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Bishop Graham
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02 Feb, 2011 01:57 PM
Previously Sherborne Girls School wrote:
Do you believe the clearance of rainsforests is an ethical issue?
Thanks. Yes, I do. ethical and very serious. I lived in Kenya in the foothills of Mount Kenya for 7 years and Bishop David Gitari campaigned quite rightly against rich people devastating the forests for private gain. The rainforests are the lungs of God's world and need preserving for us to breathe.
Just off now to Lyme Regis. More later this evening. Many thanks for these deep questions.
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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02 Feb, 2011 01:47 PM
Previously Sherborne Girls School wrote:
to be a good christian means giving up everything and relying on gods help. is this right?
Thanks. Some things may need giving up, but also some things - like having an interest in the poor of the world - need taking up. We do need to rely on God, but his Holy Spirit within us inspires us to behave in ways which reflect the character of Jesus of Nazareth. God works through us.
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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02 Feb, 2011 01:51 PM
Previously Sherborne Girls School wrote:
Is the exclusion of women form being bishops due to clerical opinion or actual christian doctrine.
Thanks. I am very much in favour of having women bishops. The arguments against, range from a particular view of Christian doctrine - which sees only a man as a possible 'icon' of Christ at the altar (since Jesus was male) - though Jesus was also jewish, and no one holds that only Jews can be priests... - through to some opinions which are more opinionated than rooted in doctrine - in my opinion, that is...
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
02 Feb, 2011 01:52 PM
Previously Sherborne Girls School wrote:
What are your thoughts on cryopreservation?
Thanks. Freezing people before death till research develops cures seems odd to me. Very strange. Much better to have a real burial with all the grief and mourning involved.
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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02 Feb, 2011 01:39 PM
Previously Sherborne Girls School wrote:
From the position of the Orthodox faith everthing is mystery. So is it good to question our faith?
Thanks. Yes, in Eastern Orthodox faith, mystery plays a key role - as it does in my own thinking, for we only see partially. However, we grow through asking questions and thinking through the answers, and this is good. Have a look at Luke 2 where Jesus as a 12 year old is sitting in the Temple asking questions.
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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02 Feb, 2011 01:37 PM
Previously Sherborne Girls School wrote:
Mark says at the start of his Gospel, that Jesus is the 'Christ and Son of God' - What might this mean to us today?
Thanks. 'Christ' means 'anointed one' and is the greek version of Messiah, the long expected one. 'Son of God' implies divinity. For today, because I believe in the resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ is alive and can be encountered by any who are seeking him. God is not the sort of god who sits on the edge of the universe, but in Jesus is fully involved in his own world. He is close, and loves his world.
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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12 Jan, 2011 11:42 AM
Previously St Edwards Poole wrote:
Do you believe that you can believe in science and christianity e.g. the creation story/big bang?
Thanks. The short answer is Yes. The longer answer will take some time...Science answers the question 'how' and Christianity answers the question 'Why'. I am a theistic evolutionist ie believe that God created humans through evolution.
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Third Live Discussion Wed 12 Jan 2011, 11.30-12.00: St Edward's RC and C of E School, Poole
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Bishop Graham
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12 Jan, 2011 12:03 PM
Previously St Edwards Poole wrote:
Do you believe jesus will return??
Yes, at the end of the age to sum up the universe, but he is with us now by his Spirit.
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Third Live Discussion Wed 12 Jan 2011, 11.30-12.00: St Edward's RC and C of E School, Poole
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Bishop Graham
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12 Jan, 2011 11:34 AM
Previously St Edwards Poole wrote:
When did your faith in God begin ??
Thanks. I went to sunday school and sang in the choir in Chigwell, Essex, but a personal faith in God came alive at Oxford where I was studying law. In January 1974 I prayed a prayer of commitment after much reading and discussion and reflection on people's lives at college.
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Third Live Discussion Wed 12 Jan 2011, 11.30-12.00: St Edward's RC and C of E School, Poole
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12 Jan, 2011 11:37 AM
Previously St Edwards Poole wrote:
What are your views on homosexuals that are really in your face about it, and go mincing about looking to indulge in their urges?
Thanks. I answered this more fully on another thread:
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
Again, a huge subject. Hope this helps.
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Third Live Discussion Wed 12 Jan 2011, 11.30-12.00: St Edward's RC and C of E School, Poole
