Unmasking ‘Religion’ : Theological Religious Studies for the 21st Century

Our Johnston Lectures provide students, faculty, alumni, and local churches an opportunity to engage with some of the finest Evangelical thinkers addressing issues in theology and culture that matter most for the church.

This year’s theme is “Unmasking ‘Religion’ : Theological Religious Studies for the 21st Century.”

Daniel will explore this topic is three lectures:

1. ‘And no ‘religion’ too’: The need for theological religious studies

In this first session, we will look at the complex history of the study of religion focusing on the construction of ‘religion’ in modern thinking, a construction evangelicals have often bought into. We will show the need for theological religious studies, and start to describe what this looks like using the concept of religious consciousness.

2. An Apology for Elenctics

Elenctics, the convicting of sin and call to faith and repentance in Christ, used to be its own discipline in theological studies, but has been lost for generations. This session will argue for its return and for its relevance for ministry in the 21st century.

3. Theological Religious Studies for the Academy and Church

In this final session we will look at the implications and applications on an elenctically orientated theological religious studies for the academy, the church, and the public square.

Schedule for 21 September

About Daniel Strange

Daniel Strange is a fellow at The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. He is the director of the Terminus Center for Culture and Contextualization. He is also in theological leadership at The London Project, a contributing editor for Themelios, and Vice-President of The Southgate Fellowship. Formerly he was Academic Director of Crosslands Training, and Director of Oak Hill College, London. His books include Plugged In (Good Book Company, 2019), Making Faith Magnetic (Good Book Company, 2021), Their Rock is Not as Our Rock: An Evangelical Theology of Religions (Apollos, 2014). Dan is an elder at Hope Community Church in Gateshead, England. He is married with a load of kids and foster kids, and is a big West Ham United fan.

Also check out:

One-Day Preachers & Leaders Conference

In partnership with Geloofstoerusting and TGC Nederlands, Dr. Strange will be lecturing on the theme: “Making Faith Magnetic: Witnessing to God’s Mission in our late modern World,” Saturday, 19 September. Click here for more information and to register..