On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the
generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would
like to help, contact us.
___________
Public Christians in a Secular Age makes the point that the future of faith requires Christians in business, ministry, and media not to be 'secular' but to reimagine life and activity according to a higher purpose.
The idea of universal perdition and double predestination produced fear of hell that could only be ameliorated by strict obedience to the will of God in all things.
The demise of religion could be a step in the right direction if it related to worship of the true God. We need to make it clear what will replace this breakdown of religion.
The words of the prophet Hosea seemed to reach out to me from the pages of his book. It was a remarkable experience because in previous readings I had not paid much attention to what Hosea wrote.
While it is all very good to describe the bible as a great book of literature, if somewhat opaque in various places, this is not the view of the Church.
'Just as it would be wrong to tell the Mardi Gras not to be gay, or to tell an ethnic body not to be ethnic, religious organisations must be allowed to remain religious in their guiding principles and practices.'