Religion and Ethics Forum
Religion and Ethics Discussion => Christian Topic => Topic started by: Anchorman on February 23, 2017, 09:17:23 AM
-
Any Christians doing anything special this Lent? Are you reading something new, or studying any Scripture in particular? I'll start the ball rolling: I'm going through my annual reading of "Never mind the reversing ducks" (For the uninitiated, that's Adrian Plass's unique take on Mark's Gospe) and a long ioverdue re-read of the brilliant John Stott's "The Cross".
-
Any Christians doing anything special this Lent? Are you reading something new, or studying any Scripture in particular? I'll start the ball rolling: I'm going through my annual reading of "Never mind the reversing ducks" (For the uninitiated, that's Adrian Plass's unique take on Mark's Gospe) and a long ioverdue re-read of the brilliant John Stott's "The Cross".
Wow this religion thing, it's a thrill a minute. I find it hard to understand how you religios contain yourselves with all of this excitement going on.
ippy
-
Any Christians doing anything special this Lent? Are you reading something new, or studying any Scripture in particular? I'll start the ball rolling: I'm going through my annual reading of "Never mind the reversing ducks" (For the uninitiated, that's Adrian Plass's unique take on Mark's Gospe) and a long ioverdue re-read of the brilliant John Stott's "The Cross".
I am already feeling hungry! For the record, the total fast is practised only by monks, and nuns, it is accepted that those who live in the "real" world should not make themselves ill through fasting.I shall be reading the Life of Father Arsenie Boca.
-
Yesterday Radio 4 told me that Theresa May is giving up crisps!
Anchorman - Do you use audio, braille or very large print? What is your preference?
-
Yesterday Radio 4 told me that Theresa May is giving up crisps!
Anchorman - Do you use audio, braille or very large print? What is your preference?
[/quote
-
Because of various other health issues, Susan, I'm not a braillist (though I can just about feel jumbo braille if the medication allows)
Fortunately I can read large print - though given my eye problem, black on white doesn't work. My screen is configured to a yellow on black mode, and I use a humanware Explore 5 pocket electronic magnifier with colour contrast to help me in shops and stuff.
For studying, I have an Optalec Traveller magnifier - with a screen the size of a lap top - which I can carry around.
However a lot of Adrian Plass stuff is available on audio, so I sometimes encourage my laziness by using that.
-
I am an Adrian Plass fan too Anchorman.
Not doing anything for Lent, if it hadn't been mentioned to me a short while ago it would have passed me by.
I always felt it was good for Christians all over the world to be doing something together, in varied ways. About the only time I've had a real sense of Christian community and could set us up for the rest of the year, like recharging batteries.. Rather than giving something up my belief was we should do something positive. If we do give anything up, it can free up money to give bit extra to help others.
-
Robinson: Do you know Adrian has a new book - "The shadow Doctor" published? I use his "Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation" a lot for quotemining if I'm preparing a service, and I never tire of the Sacred Diaries! His serious works are well worth consideration, also. I don't really give anything up for Lent, but my local CofS presbytery (sorry about the language....the 'p' word depresses me) is twinned with a presbytery in Bandawe, Walawi, and we have initiated projects which have helped a lot with medical, social and educational needs as well as supplying seed for planting. We usually have fundraising projects every month, but during Lent, we try to have one every week.
-
May as we well blow our own trumpet, I suppose. Here's a link to the Ayr Presbytery page dealing with our links to Malawi, and the difference we're making there. It makes interesting and encouraging reading. http://www.presbyteryofayr.org.uk/malawi.html
-
Robinson: Do you know Adrian has a new book - "The shadow Doctor" published? I use his "Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation" a lot for quotemining if I'm preparing a service, and I never tire of the Sacred Diaries! His serious works are well worth consideration, also. I don't really give anything up for Lent, but my local CofS presbytery (sorry about the language....the 'p' word depresses me) is twinned with a presbytery in Bandawe, Walawi, and we have initiated projects which have helped a lot with medical, social and educational needs as well as supplying seed for planting. We usually have fundraising projects every month, but during Lent, we try to have one every week.
