tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4634451676404955482024-03-18T21:03:16.413+00:00Ex-ChristadelphiansHave doubts? questions? You're not aloneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger621125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-25311937350338055432024-03-04T11:33:00.002+00:002024-03-04T11:33:50.240+00:00 A tale of two lions<div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXB1E5GP268wv-WfbICiGT_JlUaB60783Wbi8pjlv1GlqmxxT7wfgcI4ZlX3lYjhvMCkibn2tXqcDi8z1kWfWOSbhyz9OIsHFPy6-_e56SbCT25XpwMOBKJFIpzyux8p9-c035OeyTfzdT_iNNSgIFlKrqNpbqbMPweH9pRLjdJ1ePbJSIzxc1Fk8T4bE/w200-h134/lions-1660044_640.jpg" width="200" /></div></div><p> <b>By Jon Morgan</b> <br /></p><p></p><p>Has anyone ever told you they had a message from God for you? If so,
have you ever felt worried that you might be attacked by a lion if you
responded wrongly?</p> <p>The Bible contains two such stories - fairly
close together, actually. I think they’re interesting in themselves, but
even more interesting when compared.</p><p></p><b><b><b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2024/02/29/a-tale-of-two-lions.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article<br /></a></b></b></b></b>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-36456989205242477692023-11-01T11:15:00.001+00:002023-11-01T11:15:30.509+00:00A Diamond's Tale<p><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkKYLe4_1nxH9W_DabM8h52TGkjhYjyZ3TC2klYIpf8UMe1ZE9Aadwx_1KM_NidI5W1iei8Lo7w3v4aIDrbIy1vyJHHAFIkBa4bpw2GUS4Ab116OnOcvAipv1p6FmdUunNWLJcU8KTWxcuneWdPAqWy_RwdcifKJUHUyfCDufkvvUu75OqUWYSLAHSq4/s640/gems-1445315_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkKYLe4_1nxH9W_DabM8h52TGkjhYjyZ3TC2klYIpf8UMe1ZE9Aadwx_1KM_NidI5W1iei8Lo7w3v4aIDrbIy1vyJHHAFIkBa4bpw2GUS4Ab116OnOcvAipv1p6FmdUunNWLJcU8KTWxcuneWdPAqWy_RwdcifKJUHUyfCDufkvvUu75OqUWYSLAHSq4/w200-h113/gems-1445315_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></b><b>By Jon Morgan</b></p><p>Some may be interested in my latest post. This time it's a story, inspired by a sermon, and with an <span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">author's note afterward partly based on my Christadelphian experiences.</span></span></p><p><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2023/10/31/a-diamonds-tale.html" target="_blank">A Diamond's Tale</a></span></span><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><p></p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-46815210702719135672023-08-17T16:28:00.000+01:002023-08-17T16:28:58.349+01:00 Remembering Uzzah<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB1A9Q2XFRXYc3Ink_ibuktVnS2wN0NPNHw1opwVt6hhMQp2qdDS6ON1Cy0PMl3HRiNS2CbJdcyVzLKrhLbhkcVSzoH1-dhxaHUwAjM8g3uwJankHi7gezOsk_VqT3EvieXUnH5rSmeI3lsaAI01wv_aHISUwlk5bkhzfw-MrQspXD1iVns7sC0XAdaU/s400/ArkCovenantMontana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="400" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB1A9Q2XFRXYc3Ink_ibuktVnS2wN0NPNHw1opwVt6hhMQp2qdDS6ON1Cy0PMl3HRiNS2CbJdcyVzLKrhLbhkcVSzoH1-dhxaHUwAjM8g3uwJankHi7gezOsk_VqT3EvieXUnH5rSmeI3lsaAI01wv_aHISUwlk5bkhzfw-MrQspXD1iVns7sC0XAdaU/w200-h155/ArkCovenantMontana.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>By Jon Morgan</b> <br /><p></p><p>Have you heard the story of Uzzah? He was a follower of God who was
struck down by God for daring to try and protect God’s special box. And
today his story provides a troubling example of believers desperately
trying to find someone, anyone to blame so they don’t have to blame God.</p> <p>So I wanted to remember him - <em>without</em> excusing God.</p><p></p><b><b><b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2023/08/16/remembering-uzzah.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article<br /></a></b></b></b></b>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-70018050720144784722022-12-06T14:19:00.000+00:002022-12-06T14:19:19.553+00:00New Life<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_YbbbiC9rAid463-hQPnIp59UXbfZimWSuXdanFW7TSF2lE4CzEt1Eqb7rrUb6w9CsnpNLujPit9ywtcEdIIivw0bgQUWP_NEWtiCCV18sxzsOQYmSBnmzaDNs7qsRJbmLPTiyrYZ7OdASAvpVBXT_s1xxjDBiezK-hffcR3-Gb7uB2cycRGulPA/s600/zzz123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="600" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_YbbbiC9rAid463-hQPnIp59UXbfZimWSuXdanFW7TSF2lE4CzEt1Eqb7rrUb6w9CsnpNLujPit9ywtcEdIIivw0bgQUWP_NEWtiCCV18sxzsOQYmSBnmzaDNs7qsRJbmLPTiyrYZ7OdASAvpVBXT_s1xxjDBiezK-hffcR3-Gb7uB2cycRGulPA/w200-h153/zzz123.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><b>By Jon Morgan</b><p></p><p>It's a bit different from other posts featured here, but some might appreciate my <a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/personal/2022/11/30/new-life.html" target="_blank">latest post</a>. There's baptism, and discussion of building a new life after leaving religion - and lots of ducklings.</p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com69tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-61698743084112958492022-11-15T15:21:00.001+00:002022-11-19T14:40:50.200+00:00Essay: Jesus, Christianity and Other Religions<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghj9_mIPnVBXwt3aZlGuAEQ07NXjRQAkXg5k8lvuV8nja01yG3dBjFz9Uml8e5QGzmjagVNYNyMp5t8qPdsPPovD_pqcOTzejdNOrRkR7_nQtM3fY3djU0lw-0D0CfKNgcWQbnr4PRn_-oPgc0x3H3I7BFC-k-GoZtvU3WU4wwghH-OBmldtUhLMtM/s640/bible-808633_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghj9_mIPnVBXwt3aZlGuAEQ07NXjRQAkXg5k8lvuV8nja01yG3dBjFz9Uml8e5QGzmjagVNYNyMp5t8qPdsPPovD_pqcOTzejdNOrRkR7_nQtM3fY3djU0lw-0D0CfKNgcWQbnr4PRn_-oPgc0x3H3I7BFC-k-GoZtvU3WU4wwghH-OBmldtUhLMtM/w200-h133/bible-808633_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <b>From Stan Anonymous<br /></b><p></p><p> Many, many years ago, I was asked, by the "Arranging Brethren" not to
