Theology in Scotland
type: channel
description: Theology in Scotland is a journal of theology which is general in scope, but which is rooted in the Scottish theological tradition. Founded in 1994, the journal is published in print and online twice a year, in spring and autumn. The journal publishes articles and book reviews from authors from across the theological spectrum, and particularly welcomes submissions which focus on aspects of Scottish theology. To date, contributions have included: studies of the work of prominent Scottish theologians; responses to current issues in the Scottish church and nation; and aspects of Scottish church history. At the moment, journal issues are arranged thematically.
publisher: St Mary's College, University of St Andrews
language: en
publication name: Theology in Scotland
issn: 1465-2862
copyright: Authors who publish in the journal grant to Theology in Scotland, St Mary’s College, University of St Andrews (“the Publisher”), the following: 1. An irrevocable non-exclusive right to reproduce, republish, transmit, sell, distribute, and otherwise use the Work in electronic and print editions of the Journal and in derivative works throughout the world, in all languages, and in all media now known or later developed. 2. An irrevocable non-exclusive right to create and store electronic archival copies of the Work, including the right to deposit the Work in open access digital repositories. 3. An irrevocable non-exclusive right to license others to reproduce, republish, transmit, and distribute the Work under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial [CC-BY-NC] 4.0 licence. Copyright in the Work remains with the author and the author retains the right to reuse the article (e.g., in institutional repositories, on their website or published in a book). Warranties The Author represents and warrants that the Work is the Author’s original work and that it does not violate or infringe the law or the rights of any third party and, specifically, that the Work contains no matter that is defamatory or that infringes any literary or proprietary rights, intellectual property rights, or any rights of privacy. It is the author's responsibility to obtain written permission to reproduce copyright-protected material in her/his article. The Author also warrants that he or she has the full power to make this agreement, and if the Work was prepared jointly, the Author agrees to inform the co-Authors of the terms of this Agreement and to obtain their signature to this Agreement or their written permission to sign on their behalf. The Author indemnifies the Publisher against any losses and other expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, after final judgment of any claim or action against any or all of these warranties.
items: “Mission, Race, and Empire: The Episcopal Church in Global Context” by Jennifer C. Snow
items: “From a Mountain in Tibet: A Monk’s Journey” by Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
items: “From the Marrow Men to the Moderates: Scottish Theology 1700–1800” by Donald Macleod
items: “The Barlinnie Special Unit: Art, Punishment and Innovation” edited by Kirstin Anderson
items: “Reformed Humanism: Essays on Christian Doctrine, Philosophy and Church” by David Fergusson
items: On why we need to be trauma-informed in churches
items: ‘I asked the songthrush about the soul …’
items: Art, spirit, language
items: Linguistic diversity within the Church: A theological defence
items: To restore a light unto the nations: Israel, Palestine, Scotland and the charter of the land
items: Editorial: Language and Faith
items: The post-modern condition of Scottish society
items: “Catholic Social Teaching in Practice: Exploring Practical Wisdom and the Virtues Tradition” by Andrew M. Yuengert
items: “The Defeat of Satan: Karl Barth’s Three-Agent Account of Salvation” by Declan Kelly
items: “The Ethics of Generating Posthumans: Philosophical and Theological Reflections on Bringing New Persons into Existence” edited by Calum MacKellar and Trevor Stammers
items: “James Clerk Maxwell: Faith, Church, and Physics” by Bruce Ritchie
items: “Philosophies of Liturgy: Explorations of Embodied Religious Practice” edited by J. Aaron Simmons, Bruce Ellis Benson and Neal DeRoo
items: Reflections on ‘A Future with Hope’ from a lay perspective
items: Resurrection – not restoration: Frank’s story
items: The Shed Project, Stornoway
items: Reimagining our common mission: ‘Tell Scotland’ now
items: Radical hope: Reimagining church and society in Scotland
items: A future with hope: Diaspora churches in Scotland
items: Religion in Scotland’s Census 2001–2022
items: The owl of Minerva takes fright
items: Church and university in Scotland: Challenges and prospects
items: Editorial: When Theological Landscapes Shift: Reimagining Church and Society
items: "Interreligious Studies: An Introduction" by Rachel S. Mikva
items: "Religion and Outer Space" edited by Eric Michael Mazur and Sarah McFarland Taylor
items: "Mission Is the Shape of Water: Learning from the Past to Inform Our Role in the World Today" by Michael Frost

