Sedbergh Festival of Ideas

Stephen Mitchell

Can we distinguish between the Jesus of history and the Christ of Theology? Boulton thinks we can, Mitchell thinks we can’t. And does it really matter? David Boulton’s latest book is Who on Earth Was Jesus? and God in the Bath is the intriguing title of Stephen Mitchell’s latest book. Ideas Exchange follows a presentation from each speaker.

Stephen Mitchell is a parish priest in Suffolk and is a founder member and chair of the Sea of Faith Network. He trained for the ministry in Cambridge and after serving a curacy at Malvern Priory, was appointed Precentor of Leicester Cathedral. Before moving to Suffolk, he was Rector of Barrow upon Soar and Walton-le-Wolds in Leicestershire. He has written for The Guardian and contributed to several theological and humanist publications including God and Reality (ed. Colin Cowder- Mowbrays) and Time and Tide (O Books with SOF). His Agenda for Faith was published by Sea of Faith and God in the Bath - Relaxing in the Everywhere Presence of God is published by O Books.

David Boulton is best known today for his books and articles exploring and promoting a brand of open-minded humanism that rejects supernaturalist religion but respects and celebrates the best of our religious heritage and tradition in so far as it offers an enabling dream of what he calls ‘the republic of heaven’. He is a member of the British Humanist Association and of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). David has written for The Guardian, The Observer, New Internationalist, New Humanist, Sofia and Quaker journals including The Friend, Friends Quarterly, Journal of the Friends Historical Society and Proceedings of the Quaker Theology Seminar.