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Additional note on “On repentance”

I make the point that my forgiveness does not depend on my repentance. The root of this idea is that nothing I do can bind God. He is completely free to do whatever he wants, and whatever God does is always good. So, if forgiveness depends on repentance, then that gives me a degree ofContinue reading “Additional note on “On repentance””

On repentance

It is not my repentance on which I depend, but on your forgiveness. For my trust is not in my own efforts, but in your generosity. Just as my righteousness is a gift of your grace, not earned by my goodness. Like in a game of “Who blinks first” between lovers, your forgiveness is notContinue reading “On repentance”

Lord, I cannot get everything right

Lord, I cannot get everything right. I cannot undo the things I have already got wrong. So, here I am sad and penitent, sometimes feeling small and useless. I am truly sorry, but I am not berating myself, for I know that I am human, and in this life I will struggle to be theContinue reading “Lord, I cannot get everything right”

My gentle friend

My gentle friend My gentle friend, who accompanies my every step, Who knew me before e’er I was, and who knows me now, better than I know myself, You discern the roots of all my thoughts, and follow all my reasoning, and you run ahead to see where the effects of all I do willContinue reading “My gentle friend”

God as the voice in our heads. (Part 5)

God as the voice in our heads Part 5: Daemons – an analogy for our relationship with God? Philip Pullman, in his, “His dark materials” books, has created an alternative metaphysical world. It is, of course, just a story, but I think it might help us to think about the relationship with God that IContinue reading “God as the voice in our heads. (Part 5)”

God as the voice in our heads. (Part 4)

God as the voice in our heads Part 4: Creating and nurturing the voice of God At last we turn to my core point – which I will then use the idea of daemons to illustrate. As a religious person, I believe that God is real, that I have met him, and that he talksContinue reading “God as the voice in our heads. (Part 4)”

God as the voice in our heads. (Part 3)

God as the voice in our heads Part 3: My final defence of religion While we are still on “preliminary matters” before – finally! – getting onto the subject matter of this article, I would like to mention what I consider to be my final defence of religion. Throughout my life, during times of doubt,Continue reading “God as the voice in our heads. (Part 3)”

God as the voice in our heads. (Part 2)

God as the voice in our heads Part 2: The importance of the framework of understanding I am very keen on analysing this, because I believe that it is vital for making sense of anything and everything. However, although everyone has a framework of understanding – this is inescapable – I think it’s likely thatContinue reading “God as the voice in our heads. (Part 2)”

God as the voice in our heads. (Part 1)

(A theological reflection in 5 parts. Sections are somewhat longer than usual as there is quite a lot to say, and I hope it may be easier to grasp if I give a considerable chunk at one time, where readers can take on a coherent argument in one go. Please bear with me on partContinue reading “God as the voice in our heads. (Part 1)”

Be thankful. Beloved. A song of incarnation.

Be thankful. Beloved. A song of incarnation. Why should I feel loved? Why be thankful to be alive? Religious people always go on about the love of God – but what if you have never experienced this, or don’t believe in God? I believe we can find joy and peace and love within our experience,Continue reading “Be thankful. Beloved. A song of incarnation.”