“Mission, Race, and Empire: The Episcopal Church in Global Context” by Jennifer C. Snow
type: item
description: Review of Jennifer C. Snow, Mission, Race, and Empire: The Episcopal Church in Global Context (New York: Oxford University Press, 2024), pp. viii + 360, ISBN 978-0197598948. £25.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Episcopal Church (United States)
  topic: keywords
subject: TEC
  topic: keywords
subject: PECUSA
  topic: keywords
subject: mission
  topic: keywords
subject: race
  topic: keywords
subject: United States
  topic: keywords
subject: missio Dei
  topic: keywords
creator: Christopher West
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Christopher West http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 94
ending page: 98
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2911

“From a Mountain in Tibet: A Monk’s Journey” by Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
type: item
description: Review of Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, From a Mountain in Tibet: A Monk’s Journey (London: Penguin, 2023), pp. 272, ISBN: 978-0241988954. £10.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Tibetan Buddhism
  topic: keywords
subject: Samye Ling Monastery
  topic: keywords
subject: Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche
  topic: keywords
subject: Choje Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche
  topic: keywords
creator: Frances Hume
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Frances Hume http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 89
ending page: 94
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2910

“From the Marrow Men to the Moderates: Scottish Theology 1700–1800” by Donald Macleod
type: item
description: Review of Donald Macleod, From the Marrow Men to the Moderates: Scottish Theology 1700–1800 (Fearn: Christian Focus, 2023), pp. xv + 355, ISBN 978-1527110489. £24.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Scottish theology
  topic: keywords
subject: historical theology
  topic: keywords
subject: Marrow controversy
  topic: keywords
subject: Moderates
  topic: keywords
subject: Moderate Party
  topic: keywords
creator: Philip D. Foster
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Philip D. Foster http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 87
ending page: 89
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2909

“The Barlinnie Special Unit: Art, Punishment and Innovation” edited by Kirstin Anderson
type: item
description: Review of Kirstin Anderson, ed., The Barlinnie Special Unit: Art, Punishment and Innovation (Sherfield-on-Loddon: Waterside Press, 2024), pp. xxii + 294, ISBN 978-1914603464. £25.00
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Prison
  topic: keywords
subject: Barlinnie Special Unit
  topic: keywords
subject: Jimmy Boyle
  topic: keywords
subject: rehabilitation
  topic: keywords
subject: art therapy
  topic: keywords
subject: community
  topic: keywords
creator: Alastair McIntosh
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Alastair McIntosh http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 81
ending page: 86
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2908

“Reformed Humanism: Essays on Christian Doctrine, Philosophy and Church” by David Fergusson
type: item
description: Review of David Fergusson, Reformed Humanism: Essays on Christian Doctrine, Philosophy and Church (London: T&T Clark, 2024), pp. x + 291, hardback 978-0567712745 £85.00; paperback 978-0567712783 (Dec 2025) £28.99.
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Theology
  topic: keywords
subject: Christianity
  topic: keywords
subject: Philosophy
  topic: keywords
subject: Church
  topic: keywords
subject: Reformed
  topic: keywords
creator: Gordon Graham
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Gordon Graham http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 76
ending page: 81
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2907