attend the Christadelphians any more, because I was having severe doubts
about my beliefs in the Bible.</p><p>I feel that it may be possible for me to help <span style="font-size: 17px;"><u>some</u></span> who have come out of the
Christadelphian error but who feel lost without some kind of faith (as I
was, many years ago). So I have written an essay to help.</p><p><b>Note: </b>I know that some leave the Christadelphians and are
not really bothered about religion any more. These may find my essay
interesting, but equally, they may find it irrelevant to their needs,
also boring.</p><p>Also note that, although I should be willing to engage in a posting “conversation” with
someone that seeks further information, I shall not want to be arguing
with anyone about anything that they feel is erroneous in my essay. I
simply would not have the time. It’s offered, warts and all, as it says
in the preliminary notes.</p><p>For those interested, the essay can be found <a href="https://1drv.ms/w/s!AtUx9xwnnEBAggmzC-KRt9scASwb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /></p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-47630651116052875212022-03-01T13:47:00.000+00:002022-03-01T13:47:07.525+00:00 When prophecy comes true<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhH3ITHYgeXXK_UX7g0eKbNmoSeVSosO2R4zTi_wSiuyV2EgmaQRvrQd-d4M42SJ0qDCNT7s1PVYIUAeiD40SIlUo7diebPV-hq0QJ5JgMW9Nbc8aNe0b0xJmqBE7hAs_1qocRjDtweAx37786X-S-BFkLyINPdGr86xKPq8NxsKMv7uWa3cqTqyrhh=s640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhH3ITHYgeXXK_UX7g0eKbNmoSeVSosO2R4zTi_wSiuyV2EgmaQRvrQd-d4M42SJ0qDCNT7s1PVYIUAeiD40SIlUo7diebPV-hq0QJ5JgMW9Nbc8aNe0b0xJmqBE7hAs_1qocRjDtweAx37786X-S-BFkLyINPdGr86xKPq8NxsKMv7uWa3cqTqyrhh=w200-h133" width="200" /></a></div><b>By Jon Morgan</b><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Right now, the world is reeling from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
And some Christadelphians are excited about it. Just like so many times
before. Prophecy is unfolding before their eyes. The end times are
here, and the return of Jesus is just around the corner. It’s the
fulfilment of God’s great plan, and anyone who happens to be hurt by it
is just unfortunate collateral damage.</p><p></p> <p>But that’s not really what I want to talk about. I want to talk about<br /> prophecy that really <em>does</em> come true.</p><p></p><p><b><b><b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2022/02/28/when-prophecy-comes-true.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article</a></b></b></b> <br /></b></p><p></p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com81tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-73962409212456446502021-12-19T12:32:00.002+00:002021-12-19T12:42:56.576+00:00Christmas from the Archives<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFiAy7nYREMOXUsPVX6MS8EsD3x9BKegrQr2CfTbVMW4wp5P-5_DvTAr1oz-hPdKwkydD_3Jv_rpCWodYexC6z-7-YWXEb-p-XgBfuy6oDZaXEsXt_LFitxmYyat32bU1uLPZxcgNwazsVFsqIpd6D56RHUayEecw9w1Jc_PR6FIikxHWWME5WFghW=s640" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="574" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFiAy7nYREMOXUsPVX6MS8EsD3x9BKegrQr2CfTbVMW4wp5P-5_DvTAr1oz-hPdKwkydD_3Jv_rpCWodYexC6z-7-YWXEb-p-XgBfuy6oDZaXEsXt_LFitxmYyat32bU1uLPZxcgNwazsVFsqIpd6D56RHUayEecw9w1Jc_PR6FIikxHWWME5WFghW=w179-h200" width="179" /></a></div> <b>By Jon Morgan</b><p></p><p>Different people following this site will have different views of Christmas. Clearly it contains both religious elements and secular elements. As it's less than a week away, I thought I'd link a few Christmas posts from the archives.<br /></p><p>For myself, last night I went to a carols concert in a cathedral, and really enjoyed it. I don't believe the events referenced in many of the carols actually happened, but enjoy the music and the memories. On Christmas Day I expect I'll spend time with family members. Religion will probably get a mention, but it won't be the centre of the day.</p><p>Merry Christmas to all readers!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><a href="https://www.ex-christadelphians.com/2016/12/christmas-cartoon.html" target="_blank">Christmas cartoon</a></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_iSm17m_XbtSxtKYmFytAjEpGGa2haJvBC5izPwDp5ST7PFCVcHz00ecwnjsReRvemfysQHvSr3UuVkRUo2nI9-a2drHX0MNWB3MYULPKGh6KQdzELXWkxPIoRMN3Do_Tj7u8DJ0rYt-/s1600/Santa+JPEG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_iSm17m_XbtSxtKYmFytAjEpGGa2haJvBC5izPwDp5ST7PFCVcHz00ecwnjsReRvemfysQHvSr3UuVkRUo2nI9-a2drHX0MNWB3MYULPKGh6KQdzELXWkxPIoRMN3Do_Tj7u8DJ0rYt-/s1600/Santa+JPEG.jpg" /></a>
</h3><div style="text-align: center;">
The evidence for the existence</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of Santa is all around you</div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.ex-christadelphians.com/2016/12/a-christmas-poem-from-our-archives.html" target="_blank">A Christmas poem</a></h3><p></p><p><b>By Mancott</b> <br /></p><p>It was Sunday in a small town Ecclesia, it had fallen on a bright Christmas Day<br /> The President said "Now please bow your heads we are just now a-goin` to pray"</p><p><a href="https://www.ex-christadelphians.com/2016/12/a-christmas-poem-from-our-archives.html" target="_blank">Read more</a></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><a href="https://www.ex-christadelphians.com/2013/11/comment-of-week-from-mancott.html" target="_blank">Comment of the Week - From Mancott </a></h3><p class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I was indoctrinated into CDism from the cradle. I believed in it as fervently as I believed in Santa Claus. Then Santa Claus was revealed as my dad creeping into my bedroom with presents early on Christmas day. </span></p><p class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.ex-christadelphians.com/2013/11/comment-of-week-from-mancott.html#more" target="_blank">Read more</a></span></p><h3 class="post-title" itemprop="name headline" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2017/12/24/the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html" target="_blank">The true meaning of Christmas</a></h3><p>Here in Australia, it’s Christmas time. The houses sport Christmas
