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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Graham's Journey to Theology
- Graham Tomlin shared how he moved from teenage atheism back to faith and theology unexpectedly.
- His teenage rebellion focused on reading Nietzsche, not typical rebellious behavior.
Theology Rooted in Experience
- Theology must engage the heart and lived experience to be meaningful.
- Martin Luther taught that theology failing to help live better is bad theology.
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.