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Bishop Graham
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last modified
05 Oct, 2011 10:26 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Can one believe in God out of fear?
Yes, but that is not really healthy. Much better to believe in God out of love and wonder and desire for fullness of life. Proverbs in the Old Testament says 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom' - that 'fear' includes wonder and awe at God's majesty. Since we are accepted by God through faith in Jesus of Nazareth, we don't need to be terrified of him.
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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by
Bishop Graham
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last modified
06 Oct, 2011 12:56 PM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Have you experienced a miracle? If so how did you know it was a miracle?
Thanks. Yes, I believe miracles still happen. God is still God and the two greatest miracles are God becoming human in Jesus of Nazareth and God raising him from the dead in the resurrection. The ongoing effects of both of those are amazing as people's lives throughout the ages and throughout the world have been transformed by encounters with the risen Christ. So, I suppose the greatest miracle I've experienced is having my life turned around by meeting Christ is a profoundly personal way when I was reading law at Oxford.
I also believe that people are healed by medicine and prayer. My eldest daughter is a doctor working in a hospital and she is consistently astounded by how the body is wonderfully designed to heal itself and medicine facilitates that natural healing. Sometimes that natural healing is speeded up in answer to prayer. I don't know how that works, but believe it does, and have experienced people being healed through prayer.
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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by
Bishop Graham
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last modified
05 Oct, 2011 10:56 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
If it is forgotten the illegality, is cannabis incompatible with Christianity? Even if one remembers the acceptance of alcohol in society and church?
Thanks. I have read various studies showing that even a so called 'soft drug' like cannabis can damage the brain of humans. Not worth trying. So can large amounts of alcohol. Small amounts of alcohol, I don't have problems with.
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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by
Bishop Graham
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last modified
05 Oct, 2011 11:15 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
If killing one could save a hundred could it be justified? Both acts (acting and non-action) are evil so which is the lesser?
Great question. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a wonderfully profound German theologian, pondered this question when deciding whether to join in the plot to assassinate Hitler. He decided it was justified. The plot failed - just - and Bonhoeffer was executed. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
05 Oct, 2011 10:30 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
If one takes the view that God designed the evolution process, surely all animals must go to heaven? Or how would we know humans are developed enough to enter?
I do believe God creates animals and humans through evolution. I don't believe animals can 'sin' as humans can, so in the whole recreation of the universe I would not be suprised to see renewed animals. This is often part of the prophets vision of God's renewed world - the lion laying down with the lamb, as in Isaiah.
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
05 Oct, 2011 10:33 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Is it more important to lead a good life or to believe in God?
Thanks. Both are really important. When Jesus was asked about which was the greatest commandment, he replied with a double commandment: love God with your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbour as yourself. That echoes your question, it seems to me.
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
05 Oct, 2011 10:38 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Should politics be secular?
Thanks. If the whole world is God's, as I believe, then can anything actually be secular? Sure, some constitutions are written as secular eg India to avoid religious conflict, but India is profoundly religious at all levels. God is interested in the whole of life - and that includes politics. Have a look at the edition of the New Statesman edited by the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier this year:
http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2011/06/long-term-government-democracy
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
06 Oct, 2011 01:12 PM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Do you believe that jesus' miracles could be misinterpreted? i.e did Jesus walk on water, or just a sandbank?
Thanks. They could be, but I believe they really happened. I don't think Jesus was a con artist. If God can raise Jesus from the dead, walking on water is not really a problem, is it? I've walked on Sandbanks, near Poole, but can't walk on water...
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
05 Oct, 2011 11:01 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
If Jesus was to return, surely, to prove himself he would have to tempt the Lord?
Thanks. I believe that God will bring the whole universe to a stunning conclusion at some point. No idea when. Nor has anyone. Jesus will be part of that consummation, I believe, and that will be clear to all. I don't think he would have to tempt the Lord at all, but be part of his plan. Tom Wright's book 'Surprised by Hope' is well worth reading:
http://books.google.com/books/about/Surprised_by_hope.html?id=XBCLiQ8-qXkC
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
06 Oct, 2011 01:42 PM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
What is your view on whether women should be Bishops in the Church of England?
thanks. Yes, I think they should and long for the day that the first woman bishop is consecrated.
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
