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What is the appeal of Jesus? Part 2

What is the appeal of Jesus? Part 2: How to understand the resurrection today If the latter option (that the proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection is the way to express the power of the new life that he has opened up to them) is what happened, then we too are free to believe in Jesus’ resurrectionContinue reading “What is the appeal of Jesus? Part 2”

What is the appeal of Jesus? Part 1

What is the appeal of Jesus? (A theological exploration in 9 parts) Part 1: Turning crucifixion into resurrection When the first disciples met Jesus, they felt as though they were face to face with God. After due reflection, John summed this up in the words that Jesus is God’s only Son, who has made theContinue reading “What is the appeal of Jesus? Part 1”

Christ the Lord

Christ the Lord Once you were not, but now you are. I treat “Lord” as your name, but more truly it is your role in my life, The position you have attained – or, rather, the role I aspire you to have, The one that you should always have had. Not that you are notContinue reading “Christ the Lord”

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 9

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 9: Where have we got to? My new framework of understanding God as the voice in our heads successfully retains what is, in practice, the essence of religion for most people: the sense of a personal relationship with God, who loves them,Continue reading “What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 9”

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 8

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 8 Some responses to the things we’ve lost:- The other great comfort and joy of life in heaven is the thought of reunion with those I love. I love the idea of all their trials and tribulations being behind them, every woundContinue reading “What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 8”

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 7

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 7 Some responses to the things we’ve lost:- 2.) We will not go to heaven when we die. This would be a huge loss! It is a very great comfort and joy to me to think that one day “every veil” willContinue reading “What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 7”

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 6

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 6 How serious are these losses? In practice, perhaps only reflective, philosophically-minded intellectuals could adopt this sort of religion. However, I think not. Given that the essence of religion is, I think, the personal relationship with God, I think we might beContinue reading “What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 6”

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 5

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 5: Things we have lost in our new understanding of God There is no point praying for God to change the world to give us something we want. (Remember, all these things can be helped through human agency – just not instantlyContinue reading “What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 5”

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 4

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 4 Nevertheless, what use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Well, I think I’ve already answered this: the whole of the inner life of personal relationship is as vibrant as ever. This has not been downgraded to self-reflection,Continue reading “What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 4”

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 3

What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 3 I still want to claim that just maybe God can change things in the world, and that there’s certainly no harm in praying for him to do so. However, this may just be me refusing to let go of old habitsContinue reading “What use is God if he can’t actually do anything for us? Part 3”