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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
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by
Bishop Graham
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last modified
02 Mar, 2011 07:40 AM
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09 Feb, 2011 11:30 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Do you feel that The TV show "The Vicar of Dibley" is an accurate reperesentation of a female vicar?
From Chris Mundy
Thanks, Chris. I love the vicar of dibley on TV, but prefer the earlier editions to the later ones, which I think went a bit wackey. They have done wonders for showing a woman priest is normal. I also liked the series 'Rev' on TV last year.
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
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by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
09 Feb, 2011 11:22 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Previously Bishop Graham wrote:
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Previously Bishop Graham wrote:
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Our opening question relates to our topic of the day, what are your views on nuclear weapons?
Thanks. The just war theory in Christian ethics stresses the importance of protecting civilians - so pattern bombing of cities in the second world war was questionable. Similarly, nuclear weapons don't distinguish between soldiers and civilians. Ecologically, they are disastrous. They can't be uninvented, but can be negotiated down in number.
In relation to this do you believe killing is acceptable if in war or a way of surviving?
Thanks. I believe that a policeman needs to use force sometimes to protect weak people eg an older woman being attacked, or a woman being raped. On the international scale, we need armies to protect the weak from aggression. Sometimes, sadly, this means that killing soldiers from an aggressive army is necessary. In self defence, killing may be acceptable, but depends on the context.
Thank you, back to nuclear weapons do you think it was gods intention for nuclear weapons to be created?
Thanks. God designed the universe with atoms and nuclei and the extraordinary power which are involved in them. They can be used for peaceful purposes, eg generating electricity - though even there, the ecological concerns need considering - or for war eg weapons. Humans have always extended their weaponry. Not everything that happens is desired by God.
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
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by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
09 Feb, 2011 11:03 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Good morning my name is Paul.
Hi Paul. Looking forward to your question.
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
-
by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
02 Mar, 2011 07:20 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Previously Bishop Graham wrote:
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
do you agree with the pope's new view on abortion and condoms? also do you believe in women vicars/ priests? Do you agree with homosexual bishops when the bible says you musn't lie with a man?
Thanks. I am conservative on issues of abortion, pro the use of contraceptives, and pro women priests - and bishops. On homosexuality,
I personally think the Bishops Guidelines in the Church of England, 'Issues in Human Sexuality', form a good and balanced reference point. These state that those who are gay in their sexual orientation and wish to be vicars are welcome to be vicars but should be celibate. They do not say the same about lay people in the church ie that they have to be celibate. In all professions, leaders are held to be more accountable than others: judges and police have to have a higher standard of law keeping than others; teachers have to have a higher standard of behaviour with young people than others; similarly acccountants concerning financial integrity. So, the above distinction between vicars and lay people seems to make sense to me. It is also worth looking at Paul's First Letter to Timothy chapter 3, where he says leaders should be the husband of one wife ie there were clearly people with more than one wife in the congregation, but those could not be leaders.
Oliver O'Donovan has written a fine book, 'A Conversation Waiting to Begin: The Churches and the Gay Controversy' (SCM Press, 2009)
http://www.scmpress.co.uk/bookdetails.asp?ISBN=9780334042105
This is a book of his online essays which may be seen here
http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=130
A huge subject. Hope this helps.
Thankyou, it's just very upsetting as I am a homosexual Mikey Woolford x
Thanks, Mikey. Oliver O'Donovan's last chapter in his book mentioned above, is headed 'Good News for Gay Christians'. It is online at the link below. Hope this helps.
http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/?179
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
-
by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
02 Mar, 2011 07:22 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Do you feel that The TV show "The Vicar of Dibley" is an accurate reperesentation of a female vicar?
From Chris Mundy
Thanks, Chris. Accurate for some but not for others. The earlier series were very very funny - they degenerated a bit later. I think the representation of some of the congregation is accurate...
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
-
by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
02 Mar, 2011 07:29 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
In respect to your answer would it be fair to say that you see the Bible as a series of stories? If so I have many story books, some involving Green Eggs and Ham, it follows the same principle as most of Jesus' "miracles" as it is both very abstract and highly improbable, though if I was to worship the main character (Mr green eggs and ham) I would be locked up for being a lunatic.
Also, the Bible says that the Earth is only a certain amount of years old, whereas there is evidence that supports otherwise.
boom
thanks. I think that the Bible is more than a series of stories, though stories form a key part of it. In some way, it is one huge narrative or story into which we can fit. Tom Wright has suggested it is like a five act play and the fifth act we take part in as we wish - it is open to us to be part of the story. It is more than a series of stories because there are other types of literature in it eg poetry, proverb, accurate history, hyperbole - ie exaggerating for effect. I don't have a problem with believing in the miracles told in the Bible, since I believe in the greatest miracle of God becoming a human being, in Jesus of Nazareth, and being raised from the dead. Geology makes clear that the earth is millions and millions of years old. It only contradicts the Bible if the creation stories are taken literally - see my others answers on that.
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
-
by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
09 Feb, 2011 11:10 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Hello Bishop Graham, I was just wandering if you are a Creationist, if so: A) How old is the Earth? B) Where do the Dinosaurs fit in? Thank you greatly - Joseph Lee
Hi Joseph. I am a creationist in that I believe God is the Creator. I am not in that I don't believe he created the world in six days. I believe he created human being through the process of evolution. The universe and the world I believe is billions of years old. Dinosaurs were created by God, but died out.
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
-
by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
09 Feb, 2011 11:08 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
Our opening question relates to our topic of the day, what are your views on nuclear weapons?
Thanks. The just war theory in Christian ethics stresses the importance of protecting civilians - so pattern bombing of cities in the second world war was questionable. Similarly, nuclear weapons don't distinguish between soldiers and civilians. Ecologically, they are disastrous. They can't be uninvented, but can be negotiated down in number.
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Grill a Bishop
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
-
by
Bishop Graham
—
last modified
09 Feb, 2011 11:27 AM
Previously Sarum Academy wrote:
do you agree with the pope's new view on abortion and condoms? also do you believe in women vicars/ priests? Do you agree with homosexual bishops when the bible says you musn't lie with a man?
Thanks. I am conservative on issues of abortion, pro the use of contraceptives, and pro women priests - and bishops. On homosexuality,
I personally think the Bishops Guidelines in the Church of England, 'Issues in Human Sexuality', form a good and balanced reference point. These state that those who are gay in their sexual orientation and wish to be vicars are welcome to be vicars but should be celibate. They do not say the same about lay people in the church ie that they have to be celibate. In all professions, leaders are held to be more accountable than others: judges and police have to have a higher standard of law keeping than others; teachers have to have a higher standard of behaviour with young people than others; similarly acccountants concerning financial integrity. So, the above distinction between vicars and lay people seems to make sense to me. It is also worth looking at Paul's First Letter to Timothy chapter 3, where he says leaders should be the husband of one wife ie there were clearly people with more than one wife in the congregation, but those could not be leaders.
Oliver O'Donovan has written a fine book, 'A Conversation Waiting to Begin: The Churches and the Gay Controversy' (SCM Press, 2009)
http://www.scmpress.co.uk/bookdetails.asp?ISBN=9780334042105
This is a book of his online essays which may be seen here
http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/page.cfm?ID=130
A huge subject. Hope this helps.
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
