Claire Gilbert: re-enchanting Julian of Norwich

The novelist on what medieval mystic Julian of Norwich can teach modern seekers.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A woman sitting at a table in front of a microphone talks and gestures

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Dr Claire Gilbert is an author, lecturer, mentor and retreat leader and was the founding director of the Westminster Abbey Institute. She is the author of books including Miles To Go Before I Sleep: Letters on Hope, Death and Learning to Live and her most recent publication I, Julian a novel about the medieval mystic Julian of Norwich. Belle and Justin talk to Claire about how Julian Of Norwich's Revelations Of Divine Love from 650 years ago, can speak to modern spiritual hunger.

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Creed

GodPod

Podcasts

8 August 2025

1 min read

The visionaries: Kierkegaard's critique of cultural Christianity

Stephen Backhouse and the GodPod hosts on the first of the visionaries

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A sculpture of a early 19th century man with a quiff and sharp suit.

Kierkegaard captured in sculpture. The Royal Library, Denmark.

Holger Damgaard, via Wikimedia Commons

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About this episode

In this, the first instalment of GodPod’ Visionaries series, Graham Tomlin and Jane Williams delve into the profound impact of Søren Kierkegaard, the enigmatic Danish philosopher whose ideas continue to resonate in today's world.

Join us as we explore Kierkegaard's critique of Christendom (or ‘cultural Christianity’), his emphasis on individual authenticity, and his challenge to the herd mentality. With insights from Dr. Stephen Backhouse, an expert on Kierkegaard, we uncover how this 19th-century thinker shaped modern existentialism and continues to influence contemporary discussions on faith, individuality, and societal norms.

Tune in to discover why Kierkegaard's legacy is, perhaps, more relevant than ever

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