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About the Giffords
About the Giffords
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Universities

University of Edinburgh

Located in Scotland’s capital city, it opened in 1583 and played an important role in Edinburgh becoming a chief intellectual centre, referred to as the “Athens of the North.”

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James Hutchison Stirling
1889-90
University of Edinburgh
James Hutchison Stirling
Philosophy and Theology
In the first Gifford Lectures to be delivered at the University of Edinburgh, Stirling discusses the following two questions: What is Natural Theology? Are there proofs of God’s existence? He traces ‘arguments from Design’, referencing Anaxagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, various Christian and Eastern philosophers from the Middle Ages, and...
1889-90
University of Edinburgh
Otto Pfleiderer
1892–1894
University of Edinburgh
Otto Pfleiderer
Philosophy and Development of Religion
Pfleiderer’s two series of ten lectures examine natural religion and historical developments within Christianity. In the first series of lectures, his argument is rooted in the belief that, ‘in obedience to God man finds his true freedom; out of the humility which overcomes itself grows the courage which overcomes...
1892–1894
University of Edinburgh

University of Glasgow

Founded in 1451 in the city that shares its name, a strong international research reputation has made it a competitive destination for students worldwide.

Featured Lectures

Friedrich Max Müller
1888-92
University of Glasgow
Friedrich Max Müller
Natural Religion
In the first Gifford Lectures at the University of Glasgow, Müller’s primary aim is to define religion and examine the available materials that deal with the origin, development, and decline of religious ideas. He discusses the three ‘branches’ of natural religion: physical, anthropological, and psychological. He believes that the...
1888-92
University of Glasgow
Edward Caird
1900-02
University of Glasgow
Edward Caird
The Evolution of Theology in the Greek Philosophers
In his second lecture series, delivered at the University of Glasgow, Caird outlines Greek philosophy, discusses its influence on theology, and addresses different aspects of Platonic philosophy.
1900-02
University of Glasgow

University of Aberdeen

Founded in 1495 as Kings College in Aberdeen, it merged in 1860 with Marischal College, founded in 1593. Today it is ranked among the top universities in the world and the top 20 universities in the United Kingdom.

Featured Lectures

Andrew Martin Fairbairn
1892-94
University of Aberdeen
Andrew Martin Fairbairn
The Philosophy of the Christian Religion
Fairbairn’s lectures on the problem and mystery of the person of Christ cover three main ideas. First, he contextualizes his argument, addressing the philosophies of nature and mind which affect belief in a supernatural person. Then, he discusses the person of Christ, and the making of the Christian religion....
1892-94
University of Aberdeen
Edward Burnett Tylor
1889-91
University of Aberdeen
Edward Burnett Tylor
The Natural History of Religion
In the first Gifford Lectures to be delivered at the University of Aberdeen, Tylor delivered two series of ten lectures. He spent the next ten years preparing them for publication; however, the intended book entitled, The Natural History of Religion, was never published. His ideas, by this time, had lost...
1889-91
University of Aberdeen

University of St Andrews

Located in St Andrews, Fife, and founded in 1413, it is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English-speaking world. It is globally known for its rich history as well as its cutting-edge teaching and research.

Featured Lectures

Edward Caird
1890-92
University of St Andrews
Edward Caird
The Evolution of Religion
In his first lecture series, delivered at the University of St Andrews, Caird establishes religion as one of the great factors in our conscious life. He contrasts objective and subjective religion and shows how the development of goodness involves an inward struggle with the self and an outward discipline...
1890-92
University of St Andrews
Andrew Lang
1889-90
University of St Andrews
Andrew Lang
The Making of Religion
In the first Gifford Lectures at the University of St Andrews, Lang argues that while religion can be explained with the assistance of psychology and anthropology, the recognition of a supreme being may have been divinely instilled. Knowledge of God is not reached through evolution, contact with missionaries, or...
1889-90
University of St Andrews