A Conversation With...Dr. Alister McGrath

Original: AConversation With...Dr. Alister McGrath

Alister McGrath, professor at Oxford University and director ofthe Oxford Centre for Evangelism and Apologetics, will receive thenewly created John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award forScholarship at the 2006 CCCU International Forum on ChristianHigher Education. One of the most prolific, widely read andinfluential Christian writers in the world, McGrath travelsextensively to speak at conferences and missions. His areas ofexpertise include doctrine, Church history, the interaction ofscience and faith and evangelical spirituality. McGrath has playedan integral role with the CCCU as a co-director of The JohnTempleton Oxford Seminars on Science and Christianity.

I read that you grew up going to church, but by age thirteen hated Christianity and embraced Marxism. How did you transition from that attitude to becoming a Christian at 18 years of age?

McGRATH: I grew up in Northern Ireland in 1960s, during a periodof intense religious tension between Protestants and Catholics. Thethought was to go beyond that with atheism. I was a teenager openedto influence from outside. I found Marxism attractiveintellectually; it made sense that if we were to get rid ofreligion, all our problems would disappear. My background inIreland really shaped my embracing Marxism, but I never really knewwhat Christianity was. I really had just a caricature of it in mymind. When I went to Oxford in 1971, however, I encountered manyChristians who were articulate and intelligent. From that point on,I had to do a lot of rethinking.

You are now one of the most prolific, widely read and influential Christian writers in the world. What motivates you to do the work that you're doing?

McGRATH: Two things really drive me. One reason I rejectedChristianity as a young man is that I didn'tunderstand what Christians believed. So I always see as part of mymission to explain to people in an accessible and faithful way whatChristianity is. It's very important to me that itis seen as it really is.

The secondary area is that my own faith has grown in passionthrough a deeper understanding of what Christianity is all about. Iwant my books to help others do that as well, that I might helpsomeone somewhere understand Christianity on a deeper level.

Do you have a favorite area of research, a favorite area of debate?

McGRATH: My favorite area of debate is arguing with atheists.There are several reasons, the first of which is that I used to beatheist, so it's easy to enter into thatworldview. Secondly, atheists have decided to take a position. Manypeople say they don't need to make a decisionabout God; it's hard to argue with people whohaven't made up their minds. But atheists knowthey need to make a decision on these fundamental questions. It isfar easier to argue with them than with people whodon't have any answers. It also forces me to makesure I'm giving best possible account ofChristianity is.

As you know, the CCCU is presenting you with the John Dellenback Award for Global Leadership. With this award, you are recognized for your contributions both within Christian higher education, as well as the broader academy. Which contributions do you most wish to be known for?

McGRATH: First let me say that I'm very honoredto be given the award, especially since it is a new award, neverpresented to anyone before this. I feel very, very excited andhumbled by that. If I'm to be known for anything,I would like to be known as someone who encourages, who reallysays, look there's something we can all do, andthat is to be better communicators of our faith, to be goodteachers. It's really worth doing. I also want tosay how much I respect anyone who's working inChristian higher education, how immensely important it is, howstrategic it is. I want to encourage anyone working in thatfield.

Secondly, I'd want to say how Christianity isso intellectually exciting that if we can just give people a visionof how exciting, compelling and wonderful it is, that will bring anew depth to their faith. To all my colleagues engaged in Christianhigher education, let's help our people go deep todiscover the depths of faith and become more mature, morereflective as a result.

How significant for you is the opportunity to gather with an expected 1200 other people at the International Forum next spring to discuss issues of relevance to Christian higher education?

McGRATH: I'm very excited by this. I expect tolearn something from this myself. I love mixing with professionals,hearing insights and challenges, to see if together we can see away to forge ahead. I'm really excited to share myvision of the future of Christian higher education and to encouragepeople. I would love to enable those attending to have their ownvision of the difference they can make instudents' lives, the way they can shape thefuture. God has called them to do something very special with theirlives.

What role do you hope the John Templeton Oxford Seminars on Science and Christianity will continue to have in the arena of faith and science?

McGRATH: One thing we very much hoped in planning the seminarswas that we'd be raising up a new generation ofChristian scholars who would not just integrate faith and science,but help their students and successors to do the same, to do greatthings with everyone they teach in the future.It's a long-term vision of enabling the vision toemerge of how Christians can relate faith and science and make verysignificant contributions in the world of science in general.

What reflections do you have about the Templeton seminars (both rounds) now that they have concluded?

McGRATH: Several. One, we brought together two groups of about30 people for about three years. I really appreciated how they gotto know each other, trust each other, talked about things. Theyreally shared insights about how best to teach faith and science,and they also how strengthened each other'sfaith.

Second, something that I hadn't expected tohappen was how impressed I was by the caliber of people who were onthese courses. It's enormously encouraging to knowthat there are people of that caliber out there.It's great for their students and theirinstitutions. It also shows that really high-caliber people arefeeling called to Christian higher education;that's a great vision. I look forward to speakingmore about that at the Forum.