Sir Lloyd George Geering was born on 26 February 1918 and 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.
25 Facts About Lloyd Geering
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Lloyd Geering considers Christian and Muslim fundamentalism to be "social evils".
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Lloyd Geering was born in Rangiora on 26 February 1918, the son of Alice and George Frederick Thomas Lloyd Geering.
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The family spent four years in Australia from 1927 to 1930, where Lloyd Geering was dux of Warrnambool Elementary School, before returning to Dunedin.
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Lloyd Geering was educated at Otago Boys' High School between 1931 and 1935, where he was dux in his final year and vice-captain of the hockey 1st XI.
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In 1936, Lloyd Geering went on to study mathematics at the University of Otago, graduating Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours in 1940.
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Lloyd Geering was active in university dramatic productions, debating and the Otago Student Christian Movement, being elected president of the latter in 1939.
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In 1939, Lloyd Geering was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship by the University of Otago.
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On 22 May 1943, Lloyd Geering married Nancy Marie McKenzie at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Timaru.
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The couple had two children before Nancy Lloyd Geering died from tuberculosis in Dunedin on 4 October 1949.
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On 20 November 1951, Lloyd Geering married Elaine Morrison Parker, a speech therapist, and they went on to have one child.
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Lloyd Geering was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand in 1943 and practised as a minister in Kurow; Opoho, Dunedin ; and St James, Wellington before turning to theological teaching.
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Lloyd Geering was the honorary associate minister of St John's Church in Wellington from 1971 to 1983.
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Lloyd Geering was named honorary assistant at St Andrew's in Wellington in 1989.
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Lloyd Geering remains on the register of New Zealand Presbyterian ministers.
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Lloyd Geering has held the positions of professor of Old Testament studies at Presbyterian Church Hall, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, professor of Old Testament studies at Theological Hall, Dunedin, and principal of Theological Hall, Dunedin.
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In 1971, Lloyd 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.
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Lloyd Geering is a member of the Sea of Faith Network, and St Andrew's On The Terrace, as well as principal lecturer at St Andrew's Trust for the Study of Religion and Society.
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In 1967, Lloyd Geering gained a high-profile when he was charged with "doctrinal error" and "disturbing the peace and unity of the church".
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Lloyd Geering rejects the belief held by all monotheistic faiths that God is a supernatural being who created and continues to look over the world.
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On 26 February 2018, Lloyd Geering celebrated his 100th birthday, emulating his father who reached 100 years of age.
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Shirley, Lady Lloyd Geering, died in Petone on 1 October 2021.
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In 2021, Lloyd Geering joined the group Intergenerational Climate Ambassadors, established in 2020 by scientist Jim Salinger and Sophie Handford, a Kapiti Coast district councillor.
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In 1976, Lloyd Geering was conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the University of Otago.
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Lloyd Geering is a patron of the Coalition for Open Government.