Month: Jan 2025

Chine McDonald, professional Christian

And in the Big News today from a Faith Perspective, the final of Traitors was on the telly last night. Everybody, and I do mean EVERYBODY, is talking about it.

It’s amazing how some contestants are certain who the traitors are. But we must entertain some level of doubt about our beliefs. Pope Francis, who is infallible, has stated that anyone but him who does not have doubts, is wrong. Doubt is important. We have to be open to alternatives, to the possibility that we might be wrong, that others might have a valid point of view.

No, you may not respond to this. It’s Thought For The Day.

https://mega.nz/file/IjEWjISb#RAC3KwyMYjfKShsmE5n31ELqKA32VeqbLISsdBV6CY4

Vishvapani (formerly Simon Blomfield), member of the Triratna Order (formerly the Western Buddhist Order)

It feels like a storm is brewing in the world of politics, economics and public services. Conspiracy theories are rife. Then there’s the climate and endless wars. You might think the solution is to join progressive groups, to organise, to build consensus and eventually bring about change.

Buddhism teaches us that this is incorrect. The correct approach is to ignore all the bad news and do a nice painting or write a poem.

https://mega.nz/file/J78y1CIK#ecSFMC7XtM6d61Rlhsvu7GO_GSecTs-DzhxRj90uwaM

Rev Dr Michael Banner, Dean and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge

Lloyds Register have apologised for the slave trade. Can you apologise for something your ancestors did? To resolve this we do of course ask a vicar. Vicars are experts in these sort of things because they’re like Jesus. Well wouldn’t you know it, by sheer coincidence, I’m a vicar.

Jesus apologised for us to himself and so saved us from not being apologised for. So Jesus says you can. Therefore I, who is a vicar, say you can too. So there.

https://mega.nz/file/p3lwCLAY#qE2mDVFVYc-GXSOV-uHHlF7d7VT9OLH6vYZ5DyKkcrg

Canon Dr Paula Gooder

Don Cupitt, the atheist priest and author of “Sea of Faith”, is dead.

Throughout his long life he pretended to be a Christian, even though he didn’t believe a word of it. He remained rigorously confused about religion and the Invisible Magic Friend. He thought so deeply that he managed to confuse many other people along the way.

Having realised that the Invisible Magic Friend is unreal, he finally concluded that nothing else is either.

https://mega.nz/file/sqFnBbzT#E2MvOO6sUffgm5WSlLcFKBDxXEvXlkqWyhsjyhSKhC8