On why we need to be trauma-informed in churches
type: item
description: Laura Gilmour considers the word ‘submission’ through the lens of the trauma of domestic abuse in the context of undergoing a ministerial recognition process. Using quilting art as embodied theological reflection, Gilmour’s piece contrasts surface self-presentation with deeper, hidden realities within the self, revealing how submission and survival are interwoven in the experience of the one who has lived through domestic violence. Her work highlights the power of deliberately slow, creative practices in the remaking of one’s self – especially for those whose voices have been silenced.
subject: Arts and culture
  topic: section
subject: submission
  topic: keywords
subject: language
  topic: keywords
subject: trauma
  topic: keywords
subject: domestic abuse
  topic: keywords
subject: art
  topic: keywords
subject: artmaking
  topic: keywords
subject: church
  topic: keywords
subject: theological reflection
  topic: keywords
creator: Laura Gilmour
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Laura Gilmour http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 67
ending page: 75
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2906

‘I asked the songthrush about the soul …’
type: item
description: In a wide-ranging conversation Pat Bennett and Pádraig Ó Tuama look at how imaginative, non-dogmatic approaches to the sacred text – similar to how we engage with poetry or art – can open up deeper, more embodied, and more surprising encounters with the divine. Ó Tuama advocates reading the Bible not as a singular message to decode, but as a multifaceted, ‘wild’, participatory narrative that invites questions and emotional response. The text here does not only speak to us, but also reads our lives in return. Some may find this openness to multiple meanings unsettling, seeking a more definitive interpretive framework, yet Ó Tuama and Bennett offer an invitation to rediscover a deep, creative, curious attentiveness to the text as a pathway for encountering God anew in both Scripture and daily life.
subject: Interview
  topic: section
subject: Bible
  topic: keywords
subject: art
  topic: keywords
subject: poetry
  topic: keywords
subject: language
  topic: keywords
subject: text
  topic: keywords
subject: Ignatius of Loyola
  topic: keywords
creator: Pat Bennett
creator: Pádraig Ó Tuama
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Pat Bennett, Pádraig Ó Tuama http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 52
ending page: 66
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2905

Art, spirit, language
type: item
description: In this personal inquiry on the intertwining impulses of the religious and artistic spirits, Kate Hennessy, a writer and artist, reflects on the power of visual art and artmaking to help us move beyond the limitations of religious language. She explores how art can provide a visual dialogue imbued with spirit and transcendence that help us to understand what it is to be human in a relationship with God. Hennessy draws upon diverse influences, from the Paleolithic artists to Brice Marden, Anne Truitt and Mark Rothko, to provoke thought on perceiving art and artmaking, whether overtly religious or not, as a form of prayer, a practice of devotion and an ongoing expression of this human desire to live in full participation with life and with God.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: visual art
  topic: keywords
subject: artmaking
  topic: keywords
subject: religious language
  topic: keywords
subject: Paleolithic art
  topic: keywords
subject: Brice Marden
  topic: keywords
subject: Anne Truitt
  topic: keywords
subject: Mark Rothko
  topic: keywords
creator: Kate Hennessey
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Kate Hennessey http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 39
ending page: 51
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2904

Linguistic diversity within the Church: A theological defence
type: item
description: This article argues that linguistic diversity is vital for the health of the Church. Although multilingualism has been crucial to human history, linguistic imperialism has become characteristic of the modern age. The article contends that Christians should defend the right of linguistic minorities to worship in their accustomed (usually native) languages, since linguistic diversity is tied to the health and identity of faith communities. The article uses a case study, the decline of Gaelic in Scottish Presbyterian churches, to show how linguistic imperialism can harm faith communities.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Language
  topic: keywords
subject: linguistic diversity
  topic: keywords
subject: Church
  topic: keywords
subject: Gaelic
  topic: keywords
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: Presbyterian
  topic: keywords
subject: confessional Calvinism
  topic: keywords
creator: Martin George Holmes
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Martin George Holmes http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 25
ending page: 38
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2903

