Intro:

 

Ever since the earliest days of Christianity, followers have sought to bring the good news of the gospel to people around the world. Christians believe in a God of love who cares for his creation and wants to be in relationship with all people.

However, this notion is increasingly under challenge today. Bestselling 'new atheist' authors, such as Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, argue that religion is not only a dangerous delusion, but that it “poisons everything”. The very faith that was once seen as the bedrock of western civilisation and morality now stands on trial, accused of a multitude of crimes.

Many Christians, understandably, find it difficult to know how best to respond to some of the challenges made to their faith. What do you say, for example, to someone who argues that science and religion are locked in an irrevocable conflict? How can you defend the concept of a loving God when there is so much suffering in the world? And how do you interpret the passages of the Bible that seem to show God meting out judgment on his people?

Good God, Bad God? is a day of apologetics training designed to tackle vital questions such as these. The event aims to help Christians develop a confident faith that is able to speak wisdom into issues today without ducking the hard questions.

 

Speakers:

 

 

	Michael Ramsden Michael Ramsden is the European Director of RZIM Zacharias Trust. He is also Joint Director of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). Michael is an evangelist who speaks to a wide variety of audiences worldwide and is involved in a number of initiatives to equip and train emerging leaders and evangelists throughout Europe
	Alister McGrath Alister McGrath is Professor of Theology, Education and Ministry at King's College, London, President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA), A Visiting Professor at St. Mellitus College, and teaches regularly at St Paul's Theological Centre (SPTC). He is one of the most published and well-known theologians in the world.
	Michael Lloyd Michael Lloyd is tutor in theology at St Paul's Theological Centre (SPTC). He did his doctoral thesis at Oxford University on the problem of evil. He was on the staff at St James the Less in Pimlico, before returning to Oxford to teach doctrine at St. Stephen's House. He was also a member of Oxford University's Faculty of Theology. He is the author of Cafe Theology, published by Alpha International.
	Amy Orr-Ewing Amy Orr-Ewing is Training Director of RZIM Zacharias Trust and Director of Programmes at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics (OCCA). Her book Why Trust the Bible? was shortlisted for the 2006 UK Christian Book Awards, and her most recent book But Is It Real? was published July 2008.
	Graham Tomlin Graham Tomlin is Dean of Mellitus College, London and Principal of St Paul's Theological Centre (SPTC), based at Holy Trinity Brompton, the home of the Alpha Course. He studied English Literature and Theology at Oxford University, was Chaplain of Jesus College and Tutor in Historical Theology and Evangelism at Wycliffe Hall, where he became Vice Principal and a member of the Faculty of Theology at Oxford University.

 

Registration:

 

Bookings for the event are being processed by Alpha On-Line where you will be required to register before proceeding to booking and paying for your place.

 

Timetable:

 

09.00		Registration
09.30		Welcome and Worship
10.00		Session 1: Michael Ramsden, 'Good God, Bad God?'
11.00		Coffee
11.30		Session 2: Alister McGrath, 'Science and Faith'
12.30		Lunch (not included in price)
13.30		Session 3: Michael Lloyd, 'Darwin and the Problem of Evil'
14.30		Coffee
15.00		Session 4: Amy Orr-Ewing, 'God of War?'
16.00		Session 5: Panel Discussion (inc. Graham Tomlin)
17.00		Finish

 

General Info:

 

Venue		St Paul's, Hammersmith, Queen Caroline St, London, W6 9PJ
Date		9th May 2009
Price		£20 (£15 for Students & Unwaged)
Lunch		Lunch is not included in the price, please bring packed lunch or purchase from shops local to venue.
Examples of local shops		Opposite: Marks & Spencer King Street: Prêt a Manger, Café Nero, Boots, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, KFC, MacDonald’s Broadway Centre: Starbucks, Crepe Affaire, West Cornwall Pasty Co, Boots, Prêt a Manger, Cafe Metro, Bagel Factory, Cost, Antonia's, Tesco, The Trout Pub, Subway, Snax, Smollensky's.

 

 

Registration:

 

Bookings for the event are being processed by Alpha On-Line where you will be required to register before proceeding to booking and paying for your place.

 

Breaking News:
Tue 21-Apr-09 15:30		The Alpha On-Line website that you will arrive at after clicking the Register Here button below is experiencing problems at present due to the security certificate (used as credentials for the site, and also to encrypt traffic) has expired as of 18-April-2009. The alpha.org technical team are working on resolving this and updating the certificate, but in the meantime, please be aware that secure and safe bookings CAN be made via their website ignoring the warnings that your web browser displays: Firefox web browser Firefox displays warning Secure Connection Failed, below this warning is a link 'or you can add an exception', click this and then click 'Add an exception', then 'Get certificate', then 'Confirm security exception'. Internet Explorer 7 web browser IE7 displays warining There is a problem with this website's security certificate and displays 2 options, click the second with the red shield icon 'Connect to this website'. Safari web browser Safari displays warning popup Safari can't verify the identity click the option marked 'Continue'.