God doesn’t need you, and that’s great news

Perhaps the greatest joy, honour and privilege of the Christian life is that God Almighty freely chooses to call us, even though He never needs us. And that's not just Him calling us out of pity or reluctantly, no - it's instead Him joyfully and enthusiastically calling us because He made us and has sovereign … Continue reading God doesn’t need you, and that’s great news →

How does the Salvation of Israel feature within Luke-Acts?

(The following was originally one of my university assignments) First, I will assess the evidence suggesting that the salvation of Israel features prominently in Luke’s theological outlook, before examining evidence to the contrary. I will conclude that it features heavily in Luke’s writings, driving his theological outlook. Although it seems to feature less frequently from … Continue reading How does the Salvation of Israel feature within Luke-Acts? →

Is Jesus emotionless in John’s Gospel?

(The following was written for one of my university assignments) Here I will critically assess Eugene Boring’s claim that ‘The Johannine Jesus is portrayed as without compassion, as divinely aloof’, exploring if it is an accurate interpretation of John’s depiction of Jesus. First, I will analyse evidence supporting his claim. Then I will evaluate it, … Continue reading Is Jesus emotionless in John’s Gospel? →

On the Limits of Narrative and Enlightenment Backlash

One of today’s fashionable overcorrections to the Enlightenment and its legacy is the dramatic rise of narrative, or should I say “narratives”, because there are so many of them now. The Enlightenment was seen as having too great a focus on pure reason alone, categories, and organized systematization. We are told that the Enlightenment squeezed … Continue reading On the Limits of Narrative and Enlightenment Backlash →

“The Inbetweeners” – A Theological Reflection

Introduction The Inbetweeners is a British coming-of-age comedy sitcom that ran as a television series from 2008 to 2010 on the E4 channel.[1] The series was a huge hit, winning the Audience Award at the British Academy Television Awards in 2010.[2] When at school, I remember hearing constant references to it from it and its … Continue reading “The Inbetweeners” – A Theological Reflection →

Are Christians obliged to Always Forgive the Unrepentant? (with reference to the “The Troubles”)

1. Introduction and Context Is repentance a prerequisite for forgiveness within Christianity? How might our reply be Scripturally derived? Is it philosophically possible to truly forgive the unrepentant? Would it be ethically responsible? How might our responses be applied to “The Troubles” (1969-1998)? My interest began when I heard my father’s testimony regarding his incremental … Continue reading Are Christians obliged to Always Forgive the Unrepentant? (with reference to the “The Troubles”) →

Reparations in the Church?

In light of the recent reparations debate in the Church of England, here are my thoughts: Firstly, reparations for past wrongdoing in previous generations seems to me to be a morally and theologically flawed enterprise. This is because I believe in individual, personal moral culpability, rather than a broader and perhaps vaguer notion of communal … Continue reading Reparations in the Church? →

True Forgiveness in Luke 23:33-43

Audio Recording https://www.youtube.com/embed/hK74ezLcSIs Transcript: Introduction So this morning, I would like to focus on our New Testament reading from Luke chapter 23, verses 33 to 43. I would like to home in on forgiveness which, I think, is central within this passage. To recap, Jesus is hanging on the Cross, between two criminals. Jesus then … Continue reading True Forgiveness in Luke 23:33-43 →

Where do the Roots of UK Secularisation Lie?

A discussion of the roots of secularisation in the UK, particularly assessing whether or not the 1960s was historically the key turning point for secularisation in the UK.

Denominational Identity in Christian Students at University

Introduction and Methods Initially, I wished to explore “theological refugees” in Durham. This is where a student is brought up in one denomination but starts attending a church of a different denomination while at university while continuing to identify with their initial denomination and attending a church of their initial domination when they return home. … Continue reading Denominational Identity in Christian Students at University →

Was Bonaventure a Hostile Critic of Aristotelianism?

“Aristotelianism” is a philosophy following the legacy of Aristotle who had a materialistic epistemology, emphasising the acquisition of knowledge inductively via sensory experience and natural reason. I agree with Joseph Ratzinger that Bonaventure did not read Aristotle’s original works but came into contact with Aristotelianism via the Masters’ commentaries. If Aristotelianism is defined as Aristotle’s … Continue reading Was Bonaventure a Hostile Critic of Aristotelianism? →

Why does the UK not have an equivalent of the USA’s “Religious Right” Movement

Introduction I will explain why the UK does not have an equivalent of the USA’s “New Christian Right” (NCR). The NCR is a ‘large-scale, well-organised, well-funded’ informal coalition of socially conservative Christians, which rose to prominence in the 1970s and seeks to attain specific political aims through the Republic Party.[1] I will define the UK’s … Continue reading Why does the UK not have an equivalent of the USA’s “Religious Right” Movement →

What is pure love and how does it transform the way we relate to God, ourselves and others?

