- Scotland will not vote for Independence in 2020
- No progress for those hoping for Equal Marriage in the Church of England.
- Narrow Democrat victory in American election – country as divided as ever – widespread belief that the election was rigged.
- Scottish government proposals on reforming the Gender Recognition Act go through largely as proposed in consultation document.
- Limited agreements at COP talks but derided as too little too late.
- UK leaves the EU and is subsequently unable to agree a substantial deal.
- No trade deal with the USA
- Yvette Cooper will become the leader of the Labour Party.
- Stock market lower at the end of the year than it is today. (FTSE 7,542.44)
- Increasing visible support for LGBT Roman Catholics from within the Roman Catholic Church.
10 responses to “The end of the World”
-
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?
-
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.
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
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…
-
Rosemary, I think you are being a bit technical. Where I come from a virgin is someone who hasn’t had sex.
-
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.
-
From God?
-
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.’
-
If I didn’t believe God could knock out a few sperm as and when required I would have Sunday mornings free.
Previous Posts
-
I nominate these guys
Can you change the world by pouring water over someone? Well, we had a go yesterday in St Mary’s with two lovely baptisms in a great service yesterday morning. In the course of the service, we were reminded of Moses being scooped from the water of the River Nile and going on to set a…
-
Slow Eucharist – Teaching Mass – Lord’s Supper with FAQ
I’m doing something a bit different on Monday. It happens to be the Feast of St Bartholomew and normally we would have a celebratory Eucharist in the morning instead of morning prayer. Now, I’m the master of having all the works in less than half an hour. Clouds of smoke, a simple sung plainsong setting…
-
On turning down Big Brother
This morning could have been so very different. I could have been waking in a room of sleeping pseudo-clebs and instead of writing a blog post I could have been called to the diary room. The funniest telephone call I’ve taken in the last year was from an agent looking for candidates for the Big…
-
A wee homily for Derek and Nelson
Derek and Nelson – you have come here to St Mary’s today to declare your love for one another and so that we can share your joy and give thanks with you. Today is a feast day in the church. It is the Feast of St Mary – and here we all are in a…
Leave a Reply