Category Archives: Faith

The journey of doubt Part 2 Therefore, what I have wanted through my life is a sense of certainty. I truly do love God, but I don’t want to be a fool and believe something that is false. In my own life, a sense of certainty is what I have now attained. I have anContinue reading “The journey of doubt. Part 2”

Waterlilies When I was at school in the 1970s, one day we had outside speakers who frightened me. I can’t remember much about it, but I think they were talking about the impending crisis of over-population, and they used an illustration of waterlilies. Apparently, waterlilies can double in size in a single day, and ifContinue reading “Waterlilies”

The journey of doubt Part 1 Like most Christians, I have gone through a faith journey that includes periods of severe doubt. There have been a couple of times when I could easily have given up. I think for me, the particular point of challenge is whether or not I can allow myself to goContinue reading “The journey of doubt. Part 1”

If Adam had not fallen Part 5: I mustn’t just complain; I must seek help I’m aware that I’m complaining about falling when the simple fact is that human beings fall. My complaint is that human nature isn’t good enough. Therefore, I mustn’t think that the answer is that I will try harder than Adam,Continue reading “If Adam had not fallen. Part 5”

If Adam had not fallen Part 4: Yes, we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. It is this deep regret that makes the issue of “If Adam had not fallen” so intense, so pressing, so important for the life that we live together in society. Of course,Continue reading “If Adam had not fallen. Part 4”

If Adam had not fallen Part 3: I am not just wallowing on the ground; I want to get up I am not as I could be. I am not as I should be. Of course, I am a conventionally good person. Some might pick out particular strong points and describe me as exceptionally kindContinue reading “If Adam had not fallen. Part 3”

If Adam had not fallen Part 2: We have fallen further than we think I am not as I could be. I am not as I should be. I am painfully aware that I could be so much better than I am. Therefore, I want to strive to become better. This is a key dynamicContinue reading “If Adam had not fallen. Part 2”

If Adam had not fallen (A theological reflection, coming in 5 parts) Part 1: Genesis is still true It sounds arcane, but this question, so crucial to Christian thinkers from Augustine to Calvin and beyond, but now regarded by secular thinkers as irrelevant, is, in fact, still central to understanding what it is like toContinue reading “If Adam had not fallen. Part 1”

The importance of being a miserable sinner! Part 5: Positive change for those who know they are sinners Thus, there seems to be a fundamental discord between the Christian view and some modern secular views of life. The Christian considers that life is about living up to a standard, while modern ideologies insist on completeContinue reading “The importance of being a miserable sinner! Part 5”

The importance of being a miserable sinner! Part 4: The distortion of freedom into license This is linked to the modern emphasis on freedom as the be all and end all of human existence: I demand my right to be completely free. We all love freedom, but, very tellingly, modern ideologies also demand the rightContinue reading “The importance of being a miserable sinner! Part 4”