Those types of projects are wonderful Anchorman. Locally so are food banks.
No I didn't know about Adrian Plass's new book, thanks for saying.
-
Well, we had pancakes a couple of days ago. Apart from that Lent passed me by, although my wife and I did go to a public debate last night between Andrew Copson and Dr Andy Bannister(of Solas) on the subject of 'Can life have meaning without God?'.
-
I forgot about pancakes! Might do some tonight if I feel like it. My mum's pancakes are to die for.
-
Can life have meaning without pancakes?
-
If a pancake is frying in the pan, and no-one is watching over it, is it still a pancake, and does it have a soul?
-
Ah-so but lent themselves to many interpretations,some hot air but others more filling.
(WIll ask Siriam bout that! ;) )
-
Well, we had pancakes a couple of days ago. Apart from that Lent passed me by, although my wife and I did go to a public debate last night between Andrew Copson and Dr Andy Bannister(of Solas) on the subject of 'Can life have meaning without God?'.
-
Solas?
I'm on nodding terms with David Robertson - I don't always agree with him, but Solas isn't a bad resource.
-
Never heard of Solas before but looked them up, scrolled down after something about Safety at Sea of same name and found them.
From reading bits of the articles on the site I do not like Solas one bit.
-
If a pancake is frying in the pan, and no-one is watching over it, is it still a pancake, and does it have a soul?
Look, can you stop with all those deepities. They're doing my head in. I keep trying to creep(crepe) up on a pancake without it knowing I'm there, just so that I might be able to observe if it has a soul or not. :)
-
-
Solas?
I'm on nodding terms with David Robertson - I don't always agree with him, but Solas isn't a bad resource.
I wasn't exactly impressed with Dr Bannister or Andrew Copson really. Bannister trotted out all the usual arguments, and, in his case, well rehearsed anecdotes, jokes, quote mining etc. while Copson seemed mildly disinterested in the whole thing. Both seemed to attach different meanings to the word 'meaning' which meant that neither of them seemed to actually connect with the subject at all.
-
-
Solas?
I'm on nodding terms with David Robertson - I don't always agree with him, but Solas isn't a bad resource.
Unbelievable is usually quite interesting
-
Unbelievable is usually quite interesting
-
He's a bit dogmatic, but, for a "Wee Free" minister, he's incredibly refreshing, and something of a rebel.
He certainly reinvigorated his church.
When he was called to the charge, there was a congregation of around eighty - now there are five times that number.
He must be doing something right.
-
-
He's a bit dogmatic, but, for a "Wee Free" minister, he's incredibly refreshing, and something of a rebel.
He certainly reinvigorated his church.
When he was called to the charge, there was a congregation of around eighty - now there are five times that number.
He must be doing something right.
Yes, on the Wee Free scale of dogmatism, he's just a big ball of liberal fluff
-
enki,
I wasn't exactly impressed with Dr Bannister or Andrew Copson really. Bannister trotted out all the usual arguments, and, in his case, well rehearsed anecdotes, jokes, quote mining etc. while Copson seemed mildly disinterested in the whole thing. Both seemed to attach different meanings to the word 'meaning' which meant that neither of them seemed to actually connect with the subject at all.
Perhaps if the title had been, "Can life have meaning with God?" there'd have been a more stimulating debate?
-
I wasn't exactly impressed with Dr Bannister or Andrew Copson really. Bannister trotted out all the usual arguments, and, in his case, well rehearsed anecdotes, jokes, quote mining etc. while Copson seemed mildly disinterested in the whole thing. Both seemed to attach different meanings to the word 'meaning' which meant that neither of them seemed to actually connect with the subject at all.
It is so often the problem with debates, see the ones on the formal debate board here! If things are not defined you have people talking past each other with no engagement.
