What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Knowing Me, Knowing You – Monday evening

    I’m doing another Knowing Me, Knowing You evening on Monday evening and there’s still a couple of places free. (I limit this one to 20 people in order to keep the conversation flowing).

    Here’s the official notice:

    ————

    Knowing Me, Knowing You – Monday 23 September 2013 at 7.30 pm in the Synod Hall.

    An evening of conversation with the Cathedral Provost, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth. This is limited to 20 people to ensure the converation flows and there are still a few places left. Kelvin will be speaking about what brought him to St Mary’s, what his vision is for the congregation and is prepared to answer any questions.

    This is an ideal event for anyone new to the congregation but is also open to those who have been around for a while but who have not previously attended one of these evenings.

    To reserve a place, please contact Jo in the Cathedral Office using this online form: Book a place

    ———–

    I try very hard not to model this on An Evening With Dame Edna Everidge, really I do.

    Always a good opportunity to get to know me a bit better and ask some questions. (Really, I’ll take questions about anything…). Particularly good for anyone who is finding a way into St Mary’s. Also open to old stagers who’ve not been to one of these evenings before and also those who read this blog and are provost-curious but have not quite made it to church yet.

     

10 responses to “The end of the World”

  1. agatha Avatar
    agatha

    Mildly serious question that has never occurred to me before. Why does she still get called the Virgin Mary when Jesus had brothers she presumably had in the normal way?

    Reply
    1. kelvin Avatar
      kelvin

      Well, there are those who try to make the case that she remained “ever” Virgin and that the reference to Jesus’s brothers is an oblique and more general reference to the men of the extended family – cousins, uncles and so on. I think that’s rather silly myself.

      The Blessed Virgin Mary is simply one of the titles afforded her because of the persistent story of Christ’s birth. For myself, I think there is more interesting theological ground to be ploughed by thinking of her as exemplifying a virgin world waiting in longing and expectation for God to come. That kind of thing seems to me to be considerably more potent than birth-story tittle-tattle.

      Reply
  2. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    When I was young I was sure the birth story was ‘just a myth’ – but then as I got deeper into history I got more experienced at evaluating stories. Not, you understand, ‘form-critical’ experienced, but historical experienced. What now strikes me with force is that two very different writers tell very different stories about the birth of Jesus with very different genealogies. However, despite the two birth stories coming from markedly different traditions, both bill Mary as a virgin. In any other context, I would find that more than convincing. So here, too, I let myself be convinced. As a sober historian, and cynic, I find it the most probably explanation. Not the only historically possible one, just the most generally convincing.

    Generally, I find historical thought more satisfying than the more circular arguments of form criticism. I am fairly sure I could use form criticism to disprove the fact that David Cameron is currently the PM.

    Reply
  3. agatha Avatar
    agatha

    Thanks – I have no problem with the virgin birth, its been humanly possible for decades now so I reckon God could have arranged it easily enough a couple of thousand years ago.

    Reply
  4. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Well, actually it is NOT humanly possible – even with IVF. You cannot get a boy baby, humanly speaking, without a father. But then, humanly speaking, bodies do not resurrect, and walk and talk and eat…

    Reply
  5. agatha Avatar
    agatha

    Rosemary, I think you are being a bit technical. Where I come from a virgin is someone who hasn’t had sex.

    Reply
  6. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    The problem is that it is not the ‘having sex’ but the chromosomes in the baby. Or to put it another way – how did Jesus get his X? It is easy enough to get pregnant without ‘having sex’ but harder without ‘having sperm’. Despite that, the evidence is that two unrelated stories believe it was done. And two unrelated stories believe the babe was born in Bethlehem. Very interesting.

    Reply
  7. Agatha Avatar
    Agatha

    From God?

    Reply
  8. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Sperm from God? Not I think, stories ‘from God’ except in the general sense that all understanding is divine. No. Stories from history. And the biology? Truly beyond current understanding. But, here you have it – if one understands it ceases to be amazing and people say : ‘Now we understand, that is not a miracle and Jesus is not form God.’ And if we do not understand, people say: ‘We do not understand and so it cannot have happened, and Jesus is not from God.’

    Reply
  9. Agatha Avatar
    Agatha

    If I didn’t believe God could knock out a few sperm as and when required I would have Sunday mornings free.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Amnesty Exhibition

    Don’t forget the Amnesty Exhibition this week at the Hallion. 5pm to 10 om each day from Monday. “The exhibition is is part of Amnesty International’s aim to mobilise supporters in the UK by 2011, to coincide with their 50th anniversary. This exhibition is a testament to people in every walk of life standing up…

  • Health update

    Much sneezing here, so have made the reluctant decision to remain off work another couple of days rather than sneeze and wheeze all over the congregations tomorrow. Applications of soup, ginger, tea-tree oil, lemsip, whisky, paracetamol and garlic have so far proved to be only partially effective.

  • Conspiracy Theory Alert

    One of these pics shows the Compass Rose, symbol of the Anglican Communion set into the floor of Canterbury Cathedral, whilst the other shows the Compass Rose, symbol of the CIA set into the floor of CIA headquarters. Reports that the two organisations are one and the same are being denied by all parties, but…

  • Bah

    Bah Seem to have come down with the same bug I’ve seen in others over the last 10 days – sore throat, screwed up eyes and a predisposition to say, “Bah”.