NCL-30th-Anniversary-History-Book-WEB

2008
The 2008 lectures were presented by Trevor
Hart, who was Professor of Divinity and Director
of the Institute of Theology, Imagination and the
Arts at the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
He presented a stimulating series of three
lectures on the relationship between creativity,
imagination and belief.
The week commenced with Professor Hart
speaking at the College formal dinner on the
nature of imagination as God’s gift, as well as
something to be expected in the creatures of a
creative and imaginative God.
The first lecture was titled ‘The lunatic,
the lover and the poet’: divine copyright and
the dangers of ‘strong imagination’. Prof Hart
examined the place of artistic creation and
put forward a theology of human artistry –
“that takes seriously Christian Scripture and
Creeds”. He encouraged us to hold together
human creativity and “God’s unique identity
as the originator and gracious giver of being
and life to the world”.
Prof Hart’s second talk, ‘God and the Artist:
Human creativity in theological perspective,’
explored artistry for humans as ‘sub-creators’
and unpacked the alternative and secondary
worlds of Tolkien and poet Sidney. In his final
talk – ‘Givenness, grace and gratitude: creation,
artistry and eucharist’ – Prof Hart suggested
that it is part of our humanity to take and
transform things and offer them back to our
creator. He concluded this is not just to serve
human need, but because, as an act of sheer
gratuity, it is right, good, and fitting to do so.
He suggested that art, in this sense can be
inherently eucharistic, “a gift freely offered in
thanksgiving, because the one who gives it has
him or herself first freely received.”
An essay titled ‘Creation, Reincarnation &
Redemption: In the Arts?’, was published in
Issue 16 of Case Quarterly. The content of the
Lectures can also be found in Trevor Hart’s
book Between the Image and the Word: Theological
Engagements with Imagination, Language and
Literature.
2009
The lecturer in 2009 was John Wyatt, Professor
of Ethics and Perinatology at the Institute for
Women’s Health, University College London.
He offered a Christian perspective on the
impact of technology on contemporary medical
practices. The talks were informed by a biblical
understanding of God’s purposes, as Professor
Wyatt considered the bioethical issues that
we face every day, as we make decisions about
creating, preserving and protecting life. These
lectures were deeply challenging and, at times,
very moving, as he related experiences from
his medical work and the challenges faced
when making medical decisions about death
and dying.
The first lecture was titled ‘Bioethics and
Creation’ and challenged attendees to consider
what creation order implies about reproductive
technology, parenthood, and the intrinsic value
of human life.
In the second lecture, ‘Bioethics and
redemption’, Prof Wyatt considered how the
desire to minimize suffering is central to the
moral vision of utilitarianism. He challenged
us to consider how the Easter story should
transform perceptions of suffering, and
have an impact on bioethical controversies
about assisted suicide, euthanasia, ageing,
and degenerative diseases. The third lecture,
‘Bioethics and future hope,’ addressed the
quest to create better humans by the use
of technology. One of the most challenging
moments in the Lectures was when he
related a personal story of a child born with
anencephaly. The little child, who many would
have argued should have died at birth, was
allowed to live by his parents, and became
a loved member of the church who touched
everyone in his short life.
Some of the content of Professor Wyatt’s
lectures was featured in Issue 17 of Case Quarterly
in an essay titled ‘Bioethics and the Future’.
2002-2016 | PROF TREVOR CAIRNEY
NEW COLLEGE LECTURES 30TH ANNIVERSARY
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