Conversations with George Pattison: God, philosophy, and the meaning of life

George  Pattison; Philip  Tonner; Clare  Carlisle

doi:10.62637/sup.ucee1565

Conversations with George Pattison: God, philosophy, and the meaning of life

Authors

George Pattison

University of Glasgow

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8036-9761

Philip Tonner

University of Glasgow

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8243-7385

Clare Carlisle

University of Glasgow

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565

Keywords:

Theology , Philosophy, Existential Thought, Phenomenology, Faith , Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Dostoevsky, George Pattison

Synopsis

George Pattison is an internationally recognised theologian and philosopher. Over the past four decades, he has not only advanced thinking and research within the discipline of theology but also made significant contributions to a wide range of debates in philosophy, existential thought, art and aesthetics, technology, modernity and faith, mysticism, religious studies, and the life of the Anglican Church. Characterised by a series of highly original attempts to synthesise and develop ideas and concepts from theology, philosophy, phenomenology, education and aesthetics his work is innovative, accessible and engaging. It offers an original perspective on, among other topics, the devout life, prayer, hope, what it means to be human, and God.

This first book-length introduction to his thought provides a highly readable account of Pattison's life and career in the form of a set of interviews he gave to Philip Tonner, a philosopher based at the University of Glasgow. The interview format allows Pattison to present his ideas in his own words. The book covers the entirety of Pattison's career, from his earliest publications to his most recent collection of essays, A Philosophy of Prayer: Nothingness, Language, and Hope (2024). It includes new reflections on some of his key influences; Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Dostoevsky.

Chapters

Introduction

Philip Tonner

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.i
Conversation 1
Life and Career

Philip Tonner

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.1
Conversation 2
Existence, nothingness, and God

Philip Tonner

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.2
Conversation 3
Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Dostoevsky

Philip Tonner

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.3
Conversation 4
A Philosophy of Christian Life

Philip Tonner

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.4
Conversation 5
Living forwards, understanding backwards

Philip Tonner

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.5
Kierkegaard’s queerness
A response to Conversations With George Pattison

Clare Carlisle

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.6
Response to Clare Carlisle

George Pattison

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.7
Appendix
Into the Future: An interview with Professor George Pattison (May 2016)

Philip Tonner

DOI: https://doi.org/10.62637/sup.ucee1565.8

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Author Biographies

George Pattison, University of Glasgow

George Pattison is a retired Anglican priest and scholar. He has published extensively on existential philosophy and theology and has recently taken up the editorship of the journal Theology.

Philip Tonner, University of Glasgow

Philip Tonner grew up in Glasgow, studied philosophy at the Universities of Glasgow and Warwick, and archaeology at Kellogg College, University of Oxford. A former teacher, he is now Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Glasgow.

Photo of George Pattison wearing a light suit and red bowtie, with a blurred background of trees and other greenery.

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Published

October 22 2026

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