Lecture – John Bell

The Imagination as a Key to Unlocking Scripture

The Imagination is sometimes regarded as being an unreliable or mischievous faculty, more of a danger to faith than an aid. But given that it is commonly employed by the prophets in their writings and Jesus in his parables, it deserves serious consideration. In this lecture, John Bell will argue that the imagination is an essential aid not only to interpreting scripture but also an ally in pastoral work and preaching, as it offers an alternative to rigid thinking and dull speech.

Biography

John Bell has worked for over 30 years in the areas of music, worship, spirituality and social justice. He conducts workshops and seminars across the globe and, with his colleagues, develops new and accessible liturgical materials. He is an occasional broadcaster and for over 20 years was a regular contributor to Radio 4’s Thought for the Day.

Publications

To date, John has published 17 collections of original and global songs, and numerous collections of liturgical material. His most recent books are:

Ten Things They Never Told Me About Jesus (Wild Goose Publications)
Living with the Psalms (SPCK)
And Then She Said (Wild Good Publications)