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Lloyd Geering

{{Short description|New Zealand theologian (born 1918)}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

{{Infobox scientist

| honorific_prefix = The Reverend

| name = Sir Lloyd Geering

| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|ONZ|GNZM|CBE}}

| image = Lloyd Geering 2020 (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Geering in 2020

| birth_name = Lloyd George Geering

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1918|2|26}}

| birth_place = Rangiora, New Zealand

| death_date =

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| spouse = {{unbulleted list

| {{marriage|Nancy McKenzie|22 May 1943|4 October 1949|end=died}}

|{{marriage|Elaine Parker|20 November 1951|19 August 2001|end=died}}

| {{marriage|Shirley Adams|2004|1 October 2021|end=died}}

}}

| children = 3

| fields =

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| alma_mater = University of Otago

| doctoral_advisor =

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| notable_students =

| known_for = 1967 charges of heresy

| influences =

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}}

Sir Lloyd George Geering {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZ|GNZM|CBE}} (born 26 February 1918) is a New Zealand theologian who faced charges of heresy in 1967 for teaching that the Bible's record of Jesus' death and resurrection is not true. He considers Christian and Muslim fundamentalism to be "social evils". Geering is emeritus professor of religious studies at Victoria University of Wellington. In 2007, he was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand, New Zealand's highest civilian honour, limited to 20 living people. Geering turned 100 in February 2018.

Early life and family

Geering was born in Rangiora on 26 February 1918, the son of Alice (née Johnston) and George Frederick Thomas Geering.{{sfn|Traue|1978|page=120}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search/Search?Path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dbirths |title=Birth search: registration number 1918/12317 |website=Births, deaths & marriages online |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs |access-date=5 October 2021}} He was brought up in Dunedin, before the family spent four years from 1927 to 1930 in Australia, where Geering was dux of Warrnambool Elementary School, then returning to Dunedin.{{sfn|Wright|2012}}{{sfn|Otago Daily Times|1939}} He was educated at Otago Boys' High School from 1931 to 1935, where he was dux in his final year and vice-captain of the hockey 1st XI.{{sfn|Wright|2012}}{{sfn|Otago Daily Times|1939}}

In 1936, Geering went on to study mathematics at the University of Otago. He "embraced" the Christian tradition in 1937,{{sfn|Morris|Grimshaw|2008|p=277}} after a friend invited him to church and to the Student Christian Movement. This changed his life "radically", although, being strongly anti-evangelical, he only reluctantly acknowledged it as a kind of "conversion".{{sfn|Wright|2012}} He applied to study for the ministry at Knox College and was accepted, but told to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree first. He was a member of the university's first-grade hockey team and active in university dramatic productions and debating. He was elected president of the Otago Student Christian Movement in 1939.{{sfn|Otago Daily Times|1939}} Geering was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship by the University of Otago in 1939{{sfn|Otago Daily Times|1939}} and graduated Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours in 1940.{{sfn|Wright|2012}}{{cite web |url=http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/university10.html |title=NZ university graduates 1870–1961: G |website=Shadows of Time |access-date=5 October 2021}}

After completing his BA(Hons), he entered Knox College as a theological student in 1940, and was exempted from military service in World War II.{{sfn|Wright|2012}} He later said:{{sfn|Wright|2012}}

I was a pacifist anyway by this stage. I took my Christian convictions so seriously that I couldn’t reconcile them with being a soldier.

On 22 May 1943, Geering married Nancy Marie McKenzie at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Timaru.{{sfn|Otago Daily Times|1943}} The couple had two children before Nancy Geering died from tuberculosis in Dunedin on 4 October 1949.{{sfn|Wright|2012}}{{sfn|Otago Daily Times|1949}} On 20 November 1951, Geering married Elaine Morrison Parker, a speech therapist, and they went on to have one child. Elaine Geering died in 2001.{{sfn|Traue|1978|page=120}}{{cite web |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22446663 |title=Geering, Elaine Morrison, 1927–2001 |publisher=National Library of New Zealand |access-date=5 October 2021}}{{sfn|The Dominion|2001}} Geering married Shirley Evelyn Adams in 2004. She died at the age of 95 in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.strictlyweddings.com/info/notable-marriages/lloyd-geering-133037|title=Lloyd Geering Marriage Info|publisher=Strictly Weddings|access-date=28 February 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/lady-geering-obituary?pid=200302569|title=Lady Geering Obituary|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald |date=5 October 2021}}