lights, the streets have Christmas decorations, and the shops are filled
with busy shoppers buying gifts or completing their Christmas
preparations.</p> <p>But, in among the many Christmas traditions, one religion claims to have the <i>true</i>
meaning of Christmas: A true meaning that has little to do with all the
bustle and confusion. In past years, I made this claim myself. But how
does it measure up?</p><p><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2017/12/24/the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html" target="_blank">Read more</a> <br /></p><p class="post-title" itemprop="name headline" style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="page-content col-sm-8"> <article class="post" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting"> <header class="post-header"> <h3 class="post-title" itemprop="name headline" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2019/12/29/the-greatest-story-and-the-greatest-gift.html" target="_blank">The greatest story and the greatest gift</a></h3></header></article></div><p>Last week, I went along to a local church’s Christmas play. Usually,
it’s just a bit of fun for the children. I expected to hear claims about
the True Meaning of Christmas, and was not disappointed <a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2017/12/24/the-true-meaning-of-christmas.html">(my take)</a>.</p> <p>However,
this time the superlatives were out. The Christmas story was “The
Greatest Story Ever Told”. Baby Jesus was “The Greatest Gift Ever
Given”. And this was all completely free, with no strings attached.</p><p><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2019/12/29/the-greatest-story-and-the-greatest-gift.html" target="_blank">Read more</a></p><h3 class="post-title" itemprop="name headline" style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2017/04/19/was-jesus-born-in-bethlehem.html" target="_blank">Was Jesus born in Bethlehem?</a></h3><p>A few days ago, I discussed a positive case for the resurrection story
having grown over time. There is a similar case for Jesus’ birth in
Bethlehem being a later addition, though it’s a lot simpler: Only
Matthew and Luke make explicit claims about Jesus being born in
Bethlehem, they have completely separate stories, and prophecy gives a
good reason for them to want to claim a birth in Bethlehem.</p><p><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2017/04/19/was-jesus-born-in-bethlehem.html" target="_blank">Read more</a> <br /></p><p> </p><p> <br /></p><p class="post-title" itemprop="name headline" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></p><p> </p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com213tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-38276640496912976382021-12-14T11:07:00.001+00:002021-12-14T11:09:20.664+00:00A couple of books<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi63W1RqqK-XMjjwC0T_-WbI2ZEz4dsFkBw3BElwwqIcAw_NzYvZ-P6Yz2wFFlufZFb8aMIW4eygGwU0t80V5Wn0_I2zvJ3uZtEuJBVvz8NeQ6ZjTWkjPi5xlBXNkzScIbqHeFVCcttf4GrQpRw0CQCzrk0AMRxbokphaAkah7VSr6idzhoTisNiYZs=s640" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi63W1RqqK-XMjjwC0T_-WbI2ZEz4dsFkBw3BElwwqIcAw_NzYvZ-P6Yz2wFFlufZFb8aMIW4eygGwU0t80V5Wn0_I2zvJ3uZtEuJBVvz8NeQ6ZjTWkjPi5xlBXNkzScIbqHeFVCcttf4GrQpRw0CQCzrk0AMRxbokphaAkah7VSr6idzhoTisNiYZs=w200-h133" width="200" /></a></div><br /> <b>By Jon Morgan</b> <br /><p></p><p>There were a couple of books I read last year which I found helpful with working through my strict, literalist religious upbringing, and they might be of interest to others here.<br /></p><h3 id="the-story-of-god-a-biblical-comedy-about-love-and-hate"><span><a name='more'></a></span>The Story of God: A Biblical Comedy about Love (and Hate)</h3> <p>This
was probably the book in 2020 that most frequently had me laughing out
loud (though that may say more about me than about the book).<br /></p> <p>I
don’t know how many people would actually categorise it as non-fiction,
but it is an interpretation of the Bible, which much of my family would
be very quick to place in the “non-fiction” category. And in the
sections on Genesis and Revelation in particular I’m convinced it’s as
true as the Bible is. As it says:</p> <blockquote> <p>Based on <del>a true story</del> the Bible</p> </blockquote> <p>Over the years I’ve read the Bible many times. I’m still familiar with it. And it’s that that makes this book both hilarious and healing for me.</p> <p>Part
of what sets it apart is that even the most surprising things in it
have chapter and verse against them. Sure, those verses wouldn’t usually
be <i>interpreted</i> that way. Perhaps they were taken in an
unexpected direction, or perhaps they were taken literally for comic
effect. But the verses are there.</p> <p>The story is the story of a God who could create a massive universe, then fixate on one world:</p> <blockquote> <p>The
universe was massive, filled with stars and galaxies and planets. There
was probably life sprinkled through it, God thought, but quickly
realized that didn’t matter to him at all. What happened in the rest of
the universe was of zero interest to God.</p> <p>No, he was interested in one world. The earth creatures who know and obey him were the main things - the <i>only</i>
things. He was already thinking of them - how they would love him - how
he would test them. (They would fail the test, he’d already decided.
