Miroslav Volf: the cost of ambition

Does ambition make us a better version of ourselves, or does it diminish us? A GodPod podcast.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A man with a beard and glasses, leans back and to one side while takking and holds open hand in front of himself

Miroslav Volf.

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What is the cost of ambition? Does it make us a better version of ourselves, or does it diminish us? What’s a theological response to meritocracy and comparison? What makes a life worth living? These are just some of the questions pondered by our three presenters – Jane Williams, Michael Lloyd and Graham Tomlin – along with renowned theologian, Miroslav Volf.

Miroslav is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and the founder and director of the Yale Centre for Faith and Culture. He has written or edited more than 20 books, over 100 scholarly articles, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Christian Century, Sojourners, and several other outlets.

For more from Miroslav: Miroslav Volf | YCFC

Read more from Miroslav on Seen & Unseen.

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Creed

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Visionaries

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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