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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:24 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Do you think a sexually active gay man can make a good priest and if not, should their ordination be disallowed?
Thanks. 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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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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26 Jan, 2011 09:28 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Hello Jaz and Katherine here,
What do you think are the main roles of men and women. Do you think women should be submissive to their husbands or are we equal in today's society?
Hi Jaz and Katherine, I may need to consult my wife ...not phone a friend but phone a wife! Main role of both men and women is to reflect God's glory back to God and out to people in love. I am very much for the equality of men and women in society and the church - HM the Queen is a good example of both. Husbands and wives should be mutually and interdependently - that word again - submissive as they both follow Christ.
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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26 Jan, 2011 09:08 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Good morning Bishop this is Ben, James and Darren.
If God is all powerful, surely he could create anything, and if he can create anything then he should be able to create a rock he couldn't lift. If this rock then exists then God is no longer omnipotent and therefore the concept of omnipotency is flawed. Do you agree?
Hi Ben, James and Darren.
Great question. Anyone one like that is 'Is brown square?'. These two questions show what is called a 'category mistake'. Brown is abut colour and square is about shape - so it is a wonderful nonsense question which can't be answered. Similarly, God does not lift rocks like a human being. God is spirit and who knows the weight of spirit...So no, I don't think the concept of omnipotency is flawed but it needs to be more subtly explained.
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:03 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Hello Bishop, this is Sophie, Danni, Sophie and Sammi
How do we know if God is male or female?
Hi Sophie, Danni, Sophie and Sammi, I'm in Beaton's cafe in Tisbury and have just had a great breakfast, ready for a train later. God is neither male nor female - they are human categories. He is God. We call him 'Father' because that was Jesus's favourite way of addressing him. I've used 'she' for the Holy Spirit - following an early Syrian theologian, Ephrem - here .
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:11 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
What would you say to someone who says that miracles do not exist becasue they violate the laws of nature?
Thanks. I'd say 'Who created the laws of nature?' I believe God did. The resurrection of the Son of God does not violate these laws, but is part of the creation and recreation of them. An intriguing way of looking at miracles is to see them as part of recreation.
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:05 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
What are your views on fertility treatment?
Thanks. God reveals the way he has designed the universe and people to scientists through their research. I don't see a problem with couples who sadly have difficulty having babies seeking fertility treatment and now some profound christians who have had children through IVF.
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:22 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Why is there so much evil in the world? Did God intentionally create this?
Thanks. Because of human beings mostly - but I realise that there is also 'natural' evil in terms of earthquakes etc. Huge subject. Evil is the absence of good and God does not and did not intentionally create it. He gave humans free will to respond in love to him and to others.
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:20 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Good morning Bishop, Its James, Steph, laura and Beth here, what are your veiws on the euthyphro dilemma?
Hi James, Steph, laura and Beth. Wow! I think this is to do with Plato's question whether things are good because God commands them or are good in themselves. Great question. God is utterly good and knows what is good for the universe and for people. He doesn't command things which aren't good. Maybe not much help, but all I can do in a crowded cafe at the moment...
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:32 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
The prime mover is what causes everything like a domino effect. some christians believe that god is the prime mover so he therefore causes everything including that what is bad and evil. do you agree with this?
Thanks. No. The God and Father of Jesus Christ is much more personal and involved in the world and our lives than Aristotle's Prime Mover. He created and still creates. He is deeply involved and concerned with his world, but since he gives us free will, then not everything that happens is in line with his will. As I said when I came to QE a couple of weeks ago - and was used in the Today programme clip - God is totally against rape, racism and apartheid., They happen and he counteracts them through people who seek the good.
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
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Bishop Graham
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26 Jan, 2011 09:34 AM
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Previously Bishop Graham wrote:
Previously Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne wrote:
Good morning Bishop, Its James, Steph, laura and Beth here, what are your veiws on the euthyphro dilemma?
Hi James, Steph, laura and Beth. Wow! I think this is to do with Plato's question whether things are good because God commands them or are good in themselves. Great question. God is utterly good and knows what is good for the universe and for people. He doesn't command things which aren't good. Maybe not much help, but all I can do in a crowded cafe at the moment...
So if commands only goodness, why is it that evil happens?
Thanks. Because people too often go against his commands of good of their own God-given free will. He doesn't force people. A longer answer on natural evil I have attempted on the Gillingham thread - first discussion. Have a look..
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Fifth live discussion Wed 26 Jan 2011, Queen Elizabeth School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset
