October

The Surprising Good News About Sin 

Why a robust doctrine of the Fall is essential for a flourishing society

Evan Shelton, L’Abri Worker

Sin has “surprising collateral benefits” writes Watkin. Chesterton said sin’s results were “pathos and brotherhood, and a thunder of laughter and pity”. In this lecture we will re-explore a core L’Abri theme, Living in the Shadow of the Fall and apply this truth to some of the current dilemmas facing our society.  

1st November

Panpsychism, Cosmic Consciousness and the Logos Made Flesh

Jim Paul, L’Abri Worker

Panpsychism is the theory that consciousness (or mentality) is fundamentally present throughout the natural world. It has been gaining popularity across a variety of disciplines, from author Phillip Pullman, to neuroscientist Iain McGilchrist, to philosopher Phillip Goff. Jordan Peterson’s ideas on consciousness intersect with panpsychism and it has a following amongst ecologists who want to advocate that non-human nature has rights. This lecture will attempt to describe and then evaluate panpsychism from a Christian perspective.

8th November

Reawakening the Path to Friendship

Ingvild Hellenes, L’Abri Worker

Statistics of people reporting that they are feeling lonely is going up, and the number of people in cities living on their own is on the rise. Justin Whitmel Earley writes in his book Made for People, “The current of modern life is to become busier, wealthier people who used to have friends”. Is loneliness our future or can we move towards connection and friendship?  In this lecture we will look at some of the components of building friendships, and why it is necessary that we keep pursuing the community we were made for.

15th November

A Place at the Table

Peter Harris and Jo (Harris) Swinney, A Rocha

Since Peter and Miranda Harris co-founded A Rocha in 1983, it has grown into an international family of Christian conservation organisations. After Miranda’s tragic death in 2019, their daughter Jo found her mother’s diaries in which she described the beginnings of A Rocha in their home in Portugal at which there was always ‘A Place at the Table.' These stories became the inspiration for Jo’s recent book which explores the transformative way in which sharing food is at the heart of a shared life. Tonight’s talk will be a conversation around the theme of the book, and of A Rocha, and how they may resonate with L’Abri’s own calling.

22nd November

 If God exists, why isn’t it more obvious?

Max Baker-Hytch, Academic Advisor OCCA

Some philosophical reflections on the problem of divine hiddenness.

29th November

No Lecture