this post brings us no closer to finding out how many angles can dance on the head of a pin.

Never mind that the presumed "resurrection and ascension" of Jesus did not happen - could not have happened.
Furthermore, beginning with the fabricated origins of the Bible every minute aspect of the Christian religion whether narrative, theological, doctrinal, dramatic, artistic etc etc is an exercise in cultic idolatry.

This reference describes the hidden (esoteric) message of the Chritian idol, namely the Cross.
http://www.aboutadidam.org/articles/secret_identity/idol.html

This reference describes how all of the now archaic narratives are essentially obsolete, and in effect useless. This is especially the case with the narratives of the three major Middle Eastern Semitic religions (which are now waging global warfare against each other in the "final" showdown for world domination)
http://www.adidaupclose.org/Literature_Theater/skalsky.html

This reference describes how the religious consciousness of Western and Middle Eastern man is trapped in a web/net of archaic mind-forms or towers of babble/babel.
http://www.dabase.org/up-1-2.htm

My sentiments exactly. Systematic theology is absolutely essential in articulating the grammar of faith. There is another danger in narrative theology and that is that it may include all narratives just because they are narratives. The only way we can understand the world is through narrative. But all narratives are not equal. There are narratives that bring bondage and death instead of freedom and life. The church points to a particular narrative, that of Israel and the church. We need systematic theology in order to discern the between the narratives.

Peter Sellick

All theology is designed to perpetuate ignorance and submission.

Please, can we start helping children to look for and evaluate evidence, much the way the NSW ethics classes are doing.

All dogma is an effort by the aged to impose their own, often very limited assessments of reality, on the next generation .

Evaluation of social justice in the 31 OECD countries showed that the less religious countries Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and The Netherlands far out perform Australia (21st) and the USA (27th).

The USA only outperformed Greece, Chile, Mexico and Turkey. It is time we put childish beliefs behind us.

Daffy and Foyle, well said. I hope you remember to keep the same critical skills active in thinking about the State? You don't criticise irrational methods of thinking in religion, but tolerate them in relation to the State on the ground that to accept their conclusions would upset fondly held beliefs, do you. Because from what I have seen of your politics, it seems there are enormous parallels actually between your belief in the State and Sellick's belief in God.

"Indeed, we live and breathe doctrines all the time: in corporations, political parties, sporting clubs, men’s sheds, and organic food collectives."

There are some minor differences, however. Sporting clubs don't regard the alternative to following their doctrine as suffering in hell forever. Men's sheds don't generally make military raids on other mens' sheds, kill the occupants and burn the buildings to the ground. Organic food collectives don't ban women from positions of power, and shun them when they are menstruating. Unfortunately 'doctrines' such as these, which should have been recognised as nonsensical centuries ago, still retain a ghastly power when put about by those who regard themselves as the emissaries of God.

That's why it's necessary to scrutinise them closely and see if they make sense. So far none of them do.