The Puzzle of Christianity Live

Students studying Religious Studies for AS/ A Level had the opportunity to attend the event, "The Puzzle of Christianity Live," hosted by Candle Conferences. With content based around exam board themes it was a good opportunity for students to get really excited about the subject matter, enriching and extending their knowledge and understanding as well as supporting them in analyzing, evaluating and making informed, well-reasoned academic judgments.

The event was led by renowned speaker, Dr Peter Vardy, who engaged the audience with his thought-provoking ideas and insights. The event included interactive sessions where students had the chance to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.

The event also proved to be a valuable learning experience for our students, as they gained a deeper understanding of the Christian faith and the ideas which contribute Religious Studies debates for example the ideas of Karl Marx, Gustavo Gutierrez, Leonardo Boff and Alistair Kee where used as examples when discussing the Theory of Liberation. The event also provided an opportunity for our students to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore different perspectives.

Content covered included:

1. The Nature of God
   This first session will explore the concept of God in Christianity, considering the status of Jesus, the significance of the doctrine of the Trinity as well as the meaning and implications of attributes such as omnipotence, omniscience and omnibenevolence.
   
2. Christianity and other Religions
   Dr Vardy spoke and on whether being a Christian is necessary for salvation, and if so, being a Christian in what sense. Are inclusivism and/or pluralism compatible with the Christian concept of God, Scripture and Doctrine? If not, what does this mean for inter-faith relations?
   
3. Secularism and Secularisation
   This session moved forward to the 20th Century, outlining how secularisation has changed Christianity in the developed world and evaluating both a range of arguments for secularism – including those associated with Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud and Richard Dawkins – as well as different Christian responses to those arguments.
   
4. A Theology of Liberation?
   This session explored how the Roman Catholic Church responded to the emergence of Liberation Theology and the implications of this response for understandings of Jesus and of Authority in the Church, the interpretation and use of the Bible and the relationship between Religion and Politics.

Year 12 student Ionia said, "My favourite aspect of the talk was the debate on secularism - overall, it was a very intriguing day."

We are grateful to Candle Conferences for providing our students with this invaluable opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and explore different perspectives. The event was a great success, and we look forward to attending similar events in the future.