To restore a light unto the nations: Israel, Palestine, Scotland and the charter of the land
type: item
description: This paper extends but retains its original form as a verbal delivery to a conference, ‘Land, Nature, Justice’, convened by the solidarity group ‘Highland-Palestine’, at which the author shared a platform with the Palestinian natural historian, Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh of Bethlehem University. It compares the historical loss of biodiversity and culture (including linguistic) in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland with biblical prophetic exposition from the Holy Land. It treasures how, ranging from Gaelic bardic laments of the Highland Clearances to modern Scottish land reform, a biblically-inspired indigenous liberation theology has widened the aperture of imagination and strengthened political legitimacy. And it asks whether, in discipleship to the Jewish ethos of tikkun olam, the same theology might minister as ‘a light to the nations’ in such as Gaza too.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Israel
  topic: keywords
subject: Palestine
  topic: keywords
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: Highland Clearances
  topic: keywords
subject: Gaelic
  topic: keywords
subject: liberation theology
  topic: keywords
subject: tikkun olam
  topic: keywords
subject: Light to the nations
  topic: keywords
subject: Nakba
  topic: keywords
subject: land charter
  topic: keywords
subject: Balfour Declaration
  topic: keywords
creator: Alastair McIntosh
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Alastair McIntosh http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 5
ending page: 24
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2902

Editorial: Language and Faith
type: item
description: This issue of Theology in Scotland explores how language shapes, challenges, and sometimes constrains faith, especially within the historical and contemporary Scottish context.
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
subject: Language
  topic: keywords
subject: faith
  topic: keywords
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
creator: Lina Toth
rights: Copyright (c) 2025 Lina Toth http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2025-06-02
publication date: 2025-06-02
starting page: 1
ending page: 4
doi: 10.15664/tis.v32i1.2901

The post-modern condition of Scottish society
type: item
description: This paper was originally published in The Future of the Kirk: The proceedings of the conference held at the University of Aberdeen on 16 September 1996, ed. D. A. S. Fergusson and D. W. D. Shaw; Theology in Scotland Occasional Paper no. 2 (St Andrews: St Mary’s College, 1997), 11–20. The paper examines (1) what we mean by the term 'post-modern' and how we should interpret it and the major changes which are such a feature of the world we live in; (2) how and why Scotland was neglected as an object of analytical study (especially by sociologists); and (3) what the post-modern condition of Scotland might look like.
subject: Supplementary paper
  topic: section
subject: post-modernism
  topic: keywords
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: sociological analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: Anthony Giddens
  topic: keywords
subject: Stuart Hall
  topic: keywords
creator: David McCrone
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 David McCrone http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2817

“Catholic Social Teaching in Practice: Exploring Practical Wisdom and the Virtues Tradition” by Andrew M. Yuengert
type: item
description: Review of Andrew M. Yuengert, Catholic Social Teaching in Practice: Exploring Practical Wisdom and the Virtues Tradition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003), ‎xvii + 334, ISBN 978-1009261470. £85
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Catholic Social Teaching
  topic: keywords
subject: CST
  topic: keywords
subject: practical wisdom
  topic: keywords
subject: prudentia
  topic: keywords
creator: Liam Waldron
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Liam Waldron http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2816

“The Defeat of Satan: Karl Barth’s Three-Agent Account of Salvation” by Declan Kelly
type: item
description: Review of Declan Kelly, The Defeat of Satan: Karl Barth’s Three-Agent Account of Salvation, Explorations in Reformed Theology 3 (London: T&T Clark, 2022), pp. ix + 162, ISBN 978-0567698810. £28.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Karl Barth
  topic: keywords
subject: salvation
  topic: keywords
subject: Satan
  topic: keywords
subject: das Nichtige
  topic: keywords
subject: apocalyptic theology
  topic: keywords
creator: Tin Tsz Fung
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Tin Tsz Fung http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 115
ending page: 118
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2815

“The Ethics of Generating Posthumans: Philosophical and Theological Reflections on Bringing New Persons into Existence” edited by Calum MacKellar and Trevor Stammers
type: item
description: Review of Calum MacKellar and Trevor Stammers, eds., The Ethics of Generating Posthumans: Philosophical and Theological Reflections on Bringing New Persons into Existence (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2022), pp. x + 234, ISBN 978-1350216587. £28.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: posthumanism
  topic: keywords
subject: posthuman
  topic: keywords
subject: transhumanism
  topic: keywords
subject: persons
  topic: keywords
subject: ethics
  topic: keywords
creator: Levi Checketts
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Levi Checketts http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 111
ending page: 114
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2814

