The Gifford Lectures
Advancing Natural Theology
Will be published approx. on 31. May 2026
Book
Hardback
256 pages
978-1-3995-6060-3 (ISBN)
Description
The prestigious Gifford Lectures were established in 1887 by Adam Lord Gifford (1820-1887), a senator of the College of Justice in Scotland. The purpose of Lord Gifford's bequest to the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews, and Aberdeen was to sponsor lectures to 'promote and diffuse the study of Natural Theology in the widest sense of the term-in other words, the knowledge of God'. After 135 years of lectures, this book presents a reflection and reevaluation.
What were the circumstances leading to the foundation of Gifford's lectures? What were the aims of the lectures, and to what extent have the lectures delivered fulfilled these aims? And what might be the best approaches in the twenty-first century to honour that intent? This book examines the history of the Giffords in an effort to imagine its future trajectories.
What were the circumstances leading to the foundation of Gifford's lectures? What were the aims of the lectures, and to what extent have the lectures delivered fulfilled these aims? And what might be the best approaches in the twenty-first century to honour that intent? This book examines the history of the Giffords in an effort to imagine its future trajectories.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
526 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3995-6060-3 (9781399560603)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Christopher R. Brewer is Principal Advisor at Templeton Religion Trust and Editor-in-Chief of giffordlectures.org. Dr Brewer earned his Ph.D. in Divinity from the University of St Andrews with a thesis on natural theology and the arts. He is, additionally, the editor or co-editor of seven volumes, including Christian Theology and the Transformation of Natural Religion: From Incarnation to Sacramentality-Essays in Honour of David Brown.
Content
Notes on Contributors
Foreword
Garrick V. Allen
Editor's Introduction
Christopher R. Brewer
PART I. The Giffords and their Historical Context
Promoting the Study of Natural Theology: Scotland, Philosophy and the Gifford Lectures
John Haldane
The Religious and Cultural Context of Lord Gifford's Endowment
Stewart J. Brown
'That we may hear the living voice': the Gifford Lectures as Lectures, 1888-1914
Martin Hewitt
The Giffords as Public Lectures
David Fergusson
Tumultuous Beginnings: The Gifford Lectures at the University of Glasgow
R. Scott Spurlock
PART II. The Intellectual Impact of the Giffords
Expansive Naturalism and the Limits of Natural Theology
Fiona Ellis
Nurtured Natural Theology
Andrew Torrance
The Prospect of Natural Theology as Basis and Crown of Revealed Theology: Reflections on Five Series of Gifford Lectures
Mark W. Elliott
The Gifford Lectures and the Grammar of Science and Religion
Joanna Leidenhag
Lord Gifford's Lectures and the Critique of Religion - The Case of Arend Theodoor van Leeuwen
Philip G. Ziegler
Self-transcendence: From Atheist Philosophy to Natural Theology
King-Ho Leung
Works Cited
Foreword
Garrick V. Allen
Editor's Introduction
Christopher R. Brewer
PART I. The Giffords and their Historical Context
Promoting the Study of Natural Theology: Scotland, Philosophy and the Gifford Lectures
John Haldane
The Religious and Cultural Context of Lord Gifford's Endowment
Stewart J. Brown
'That we may hear the living voice': the Gifford Lectures as Lectures, 1888-1914
Martin Hewitt
The Giffords as Public Lectures
David Fergusson
Tumultuous Beginnings: The Gifford Lectures at the University of Glasgow
R. Scott Spurlock
PART II. The Intellectual Impact of the Giffords
Expansive Naturalism and the Limits of Natural Theology
Fiona Ellis
Nurtured Natural Theology
Andrew Torrance
The Prospect of Natural Theology as Basis and Crown of Revealed Theology: Reflections on Five Series of Gifford Lectures
Mark W. Elliott
The Gifford Lectures and the Grammar of Science and Religion
Joanna Leidenhag
Lord Gifford's Lectures and the Critique of Religion - The Case of Arend Theodoor van Leeuwen
Philip G. Ziegler
Self-transcendence: From Atheist Philosophy to Natural Theology
King-Ho Leung
Works Cited