'LIFE in the round'
Upcoming Events - Spring 2012
You are warmly invited to the following 'Life in the Round' events in 2012. Through these events we aim to provide a setting in which sceptics, agnostics, and believers can examine and explore Christian belief, its implications and its alternatives in the 21st century. Our goal is to give people the chance to reflect on the ‘big picture’ questions of life in a context which allows for robust, honest, critical and courteous discussion.
Each event will take place on a Thursday, 5.45 - 7.00pm, at the Round Church, Bridge Street, Cambridge. Doors will open at 5.15pm for light refreshments with the talk starting at 5.45 sharp. After the talk (approximately 45 minutes in length) there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
2nd february 2012
‘capitalism - What good is it?'
DR. PETER HESLAM
 Through its core operations, business has the potential to increase human well-being. Peter Heslam explores how the institutional, relational, moral and spiritual dimensions of business can help realize this potential.
Dr Peter S Heslam is Director of Transforming Business, a research and development project at the University of Cambridge on the role of business in human development. Based in the Faculty of Divinity, his focus is on the contribution of moral and spiritual values to enterprise solutions to poverty.
To listen to the audio from this excellent talk, which was packed to capacity, click here.
THURSDAYS IN MARCH
ART IN THE ROUND' SERIES
THE ART OF EASTER
PAUL SHAKESHAFT
The Passion and Resurrection of Christ have been central to the history of western painting. This series of art historical talks looks at the ways painters working between 1400 and 1700 pictured four episodes from the Gospels, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Examination of Jesus, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. Our starting point will be the visual cues painters found in the Gospel themselves, together with the glosses of popular commentaries, such as the Golden Legend.
We shall also consider how painters developed differing stylistic approaches, in response to changes in artistic theory, belief, purpose, patronage and spectatorship. Among other themes, the talks will examine how painters interpreted the dilemmas of the disciples, the ambivalence of the persecutors and Christ’s reaction to political authority. At the centre of our study will be the challenge artists faced in attempting to find appropriate ways to represent both the physical suffering and the conflicted mind of the incarnated son of God.
Paul Shakeshaft was formerly Principal Lecturer in the History of Art in the Cambridge School of Art. He is now an affiliated lecturer in the History of Art Department of the University of Cambridge. With a specialist interest in the theory of art, Paul has spoken at the Round Church several times before.
SPECIAL EVENT - 16TH MARCH 2012
HEAVEN IN A NIGHTCLUB
Dr WILLIAM EDGAR
RETURNING TO CAMBRIDGE AFTER SELL-OUT 2009 CONCERT
 Heaven in a Nightclub is a 90-minute jazz concert interspersed with historical information about the spiritual roots of jazz. Dr William Edgar is professor at Westminster Theological Seminary and together with professional jazz singer Ruth Naomi Floyd and professional musician Randy Pendleton, they will be visiting Cambridge as part of a two week tour of Europe.
Dr Edgar has been described as 'one of the foremost apologists and cultural thinkers of our generation'. His books include Taking Note of Music (London: SPCK, 1986), Reasons of the Heart (Baker/Hourglass, 1996; P & R, 2003), La carte protestante (Labor et Fides, 1997), The Face of Truth: Lifting the Veil (P & R, 2001), Les dix commandements (Excelsis, 2007), Truth in All Its Glory: Commending the Reformed Faith (P & R, 2004), and Christian Apologetics Past and Present (2009).
'Our philosophy,' Dr Edgar writes, 'is that jazz ought to entertain, but that its background is in the spiritual experience of African-American people, reared in slavery and nurtured on the Gospel message. It carries the twin themes of suffering and hope, so characteristic of Black culture. Specifically, we take the audience through some of the history of African-American music, both sacred and secular, mixing narrative with music. We outline the problem of finding spiritual roots in the music, and then go on to explore specific genres, including ragtime, blues, spirituals, funeral bands, and so on."
Please buy tickets in advance through our safe and secure website shop.
19th april 2012
'W. E. GLadstone: Christian Politician?'
professor eugenio biagini
 W. E. Gladstone was the Prime Minister of Britain on four separate occasions, from 1868–1874, 1880–1885,1886 and 1892–1894. He also served as Chancellor of the Exchequor four times. When he resigned for the last time, he was Britain's oldest Prime Minister at 84 years old.
But to what extent did Christianity influence Gladstone's policies?
Professor Biagini is a Fellow in History at Sidney Sussex, Cambridge. His biography on W. E. Gladstone has been described as the 'most concise but also arguably the most profound' biography of Gladstone available.
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