“James Clerk Maxwell: Faith, Church, and Physics” by Bruce Ritchie
type: item
description: Review of Bruce Ritchie, James Clerk Maxwell: Faith, Church, and Physics (Haddington: Handsel Press, 2024), pp. xxii + 474, ISBN‎ 978-1912052851. £15.00
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: James Clerk Maxwell
  topic: keywords
subject: church
  topic: keywords
subject: physics
  topic: keywords
subject: faith
  topic: keywords
subject: science
  topic: keywords
creator: George M. Coghill
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 George M. Coghill http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 106
ending page: 110
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2813

“Philosophies of Liturgy: Explorations of Embodied Religious Practice” edited by J. Aaron Simmons, Bruce Ellis Benson and Neal DeRoo
type: item
description: Review of J. Aaron Simmons, Bruce Ellis Benson and Neal DeRoo, eds., Philosophies of Liturgy: Explorations of Embodied Religious Practice (London: Bloomsbury, 2023), pp. xvi + 309, ISBN 978-1350349308. £39.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Liturgy
  topic: keywords
subject: philosophy of religion
  topic: keywords
subject: analytic theology
  topic: keywords
creator: Joanna Leidenhag
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Joanna Leidenhag http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 101
ending page: 106
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2812

Reflections on ‘A Future with Hope’ from a lay perspective
type: item
description: This short reflection responds to papers presented at two ‘A Future with Hope’ events held at New College, Edinburgh in 2023 and 2024 (featured in this issue of Theology in Scotland). John Sturrock provides a layperson’s perspective on the Church of Scotland’s failure to grasp the implications of the profound social and cultural changes that have occurred in Scottish society over recent decades. He further explores the potential for the church to adapt by empowering the laity and embracing new forms of church life.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Church of Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: laity
  topic: keywords
subject: change
  topic: keywords
creator: John Sturrock
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 John Sturrock http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 96
ending page: 100
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2811

Resurrection – not restoration: Frank’s story
type: item
description: This short reflection was offered as a response to Prof Will Storrar’s paper given at the ‘A Future with Hope: Resurrection, Not Restoration’ conference held at New College, Edinburgh on 9 March 2024 (included in this issue of Theology in Scotland). Drawing from personal experiences, Rev Dr Richard Frazer contends that the church must move beyond maintaining outdated structures, focussing instead on nurturing the deeper spiritual work of renewal and hope. Despite institutional decline, God is still at work – embodied in acts of genuine welcome, forgiveness and transformation – offering a path forward amidst cultural upheaval.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Church
  topic: keywords
subject: renewal
  topic: keywords
subject: decline
  topic: keywords
creator: Richard Frazer
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Richard Frazer http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 91
ending page: 95
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2810

The Shed Project, Stornoway
type: item
description: This short paper is one of several case studies of innovative missional initiatives presented at the ‘A Future with Hope: Resurrection, Not Restoration’ conference held at New College, Edinburgh on 9 March 2024. Describing the initiative to establish The Shed youth and community project, Rev Tommy MacNeil illustrates how a struggling congregation can be transformed into a vibrant community hub, how struggling individuals can discover the transformative power of God’s love, and how struggling disciples can learn to trust God’s ability to multiply resources as they shift from an inward focus to mission.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: The Shed Project
  topic: keywords
subject: Stornoway
  topic: keywords
subject: Church of Scotland
  topic: keywords
creator: Tommy MacNeil
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Tommy MacNeil http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 87
ending page: 90
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2809