Career

Geering was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in 1943 and practised as a minister in Kurow; Opoho, Dunedin (1945–1950); and St James, Wellington (1950–1956) before turning to theological teaching. He was the honorary associate minister of St John's Church in Wellington from 1971 to 1983. He was named honorary assistant at St Andrew's in Wellington in 1989. Geering remains on the register (Fasti) of New Zealand Presbyterian ministers.{{sfn|Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand}}

Geering has held the positions of professor of Old Testament studies at Presbyterian Church Hall, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (1956–1960), professor of Old Testament studies at Theological Hall, Dunedin (1960–1963), and principal of Theological Hall, Dunedin (1963–1971). In 1971, Geering became the foundation professor of religious studies at Victoria University of Wellington and held this position until his retirement in 1984 when he was appointed professor emeritus. In 1983, he became a lecturer at the St Andrew's Trust for the Study of Religion and Society.{{sfn|Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand}}

Geering is a member of the Jesus Seminar and a participant in the Living the Questions programme, an alternative to the evangelical Alpha course, which he calls “dangerous indoctrination” growing among mainstream churches.{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} He is also a member of the Sea of Faith Network (New Zealand), and St Andrew's On The Terrace, as well as principal lecturer at St Andrew's Trust for the Study of Religion and Society.

=Heresy charges=

In 1967, Geering gained a high-profile when he was charged with "doctrinal error" and "disturbing the peace and unity of the (Presbyterian) church".[http://www.abc.net.au/religion/stories/s1333339.htm Lloyd Geering speaking at Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sydney, in October 2004]: "In 1967, Lloyd Geering's writings on the resurrection of Jesus and the immortality of the soul, resulted in his being charged by the Presbyterian Church with "doctrinal error" and "disturbing the peace of the church" – which is more or less the same thing as a heresy charge – and we'll shortly be hearing about what happened there. Since then, he's gone on to challenge Christian orthodoxy perhaps even more profoundly, by questioning the distinction between the religious and the secular worlds." The case was brought before the 1967 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and dismissed without being much discussed.Geering says: "But before there had been very much time for any adequate discussion of the real issues, a motion was put to the House, and later carried firmly on the voices – and it said that “the Assembly judges that no doctrinal error has been established, dismisses the charges and declares the case closed”". [http://www.abc.net.au/religion/stories/s1333339.htm Lloyd Geering speaking at Pitt Street Uniting Church, Sydney, in October 2004] The charges were brought by a group of conservative laymen and a conservative minister. During his church trial, he claimed that the remains of Jesus lay somewhere in Palestine and that the resurrection had been wrongfully interpreted by churches as a resuscitation of the body of Jesus. He also rejects the belief held by all monotheistic faiths that God is a supernatural being who created and continues to look over the world.The Last Western Heretic, produced in 2007 in New Zealand and Israel, aired on TV One, 12 January 2008 [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0711/S00002.htm (Press release)]

Later life

Geering's second wife, Elaine, died in Cromwell on 19 August 2001.{{sfn|The Dominion|2001}} In 2004, Geering married Shirley Evelyn White (née Adams).{{cite web |url=https://www.bwb.co.nz/authors/lloyd-geering/ |title=Lloyd Geering |publisher=Bridget Williams Books |access-date=5 October 2021}}

On 26 February 2018, Geering celebrated his 100th birthday, emulating his father who also reached 100 years of age.{{cite news |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/have-great-deal-optimism-famous-kiwi-atheist-sir-lloyd-geering-celebrates-100th-birthday-v1 |title='I have a great deal of optimism' – famous Kiwi atheist Sir Lloyd Geering celebrates 100th birthday |work=1NewsNow |date=26 February 2018 |first=Ryan |last=Boswell |access-date=27 February 2018}}

