Incarnation When the source of everything chose to dwell within one fragile body of a nobody, greater than the universe, yet barely traversing more than a double span; God became a man. Omnipotent, now impotent, dependent, vulnerable to all life’s troubles; no cheating here nor chance of unfair advantage, but just life at its harshest. … Continue reading Poem for Christmas
Religious superstition is associated with places like Sicily. This is the setting for the television series featuring Inspector Salvo Montabalno, played by Lucia Zingarent. The episodes are based on a series of novels by author Andrea Camilleri, one of Italy’s famous contemporary writers. According to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper: “The charm lies in the vivid … Continue reading Religious superstition — Is that all religion is?
Many people believe there is a higher spiritual energy they call God that transcends the mundane material world. This for them is not a personal God but rather a higher power that ensures there is order in nature the laws of which can be discovered by science. Idea of a personal God Another view is … Continue reading A personal God for thinking about
When it comes to the question of whether you will go to heaven, like Woody Allen, you might want to keep your options open. “I don’t believe in an afterlife, although I am bringing a change of underwear.” (Woody Allen) And you may wonder if there really is a heaven, is religion of any relevance? … Continue reading To go to heaven do I have to be religious?
This entertaining video is a bit different. It shows how the Old Testament Joseph and his brothers can actually influence our own everyday choices! We can hear what the Joseph story can say to us. It seems who the brothers personify are not just of interest to children but to all age groups. [youtube_sc url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH7i6k60gV0&feature=plcp] … Continue reading Aren’t Bible stories irrelevant today?
Britain has lost its church-going heritage. There is a growing voice of atheism led by Richard Dawkins author of the God Delusion, attacking what is seen as religious superstition. If Christianity is thought to be judgmental, hypocritical and blindly accepting irrational dogma, why should anyone still believe in God?
An Essay on Man is a poem published by Alexander Pope in 1734. It is a rationalistic effort to use philosophy in order to “vindicate the ways of God to man” (l.16), a variation of John Milton’s claim in the opening lines of Paradise Lost, that he will “justify the ways of God to men” … Continue reading Poem: An Essay on Man
People like to say things. Some people like to say, “Life is like a box of chocolates.” And some people like to say, “There’s no evidence for God.” But isn’t the world of nature good evidence for a creative designer?
I am having a spot of bother with parables – nothing serious, you understand; nothing to worry about. Some of them, however, do seem just a little dated. There is that famous puzzle about the workers in the vineyard, for example – enough to spark a general strike. And what about the story of the … Continue reading Quibbling about Parables
The origin of the spirit of Christmas is the historical birth of Christ. Religious teachings can be expressed in a dogmatic manner so that any universal relevance or spiritual depth is lost. And so many people today are not Christian believers. However although they do not worship Jesus Christ, this doesn’t stop them appreciating the Christmas … Continue reading Spirit of Christmas for the non-believer?