Here are the most interesting things I’ve read this week.
As one who grew up(?) in churches leaning toward the view “it’s a tough story for a tough world, how else would God be just?” in varying degrees, I agree the face-value-narrative understanding of the story is repellant.
One thing stood out for the first time during Sunday’s reading: the plurality in Abraham’s line – “…and we will return to you”. I’ve been idly wondering about that since.
It doesn’t make the story wholly acceptable as Abraham still ploughs on ever closer.
But if one’s goal is to find a “by faith, Abraham” in there, better to say it’s the prior confidence that things will somehow work out well (which I thought was how Hebrews was trying to define it), than to locate the commendable quality in violence (which, by rabbiting on about resurrection, Hebrews does).
In the absence of other clear & wholly mitigating contexts in which to place the story, certainly it’s simplest, easiest and probably best to file it under “that’s how they saw God back then” and move swiftly on.
Oofft.
Looks like the first steps may be underway towards regime change in America. Hurrah!
It occurred to me the other day, bonfire night, to be exact, that I’ve never actually used fireworks liturgically.
I don’t suppose that it will surprise anyone that I’m against the death sentence in general. In the particular case of Saddam Hussein, I wouldn’t have thought that executing him would help Iraq much even if I were in favour. A further upsurge in violence is not going to help anyone wherever it comes from.…
I rather enjoyed reading this essay from an atheist philosopher who, from his hospital bed, forgives those who are praying for him. Thus: What, though, do I say to those of my religious friends (and yes, I have quite a few religious friends) who have had the courage and honesty to tell me that they…
Leave a Reply