That was alright; he was excited about the idea of disciplining them for
it.)</p> </blockquote> <p>From the curious tale of creating trees
before the rest of the universe to the multiple Jesuses of Revelation,
from God’s love of BBQ to the bat-birds of the law, I think it really
works. It’s got some of the things we ex-Christians criticise about the
Bible, but it’s also got a compelling narrative.</p> <p>It’s the story of a self-critical God. Of someone who doesn’t always understand the decisions he makes, but who has to be <i>right</i>. Of someone who enjoys smiting people or burning them up, but isn’t quite as all powerful or in control as he thinks.</p> <p>I also read the sequel, <i>The Trouble with God</i>,
which branched out from the Bible into the Koran, the Book of Mormon,
and L Ron Hubbard’s writings. It was in the same style and definitely
fun, but probably less so for me because I was less clear on the
references.</p><h3 id="small-gods">Small Gods</h3> <p>Terry Pratchett's Discworld contains a lot of humour. However, from a religious perspective <i>Small Gods</i> stands out to me: It’s a great story, and there are just so many wonderful quotes about religion.</p> <p>It’s
the story of the Great God Om in reduced circumstances while the
religious hierarchy set up in his name flourishes. Of a true believer
seeing how the sausage is made. Of the consequences of dogma. Of words
twisted in the hands of people seeking power. Of people finding their
place in the world:</p> <blockquote> <p>No matter what your skills, there was a place for you in the Citadel.</p> <p>And
if your skill lay in asking the wrong kinds of questions or losing the
right kinds of wars, the place might just be the furnaces of purity, or
the Quisition’s pits of justice.</p> <p>A place for everyone. And everyone in their place.</p> </blockquote> <p>It
has all of Terry Pratchett’s native wit and brilliance, but like much
of his work contains serious messages. There is much here that I wish I
could have seen and understood 10 or 15 years ago - not that I would
have been ready for it back then, of course…</p> <p>In particular, there
was so much I recognised of how we were taught to accept the Bible -
human words from many writers - as the infallible message of an
omnipotent God. That we were meant to distrust our own experiences
rather than distrust those words:</p> <blockquote> <p>“He says here he went on a ship that sailed to an island on the edge and he looked over and-</p> <p>“Lies,”
said Vorbis evenly. “And it would make no difference even if they were
not lies. Truth lies within, not without. In the words of the Great God
Om, as delivered through his chosen prophets. Our eyes may deceive us,
but our God never will.”</p> </blockquote> <p>While dismissing (without even bothering to read them) other religious books, such as the Qu’ran, that made similar claims:</p> <blockquote> <p>It
was the biggest non-magical library in the world. Half the philosophers
of Ephebe seemed to live there now, and Omnia was even producing one or
two of its own. And even priests were coming to spend some time in it,
because of the collection of religious books. There were one thousand,
two hundred and eighty-three religious books in there now, each one -
according to itself - the only book any man need ever read. It was sort
of nice to see them all together. As Didactylos used to say, you had to
laugh.</p></blockquote><p>We were taught to believe that every word in the Bible was the literal word of God. This book both points out the problems with that and how religion can be used to gain power and authority to perform atrocities. <br /></p><p> </p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-66224540681744332232021-04-03T05:42:00.000+01:002021-04-03T05:42:34.408+01:00Bible in the News - Discussion post<p><a href="http://www.bibleinthenews.com/Podcasts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Bible in the News</a> is a Christadelphian podcast which aims to "provide a weekly analysis of world politics and events in the light of Bible prophecy". Recently it has frequently come up in discussion here, particularly with relation to a Brexit post.<br /></p><p>This is intended as a discussion post for Bible in the News. It can also be used as a discussion post for anything else related to Christadelphian prophecy interpretation or current events.<br /></p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com93tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-56918918234524222482021-02-27T08:00:00.001+00:002021-02-27T08:00:06.885+00:00Who was Robert Roberts?<p><b>by Phynnodderee</b><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UE5N2FxX42KoEgFk3F-Bo2MJEc9d5WI9dOgz4FPjiCpvzJMy5pB4JF3eVGeYmOcKWJa9t_ELWtzrlASagHcp-5IP6hhwJTp_38wfU3d51CvRYjNJhrVpG-WdqdiLed14SrHYvE7e7_oT/s251/220px-RR_Portrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="251" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UE5N2FxX42KoEgFk3F-Bo2MJEc9d5WI9dOgz4FPjiCpvzJMy5pB4JF3eVGeYmOcKWJa9t_ELWtzrlASagHcp-5IP6hhwJTp_38wfU3d51CvRYjNJhrVpG-WdqdiLed14SrHYvE7e7_oT/w175-h200/220px-RR_Portrate.jpg" width="175" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Growing up,
I had an image of Robert Roberts as a clear-sighted, intelligent man who cut
through the tangle of religious ideas that had accumulated over the centuries
to establish a simple, rational, authentic religion. But I actually knew very
little about him. Years later, when I decided to find out who he really was, I
discovered he wasn’t quite the man I was taught to believe.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Brief bio</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Robert
Roberts was born on 8 April 1839 in Aberdeen, Scotland. As a child he heard
John Thomas preach and a few years later he started reading the magazine <i>The
Herald of the Kingdom and the Age to Come</i>. So excited was he by this new
take on religion that he eagerly read <i>Elpis Israel</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, which began a lifelong obsession. At 14 he
was baptised (the first of two immersions, as he would later decide that this
first baptism was incompetent). At 20 he moved to Edinburgh, where there was an
ecclesia, and married the similarly serious and devout Jane Norrie. The couple
moved to Huddersfield and – encouraged by Dr. Thomas – eventually settled in
Birmingham, where RR made a living as a reporter.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Zealously supported by his wife, he devoted the rest of his life to
preaching. He did a phenomenal amount of lecturing and writing, with an intensity
