Such a small, dark, closed world where any challenges to the old order is dismissed.

No wonder the church is so out of touch.

Here's a Hypothetical

When you close your eyes all things disappear as all senses are a part of your imagination

Touch, Sound, Taste, Hearing, Sight, Smell are figments of your imagination

So it goes that when you close your eyes all things disappear

Before any one jumps on this it can never be proven as it it a hypothetical

Thanks from
Dave

I don't know where you go Dave but nothing goes away for me. It is always there, even if I'm in a state of unconsciousness (sleep) it is always there. Whether I'm thinking of something real when I close my eyes, or whether I'm thinking of something I would like, (dream) there is always that basis of reality that I will come back to.

Sells said

'This is why modernity is the enemy of faith, not because it exposes faith as irrational but because it cripples the imagination, that enemy of “clear and distinct ideas.” '

This seems to me an irrational assertion. It is modern to recognise 'the imagined' as just that. This does not limit, diminish or 'cripple' the imagination at all. Indeed it could be argued that we now have the freedom to explore the imagined in ways that would have invoked the wrath of the medieval church.

The stories of Copernicus, Galileo and Darwin should serve as perpetual reminders of the church's propensity to stifle the scientific imagination and the memory of the inquisition reminds us that the church will suppress, violently if necessary, the spiritual and theological imagination.

The Anglican Church, even today, is a batleground between those who have dared to 'imagine' a world in which everyone may participate equally and those conservatives whose 'interpretation' of Scripture is itself an act of violence.

Once again, Sells is guilty of peddling half truths in a dismal attempt to defend a tradition that doesnt deserve his efforts. Sells characterisation of Biblical Criticism as a faithless dissection of scripture is a gross misrepresentation of the discipline and an insult to the faith of many responsible Biblical Scholars.

Christian faith is enriched by the insights of 'modernity'. It is only medieval relics like Sells who resent its impact on their 'sacred traditions'

Well said waterboy,

you are aware of the religious methods to suppression & open to truth about the world we live in. I am one of the most feared Atheist's of the modern generation, after being condemned for speaking out in the Pauline Hanson's family law court case in the Tasmanian Country news paper ( Queensland paper) & you won't find a reference to that paper anywhere because the religions & government's have removed all the evidence. Why? Because they want the system to maintain a religious dominance, entice children with gifts & trinkets at Christ-myth time & the broad spectrum of psychological grooming to support the religious charities to maintain the abuse we've all seen in major institutions. Recently Kevin Rudd supported the same religious institutions to take over ABC learning centers.

'david f', I don't see any evidence that Peter Sellick (or Hans Frei for that matter) is unaware of earlier biblical criticism or that he would contradict you on your points. It may be you have been too quick to jump on him and missed his specific point.

Peter, have you read Mike Highton's book on Frei? And have you looked at Charles Taylor, A Secular Age?

Atheistno1, I was unaware anyone feared atheists in Australia, particularly unknown ones.