God and me: a like-minded pair? Part 2: I’m sad to say goodbye to the God who is separate to me – but perhaps it’s not so bad really In this sense, “God and I are one” – which sounds lovely, but does it take us into more troubling territory? We seem to have madeContinue reading “God and me: a like-minded pair? Part 2”
Author Archives: denisvernon24
God and me: a like-minded pair? Part 1
(A theological reflection in 7 parts) God and me: a like-minded pair? Part 1: What does it mean to say that my mind is one with God? A new thought occurs to me. The essential thing for me about God is that he should be real; he should be there. What do I mean byContinue reading “God and me: a like-minded pair? Part 1”
What is faith? Part 3
What is faith? Part 3: Medicine for the modern world In the modern world, this faith is totally misunderstood by many who don’t have it. They think of it as a mistake, a delusion, perhaps like an infection that some people catch, but really you need to be healed of it. They think of itContinue reading “What is faith? Part 3”
What is faith? Part 2
What is faith? Part 2: A relationship, trusting, loving, fulfilling Faith is faith in someone, in God. It is a commitment to honour him. It is a self-giving – and a self-receiving: receiving a new, transformed version of yourself, and receiving the self that is the person of God. Faith is a promise to beContinue reading “What is faith? Part 2”
What is faith? Part 1
(An exploration in 3 parts) What is faith? Part 1: A verb, not a noun, active and purposeful It is a way of looking at the world, of understanding reality, of understanding yourself and all your relationships – with other people, but also your inner relationship with yourself. It is a set of values, principlesContinue reading “What is faith? Part 1”
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 7
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? 7) Summing up What constitutes the sum total of reality? If there is just the physical realm, then God cannot exist (except as a psychological state in the human mind). However, if there is also the metaphysical realm, then GodContinue reading “What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 7”
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 6
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? 6) God really does need his “omni” qualities. If any sort of God exists, such as we are positing, then it is not unreasonable for him to hold all the omni qualities that we expect of him. In fact, itContinue reading “What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 6”
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 5
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? 5) Life after death – is this possible; is it essential? If God is a spiritual reality apart from the material universe, then it would be entirely possible for there to be life after death. In fact, it would beContinue reading “What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 5”
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 4
4) Creation – a special case of God interfering? Traditionally, God has been thought of as the creator. There would simply be nothing if it was not for God, and so we have to thank him for making life possible. Yes, the problem of evil and suffering gives us a lot to complain about, butContinue reading “What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 4”
What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 3
3) The problem of evil and suffering There need to be good reasons why God does not keep intervening to achieve good outcomes, yet still be justifiable reasons why sometimes he does. The existence of evil and suffering has been called the “rock of atheism” and is the number one reason why people give upContinue reading “What would have to be true for the God of classical theism to be real? Part 3”
Spiritual Devotion 