DON CUPITT
Is
it possible for people, and even for a whole society, to
lose faith in God? ... [If] it happens, [it is] not
primarily because something they used to think existed does
not after all exist, but because the available language
about God has been allowed to become too narrow, stale and
spiritually obsolete ... the work of creative religious
personalities is continually to enrich, to enlarge and
sometimes to purge the available stock of religious symbols
and idioms ... (The Sea of Faith, 1984)
|
DENNIS NINEHAM
... people
of different periods and cultures differ very widely; in
some cases so widely that accounts of the nature and
relations of God, men and the world put forward in one
culture may be unacceptable, as they stand, in a different
culture ... a situation of this sort has arisen ... at about
the end of the eighteenth century a cultural revolution of
such proportions broke out that it separates our age sharply
from all ages that went before (The Use and Abuse of the Bible, 1976)
|
|
|
Some useful links
Evolutionary Christianity is devoted to encouraging and conducting
discussion between 38 Christian leaders and well-known scientists who maintain
that faith can be strengthened and directed through science.
Permission to Speak is "a place for the
exchange of ideas and experiences of the sacred in the 21st century" through
which religious and spiritual aspects of Christianity can be examined.
Faith Futures Foundation An interesting and useful record
of the latest thinking on the historical Jesus.
Progressive Christianity Network provides a network of local groups across
Britain. A radical quarterly newsletter is published. PCN organises regular
conferences and events. Members come from all denominations. There are links to
other progressive Christian movements around the world.
Gospels
Net
Provides a most useful resource - all the gospels known to us covering the first
200 years after the death of Jesus - not just the few accepted, canonical
versions. Original texts, English translations and additional resources.
Sea of Faith Network
Go particularly to Articles & Podcasts then Selected Articles from
Sofia for an interesting series of articles, poems and the like. One of the
few sites worldwide to offer genuinely new insights into faith. See also
Sea of Faith, Australia and
Sea
of Faith, New Zealand
De-Churched?
Does this site look at the Church from the inside or the outside? It's sometimes
hard to tell - but the humour with which some subjects are tackled reveals a
keen mind.
The Christian Classics Ethereal Library is a one-stop site for access to a
mine of information about Christianity and many other topical issues.
New Testament Gateway A mine of information, links and other resources
for anyone interested in more detailed examination of the New Testament.
Faith and
reason An interesting and useful site with many resources for anyone
interested in thinking about faith - history, evolution, genetics, cosmology,
purpose, technology, the future. Plus programme transcripts and suggested
reading.
Religious Tolerance A mine of information on almost every religious
subject one can think of - plus a determined and well-focused drive to expose
and deal with religious bigotry and hate.
|
|
|
|