Discover how Tolkien’s stories reveal deep theological truths and explore faith through imagination.
About this Event

TOLKIEN AS APOLOGIST TO THE IMAGINATION
Presenter: Dr. Austin Freeman
Thursday | February 27, 2025
7:00 - 8:30 PM CST
*TICKETS:

IN PERSON | $20
ONLINE on ZOOM | $15

IN PERSON LOCATION:

Whitley Event Center at Oblate School of Theology located at 285 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216

*All tickets incur non-refundable processing fees.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Tolkien as Apologist to the Imagination

Discover how the power of imagination opens pathways to truth and faith! In this engaging lecture, Dr. Austin Freeman explores J.R.R. Tolkien’s unique approach to imaginative apologetics—a method championed by scholars like Holly Ordway and Michael Ward. Imaginative apologetics focuses on cultivating properly ordered loves through the imagination, preparing audiences to embrace the Gospel's truth.

Together, we’ll delve into Tolkien’s thoughts on apologetics, define the practice of imaginative apologetics, and examine how Tolkien uses imagination to reveal profound theological truths in works like "Mythopoeia" and "On Fairy-Stories." The session concludes with a fascinating case study on how Tolkien’s fantasy transforms an obscure doctrine into something beautiful and deeply plausible.

Whether you’re a Tolkien fan, a seeker of deeper faith, or simply curious about the power of imagination, this course offers a unique blend of accessible insights and theological depth. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the intersection of story and spirituality!

PRESENTER

Austin M. Freeman (PhD systematic theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is the author of Tolkien Dogmatics: Theology through Mythology with the Maker of Middle-earth, and editor and contributor to Tolkien among the Theologians, Theology & H.P. Lovecraft, and Theology, Fantasy, & the Imagination. His essays on Tolkien in books such as Tolkien and the Classical World and The Romantic Spirit in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien cover wide-ranging aspects of Tolkien’s theological outlook. He is an international speaker on Tolkien’s theology and the chair of the Apologetics department at Houston Christian University.

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Complimentary tickets are available for this event. Please contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator for the Promo Code at (210) 341-1366 x 206 or email Veronica Montalvo at [email protected].

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