2009 News
- News Archive
Sources of Transformation: Revitalising Traditions of Christian Spirituality for Today
Conference held at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, 30th June – 3rd July in conjunction with Heythrop College, University of London and Sarum College, Salisbury sponsored by the Tablet Trust.
As the summer heat sizzled over West London last week scholars, academics and practitioners of Christian Spirituality gathered at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham for the first conference on the academic study of Christian spirituality to be held in Great Britain.
The conference, organised in conjunction with Heythrop College, University of London and Sarum College, Salisbury, and generously sponsored by the Tablet Trust, took as its theme the relevance of the classics of the Christian spiritual tradition for today’s world.
As the fascinating papers unfolded from academics from as far afield as Australia, India, Brazil, South Africa and the United States it became apparent that we live at an exciting time for the emergence of the study of Christian spirituality as a vibrant academic discipline.
Perspectives shared included those from psychology, sociology, eco-theology, gender theory and scripture exegesis as well as theological approaches. While topics covered included sexuality and spirituality, spirituality and healthcare, the role of spirituality in the current financial crisis and spirituality and eco-perspectives.
Time spent in the grounds of St Mary’s and on the river visiting Hampton Court allowed participants to discuss emerging issues with internationally renowned scholars such as Professors Bernard McGinn, Mary Grey and Gerald O’Collins S.J.
The conference finished with a resolve to create a network of scholars and practitioners interested in the academic study of Christian spirituality and a small working group will meet in the autumn to take this proposal further.
