Center for Romantic Theology and Spiritual Formation at Northwind

08/27/2026

“Dolly Parton was a Jesus lover, yes. But she was also something rarer: a sound theologian. She understood instinctively what theologians sometimes take libraries to discover—that faith comes by hearing, that truth wants a voice, and that sometimes the deepest theology is not argued. It is sung.”—Leonard Sweet, Northwind Theological Seminary

I, too, am inspired by her ‘sound’ theology and apolitical compassionate witness in the world. Her authenticity, human warmth, loving-kindness, and godly humor are saintly.

I saved my fav religious images of her today:

08/25/2026

Who knew?

What did C.S. Lewis say to the people of Iceland during the Second World War – and what does a British intelligence operation have to do with it?

This unique workshop features a long-lost wartime radio broadcast by C.S. Lewis. Just months before his first BBC talks – the foundation of Mere Christianity – Lewis recorded “The Norse Spirit in English Literature,” a message to the people of Iceland on behalf of the Joint Broadcasting Committee, a shell operation of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).

Discovered by Dr. Harry Lee Poe in 2015, the broadcast survives on 78 rpm discs originally flown to Iceland for transmission. Participants will hear Lewis’s voice while following the transcript as Poe tells the remarkable story of the recording’s discovery and explores Lewis’s reflections on Norse literature and mythology – themes that would later echo through The Chronicles of Narnia, Till We Have Faces, and That Hideous Strength.

Join us for this rare opportunity to hear a little-known piece of Lewis history at the Undiscovered C.S. Lewis Conference, September 24–27 at George Fox University. Register while spaces remain!

07/22/2026

What do you know about Owen Barfield? Which Barfield books have you read? I'll bet not enough; that sure was my situation before I did the research for the Barfield lecture in THE INKLINGS: C.S. LEWIS, J.R.R. TOLKIEN, AND THEIR CIRCLE. https://shop.thegreatcourses.com/the-inklings-c-s-lewis-j-r-r-tolkien-and-their-circle

07/20/2026

The annual walking tours of the Cretaceous Perambulators is one of the most interesting things about the proto-Inklings. Looking forward to hearing Sorina’s new lecture #7.

What do you know about the "walking tours" that many of the Inklings took throughout the 1920s and 1930s? In lecture 7 of THE INKLINGS: C.S. LEWIS, J.R.R. TOLKIEN, AND THEIR CIRCLE. https://shop.thegreatcourses.com/the-inklings-c-s-lewis-j-r-r-tolkien-and-their-circle

07/16/2026

Wanted to share my latest post from our New Northwind Seminary Romantic Theology substack started and managed by Northwinder

Feel free to share with friends who may be need a nudge from the back of the Northwind. Or the warmth of a cozy fire in a Rabbit Room today.

Three Rooms, One Fire, Facing North

07/07/2026

The Teaching Company's photographer did a great job on this headshot--but more importantly, the whole team did an amazing job on this course, THE INKLINGS: C.S. LEWIS, J.R.R. TOLKIEN, AND THEIR CIRCLE. I learned a million new things as I prepared for it, so you will, too! https://plus.thegreatcourses.com/the-inklings-c-s-lewis-j-r-r-tolkien-and-their-circle