Shirley, Lady Geering, died in Petone on 1 October 2021.{{cite news |url=https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=lady-shirley-evelyn-geering-adams&pid=200302569 |title=Lady Geering death notice |date=5 October 2021 |work=New Zealand Herald |access-date=5 October 2021}}

In 2021, Geering joined the group Intergenerational Climate Ambassadors, established in 2020 by scientist Jim Salinger and Sophie Handford, a Kāpiti Coast district councillor. At the time, Geering said:

"Fundamentalist Christianity would regard things to be in the hands of a God who controls. That idea of God has just vanished really. We now know that we are in the hands of natural forces in the world, and because of what humans have done to the earth, they have produced a situation where the temperature's going up all the time – and it will reach a limit which we can't survive."{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/126993040/the-last-heretic-lloyd-geering-now-103-has-a-message-of-support-for-the-fight-for-the-climate |title=The last heretic Lloyd Geering, now 103, has a message of support for the fight for the climate |first=Kate |last=Green |date=22 November 2021 |work=Stuff |access-date=13 January 2022}}

Honours and awards

In 1976, Geering was conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of Otago.{{sfn|Wright|2012}}

In the 1988 New Year Honours, Geering was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire,{{London Gazette |issue=51173 |date=31 December 1987 |page=34 |supp=3}} and in the 2001 New Year Honours he was made a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to religious studies.{{cite web | url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2001 | title=New Year honours list 2001 |date=30 December 2000 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date=17 August 2019}} In the 2007 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand. In 2009, he accepted redesignation as a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government.{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/special-honours-list-1-august-2009 |title=Special honours list 1 August 2009 |date=5 April 2011 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=26 July 2020}}

Geering is a patron of the Coalition for Open Government.

Selected publications

  • Portholes to the Past: Reflections on the Early 20th Century (2016). Wellington, NZ: Steele Roberts Aotearoa, {{ISBN|978-0-94749333-2}}
  • On Me Bike: Cycling Round New Zealand 80 Years Ago (2015). Wellington, NZ: Steele Roberts Aotearoa, {{ISBN|978-1-927242-93-3}}
  • Reimagining God: The Faith Journey of a Modern Heretic (2014). Salem, Oregan: Polebridge Press, {{ISBN|978-1-59815-156-5}}
  • From the Big Bang to God: Our Awe-Inspiring Journey of Evolution (2013). Wellington, NZ: Steele Roberts Aotearoa, Salem, Oregan: Polebridge Press, {{ISBN|978-1-59815-139-8}}. Ebook {{ISBN|978-1-59815-140-4}}
  • Such Is Life!: A Close Encounter With Ecclesiastes (2010). Wellington, NZ: Steele Roberts Aotearoa, {{ISBN|1-59815-023-5}}
  • Coming Back to Earth: From Gods to God to Gaia (2009). Salem, Oregan: Polebridge Press, {{ISBN|1-59815-016-2}}
  • In Praise of the Secular (2007). St Andrews, {{ISBN|0-9582880-0-3}}
  • Is Christianity Going Anywhere? (2004). St Andrews, {{ISBN|0-9583645-8-3}}
  • Wrestling with God: The Story of My Life (2006). {{ISBN|1-877242-36-5}}
  • The Greening of Christianity (2005) {{ISBN|0-9583645-9-1}}
  • Christianity Without God (2002). Salem, Oregan: Polebridge Press, {{ISBN|0-944344-92-5}}
  • Christian Faith at the Crossroads (revised 2001). Salem, Oregan: Polebridge Press, {{ISBN|0-944344-83-6}}
  • The World to Come: From Christian Past to Global Future (1999). Salem, Oregan: Polebridge Press, {{ISBN|0-944344-76-3}}
  • Tomorrow's God: How We Create our Worlds (1996). Salem, Oregan: Polebridge Press reprint 2000, {{ISBN|0-944344-81-X}}
  • In the World Today (1988)
  • The World of Relation: An Introduction to Martin Buber's I and Thou (1983)
  • Faith's New Age: A Perspective on Contemporary Religious Change (1980)
  • Resurrection – A Symbol of Hope (1971)
  • God in the New World (1968)

