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Bishop Graham
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last modified
14 Dec, 2011 07:37 AM
Previously Abbeyfield School wrote:
Paul wrote: 'Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband has authority over his wife just as the Christ has authority over the Church.' (Ephesians 5:21) This implies that women are lesser than men. There are many stories in the Bible where females are very much the woman behind the central man in the story. However, the Bible also says, 'God created man in his own image... male and female, he created them.' (Genesis 1:27). This implies that all people are equal. How can two contrasting views exist in the Bible? Does this make you question the credibility of the Bible? Which view do you agree with?
Thanks. Great question. Women and men are designed to be equal - both are created in the image of God (Gen 1) and both are recreated in the image of Christ (Galatians 3:28). Sadly, there is sin in the world, and this leads to inequality. Women and men are different - thank goodness - in many ways. The teaching of the Bible develops throughout its period of writing and Jesus's attitude to women - of respect and welcome - is crucial.
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Twelfth live discussion Wed 16 November 2011, Abbeyfield School, Chippenham, Wilitshire.
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Bishop Graham
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16 Nov, 2011 11:19 AM
Previously Abbeyfield School wrote:
Is it possible for God to make an object too heavy to lift? Can he lift it?
Thanks. Great conundrum! God can make anything, but can't deny his character. He doesn't lift things himself, since he is spirit and does't have arms and legs.
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Twelfth live discussion Wed 16 November 2011, Abbeyfield School, Chippenham, Wilitshire.
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last modified
16 Nov, 2011 11:39 AM
Previously Abbeyfield School wrote:
Why do you think God lets evil exist? Do you think it is part of soul-making and evil makes us better people?
Thanks. God does not want evil to exist, but wants us to respond to him in love. For love to be genuine, it has to be freely given. If there is freedom, then people can choose evil rather than good. Therefore, having evil is - if you see what I mean - a lesser 'evil' than not having freedom. Ireneaus, and following him, John Hick (in recent times) have written about life as the valley of soul making. This works to some extent. Muscles grow through use and moving against pressure. People can learn from suffering and suffering sadly also turns many people away from life. I can only point to the cross and there we see God initmately involved in the suffering in his own world.
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Twelfth live discussion Wed 16 November 2011, Abbeyfield School, Chippenham, Wilitshire.
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Bishop Graham
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last modified
16 Nov, 2011 11:16 AM
Previously Abbeyfield School wrote:
What are your views on homosexuality? Surely living in a multi-cultural society where the church is less influential on peoples beliefs has to affect how you feel about it? Do you think as times are changing that you are becoming more accepting towards it, and understand that it is a part of society - or do you feel just as opposed about it as ever?
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
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Twelfth live discussion Wed 16 November 2011, Abbeyfield School, Chippenham, Wilitshire.
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Seventh live discussion Wed 9 Feb 2011, Sarum Academy, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
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02 Mar, 2011 07:40 AM
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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02 Feb, 2011 04:26 PM
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30 Jan, 2011 05:13 PM
I am greatly looking forward to our sixth live discussion this coming Wednesday 3 February 2011 with sixth formers from Sherborne Girls School , Sherborne, Dorset.
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Sixth live discussion Wed 2 Feb 2011, Sherborne Girls School, Sherborne , Dorset
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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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19 Jan, 2011 07:44 AM
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06 Jan, 2011 01:21 PM
I am looking forward to our live discussion next Wednesday 12 January 2011 with sixth formers at St Edward's Roman Catholic and Church of England School, Poole. Note the time next week will be from 11.30am till noon - half and hour later than usual.
I really enjoyed my two visits to the school last year: one, a discussion with sixthformers and the other the prizegiving before Easter.
Today, 6 January, is a special day in the Church's calendar, the feast of the Epiphany, when we celebrate the coming of the wise men from the east to bring gifts to the new born King. Happy Epiphany and New Year. I hope some of you may have seen the amazing BBC series, The Nativity , on television the week before Christmas, Monday to Thursday evenings. It would be good to discuss that as well as other questions.
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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