“Charity” (caritas/agape) is universal, indiscriminate, unconditional and selfless love. It is the highest theological virtue and is therefore distinct from the other types of love, including amor (passion/emotion), éros (lust), and philia (friendship between equals). Aquinas defines charity as ‘the friendship of man for God’ which unites us to God (S.T. II-II, q. 23). However, … Continue reading What is pure love and how does it transform the way we relate to God, ourselves and others? →

The “Book of Nature” and Creation’s Natural Ladder to God

Bonaventure explains how the “book of nature” may be read in such a way that, through it, the soul may ascend to God. Bonaventure writes, ‘created beings […] signify the invisible things of God’, referring to God’s creation of the world based upon the eternal ideas within the Word of God. Christ is ‘the template … Continue reading The “Book of Nature” and Creation’s Natural Ladder to God →

Bonaventure on Evil and Sin

states that God created humanity perfectly according to His eternal ‘plan’ and humans were given the innate ability to ‘contemplate’ God in unity with Him. That was the perfect, pleasurable experience before the Fall. However, Adam and Eve turned ‘from the true light [God] to the changeable good’. He is referring to lusting after temporal, … Continue reading Bonaventure on Evil and Sin →

Aquinas vs Bonaventure on Creation and Eternity

An essay comparing the views of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure on several vexed, complex and abstract Mediaeval questions which arose from the western translation of the Aristotelian corpus into Latin in the 13th century. It firstly discusses their differing interpretations of whether or not Aristotle himself believed the universe was eternal and how certain he may or may not have been about this. It then discusses Aquinas and Bonaventure's respective views on the question of whether or not the world is eternal and how one's answer here could be ascertained. Finally, it discusses their variant understandings of infinity, the abstract, hypothetical concept of "eternal creation" and the definition of the word "world", before ultimately concluding.

But what about the 99?: How the Omnipresent God secures the 99 while seeking out the one

This article expounds upon this week’s lectionary Gospel reading (The Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15). Whenever this parable is expounded upon, we only ever seem to hear about the one sheep who is in the minority. It is right that the emphasis and focus should be there but what about the 99 and their sustenance, protection and security? Are they worth less than the one lost sheep?

A New Manifesto for Charismatic Christianity

Here are some of my own personal redlines, non-negotiables and positive principles and guidelines for charismatic Christianity and worship: (1) It must be accepted that God gives us a vast, broad, diversified and varied array of different, special and unique gifts including administration, preaching, teaching, explanation, etc... as well as certain very noticeable, clear and … Continue reading A New Manifesto for Charismatic Christianity →

‘But it is not as though the word of God has failed’: A Response to a Comment

Interactive, Clickable List of Contents (1) Introduction, Disclaimer, and Why I chose to write this piece (2) Is Christian faith rational? If so, to what extent? (3) Why haven't more Jews accepted Jesus as the Messiah? (4) Why the "Religious Pluralism" stance does not necessarily and inevitably lead to some significant difference and divergence in … Continue reading ‘But it is not as though the word of God has failed’: A Response to a Comment →

Writing Advice From Anton Chekhov: Part Three – Ambiguity

Great blog post by Neal Abbott on the motives, purpose, meanings, intentions, and literary style and approach of Chekhov from his “A Word Fitly Spoken” blog (view the full article as initially posted on his blog here: https://nealabbott.wordpress.com/2014/08/25/writing-advice-from-anton-chekhov-part-three-ambiguity/comment-page-1/?unapproved=3349&moderation-hash=379fe5ae36cd0d349f5fb4e15d913fc4#comment-3349)

’It seems to me that the writer should not try to solve such ques­tions as those of God, pes­simism, etc. His busi­ness is but to describe those who have been speak­ing or think­ing about God and pes­simism, how and under what cir­cum­stances. The artist should be not the judge of his char­ac­ters and their con­ver­sa­tions, but only an unbi­ased observer […]
You are right in demand­ing that an artist should take an intel­li­gent atti­tude to his work, but you con­fuse two things: solv­ing a prob­lem and stat­ing a prob­lem cor­rectly. It is only the sec­ond that is oblig­a­tory for the artist […]
When I write, I reckon entirely upon the reader to add for him­self the sub­jec­tive ele­ments that are lack­ing in the story’
(The Letters of Anton Chekhov)

nealabbott's avatarA WORD FITLY SPOKEN

chekhov

Anton Chekhov is held up as the paragon of Minimalism. To me Minimalism is another way of describing good writing. In fact, I once heard Minimalism called Essentialism. Everything in the text is essential to the text.

To include the unnecessary is therefore bad writing. This is more than in details given in scenery or physical descriptions, it also has to do with subject matter and theme. No one ever called Chekhov an activist writer. Such he would abhor. One of the greatest contributions Chekhov ever made to the realm of Creative Writing was perfecting and demonstrating the craft of Ambiguity. None achieved it better with the possible exception of Shakespeare.

The Unbiased Observer

“It seems to me that the writer should not try to solve such ques­tions as those of God, pes­simism, etc. His busi­ness is but to describe those who have been speak­ing or think­ing about God…

View original post 839 more words

Love Songs by my great, great grandfather, Sir Arthur Somervell

It just so happens that my great, great grandfather, Sir Arthur Somervell (1863-1937) was an English Romantic composer who was apparently, according to Wikipedia, 'after Hubert Parry one of the most successful and influential writers of art song in the English music renaissance of the 1890s-1900s'. This is an extraordinary coincidence, considering my strong interest in what I see … Continue reading Love Songs by my great, great grandfather, Sir Arthur Somervell →

The Concept of “The One” in Song of Songs

Is the concept of "The One" in human love really true? If it is, how can we know who "The One" is? If it isn't true, then how can we make sense of God's sovereignty and predestination and the Christian commitment to monogamy in relation to this realisation? Has God prepared a partner for us in advance and, if so, how can we have any freedom in this area? If the concept of "The One" is not true, then how should we interpret the passages within Song of Songs which seem to suggest the truth of this concept?