Theology& seminar series at Newcastle Cathedral, Thursdays at 3.30-5.00pm.
Open to all – please email c.pacitti@newcastle.anglican.org to express an interest.
Continuing this popular series of talks exploring the intersections between theology and ‘other’ disciplines.
2026
7 May: Lee Batson – Theology& Cathedrals as the Original Resource Churches?
The Very Reverend Lee Batson is Dean of Newcastle Cathedral having moved here from Chelmsford Diocese.
We look forward to spending some time with Lee, hearing about running a cathedral in the 21st century and thinking about the implications of seeing these buildings as the original ‘resource churches.’
4 June: John Appleby – Theology& Free Will
Dr John Appleby is a recently retired teacher of maths to engineers, but with wider interests in education, communication, politics and theology. Although not an expert, he has long been fascinated by the reality and degree of free-will and its relation to choice, responsibility and morality. He is a member of Bishop's Council, a churchwarden, and former member of General Synod.
Whatever our belief in the reality of free-will, we all think and behave on the assumption we are free to make at least some choices. Our whole moral position rests on that foundation. But developments in psychology, sociology and medicine show that there are often fewer choices than previously thought, so it's unclear how much freedom we really have. And is there any difference between 'scientific determinism' and 'it's all part of God's plan'?
An introduction to some different viewpoints and perspectives will be followed by some discussion about the implications of these ideas.