Our aim is to nurture a new generation of Christian cultural influencers and apologists by tracing the origins, realities, and future of the 'zeitgeist' spirit of the age and by learning practices of both prophetic insight and ‘double listening’ (both to the Word, in Scripture, and the World, in present day media, news and events). We give participants time to step back from the immediate and the pressing, to consider the wider picture and develop a language to grapple with the reality in which we find ourselves.

It is a discussion-based course with guided reading, film watching and visits to art galleries. The group supports participants to explore opportunities for discussion and paper presentation on key ‘zeitgeist’ issues in their home contexts and workplaces.

We ask questions of how these trends influence our view of reality, knowledge, sexuality, transcendence and other areas, in order to prepare the emerging generation of Christian adults to navigate these questions and the undercurrents of culture. Together, we develop our understanding of how to live with biblical hope and influence in our world.

Cultural Influencers focuses on four main areas:

• Exploring the key issues that shape culture, including: the transition to a new consciousness; the life cycle of an idea; core human needs; what is driving transition; and new media and technology
• Nurturing a skill set to ‘understand the times’ we live in (through art, media, film, modern iconography, etc) and perceive the dominant philosophical expressions
• Developing a biblical response to the dominant cultural ideas to perceive and enact better points of intersection and points of distinction between the two
• Learning to ask better questions of our own culture as well as learning to articulate biblical truth with relevance and traction in the societies we live in across Europe and Eurasia