Of difference and goodness

9 Sep

Thanks to all who have responded to my thoughts about Trinity and about ‘sin’.It has been a challenging discussion. More of that now … But I want also to reflect something further in relation to the disaster in New Orleans. … Read More »

Trinity: the divine dance

6 Sep

The Christian idea of the divine trinity is, I think, the most valuable idea in all the world. I have to give a talk about this idea next weekend. I have been reviewing some of the images of Trinity, in … Read More »

Are we weak or wicked? Or what?

4 Sep

Like most other people, I guess, I’ve been astonished by the looting and violence that has broken out in New Orleans, following the devastation and flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina.The storm has blown away whatever it is that we mean … Read More »

Gentle Revolutionary

25 Aug

I’ve just read the biography of Bob Brown, conservationist leader, founder of the Australian Greens, and Senator in the Australian parliament.He is a person widely respected, even by those who disagree with him deeply. This I think is because he … Read More »

The Canaanite Woman: Does Jesus learn?

16 Aug

I preached a sermon last week on the story in the Gospel of Matthew about Jesus encountering the Canaanite woman—an aboriginal woman, who asks for her daughter to be healed and will not take ‘No’ for an answer. (Gospel of … Read More »

What are we trying to achieve? Key objectives in theological thinking

16 Aug

It is worth asking just what our objectives might be, in engaging in conversation and honest thinking about life and faith. What are we trying to achieve?One aspect of this question is quite personal: What motivates us in doing thinking … Read More »

Conversation, story and theology

16 Aug

At the Melbourne Theatre Company last night, I notices they have a series of talks on ‘Conversation, Revelation, Discussion’.This sounds exactly like what I think theology should be. But the big challenge is: who gets to engage in the conversation, … Read More »

Living truthfully

10 Aug

Thinking honestly about life and faith requires a genuine commitment to being truthful. It is not all that common, I reckon. This view was well expressed  by the  nineteenth century  English writer, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Coleridge wrote: ‘He who begins … Read More »

A list of my publications in theology

9 Aug

This is a list of my publications of theological books and journal articles. It does not include book reviews, newspaper and magazine articles, conference and online presentations Books:    Editor: Fair Dinkum Ministry: Stories of Authentic Australian Spirituality and Struggle. … Read More »