Category Archives: Religion

What the ‘spiritual but not religious’ want to know

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In Belief Without Borders (2015), Linda A. Mercandante says that the ‘spiritual but not religious’ frequently ask the following questions:-

1. Is there anything larger than myself, any sacred or transcendent dimension, any Higher Power?

2. What does it mean to be human?

3. Is spiritual growth primarily a solitary process or is it done with others?

4. What will happen to me, if anything, after death?

Although based on research conducted in the US, the UK is probably similar enough for it to be relevant here.…

Downton: a God-free zone

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Alistair Bruce, the person responsible for historical accuracy in the ITV series Downton Abbey has said that he was forced to leave out religious references in the show for fear of offending viewers.  The show was set between about 1910 and 1925, and at that time Christianity would have had a key role in British social life – especially that of the aristocracy.  They would have attended church, and they would have said grace before meals.  …

Praying for Paris

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This is not the time for theological pontification about the appalling terrorist attacks that killed or injured nearly 500 people in Paris less than two days ago.

Mike Evans, who has lived and ministered in France since 1963, suggests that Christians should respond in the following ways:-

Mourn with those who mourn

Families have lost loved ones.  Many individuals have suffered life-changing injuries.  Pray for the churches in the Paris area, as they reach out to the victims of these horrific attacks.  …

Asia Bibi’s health worsens

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Asia Bibi is now (mid-2015) 50 years old.  For more than five years she has been on death row in Multan Jail for alleged blasphemy against the prophet Muhammad.

Her family have been Europe recently, seeking to galvanise support for Asia’s case.  They have now rushed back, after hearing news that Asia is in poor health. She has intestinal bleeding, is struggling to eat, and can barely walk.

Her lawyers are trying to persuade the authorities to ensure that she has a thorough medical examination and better health care, and to allow her to be moved to Lahore Jail, in order to be nearer to her family.…

Cake decoration for beginners

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I wouldn’t normally expect a satirical news show to make a point defending Christians (who, after all, are regarded as such soft targets for ridicule).  So I was surprised, and pleased, when Ian Hislop did precisely that on last night’s Have I Got News For You.

Judges in Northern Ireland have recently found a bakery business, run by Christians, guilty of discrimination for refusing to bake a cake that carried a pro-gay slogan.

Hislop simply asked what the outcome would be if a bakery run by Moslems was asked to bake a cake with a depiction of Mohammed on it.…

Idolatry today

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The word ‘idolatry’ has a remote, archaic, feel to it.  Ancient people, and primitive people, are idolatrous, aren’t they.  But us…?  The command ‘You shall have not other Gods before me’ (Exodus 20:3) seems to be quite irrelevant.

Tom Wright, in his recent book Surprised by Scripture, shows that idolatry is alive and well in our modern, supposedly secular, society.  The ancient gods are alive and kicking.

Today’s Western world hardly needs reminding about the place of Mammon, the worship of money, in our society.
…

Insights into idolatry

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Summarising a recent post written by J.D. Greear:-

We tend to think of idolatry as something practiced long ago by primitive peoples.  But idolatry is just as alive today as it always has been; it just wears different clothes.

A reading of Acts 19 prompts the following thoughts about idolatry, ancient and modern.

1. An idol is anything that promises you a life of security and joy apart from God.  In Acts 19, Artemis is described as the ‘protector’ and prosperer’ of Ephesus.  …

What can we learn from other religions?

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Can Christians learn any wisdom from other religions? Certainly! Our own Scriptures tell us that the God who spoke in many and various ways to our Jewish fathers (Heb 1:1) has not left himself without a witness among the Gentile nations. (Rom 1:19-20; Acts 17:22-28)

There are at least three good reasons for Christians to study other religions.

First, to appreciate our own religion better by contrast. We fallen creatures need contrast to appreciate anything.…

“Science is no substitute for religion”

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We’re up to chapter 5 of God or Godless, by John Loftus (atheist) and Randal Rauser (Christian).

Randal seeks to support his contention by pointing out that some scientists have a quasi-religious outlook on the cosmos.  The natural world is their God, and the scientific method their dogma.  But this religious impulse should be directed at the Creator, rather than the creation.

John, in his opening statement, pretty much reverses the original assertion by saying, in effect, “religion is no substitute for science.” …

‘The biblical concept of God evolved from polytheism to monotheism’

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In chapter 2 of God or Godless? John Loftus asserts that the biblical concept of God evolved over time from polytheism to monotheism. He infers from this that there is no unified teaching about God in the Bible, and that the choice of one (Yahweh rather than Baal, say) is more or less a historical accident.

John’s argument is full of sweeping statements, right from the start.  When he says, “biblical scholars long ago acknowledged…”, he should have said, “Some biblical scholars think…”.…