Reimagining our common mission: ‘Tell Scotland’ now
type: item
description: In mainstream churches, with particular reference to the Church of Scotland, this paper argues that the concept of ‘mission’ is in need of rehabilitation. It has been reduced to vague objectives and is being tainted by being linked with a programme of restructuring and church closures. The rehabilitation of the concept of ‘mission’ will be necessary as the Kirk proceeds with its task of re-negotiating the future of its ministries, its buildings, and communities. To this end, the paper re-visits the life and work of the Church of Scotland minister and evangelist Tom Allan (1916–1965), drawing out principles from both his work at parish level and with the ‘Tell Scotland’ national mission campaign. Rather than being about numerical gain or preserving institutional structures, ‘mission’ might be understood and lived out through theologically reflective, lay-empowering, and relational community engagement, creating space for new possibilities shaped by God’s grace.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Mission
  topic: keywords
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: Church of Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: Tom Allan
  topic: keywords
subject: Tell Scotland
  topic: keywords
creator: Alexander Forsyth
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Alexander Forsyth http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 72
ending page: 86
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2807

Radical hope: Reimagining church and society in Scotland
type: item
description: This article proposes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the factors that have led to the Church of Scotland’s current programme of reorganisation of its presbyteries and parishes in the face of a steep decline in its membership and recruitment to ordained ministry. Drawing on sociological, philosophical, and theological sources, it argues that the Kirk is experiencing the devastation of its local parish culture and way of life as an integral part of modern, industrial Scotland under the impact of hyper-individualism in a post-industrial and post-modern Scottish society, but like the Crow tribe, it can find radical hope in its traditions.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Church of Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: decline
  topic: keywords
subject: hyper-individualism
  topic: keywords
subject: post-industrial society
  topic: keywords
subject: post-modern society
  topic: keywords
subject: Crow Nation
  topic: keywords
subject: Plenty Coups
  topic: keywords
subject: David McCrone
  topic: keywords
subject: sociological analysis
  topic: keywords
creator: William Storrar
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 William Storrar http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 60
ending page: 71
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2806

A future with hope: Diaspora churches in Scotland
type: item
description: This article presents the findings of a comprehensive study that sought to explore the nature and contributions of, and challenges faced by ethnic diaspora Christian congregations in Scotland. The objective of this project was to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and dynamics of diaspora Christian congregations in Scotland, shedding light on their current and future roles within the broader Scottish religious landscape.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Diaspora churches
  topic: keywords
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: Christianity
  topic: keywords
creator: Sheila Akomiah-Conteh
creator: Liam Jerrold Fraser
creator: Fiona Tweedie
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Sheila Akomiah-Conteh, Liam Jerrold Fraser, Fiona Tweedie http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 43
ending page: 59
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2805

Religion in Scotland’s Census 2001–2022
type: item
description: This piece presents the results from Scotland’s Census 2022, comparing them with results from the Censuses of 2001 and 2011. Noting a considerable rise in those of “no religion” and a fall in those belonging to the Church of Scotland, geographical patterns and an age breakdown are discussed. These figures indicate the scale of the challenge facing Scotland’s denominations.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Scotland’s Census 2022
  topic: keywords
subject: religion
  topic: keywords
subject: Church of Scotland
  topic: keywords
creator: Fiona Tweedie
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Fiona Tweedie http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 32
ending page: 42
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2804

The owl of Minerva takes fright
type: item
description: This paper presents a sociological analysis of the ways in which Scotland has been transformed over the last 25 years. It takes as its starting point the talk the author gave in 1996 entitled “The Post-Modern Condition of Scottish Society”, setting out how Scotland has changed in the intervening years. It sketches out and reflects on the defining events of the period: devolution and the establishment of the Scottish Parliament; the rise to power of the Scottish National Party (SNP) as well as its shifting fortunes; all set in the context of the Scottish independence and Brexit referendums. It concludes by offering critical commentary on contemporary global issues, particularly the loss of the sense of social reality in the face of the current mood of individualism, moral relativism and post-factual narratives.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
subject: sociology
  topic: keywords
subject: sociological analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: devolution
  topic: keywords
subject: Scottish Parliament
  topic: keywords
subject: Scottish National Party
  topic: keywords
subject: Scottish independence referendum
  topic: keywords
subject: Brexit referendum
  topic: keywords
subject: individualism
  topic: keywords
subject: moral relativism
  topic: keywords
subject: post-factual
  topic: keywords
creator: David McCrone
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 David McCrone http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 21
ending page: 31
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2803

