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Bishop Graham
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last modified
06 Oct, 2011 12:58 PM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Whats your view on homosexuality?
I person a lly think the Bishop s Guidelines in the Church of Engl a nd, 'Issues in Hum a n Sexu a lity', form a good a nd b a l a nced reference point. These st a te th a t those who a re g a y in their sexu a l orient a tion a nd wish to be vic a rs a re welcome to be vic a rs but should be celib a te. They do not s a y the s a me a bout l a y people in the church ie th a t they h a ve to be celib a te. In a ll professions, le a ders a re held to be more a ccount a ble th a n others: judges a nd police h a ve to h a ve a higher st a nd a rd of l a w keeping th a n others; te a chers h a ve to h a ve a higher st a nd a rd of beh a viour with young people th a n others; simil a rly a cccount a nts concerning fin a nci a l integrity. So, the a bove distinction between vic a rs a nd l a y people seems to m a ke sense to me. It is a lso worth looking a t P a ul's First Letter to Timothy ch a pter 3, where he s a ys le a ders should be the husb a nd of one wife ie there were cle a rly people with more th a n one wife in the congreg a tion, but those could not be le a ders.
Oliver O'Donov a n h a s written a fine book, ' A Convers a tion W a iting to Begin: The Churches a nd the G a y Controversy' (SCM Press, 2009)
http://www.scmpress.co.uk/bookdet a ils. a sp?ISBN=9780334042105
This is a book of his online ess a ys which m a y be seen here
http://www.fulcrum- a nglic a n.org.uk/p a ge.cfm?ID=130
This a huge subject. Hope this helps.
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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 10:40 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Are secrets justifiable? As all entail a lie?
Thanks. Yes, some secrets are justifiable. eg Anne Frank being hidden in Amsterdam from the Nazis. Some secrets aren't justifiable eg a husband having a secret affair with a work colleague.
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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 11:27 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
If it is taken that Rev21:8 refers to those who are so afraid of persecution they turn from Christ and not just 'cowardice' or fear. Is suicide forgivable?
Interesting question. Revelation is not easy to interpret as a book and needs care. Again, a good guide is Tom Wright's book I mentioned in another answer 'Surprised by Hope'. Suicide is very serious indeed and anyone contemplating it should talk to friends and counsellors at school or at home. God loves to forgive. God also longs for people to be fully alive.
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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 10:52 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Does religion deter loneliness?
Thanks. It depends on what religion and whether it is followed authenically of just selfishly. God longs for people to be in integral relationships. We are designed for relationships, and in meeting God we meet others in a new way. There is an important distinction between loneliness and solitude. Solitude - for particular periods - can be life giving. I'm giving a talk at Wimborne Minster on 'Loneliness or Solitude?' on Wed 2 November 2011 at 7.00pm and look forward to working out further my thought in preparation for that.
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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 11:48 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Do you believe in eternal security? That christians were predetermined to be saved? If so what would be the consequence of a Christian committing apostasy?
Thanks. I believe in a key distinction between presumption and assurance. Some people reckon that it is presumptuous to say they know that God will accept them into his presence when they die. However, that thinking is based on being accepted by good works - what we do. We can be assured of being accepted by God because it is based on what God has done in Christ and our joining in with that in trust. Since it is not based on us, but on God, then it is not presumptous to be assured of heaven. It is merely taking God at his word - and he is reliable.
I believe that we who repond in faith and trust are chosen by God, but I also believe that we are responsible for our response in faith. Again, a strange paradox. A Christian who commits apostasy is a difficult question. Some who do so, return later to the faith.Others don't. God doesn't force people, but always long for them to return to him.
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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 11:10 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
As a Christian can killing ever be justified?
Thanks. Only in protecting another's life. We have to protect the vulnerable. A massacre of civilians in Bengahzi was avoided this year by Gaddafi's tank commanders being killed by NATO airpower.
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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 10:17 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
How can God permit believers to heaven if not all hear the word of his disciples?
Thanks. God welcomes people into heaven not through what they have done, but through what he has done in Jesus of Nazareth. He takes the initiative and relates to people through dreams and visions and healings as well as through preaching. Not all will be able to hear the word, but that does not mean that those who have heard and respond will not be welcomed by God. Concerning those who are in a context who can't learn about Jesus, have a look at:
http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/?3
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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 10:45 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Can an atheist ever be right (on any subject) or does their belief cause incompatibility?
Thanks. Yes. Dawkins is right about DNA - because God created DNA and even though Dawkins doesn't believe in God, God still created DNA. Atheists in the former Soviet Union systematically killed and imprisoned people for their beliefs, including millions of Jews. If God doesn't exist, any morality is possible. That raises many more complex questions...
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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 01:31 PM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Do you believe in eschatological verification?
Thanks. Yes, but since eschatology involves 'now' as well as 'then' - for Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God and it will one day be complete -verification can begin now... BTW, someone once quipped: 'just because we don't know the meaning of eschatology, it's not the end of the world...'
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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 10:21 AM
Previously Gryphon School wrote:
Does life ever end?
Thanks. I believe that our individual lives end when we die, but that we are raised to meet God. That will be quite a meeting...Also, I believe that the whole universe, one day, will be recreated and that after that, life in all its fullness will deepen and deepen for ever.
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Eleventh live discussion Wed 28 September 2011, Gryphon School, Sherborne, Dorset.