which sometimes put considerable strain on his health. He became the editor of </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Christadelphian</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> and the de facto leader of the
Christadelphian community in Britain. He died in San Francisco on 23 September
1898, aged 59, on the way back from his second preaching tour of Australia and
New Zealand. He is buried in New York beside John Thomas.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">What sort of man was RR?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">RR’s defining characteristic was his intense preoccupation with the
Bible and promoting his own understanding of it. The Thomasist approach to
religion – rigid and brutally logical – seems to have appealed to his type of
mind. Above all, he desperately wanted Christ to return. With his single-minded
belief that the only thing in life that mattered was preparing for the Kingdom,
he had no time for frivolity. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Everything</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> had to be
about Bible study and preaching. He did not appear to need or want any other
form of mental stimulation. In his biography of RR, Islip Collyer notes how
frequently he slipped into discussion of the Bible from ordinary conversation.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">RR was a plain, unsophisticated kind of man. In photos, he always seems
to need a haircut. I believe he was rarely insincere; it seems to me that he
was only trying to convince people of what he genuinely believed was true, in
the only way he knew how (clumsy and insensitive though it may have been). He
did not care about giving offence so long as he could make his point. As a
result, he could turn friends into enemies. He was also very stubborn and would
not tolerate opinions that differed from his. He was involved in disagreements
with other brethren that essentially amounted to personal rivalries. Although he
claimed not to have any authority, he behaved as though he did.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Although Collyer’s biography is rather fawning, he is not always blind
to RR’s faults and notes that it was all too easy for him to imagine “</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">that his personal prejudices [had] a scriptural sanction which in point
of fact [was] wholly lacking. … A candid critic could have shown that there was
a much stronger Scriptural case against that somewhat too long hair than
against many of the little things which RR condemned</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Like Dr. Thomas, RR favoured a style of religion that was intensely logical
almost to the exclusion of all humanity. He disliked the contemporary trend
towards what he considered ‘effeminate’ religion, which allowed for more nuance
and acknowledgement of uncertainty. He had no time for contemporary social
concerns or the desperate plight of the Victorian poor; his job was far
loftier, the exalted task of getting the right doctrines into people’s heads.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I suspect that RR had Asperger’s. He had a straightforward, rather
literal way of thinking. His all-consuming focus on the Bible (and John Thomas’s
interpretation of it) seems like the kind of intense special interest that
people with Asperger’s sometimes have. He also had a degree of naivety and
gullibility (as demonstrated by the fraudulent investment schemes he fell for
in the 1880s and 1890s). His social skills seem to have suffered not only from
his intense religiosity, which made him turn every conversation towards his beliefs,
but also from his tactlessness. It’s possible that Collyer was inadvertently
describing the artlessness of many autistic people when he wrote: “He was
almost devoid of dignity as it is usually understood in the world.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Family life</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">RR had a lifelong affection for his wife. They seem to have been well
suited in terms of character and tastes, both being very zealous and
serious-minded. They weren’t, however, a particularly endearing couple: in my
opinion the pair of them needed a serious grounding in reality and perhaps even
in ordinary humanity. Collyer points out that, lacking a close circle of
friends to provide him with tactful criticism, RR had no source of feedback
except his wife. She was probably the only one who could have persuaded him to
broaden his thinking, but instead she reinforced his beliefs and encouraged his
obsession.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The couple had seven children, three of whom survived to adulthood. Commenting
on the deaths of two of their children within days of each other, Collyer says:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Robert Roberts gave to some of us
the impression of being a hard father with a Victorian firmness reinforced by
an exceptionally severe religious discipline; but taking a distant view from
very different times we can understand. He regarded human life as of very
little value except as a possible preparation for the Kingdom of God. Always he
took the long view, and no doubt he expected too much from his children, but
there could be no question as to his love for them.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Two of the children grew up to be good Christadelphians – but there was
one who got away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Final journey and death</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Some time after leaving England on his second trip to Australasia in
1897, RR received word from his son Edward that he and his wife Mary no longer
wanted to be Christadelphians. (We can speculate on whether the timing was
significant: did Edward deliberately wait until his father had departed on the
long voyage in order to avoid a scene?) By the time he finally landed at San
Francisco on his way back to Britain, the shocking news seems to have been
weighing heavily on him. According to RR’s own intransigent doctrine, there
could be nothing but annihilation for his son and daughter-in-law at Christ’s
return unless they had a change of heart. His daughter Sarah Jane believed that
this burden of sorrow contributed to his death. On the morning of 23 September
1898, some local brethren found him dead in his hotel room. He had apparently
succumbed to heart failure.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Influence on subsequent generations</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Now I know more about RR, the culture I grew up in makes a lot more
