Category: Phil-Osophy

  • Do you need to be baptised to be a Christian?

    Baptism with water is, and has been for a long time (at least the 3rd Century AD (Burnish, Raymond, The Meaning of Baptism, (London:SPCK), 1985 p1). However, the centrality of baptism does not necessarily make one a Christian. While for the Anglican churches of England and Wales, baptism is the de-facto sign of membership, membership…

  • This Anglican is for Marriage Equality

    Following the CofE Bishop’s Response to the matter of single-sex marriage, I was a little… irritated. For many, both members of the Church, and non-members, they find it difficult to see how the fact that there are provisions in law is not the same as equality. This is no-more obvious than when it’s seen in…

  • Nelson Mandala’s Inaugaration Speech

    To commemorate the death of Nelson Mandela, and listening to the way he tried to live his life, I could find no better tribute than his own words: We dedicate this day to all the heroes and heroines in this country and the rest of the world who sacrificed in many ways and surrendered their…

  • Maleist Biblical Reading

    During the course on Biblical Hermenutics, I was told that there were not many readings done from the perspective of a man, writing as a man. I thought that it was time that I tried to do some writing from this perspective, and so I have produced what I hope is a “Maleist” reading. It’s…

  • “..heart of all our faith and belief there lie value judgements”

    Reading a document I came across this line. It follows on from a debate that suggests that nothing in our faith(as opposed to religion) can be proved empirically, and that this leads us all to make value-judgements based on our understanding of our faith. There is often a core of belief that we have chosen…

  • The Litteral Adam

    This is one of those problems that’s been bugging me since I began reading a blog post about why, theologically, we _need_ a literal Adam. Annoyingly I couldn’t find the blog post again in order to take the points individually, but the general debate is based on the problem outline by Peter Enns in a…

  • Inclusion, Women, and Homosexuality : A theological article.

    An Article on Inlusion, Homosexuality, Women, and Culture This article is quite an interesting one for me, touching as it does on so many parts of my own personal interest. I don’t have time to write a full description of it, so you will just have to read it yourselves. ~BX

  • Another Take on the Flood Story in Genesis

    *Another Take on the Flood Story in Genesis* For a long time, the story of the flood in Genesis has been a source of theological problems for most theologians. On the face of it, it essentially shows God getting annoyed with the world, and drowning them en-masse apart from Noah and his family. I’ve been…

  • Church In Wales Review Report

    Today, the 20th of July, 2012, a group of three experts have delivered a report to the Church In Wales that is full of over 50 recommendations on how the Church In Wales can modernise itself in order to survive for the future. The Report can be found here As a Priest, newly ordained in…

  • Pacifism, Forgivness, and the Masacare at Houla.

    I am technically a pacifist. Technically. I believe that resorting to violence means that you have lost. I see no reason to own a gun. I see no reason to carry a knife, even when I felt threatened. The most I have ever felt the need to learn to protect myself was Choi Kwang Do…

  • Jesus At the Nationals

    Breaking with tradition, I’m uploading my sermon about the nationals now. This is a draft but may very well remain unchanged, depending on the time that I have. The readings for this sermon are : Acts 3:12-19, 1 John 3:1-7, Luke 24:36-48 Jesus At the Nationals

  • Desert Fathers accepting of homosexuality?

    Lust 29. ‘A brother, being tempted by a demon, went to a hermit and said ‘Those two monks over there who live together live sinfully’. But the hermit knew that a demon was deceiving him. So he called the brothers to him. In the evening he put out a mat for them, and covered them…

  • How to loose your influence in a theological debate:

    A response based on the reading of this article. An interesting piece which strikes a chord for me as someone who spends an inordinate amount of time discussing theology with people. I was happily nodding along in agreement with it, much of the actions is something that I see in others (of course never in…

  • Dear People who use “Christians think/say/believe”,

    Dear People who use “Christians think/say/believe”, Can you please, please, please cite your source? It’s getting both boring, and tiresome to not only have to correct you repeatedly, but to also have to ask you “Where did you hear that?” or, “Who told you that?”, or say “Do we now?”. I know that there is…

  • Do Clones have Souls?

    Random question. Would a clone suffer from “Original Sin” Also, byextension, would it have a soul? – A Question I was asked by a friend. My Answer is below.Random question. Would a clone suffer from “Original Sin” Also, byextension, would it have a soul? An interesting question. One I quess that by the time I’ve…