Graham Tomlin: re-enchanting Blaise Pascal

Pascal's biographer on the polymath's huge contributions to science, culture, and more.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

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Graham Tomlin is the Director of the Centre For Cultural Witness, and Editor in Chief of Seen & Unseen. As the former bishop of Kensington he has been involved in theological education and cultural engagement for several years. His latest book is Blaise Pascal: The man who made the modern world.

Justin, Belle and Graham explore the life and legacy of Pascal, a polymath who, in a relatively short lifetime, made huge contributions not only to science, mathematics, technology and culture but also offered arguments for Christianity that are still widely discussed today.

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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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