sense. The insistence on study and correct doctrine; the inflexibility; the
lack of emotion; and the general dreariness. Along with the Bible Companion,
which he drew up aged 15, RR bequeathed to subsequent generations of
Christadelphians a very particular mindset. Much of the culture (at least in
Britain) seems to be the product of his personality.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">What do I think of RR now?</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">During the course of my reading I felt ambivalent about RR. Sometimes I
felt downright contempt and dislike for him, at other times I felt sorry for
him in his narrow, cold isolation. If I were being brutal I would say he was a
narrow, ignorant, small-minded, self-righteous, irritating, unimaginative,
stuffy, humourless bore. If I were being more charitable, I would say he had
the misfortune to have the kind of mind that is prone to obsessiveness, and to
encounter early in life a form of religion that seized hold of his mind and
wouldn’t let go, depriving him of a normal life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I used to hold him in high regard, but now I can see he was just an
ordinary person – an odd, obsessive little man. His fanatical
commitment to his religion was almost like an addiction. He spent his life in a self-inflicted loneliness, separated from the
vast majority of other human beings by what he would doubtless have called his
‘love of the truth’. And at the end of it all, to die alone in a hotel room in
a foreign city thousands of miles from home, perhaps broken-hearted with the
knowledge that his only surviving son had rejected the religion that he, RR,
believed was the only acceptable way to think, the only acceptable way to live.</span> <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Robert Roberts, the energetic driving force behind the spread of Christadelphianism
in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, was largely divorced from reality and saw
the world through a very limited, distorted lens. Rather than looking up to him as
someone gifted with wisdom and unique insight, I now realise he had no more of
a clue than anyone else.</span></p>
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<![endif]--></p>Phynnoddereehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00057348281393098313noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-1092280797756197142021-01-02T07:26:00.000+00:002021-01-02T07:26:52.882+00:00Who's next?<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EE78bgDBwxoVEoDRdWfQo0KlMDHf6XVxak0lLm4dfqJMq6n5huUbgRqZoWCWtojxzGSFHvO5g30KGScOq4wORs-yKVkuVZHDmBzpM-Q4-G2Ga7IiVlHrTV4TpVlb1hyphenhyphenTbmQYuOAFqS8/s640/question-mark-1019820_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EE78bgDBwxoVEoDRdWfQo0KlMDHf6XVxak0lLm4dfqJMq6n5huUbgRqZoWCWtojxzGSFHvO5g30KGScOq4wORs-yKVkuVZHDmBzpM-Q4-G2Ga7IiVlHrTV4TpVlb1hyphenhyphenTbmQYuOAFqS8/w200-h200/question-mark-1019820_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> <b>By Jon Morgan</b><br /><p></p><p>
</p><p>This year I’ve been reflecting on how much I changed in the 2010s.
Some of the changes could probably have been expected given my age and
stage of life, but leaving religion in particular wasn’t expected by me
or by those around me.</p> <p>It now makes me wonder how many others
there are like former-me: People who are young, indoctrinated, dedicated
to their religion. Maybe they’re already facing doubts, or maybe they
will in the next five or ten years. Maybe they’re already thinking of
quitting, or maybe they just view the doubts as things to be conquered.</p> <p>If
I were going back in time, what might I say to former-me? And if anyone
feeling these things happens to be reading this post, what might I want
them to be aware of?<br /><b><b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2020/12/31/the-tempestuous-2010s-whos-next.html#read-more" target="_blank"><br />Click here to read the rest of this article</a></b></b></b></p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-33499390415046853252020-08-14T10:18:00.000+01:002020-08-14T10:18:47.032+01:00What Elijah shows us about God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PWTQy3ObZF0par3dqo6eVntg7Hf8e6HBuji2Y4ErY8GVVO7V46_3hjkTKQBy7ZPaOMKzHJytL2aJpnwaiOhmgeUn5-m6_jxumdGUKYZG-NhyphenhyphenG7wfbt6C6_SCJ7G7BfQCwLd8abFYU8s/s640/open-fire-3879031_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PWTQy3ObZF0par3dqo6eVntg7Hf8e6HBuji2Y4ErY8GVVO7V46_3hjkTKQBy7ZPaOMKzHJytL2aJpnwaiOhmgeUn5-m6_jxumdGUKYZG-NhyphenhyphenG7wfbt6C6_SCJ7G7BfQCwLd8abFYU8s/w200-h195/open-fire-3879031_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"> <b>By Jon Morgan</b><br /></p><p>
</p><p>Growing up, I always liked the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel. Now I see that it shows problems with God.</p><p>
<br /><b><b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2020/08/13/what-elijah-shows-us-about-god.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article</a></b></b></b></p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-14447192986588853332020-08-10T14:15:00.000+01:002020-08-10T14:15:28.984+01:00Can we trust God's promises?<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPkakxU7k-GE1zgoJ4eVaybFmQOZkPj4lN3fPn7YJJQL6ZC8bX__u9Q7U4oKVu7JfzpY14al9ZZg07XDcujWGJX9LbG_n9zwdyCjlyhU4X9eQammnGok_KcdFjOsBr0g7HWOK5rgX58Y/s640/shaking-hands-3091908_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="640" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPkakxU7k-GE1zgoJ4eVaybFmQOZkPj4lN3fPn7YJJQL6ZC8bX__u9Q7U4oKVu7JfzpY14al9ZZg07XDcujWGJX9LbG_n9zwdyCjlyhU4X9eQammnGok_KcdFjOsBr0g7HWOK5rgX58Y/w200-h109/shaking-hands-3091908_640.jpg" width="197" /></a> <b>By Jon Morgan</b><b><b></b></b><br /></p><p>
</p><p>The words from Mendelssohn’s <em>Elijah</em> echo in my head:</p> <blockquote> <p>If with all your hearts ye truly seek Me,<br /> Ye shall ever surely find Me,<br /> Thus saith our God.</p> </blockquote> <p>It’s a song I like a lot (yes, still), and it seems like such a simple promise. But was it ever really true?<br />
<br /><b><b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2020/08/06/can-we-trust-gods-promises.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article</a></b></b></b></p>Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-36624530559938663582020-04-07T13:39:00.001+01:002021-03-16T14:16:25.588+00:00How a dangerous pandemic works for (God's) good<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFntQNAhoJMn7_SAYiySsaZgwKqIUYk47u8R2oyAHgPFoceBScU2ZIrWF813Kl3GGKGnuiLFr-U3qr0Nq4L_Lud65xWOLeS-_P51CbO9gq3LEw79Ke4mGDaDyqxGxpZxYvceB1Jn_-PY/s1600/covid-19-4960254_640.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="640" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFntQNAhoJMn7_SAYiySsaZgwKqIUYk47u8R2oyAHgPFoceBScU2ZIrWF813Kl3GGKGnuiLFr-U3qr0Nq4L_Lud65xWOLeS-_P51CbO9gq3LEw79Ke4mGDaDyqxGxpZxYvceB1Jn_-PY/s200/covid-19-4960254_640.png" width="200" /></a><b>By Jon Morgan</b><br />