Church and university in Scotland: Challenges and prospects
type: item
description: This paper was originally delivered as the third D. W. D. Shaw memorial lecture at the University of Aberdeen on 27 May 2024. It examines the shifting patterns in the relationship of church and academy in Scotland from the establishment of the four ancient universities to the present day. Despite historical changes, most notably the Reformation, the church and the academy maintained a cooperative relationship in the shared project of producing a well-educated clergy. Yet this has altered significantly in recent decades. Contributory factors include a steep decline in the number of ordinands, the emergence of religious studies, and diverging economic circumstances. The paper concludes by examining future prospects for theological education, addressing critical questions concerning the academic pursuit of a confessional Christian theology amidst rising secularism and alternative approaches to the study of religion.
subject: Articles
  topic: section
subject: D. W. D. Shaw
  topic: keywords
subject: church
  topic: keywords
subject: university
  topic: keywords
subject: academy
  topic: keywords
subject: theological education
  topic: keywords
subject: TRS
  topic: keywords
subject: Theology and Religious Studies
  topic: keywords
creator: David Fergusson
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 David Fergusson http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 4
ending page: 20
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2802

Editorial: When Theological Landscapes Shift: Reimagining Church and Society
type: item
description: This issue of Theology in Scotland begins with an article based on the 2024 D. W. D. Shaw Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof David Fergusson, examining the historical partnership between the church and universities in Scotland. The remainder of the issue reflects on the swiftly changing religious and cultural landscape of contemporary Scotland: ● How do we make sense of the dwindling number of people professing a Christian commitment in contemporary Scotland? ● How do structures enable or stifle creative organic developments? ● What future shapes of the church can we discern from both our engagement with Scripture and recent experiments in church practice?
subject: Editorial
  topic: section
subject: Church and university
  topic: keywords
subject: Scotland
  topic: keywords
creator: Lina Toth
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Lina Toth http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-12-01
publication date: 2024-12-01
starting page: 1
ending page: 3
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i2.2801

"Interreligious Studies: An Introduction" by Rachel S. Mikva
type: item
description: Review of Rachel S. Mikva, Interreligious Studies: An Introduction (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023), pp. xi + 356, ISBN 978-1108826600. £26.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: interreligious studies
  topic: keywords
subject: religious education
  topic: keywords
creator: Leon Robinson
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Leon Robinson http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-05-21
publication date: 2024-05-21
starting page: 83
ending page: 86
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i1.2762

"Religion and Outer Space" edited by Eric Michael Mazur and Sarah McFarland Taylor
type: item
description: Review of Eric Michael Mazur and Sarah McFarland Taylor (eds), Religion and Outer Space (Abingdon: Routledge, 2023), pp. xvi + 267, ISBN 978-0367542276. £35.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Outer space
  topic: keywords
subject: religion
  topic: keywords
subject: UFO religions
  topic: keywords
subject: Blackness
  topic: keywords
subject: extraterrestrial beings
  topic: keywords
creator: Kofi Akan Brown
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Kofi Akan Brown http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-05-21
publication date: 2024-05-21
starting page: 79
ending page: 82
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i1.2761

"Mission Is the Shape of Water: Learning from the Past to Inform Our Role in the World Today" by Michael Frost
type: item
description: Review of Michael Frost, Mission Is the Shape of Water: Learning from the Past to Inform Our Role in the World Today (Cody, WY: 100 Movements Publishing, 2023), pp. xxii + 254, ISBN 978-1955142403 (paperback) £13.99; ISBN 978-1955142410 (e-book) £8.99
subject: Reviews
  topic: section
subject: Mission
  topic: keywords
subject: missiology
  topic: keywords
creator: Fiona Reynolds
rights: Copyright (c) 2024 Fiona Reynolds http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
date: 2024-05-21
publication date: 2024-05-21
starting page: 69
ending page: 73
doi: 10.15664/tis.v31i1.2760