Jordan Peterson “12 Rules for Life” – Review

12 Rules for Life

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. According to the New York Times, Jordan Peterson is the most influential intellectual in the Western world right now. His book “12 Rules for Life” is an international best seller. However, if you happen to be sympathetic to a fundamentalist type of Christianity you may not like it. Peterson comes over as … Continue reading Jordan Peterson “12 Rules for Life” – Review

Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Ethics?

Israeli-Palestinian conflict

By Stephen Russell-Lacy. We all know there is mutual resentment and antagonism in the Middle East. Rhetoric on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is incredibly heated. All involved in the region have been subject to the horror of dreadful actions. Feelings of protest, anger and fear have often got out of hand. When shouting … Continue reading Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Ethics?

Scripture – Is it uncivilised dogma?

scripture

On the face of it, much of the Bible and Qu’ran is dogmatic and sometimes unintelligible. Scripture contains scientific misconceptions. Also it has outmoded rules of living for example about food consumption and animal sacrifices. There are references to historical events that seem unrelated to being alive today. One also notices all sorts of horrible … Continue reading Scripture – Is it uncivilised dogma?

Swedenborg – Secrets of Heaven

Swedenborg

Secrets of Heaven (also titled Arcana Caelestia) by the spiritual philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg, gives a verse by verse interpretation of the first two books of the Bible – Genesis and Exodus. Swedenborg maintains that such narratives as the six-days creation story and the picture of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden are not … Continue reading Swedenborg – Secrets of Heaven

Bible stories – mythical nonsense?

Bible

You may have tried reading Bible stories only to find them out of date and irrelevant to today. Even if you have struggled to understand any meaning, you may have given up on them as mythical nonsense. However, according to spiritual philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg, what makes the Bible worth reading is a deeper meaning in … Continue reading Bible stories – mythical nonsense?

What’s it all about, Alfie?

What

Dionne Warwick sings What’s it all about, Alfie? The song asks : “What’s it all about, Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live? What’s it all about when you sort it out, Alfie?” Why the words of resonate The music has a great melody but the words also resonate if you happen to … Continue reading What’s it all about, Alfie?

What can we learn from ancient Egypt?

Swedenborg on hieroglyphics

In the 18th century, when modern Egyptology was just beginning to be introduced to the Western world, and before even the hieroglyphics were deciphered, Emanuel Swedenborg, the Swedish scientist and a Christian mystic wrote,: “The Egyptians were in possession of religious representatives and symbolic signs. Their hieroglyphics served to denote spiritual realities: and people knew … Continue reading What can we learn from ancient Egypt?

Inconsistencies in the Bible – Why?

inconsistencies in the Bible

Don’t many people, who have given up on the Christian churches, just see inconsistencies in the Bible? Maybe. But the footballer Darren Bent doesn’t mind. He reads the Bible every day before he gets up and finds this has helped him cope with missing out on England’s Euro 2012 squad through injury. What makes this … Continue reading Inconsistencies in the Bible – Why?

Guardian angel – Do I have one?

guardian angel

It would be nice to believe there is someone like a guardian angel watching over you protecting  against harm. But the sceptic will soon say this is just wishful thinking. Fairy godmothers are for children’s fairy tales like Cinderella and not for educated adults. Warnings claimed to come from a guardian angel On the other … Continue reading Guardian angel – Do I have one?

Holy Objects

Having recently watched yet another programme on The Turin Shroud, I am prompted to wonder what all these experts think they are up to. Why does it matter? This is a length of cloth which may – or may not – have been in actual contact with the body of Christ. Amazing! – But so … Continue reading Holy Objects