<br />
In these difficult times, almost everything seems to about Covid-19. It is a pandemic that is already bad and looks like getting a lot worse.<br /><br />However, many Christians feel almost contractually obliged to look for the good side of the pandemic, and this just ends up showing <b></b><br />
the bad side of their religion.<br />
<br /><b><b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2020/04/06/how-a-dangerous-pandemic-works-for-gods-good.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article</a></b></b></b></div>
Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com94tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-79009374331885855212020-02-29T08:00:00.000+00:002020-02-29T08:00:01.639+00:00The world is bigger than Christadelphia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>By Phynnodderee</b> <br />
<br />
Growing up Christadelphian, my world was pretty small in many ways. But from the inside, the religion seemed big and important. It took me years to get a sense of perspective and realise not only that Christadelphians weren’t the authority on everything, but also just how much I’d been missing out on in terms of what the outside world had to offer.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
When I was younger, Christadelphianism was my authoritative source of knowledge and moral guidance. My sense of self-worth depended a lot on being acceptable according to Christadelphian ideas of right and wrong. I thought Christadelphians were the authority on what to think and how to live. I didn’t realise that there were other ways of seeing the world, other ways of thinking, feeling and relating. This was more than just the normal human experience of growing up in a particular culture; it was narrower than that. Christadelphianism presumes to supply all the important stuff you need to know. It acts so big and important. By comparison, the society around us, its learning, wisdom and culture, were regarded as being of little value. Bible teaching trumped all human learning and experience. <br />
<br />
This was a long time ago now, and I’ve grown up a lot. Now I can see not only how small and insignificant the Christadelphian community is on the big scale of things, but also how small-minded and narrow.<br />
<br />
The fact is that the world is so much bigger than the suffocating environment of Christadelphianism. I don’t just mean that Christadelphians make up a tiny proportion of the world population, that it’s an obscure subculture hardly anyone has heard of, and that therefore it shouldn’t intimidate anyone. I mean that the religion contains your mind and awareness within very narrow limits, denying you so much that could be experienced and benefited from. I mean that Christadelphians are impoverished because they aren’t even aware of the intellectual and cultural wealth outside their narrow belief system. They believe all of human history is following a linear path to a predetermined conclusion, which is a simple magic solution to all the world’s problems. There’s no need to think any further, no need to seriously engage with complex issues; no need to discover how we’ve advanced in understanding them through scientific enquiry, or learn from how people have responded to the human experience through artistic expression. It’s intellectually stultifying – yet you’re meant to think ‘the Truth’ is something wonderful and huge, the biggest idea in the universe, the best news ever, the deepest understanding, the profoundest wisdom. It’s nothing of the kind. <i>The world is so much bigger than Christadelphia</i>.<br />
<br />
It took me a long time to figure this out because in Christadelphia you're trained to distrust outside ideas and rely on the religion as your prime source of truth and understanding. You’re trained to believe that worldly wisdom is foolishness.<br />
<br />
When I started mentally breaking free from the religion, it lost its power to intimidate in this way. I realised Christadelphians had no authority to tell me, or anyone else for that matter, what was true, right, or good. When I realised this, my horizons expanded. There’s a whole world outside Christadelphia, and it’s rich, satisfying and rewarding beyond measure.<br />
<br />Phynnoddereehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00057348281393098313noreply@blogger.com87tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-17676070292803258532019-12-18T08:00:00.000+00:002019-12-18T08:12:07.608+00:00UK Christadelphian charities referred to Charity Commission: some thoughts<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNff-UQpzhVaiW6T8iVvZSBkL4rgguJUUXITEIhXJIna8mu_pXIYFYnWdOPl1nKFi6iLj1vH214IfSk_TcblKTbQ3ZofjPGD2QNTW9QnkIkPRCpKNojeyMmE6leG48-xvk6YKDx1QKEDwt/s1600/s300_press_release_image_2018_colour.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="300" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNff-UQpzhVaiW6T8iVvZSBkL4rgguJUUXITEIhXJIna8mu_pXIYFYnWdOPl1nKFi6iLj1vH214IfSk_TcblKTbQ3ZofjPGD2QNTW9QnkIkPRCpKNojeyMmE6leG48-xvk6YKDx1QKEDwt/s200/s300_press_release_image_2018_colour.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>By Phynnodderee</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As already reported, the National Secular Society in the UK has referred ten Christadelphian
charities to the Charity Commission, the regulator responsible for registered
charities in England and Wales. The NSS has identified content on the
charities’ websites that it says promote “deeply intolerant messages”. Here are
a few thoughts from an ex-Christadelphian perspective.</span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is the NSS complaining
about?</b> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">According to the NSS <a href="https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2019/11/christadelphian-charities-condoning-violence-and-promoting-misogyny" target="_blank">press release</a>, the charities referred to the
Commission include six ecclesias, the Christadelphian Bible Mission, the Christadelphian Sunday School
Union, the Christadelphian Advancement Trust and the Testimony magazine. The press
release states: “The National Secular Society has referred 10 Christadelphian
charities to the Charity Commission over concerns that they promote deeply
intolerant messages, despite their legal requirement to provide a public