-
NS,
It is so often the problem with debates, see the ones on the formal debate board here! If things are not defined you have people talking past each other with no engagement.
Quite. "Meaning" for example for whom? What objective measure for meaning could there be so as to tell whether someone has it?
It's also an implied argumentum ad consequentiam by the way: whether or not someone finds meaning because of their belief in "God" tells you nothing about whether there is a god.
-
anchorman
Thank you for reply re large print etc.
-
enki,
Perhaps if the title had been, "Can life have meaning with God?" there'd have been a more stimulating debate?
Blue, I actually thought that myself. It would have made the debate far more interesting. :)
-
anchorman
Thank you for reply re large print etc.
-
No problem, Susan.
In many ways, I wish I could access normal size braille, but I can't.
I tried Moon yonks ago, but it's a waste of time, as there's virtually nothing published in Moon nowadays.
-
If a pancake is frying in the pan, and no-one is watching over it, is it still a pancake, and does it have a soul?
One of you better posts Wiggs, well I thought so.
ippy
-
Live aid 40 days scripture booklet and also the 40 day online challenge where you receive an email a day challenging you
to do something different.
Our vicar doing the 'stages of the cross' every Sunday in Church.
Plus there is material sent me from other organisations for prayer.
Not been able to keep up with all the email challenges. Been busy but have been trying. :(
-
Live aid 40 days scripture booklet and also the 40 day online challenge where you receive an email a day challenging you
to do something different.
Our vicar doing the 'stages of the cross' every Sunday in Church.
Plus there is material sent me from other organisations for prayer.
Not been able to keep up with all the email challenges. Been busy but have been trying. :(
How do you cope with all of the excitement Sass?
ippy
-
Lent's over for me - 40 days is far too long to go without chocolate spread.
-
Lent's over for me - 40 days is far too long to go without chocolate spread.
That's how atheism starts, Spud - welcome aboard :)
-
Lent's over for me - 40 days is far too long to go without chocolate spread.
You'll have to do without luxuries for a lot longer than that when Brexit comes.
-
Live aid 40 days scripture booklet and also the 40 day online challenge where you receive an email a day challenging you
to do something different.
Our vicar doing the 'stages of the cross' every Sunday in Church.
Plus there is material sent me from other organisations for prayer.
Not been able to keep up with all the email challenges. Been busy but have been trying. :(
Are 'stages of the cross' same as 'Stations of the Cross'? If the latter I remember fondly from my church days, meditating on each one.
-
That's how atheism starts, Spud - welcome aboard :)
I would disagree. But interestingly I had a similar experience a few years ago with peanut butter. There are definitely some foods I'm addicted to, orange squash being another.
-
Are 'stages of the cross' same as 'Stations of the Cross'? If the latter I remember fondly from my church days, meditating on each one.
-
My own CofS congregation usually join with our fellow Xhristians in the local RC Church on Good Friday for a 'Stations of the Cross' service.
A few years ago, we held it in the main street area of the town - and it was very thought provoking, in an open-space situation.
We always have a Sonrise service on Easter Morning at dawn on the remnants of a pit bing (a coal tip) next to the Church.
There's a 'miner's cross' there - two rusted girders which were pit props.
Not shiny or beautiful - pretty ugly, really - but that's why it's there.
At dawn we have a short hymn, scripture and prayer followed by a rather informsal Communion.
-
I'd like that, it sounds very moving.
-
Lent's over for me - 40 days is far too long to go without chocolate spread.
Oh the hardship. ;)
-
Lent's over for me - 40 days is far too long to go without chocolate spread.
Naughty, naughty! ;D
-
I gave up booze as usual, and also, this year, pipe smoking. I proved to my own satisfaction that pipe smoking is not addictive, because, while I missed it as a pleasure denied, I didn't have too much difficulty doing without it.
As always, I observed Mothering Sunday as a day off, which is traditional.