Notes

{{Reflist}}

References

  • {{cite news |title=Elaine Geering dies in Cromwell |date=20 August 2001 |work=The Dominion |edition=2nd |page=6 |ref={{harvid|The Dominion|2001}}}}
  • {{cite book |editor1-last=Morris |editor1-first=P. |editor2-last=Grimshaw |editor2-first=M. |year=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rGlXb4M_X70C&pg=PA402 |title=Lloyd Geering Reader: Prophet of Modernity |publisher=Victoria University Press |ISBN=978-0-86473-547-8}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19390921.2.76 |title=Rhodes Scholarships: Otago University nominations |date=21 September 1939 |work=Otago Daily Times |page=10 |issue=23919 |access-date=5 October 2021 |ref={{harvid|Otago Daily Times|1939}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19430710.2.2.2 |title=Marriage |date=10 July 1943 |work=Otago Daily Times |page=1 |issue=25274 |access-date=5 October 2021 |ref={{harvid|Otago Daily Times|1943}}}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19491005.2.2.4 |title=Deaths |date=5 October 1949 |work=Otago Daily Times |page=1 |issue=27203 |access-date=5 October 2021 |ref={{harvid|Otago Daily Times|1949}}}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Pelly |first1=R. |last2=Stuart |first2=P. |year=2006 |url=http://www.sof.org.nz/sfbr0173.pdf |title=A Religious Atheist? Critical Essays on the Work of Lloyd Geering |publisher=Otago University Press |ISBN=978-1-877372-37-7}}
  • {{cite journal |title=Ministers, deaconesses & missionaries from 1840 |journal=Register of New Zealand Presbyterian Church |volume=Galbraith to Gillies |page=164 |url=http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/Page164.htm |access-date=24 February 2019 |publisher=Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand |location=Dunedin |ref={{harvid|Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand}}}}
  • {{cite book |editor-last=Traue |editor-first=J. E. |editor-link=Jim Traue |title=Who's Who in New Zealand |edition=11th |year=1978 |publisher=Reed |location=Wellington |isbn=0-589-01113-8}}
  • Veitch, James (1990) Faith in an age of turmoil: essays in honour of Lloyd Geering, Oriental University Press, {{ISBN|978-0-7465-0154-2}}
  • {{cite news |url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/otagomagazine/otago030346.pdf |title=A man of faith |pages=17–19 |first=Mark |last=Wright |work=University of Otago Magazine |date=February 2012 |issue=31 |access-date=5 October 2021}}

External links

{{commons category|Lloyd Geering}}

  • [http://www.abc.net.au/religion/stories/s1333339.htm Geering’s theological journey]
  • {{YouTube|slGYtA7sDBc|Geering: Christianity without God}}.
  • [http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/Writers/Profiles/Geering,%20Lloyd Geering, Lloyd] New Zealand Book Council. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  • [http://satrs.org.nz/ Lloyd Geering is a member of the St Andrew's Trust for the study of Religion and Society.] Lloyd Geering is a founding member of the St Andrew's Trust for the Study of Religion and Society (SATRS) Trust Board.
  • [http://standrews.org.nz St Andrew's on The Terrace, Presbyterian Church] Lloyd Geering is Theologian-in-residence at St Andrew's on The Terrace

{{Order of New Zealand}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Geering, Lloyd}}

Category:1918 births

Category:Living people

Category:New Zealand Commanders of the Order of the British Empire

Category:Members of the Order of New Zealand

Category:New Zealand theologians

Category:Knights Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Category:Religious naturalists

Category:University of Otago alumni

Category:Academic staff of Victoria University of Wellington

Category:People from Rangiora

Category:Members of the Jesus Seminar

Category:New Zealand men centenarians

Category:20th-century New Zealand Presbyterian ministers

Category:Nontrinitarian Christians

Category:Nontheism

Category:People charged with heresy

Category:People educated at Otago Boys' High School