"In 2014 I was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney for my dissertation on possible "futures" of the Uniting Church."

They do come in Corn Flake boxes it seems.

At some point all religions have a beginning. It is my belief that at some point all religions have an end. The polytheistic gods of the Greek, Roman, Norse and other religions of the ancient world have disappeared. Manichaeism founded in the third century at one time extended from Spain to China, lasted around fifteen centuries and then disappeared. Whether humanity will keep making new religions I don't know. Maybe we will outgrow our need for religion. Maybe not. At some point we will all be no more.

The most left of Left wing 'churches', the Uniting Church became irrelevant years ago. It Is a prime example of what happens when a Christian organisation sucks up to the secular: there is no longer any need for it. Serious Christians want to witness their faith, not be subjected to left political dogma from the pulpit. Welfare is best left to government. The Uniting - dregs of Presbyterians, Methodists and Congregationalists, is already not a church. What this piece seems to be suggesting has already happened.

ttbn,
Have you ever actually been to a Uniting Church service? I attend regularly and can assure you there's no "left political dogma from the pulpit" – unless of course you classify the words of Jesus that way!

I'm surprised you take the view that "Welfare is best left to government". Because if you take that attitude, surely a leftist political stance is essential to ensure people's needs don't get neglected?

"Welfare is best left to government."
The lord helps those who help themselves.
No one is more interested or responsible for your own well being than you.

Aidan,

You wouldn't recognise the Left political dogma as such because you are steeped in that nonsense yourself. I am certainly not surprised to find that your brand of 'Christianity' is Uniting Church. You certainly are the archetypical sanctimonious, socialist, do-gooder. Thanks for filling out your bio for me. I have a brother like you, which is probably why you have always seemed so familiar to me.

But what did Saint Jesus of Galilee actually demonstrate, teach and call his disciples to practice why he was alive.
This reference describes the universal, non-sectarian, non-Christian Spirit-Breathing Spiritual Way that he taught and demonstrated.
http://www.dabase.org/up-5-3.htm

This reference provides a context for understanding what Saint Jesus taught and demonstrated.
http://www.aboutadidam.org/readings/birthday_message/index.html

He was most certainly not in any sense a right-winger.

He was scathingly critical of both the ecclesiastical establishment and the political powers in his time and place.

You are a good chance for having a lesbian left leaning Minister if you attend the Uniting church these days. There are some exceptions however the organisation was hijacked with liberal theologians who often support marxism a long time ago. A few have stayed to fight the good fight however you ahve as much chance of stopping Labour from overspending and running up debt as you have of bringing faith in Christ back to the UN church.

ateday,
>The lord helps those who help themselves.
That's probably the most common heretical view nowadays.

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ttbn,
>You wouldn't recognise the Left political dogma as such because you are steeped in that nonsense yourself.
Would you care to give an example?
Because it looks to me like you're just using the label as a catchall for everything you disagree with!

>You certainly are the archetypical sanctimonious, socialist, do-gooder.
That's the first time anyone's ever called me sanctimonious. I suppose admitting I'm a regular churchgoer could have that effect on some people, but it's certainly not the impression that I was intending to convey.

What definition of "socialist" are you using? The term covers a very broad range of policies, some of which I strongly support and some of which I strongly oppose.

ateday

"In 2014 I was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney for my dissertation on possible "futures" of the Uniting Church."

and more power to Dr Keith Suter.

"They do come in Corn Flake boxes it seems"

What did your's come in?

Or do you have higher qualifications, earned the hard way?

Dr Suter earned his PhD the hard way and deserved it.

If you read this Keith, I was one of the students who was moved by your arguments and lucid approach to problems way back in the 1980s in the Continuing Education series.

Mine came with 6 years of study and hard work.

Well, that's very good because the average is around 8 and 1/2 years.

Well done!!