thinking honestly about life and faith
It was the great Karl Barth, theologian of the ‘Word of God, who lamented that the reformers had left us nothing in our churches, no images, no symbols. no visual helps, as we try to pray, nothing except words.At least … Read More »
In many parts of the world right now, governments are introducing new laws to combat terrorism. In the name of protecting our freedoms, new laws will remove those very freedoms. People may be detained, without even the right to notify … Read More »
In the last week, there has been a challenging interchange amongst the members of the Jürgen Moltmann discussion group about the death of God. This is not about the 1960s idea that ‘God is dead’. It’s about whether it makes … Read More »
There is an email circulating in Australia which pretends to be a warning from the blood transfusion service (‘the blood bank’ it is called), warning people about needle-stick injuries, infected with AIDS.Someone is said to have sat down in a … Read More »
Night time: it’s the right time for love, so a song says.But so much of our lives are actually governed by the desire to make the night into day.Our technology seeks to banish the night altogether. But when we do, … Read More »
The Guardian newspaper has published a 378 word summation of the Bible, by John Crace.The text is reproduced from the website, in the extended section below. It’s a fascinating task: to try to offer a coherent, balanced but short account … Read More »
Last year I had a sabbatical leave; —a really great privilege. It was a time of renewal for me as a teacher, and even more so as a person.Unlike previous times of ‘study leave’, this time I really did allow … Read More »
How to use the Bible in doing theology—in honest thinking about faith and life. I’d like to share some ideas about how we can read the Bible responsibly, and with creative value for our own authentic faith. Let’s consider one … Read More »
In the last few years, a new term has crept into our public discourse, seemingly innocuous but in fact enormously powerful, the term ‘moving on’. I think I first noticed it when our national leader in Australia declared that there … Read More »
For too long, the media and public commentators have given the impression that the only Christians with anything to say in the public sphere are conservative fundamentalists, such as the American ‘Moral Majority’. This last week in the media we … Read More »