Gerard Loughlin

My guest this week is Gerard Loughlin, Professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Durham who, like me, has published in the field of theology and film. We also have a shared background in Lampeter where Gerard studied English Literature and Theology in the late 1970s, and we learn who it was that awakened his interest in philosophical theology and literature.

We find out what Gerard’s earliest memory was and about his family background and Gerard reflects on how many of his close friends went to university. He talks about the teachers who influenced him and how he excelled at long essays.

We learn that Gerard had an interest not just in watching but in making films as a child and that his school physics teacher inspired this passion. We find out that Gerard is interested in the grammar of filmmaking and which he imparts to his own students. Gerard’s parents were inclined to disapprove of popular music and we discuss the extent to which it isn’t possible to shake particular influences many years down the line.

We discover how Gerard ended up in academia and how he has never lived outside of the academic system, though he has also done teacher training. We discuss the changes in student culture over the years and how, in Gerard’s undergraduate days, going to Lampeter’s Arts Hall was the major cultural event of the week.

We move on to talk about whether students were into politics back in Gerard’s student days and we find out that he was involved with CathSoc. We also discuss John Hick whom Gerard studied when he was in Cambridge, and we move on to talk about Hick’s work in religious pluralism.

On the whole we learn that Gerard’s memories are positive and that he once kept a diary for a short period. We find out whether there are things that he hasn’t fulfilled, how many friends he is still in touch with from his Lampeter days and whether Gerard is a looking back or a looking forward type of person.

Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and Gerard Loughlin and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.