Theologian and philosopher Marilyn McCord Adams dies

 Youtube

Marilyn McCord Adams, one of the world's most prominent and respected philosophers-theologians, has died aged 73.

She was the first women ever to hold the prestigious title of Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University and the first woman to receive a Doctor of Divinity degree from Oxford.

Her work was varied, but her most well known publications and lectures were on evil. Horrendous Evils and the Goodness of God was her most widely known work, in which she addressed the problem of evil.

An American who spent some of her career in the UK, Adams was ordained as an Episcopal priest and taught at prestigious institutions such as Yale, Rutgers and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, having received degrees from Cornell and Princeton.

Reactions to her death came from both sides of the Atlantic with Dr Giles Fraser among those remembering her. Her fellow priest and academic said: 'RIP the wonderful, feisty, clever, brilliant Marilyn McCord Adams. It was a privilege to know her.' Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of Waikato, New Zealand, added her thoughts. She tweeted, 'Saddened to hear about the death of Marilyn McCord Adams, who led my deacons retreat in ‪@oxforddiocese way back in 2005, inspiring!'

News
Religious facades mask the misery of human trafficking
Religious facades mask the misery of human trafficking

A disturbing and deceptive trend has come to light in Southeast Asia: human traffickers masquerading as Christian missionaries and pilgrims to transport victims across international borders. 

Bible readings by 'Carry On' star reveal private quest for faith
Bible readings by 'Carry On' star reveal private quest for faith

At the height of his fame in the 1970s, Kenneth Williams was asked to record excerpts from the Bible. Those recordings hadn’t been broadcast until the BBC did so at the weekend on Radio 4. So, was Kenneth Williams a closet Christian?

Jesus Film Project reaches 2,200 languages with release of new dialect
Jesus Film Project reaches 2,200 languages with release of new dialect

The latest version was released in Bouna, a dialect of the Kulango language spoken in Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa. 

American missionary pastor abducted at gunpoint during church meeting in South Africa
American missionary pastor abducted at gunpoint during church meeting in South Africa

An American church-planting missionary was abducted at gunpoint while leading a prayer meeting at his church in South Africa on Thursday, police say.