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...so if he is the same human being who ate the barbecued fish, he is now over two thousand years old. The disciples saw him ascend, upwards. If nothing changed since then I can only assume he is now in Earth orbit. I'm sorry if that offends, but I just wanted to bring the inconsistencies out...

I say steady on old chap! Whoa! It is a fair point that many translations have adopted an overly pompous style, maybe for good reasons, but the result is still pomposity. Add to that the fact that the most well-know translation is four hundred years old, and that, in Anglican services at least...

linear time is an essential part of being human

I'm OK with Jesus rising from the grave, although I'm open to other explanations. But if you're saying that somewhere up in the sky, maybe floating on a cloud, there is still a two thousand year old human being who still hears prayers somehow, I have to say you stretch my credulity. You would...

Fair enough, but if he were a living politician today he would find his exact words all over the headlines the next day. But my point was that Jesus did not treat people like dirt, and didn't like people to think of themselves in that way. Personally I don't think this is an appropriate or...

Just a footnote: apparently the prayer of humble access (above) was taken from this passage in Mark: This is a contentious little passage as it seems to show Jesus in an uncharacteristically racist light. In any case he immediately granted her request and healed her daughter which seems to...

Sorry I missed that bit. You know how that verse goes on: .. "that whoso believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (sorry about the old English). So clearly it means us not just the planet. But if you look for the good in people you will find good. If you look for the bad...

Book of Common Prayer BCP The tradition of self-loathing is a very ancient and deep-rooted one. I do not know how or why it originated, perhaps it is one of those things that manifest itself in the superstitious edges of any religion. Just off the top of my head I can't think of any real...

I think the correct phrase should be: Jesus WAS fully human and fully divine. Sorry if this sounds picky - serves me right for having been a computer programmer - but Jesus started at his birth and ended at his death on the cross. We identify him as the Son of God, the second person of the...

Such a mistake to read the Bible as history. Especially the beginning of Genesis. The Eden story is a myth, i.e. an ETERNAL truth, an ongoing truth. Life is easy if you never know right from wrong. Once you find out, things get tough, and there's no going back. There are many other levels of...

Not all suicides are equal. Many are caused by depression or guilt, which can be helped medically or with counselling. Some because life for whatever reason has become too painful. The pain may be physical, which is often treatable, or mental, which often eases with time and support. As the...

I must admit, I'm not a frequent player, but I go in for it sometimes. Sure it would be nice to win, but I'm always scared I'll get hooked on the idea of winning, to the extent that I might begin to lose interest in the life I have. It seems to me that the lottery perpetuates the individualist...

There is always an element of the insurance salesmen's convention. Each one wanting to meet or beat his target for new 'sales'. Those who haven't bought in are considered as suitable targets for the next sales drive. Everyone is terrified in case the customers take out a policy with another...

Sorry guys I haven't the endurance to read through the whole thread, so apologies if this has already been said. This is the original Christianity. These are the words of Jesus. This is all you have to do. All the rest is change. Forget the rest. Anyone who does these things is a true follower...

First, I would like to thank Thomas for introducing me to the Perennial Tradition, which I hadn't heard of until now. Anyone interested may read more here. I know intercessory prayer presents problems, for all the reasons given above. Far better to contemplate in silence and reconcile our...

Just for sheer enjoyment, try Rob Lacey's "The Street Bible".

Yes. I saw a TV documentary presented by Peter Owen Jones which showed how in parts of Africa the Church is losing ground in a big way to massively popular voodoo practices, with animal sacrifices, the works. The trouble is, this is what the people have decided they want, using their own free...

This leaves the possibility of opting out of love. But love is central to many (most?) peoples' understanding of God. In fact it is often said that God is love. Without love IMHO we are left with an academic discourse. The second pillar leaves out more than it adds. Is there nothing we can say...

Sorry to but in here Nick, but how do you know which party to blame? Is it not more common for both parties to have to come clean? I'm just trying to imagine how I might feel if I were accused of being the sole cause of a dispute. Isn't it a chicken and egg thing? -cliff

That's interesting. What is the standard Moslem position on gambling? I used to hear stories of camel racing with large amounts changing hands.