Hi all

Jellyback (post 11:21:54 AM 3/2/06)
Not totally true of Roman Catholics. Whilst broadly Amillennial, Catholics are divided into 'clans' - better not say sects - who, whilst acknowledging the Pope's divine authority, don't all ascribe to the same thinking on all matters. I've encountered many Bible-believing Catholics who say of some priests, "He's a crook!" [actual quote.]
I can't specifically answer your second question - maybe Peter can. However, I could out-source it? Anyone else know?
Christ was certainly emphatic about Matt 22:37-39. But at no stage did He think we'd lose sight of Exod 20. The Fruits of the Spirit were not to be ignored either, but love is always central. But love is shallow & meaningless without holiness, righteousness & truth.
Dogma is difficult. But Scripture is confirmed by Scripture - taking multiple examples, not in isolation.
Sadly some modern-day interpreters have been deceived & influenced by Humanism, Post-modernism, Eastern philosophies, & a myriad of non-Christian thinking. Krishna is not Christ anymore than Allah is Yahweh.
A great quote comes from Meic PEARCE: "The only things that are never invulnerable are those things which never claimed objective value, such as entertainment & fashion, which are taken with unprecedented seriousness & are at the heart of the infantilisation of the Western culture." (personal communication RML 96/3684, 11/4/1996.)
Good questions! I need to be challenged, too. Divergent opinions inspire. [But remember: opinions are only just that - opinions. Opinions aren't necessarily facts.]
"I am the Way, the Truth & the Life .." & "You will know the Truth, & the Truth will set you free."
(3/2/06)

Tigerlily (post 1:37:51 PM 3/2/06)
I must admit that I didn't read the hyperlinks. I encountered the thinking of "god can't be proven or disproven" when I first did my studies. I can't prove that I ate a chicken sandwich at 12:15pm on the 15th June 1953, but who cares.
If you promise that you're not a Hindu or a Rastafarian, "Tigerlily", I'll read the links that you included.
(3/2/06)

Cheers all

Hi all,

Interesting article Peter.

Fide mae, I mean no offence… you suggest that fundamentalists ideology will eventually vanish, yet you suggest that all Christians get a degree in theology. I point out that with so many Christians it is inevitable that some people teaching that degree will be fundamentalists who will make even more fundamentalists.

As for equal time given to global warming sceptics... most of the news channels I've seen don't question global warming at all. In fact it wasn't until two years ago that I first heard that some people disagreed with global warming, that's after 10 years of watching the 6 o'clock news. Again, no offence I just don’t see much supporting evidence

I believe any intellectualising analysis of Christian perspectives is a waste of time. What we should be about is building character, attitudes in relationships, serving the poor, sick, and opressed etc. The aspects of theological doctrine and eschatology are side issues to the main plan. Our lives are evaluated on our attitudes and actions not on our doctrine.

Thanks Peter.

You've given me some tools to classify and so analyse a topic I'm interested in.

Keep up the good articles.

P.s I bought Theopolitical Imagination, just waiting for it to arrive.

Tiger....I had a look at the links you gave.. not very helpful, just another 'Indian guru' type woffle I feel. (Does this one have his own 747 ? :)

On 'Proof' of God, I rest in Romans 1

19 "since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

Then, there is the idea of 'legal' proof as opposed to scientific proof. The Gospels and Pauls writings are compelling, but probably dont all fit the category of 'legal' proof stictly. (Not being a Lawyer I can't say for sure)

REMOTE CENTREMAN I think your summary of the main positions is a good observation. I would just add that within those various 'camps' you will also have a spread of fundamentalism and liberalism on an individual basis. The simple fact is, most evangelical Christians don't 'codify' their beliefs as rigidly as your analysis suggests.

At their heart though, the firm belief in Jesus as Lord and Saviour is common and that, is what counts. (along with the appropriate response of on-going repentance)

Fida is accurate about the main division being between Catholicism and Protestantism and within Protestants the spectrum is as RMCM mentioned. Though within Catholicism you get the 'Liberation Theology' movement and various others like Opus Dei etc..

As Billy Graham often said "I preach a simple Gospel for a sinful world"... and I pray we will all grasp that simple gospel, and let it transform our lives and hearts, such that we can say "The mind of Christ is in us"

Which God are we talking about here?
Some will say what God?
There is Ra the Sun God. No Bible needed there so there is no argument.