Category Archives: God

How should we understand what God is? Part 3: Reasons why our belief in God developed: We encounter him This idea of God developed for several reasons. Key was the power of religious experience. Human beings feel that they have encountered this mysterious person, whom we call God. Certainly, this must partly be a responseContinue reading “How should we understand what God is? Part 3”

How should we understand what God is? Part 2: We can have a relationship with God Despite God’s holiness, we are able to encounter him. Although he is completely beyond our understanding in terms of fully comprehending him, we are able to meet God, relate to him, and hold within us just an inkling ofContinue reading “How should we understand what God is? Part 2”

A note to readers For many of my posts, I have adopted a format which I particularly like, which is to have a theological or philosophical reflection, which is an extended piece of thinking, published in several parts, and then, alongside each part is a more devotional piece which is in some way prompted by,Continue reading “A note to readers”

How should we understand what God is? God is the voice I create in my head. Overview This long – long – theological reflection – coming in 9 parts – considers who God is from two points of view: the traditional one and a possible new understanding that God is a voice we create inContinue reading “How should we understand what God is? Part 1”

A Song of the Incarnation In darkness, sudden incandescent glory, Confined to a single candle flame That flickers, but does not go out. “Confined” in a single flame? No, “held” – it’s light shines out to all infinity,                      Yet I can hold it in my hands. No, not a flame held in my hands, butContinue reading “A Song of the Incarnation”

Encountering God Part 5 We have to wait. This can be so painful. Some people may be able to say, “Bloody hell! I’ve been waiting all my life and the bastard’s still not turned up”. Let’s say it how it is and be honest with our feelings. God can take it. Can we? What onContinue reading “Encountering God Part 5”

Encountering God Part 4 So, some people are lucky. They say that God, in his grace, always makes the first move, and they have encountered God: he is a reality in their lives, and they love him. What about those others who want to know God and God just isn’t playing his part? If youContinue reading “Encountering God Part 4”

Encountering God Part 3 Some of us are lucky and we have a religious upbringing. This means that we are introduced to ideas about God and to the normality of believing him before we have met him for ourselves. As we are children, we just go along with what our parents say. They – andContinue reading “Encountering God. Part 3”

Encountering God Part 2 So, many people wait, wanting to believe, but not quite able to let themselves go – to give themselves to the life of faith, until they know for sure. There is this strange tension between knowledge and faith. People who have met with God are so overwhelmed by the reality andContinue reading “Encountering God Part 2”

As it seemed to work OK last week publishing a long article in 5 daily posts, I thought I’d do the same this week – but even then, the chunks are pretty long! I thought I’d post a daily prayer alongside each one – at least they’re shorter! Encountering God Part 1 Dearest Lord, howContinue reading “Encountering God Part 1”