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Lewis and Tolkien
In the latest episode of the podcast, “Lewis and Tolkien: Imagination and Sexuality,” host Shane O’Neill delves into the profound impact of imagination on our understanding of faith, morality, and sexuality. Joined by renowned Lewis and Tolkien scholars, Michael Ward and Holly Ordway, this episode offers a treasure trove of insights.
Ward and Ordway discuss how imagination is not just a mere fancy, but a divine gift. Imagination enriches our lives with deeper meaning and empathy. Ward and Orway illuminate how this powerful tool can open our minds to diverse perspectives. Imagination enables us to perceive the world through a kaleidoscope of spiritual and moral dimensions. However, the episode also cautions listeners about the potential pitfalls of imagination, such as the creation of false idols and the nurturing of selfish desires.
At the heart of the discussion lies the message of love and evangelism. The episode explores how imagination can serve as a bridge to connect hearts. Imagination transcending cultural barriers to communicate the timeless message of the Gospel in a language that resonates with everyone.
This episode is a call to action for believers to harness the creative power of imagination. This foster understanding, compassion, and a shared humanity. Whether you’re a devout Christian or simply a lover of deep, philosophical discussions, “Lewis and Tolkien: Imagination and Sexuality” is your gateway to a world where faith and imagination converge to create a tapestry of profound insights.
Who are Michael Ward and Holly Ordway??
MICHAEL WARD, a Catholic priest, is Senior Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University. He is the author of the best-selling and award-winning Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis, co-editor of The Cambridge Companion to C.S. Lewis, and presenter of the BBC television documentary The Narnia Code. On the fiftieth anniversary of Lewis’s death, Michael Ward unveiled a permanent national memorial to him in Poets’ Corner, Westminster Abbey, London.
Click here to view Dr. Ward’s website and resources!
HOLLY ORDWAY is Fellow of Faith and Culture at the Word on Fire Institute. Dr. Ordway has a PhD in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the author of Apologetics and the Christian Imagination: An Integrated Approach to Defending the Faith (Emmaus Road, 2017), and Not God’s Type: An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms (Ignatius, 2014). She is also a Subject Editor for the Journal of Inklings Studies, Visiting Professor at Houston Baptist University, and a published poet. Her academic work focuses on imaginative apologetics, and on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Her forthcoming book is Tolkien’s Modern Reading: Middle-earth Beyond the Middle Ages (Word on Fire Academic, 2021).