Following Elie Jesner’s superb and challenging Honest Theology lectures last year, Elie continues his novel approach to examining self, religion and society with a new series:-
Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Nourishing Virtues – Exploring The Civilising Process
“We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat.”
– John Steinbeck
The first installment of the Honest Theology Project looked at some of the key theological and philosophical challenges to the religious individual. In this second series of lectures the focus will shift inwards, towards the ways in which honest thinking can help develop character, catalyse virtue and lead us towards a life of healthy and balanced flourishing.
Whether we are concerned with mental health, civic society or religious growth, there is much to be gained from exploring the somewhat unfashionable territory of virtue. But virtue can be a bit dry, and a fleshier and more engaging approach is to look at sin, and in particular at the Seven Deadly Sins – namely Anger, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Lust, Envy, And Gluttony.
Seeing these not as sins against God, but as a betrayal of ourselves, can liberate the dormant wisdom and forgotten insight that has accumulated around them over the years.
Main lecture
