Cafe Theology

Theological discussion Cafe Theology is a discussion group meeting open to all. It meets on Monday evenings, gathering over a glass of wine from 8:00 - 9:30 pm at Putney Pantry, St Mary’s Church. You can also join by Zoom, if you contact the organiser, Jenny. Everyone from any background is welcome to attend.

They have a packed programme in the coming weeks:

13 January. Climate Change, Millenarianism, and the early Church. How the organisation, beliefs, sense of impending crisis and the zeal of climate activists has parallels in the history of religion. Led by Kate Pellegrini of XR.

20 January. No meeting (WI in Putney Pantry)

27 January. Who Was Jesus? How to reconcile the historical Jesus with the 'Son of God'? 'Revolutionary leader' does not fit, nor does 'Jewish holy man'. What did he himself aim to do, and what was he expecting for the world as he faced death?

3 February. Kindness. All religions promote compassion. Christ promised a world ruled by caritas. Is kindness a natural human instinct or divine gift? And is it overvalued by society today? Led by Jessica Dalton

10 February. The Supernatural. Can one fully accept scientific theory if one believes that the angels factually appeared to the shepherds above Bethlehem? Led by James Roche.

17 February. No meeting (WI in Putney Pantry)

24 February. Joy. Perpetual cheerfulness it is not. For CS Lewis it is transitory, transcendent, in another dimension, a moment of spiritual perception, 'sweet yet panging', and it comes on you by surprise. For Tolkein it is akin to the unexpected happy ending of a fairy tale. Joy and Rejoice! are words that appear again and again in the Bible. Led by Jessica Dalton.

3 March. Celebrity Conversions. Russell Brand, Ayn Ali Hirsi , Paul Kingsnorth have publicly come to Christian faith. Jordan Peterson in his new book Wrestling with God, is close. Even Richard Dawkins admits to being a cultural Christian. Is this the beginning of a revival?

10 March. Dust to Dust. The meaning of Ash Wednesday and what to give up for Lent.

17 March. No meeting (WI in Putney Pantry)

24 March. Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr and other aspects of Islam.

31 March. Religion and the Cosmos (Paul Donnelly)

7 April. Sacrifice

14 April. The Resurrection

21 April. No meeting (Easter Monday)

28 April. No meeting (WI)

5 May. No meeting (Bank holiday)

12 May. The sacrament of Marriage

26 May. No meeting (Bank holiday)

2 June. Mind, brain, soul. A psychiatrist's eye view of where the boundaries lie, with Dr Tom Dalton.

9 June. Anxiety and Fear

16 June. No meeting (WI)

All meetings 8- 9.30pm begin with a short introduction followed by discussion over a glass of wine. Please bring your friends: atheists, sceptics, churchgoers, cultural Christians, all are welcome.