Nicholas Langrishe Alleyne Lash
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Langrishe Alleyne Lash (born 1934) is an English Roman Catholic theologian. After serving in the British Army, and working for a short while as a Roman Catholic priest, he held for twenty years the post of Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity
in the University of Cambridge
from 1978 to 1999, succeeding Donald MacKinnon
, and being succeeded by Denys Turner
.
. A Roman Catholic, and considered a liberal, Lash has voiced strong but measured criticism of authoritarian practices among leading figures in his tradition, arguing for open debate on a variety of topics, including the ordination of women
.
He is reportedly one of the few Roman Catholic theologians who have read, slowly, the whole of Karl Barth
's Church Dogmatics and the whole of Karl Rahner
's Theological Investigations. One of Lash's strongest intellectual influences seems to have been the recovery of Aquinas's theology, using forms of philosophical argument influenced by Ludwig Wittgenstein
, which became influential in the 1970s, associated with Cornelius Ernst and Fergus Kerr. Arguably his most significant piece of writing is also one of his shortest, his reflections on the Apostles' Creed
, which includes discussion of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Henry Alleyne Lash
, a Protestant officer in the British Indian Army. His sister was writer Jini Fiennes
, who had seven children, including actors Ralph
and Joseph Fiennes
, filmmakers Sophie
and Martha Fiennes
, and musician Magnus Fiennes
.
Nicholas Lash and his wife, Janet, have a son, Dominic
.
Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity
The Norris-Hulse Professorship of Divinity is one of the senior professorships in divinity at the University of Cambridge.The Norrisian chair was founded in 1777 by a bequest from John Norris...
in the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
from 1978 to 1999, succeeding Donald MacKinnon
Donald Mackinnon
Donald Mackinnon was an Australian politician.Born at Marida Yallock near Boorcan in Victoria to grazier David Mackinnon and Jane Kinross, both Scottish-born, he was educated at Geelong Grammar School, Melbourne University and New College, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts...
, and being succeeded by Denys Turner
Denys Turner
Denys Alan Turner is a British academic in the field of philosophy and theology. He is currently Professor of Historical Theology at Yale University having been appointed in 2005, previously having been Norris-Hulse Professor of Divinity at Cambridge University. He earned his PhD in Philosophy...
.
Theologian
Nicholas Lash is the author of numerous theological books, and a regular contributor to The TabletThe Tablet
The Tablet is a Catholic international weekly review published in London. Contributors to its pages have included Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Paul VI ....
. A Roman Catholic, and considered a liberal, Lash has voiced strong but measured criticism of authoritarian practices among leading figures in his tradition, arguing for open debate on a variety of topics, including the ordination of women
Ordination of women
Ordination in general religious usage is the process by which a person is consecrated . The ordination of women is a regular practice among some major religious groups, as it was of several religions of antiquity...
.
He is reportedly one of the few Roman Catholic theologians who have read, slowly, the whole of Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
's Church Dogmatics and the whole of Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner
Karl Rahner, SJ was a German Jesuit and theologian who, alongside Bernard Lonergan and Hans Urs von Balthasar, is considered one of the most influential Roman Catholic theologians of the 20th century...
's Theological Investigations. One of Lash's strongest intellectual influences seems to have been the recovery of Aquinas's theology, using forms of philosophical argument influenced by Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He was professor in philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1939 until 1947...
, which became influential in the 1970s, associated with Cornelius Ernst and Fergus Kerr. Arguably his most significant piece of writing is also one of his shortest, his reflections on the Apostles' Creed
Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed , sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, a creed or "symbol"...
, which includes discussion of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Family
Lash was born to Joan Mary Moore, a Roman Catholic of Irish descent, and BrigadierBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Henry Alleyne Lash
Henry Alleyne Lash
Henry Alleyne Lash, OBE was an officer in the British Indian Army.-Biography:Henry Lash was born in Calcutta, India....
, a Protestant officer in the British Indian Army. His sister was writer Jini Fiennes
Jennifer Lash
Jennifer Anne Mary Alleyne Lash was an English novelist and painter....
, who had seven children, including actors Ralph
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
and Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Fiennes is an English film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, Merlin in Camelot, and his portrayal of Mark Benford in the...
, filmmakers Sophie
Sophie Fiennes
Sophia Victoria Twisleton Wykeham-Fiennes , known as Sophie Fiennes, is an English film director and producer.-Career:Following a foundation course in painting at Chelsea School of Art, Fiennes worked with director Peter Greenaway from 1987–1992. She managed the UK based dance company, The Michael...
and Martha Fiennes
Martha Fiennes
Martha Fiennes is a British film director, writer and producer. An award-winning director, Fiennes is best-known for her films Onegin and Chromophobia .-Career:...
, and musician Magnus Fiennes
Magnus Fiennes
Magnus Fiennes is an English cross-genre composer, record producer and songwriter. He has worked with artists such as Shakira, Pulp, Tom Jones and Morcheeba...
.
Nicholas Lash and his wife, Janet, have a son, Dominic
Dominic Lash
Dominic Lash is an Oxford based double bassist and a central figure in the musicians' collective Oxford Improvisers. Important long-term musical collaborators include Angharad Davies, Bruno Guastalla, Alexander Hawkins, Tim Hill, Steve Noble, Samantha Rebello, Pat Thomas, Philipp Wachsmann and...
.
Works
His books include- His presence in the world : a study in eucharistic worship and theology (1968)
- Change in focus; a study of doctrinal change and continuity (1973)
- Newman on development : the search for an explanation in history (1975)
- Voices of authority (1976)
- Theology on Dover beach (1979)
- A Matter of hope : a theologian's reflections on the thought of Karl Marx (1981)
- Theology on the Way to Emmaus (1986)
- Easter in ordinary : reflections on human experience and the knowledge of God (1988)
- Believing three ways in one God : a reading of the Apostles' Creed (1992)
- The Beginning and the end of 'religion (1996)
- Holiness, speech and silence : reflections on the question of God (2004)