benefit.” In a <a href="https://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/dossier-on-christadelphian-charities.pdf" target="_blank">dossier</a> submitted to the Charity Commission, the NSS cites
material from the charities’ websites that it believes may violate the Charity
Commission’s guidance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The NSS summarises its objections by saying: “We believe this content
does not meet the charity’s purpose for the public benefit, and may
additionally have the potential to incite hatred [on] the grounds of religion
or sexual orientation. In some cases the content seems to condone violence
towards LGBT people, and physical punishment of children. We also found content
promoting sexist and misogynistic views of women, and intolerant views of
people with Asperger’s Syndrome.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Charities are supposed to carry out their activities for the public
benefit, and the NSS notes that, according to the Charity Commission’s
guidelines, “views or activities that incite hatred on the grounds of race,
religion or sexual orientation cannot be for the public benefit because they
are illegal”.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is the background to this
move by the NSS?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The NSS promotes secularism, which means the separation of religion
from the state. Secularism does not mean state atheism: it means religion is a
private matter and the state cannot impose religious requirements or
discriminate against anyone on the basis of belief or non-belief.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the issues the NSS campaigns on is the granting of charitable
status to organisations that exist purely or primarily to promote religion.
Under the current rules, the advancement of religion is treated as being beneficial
to society and thus a legitimate charitable purpose. The NSS is calling for the
advancement of religion to be removed as a charitable purpose “on the grounds
that promoting religion is not inherently a public benefit and can sometimes
even cause harm to society” (quoted from <a href="https://www.secularism.org.uk/charities/charity-report" target="_blank">this report</a>).
The organisation argues that this would in no way impede charities with a
religious ethos that do genuinely beneficial work, such as relieving poverty,
because such activities would be covered by other charitable purposes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition to this, the NSS objects to charities which abuse their
status to promote intolerant views. It has previously referred other
faith-based charities to the Charity Commission with concerns that they are
promoting such views.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Are the criticisms fair?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Let’s take a closer look at the material offered as evidence. The NSS dossier
lists examples from ThisIsYourBible.com (six ecclesias apparently list this
site as their official website on the Charity Commission’s register),
CBM.org.uk, CSSU.org.uk, Christadelphia.net and TestimonyMagazine.com. Here’s a
quick summary of the headings under which the offending quotations are
categorised:<u> </u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>ThisIsYourBible.com</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Intolerance of LGBT people, condoning violence towards LGBT people (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Advocating physical punishment of children (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Intolerance of Wiccans, condoning violence towards Wiccans (2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sexism, female subjugation (4)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>CBM.org.uk</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Intolerance of LGBT+ people, equating homosexuality with child abuse
and rape (1)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sexism, female subjugation (1) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>CSSU.org.uk</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Intolerance of LGBT people (1)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sexism/female subjugation (5) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Christadelphia.net</u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Intolerance of people with Asperger’s Syndrome (2)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Intolerance of LGBT people; association of LGBT with bestiality,
disease, masochism, Nazis (1) </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>TestimonyMagazine.com</u> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Intolerance of LGBT people (1)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sexism/female subordination (1)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think it’s fair to say that the dossier does not show the
Christadelphian community in a flattering light. All of the material quoted is clearly
objectionable, with some of it verging on the hateful and paranoid. To an
ex-Christadelphian, it’s all depressingly familiar (though possibly more extreme
than what some of us heard in our ecclesias). Here I'll just take one or two examples from each heading.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Intolerance of LGBT people:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>The quoted material clearly shows condemnation
of LGBT people (though I don’t agree with the NSS that it actually condones the
use of violence or the death penalty). The most unpleasant quotation is this
one:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The life of sexual impurity is
an "ever increasing" downwards path; the endless quest for new
relationships and sexual novelty doesn't need to be described. It is
significant that having "left the natural use of the woman" (Rom.
1:27), male homosexuals descend on an "ever increasing" path of
perversion; they rarely remain where they are, in moral terms. At least two
independent surveys of gay men found that around 20% admitted having sex with
animals, compared to 3% of heterosexual man (2). The majority of homosexuals
have literally thousands of encounters over a lifetime (hence the rapid spread
of disease between them), with very few developing stable relationships (3).
There is also well documented connection between homosexuality and masochism.
The top six male serial killers in the US were all gay; as were many Nazi
concentration camp operators. The same connection is also witnessed Biblically
(Gen. 19:6-8; Jud. 19:16).” </i>(http://www.christadelphia.net/mm7-11.html)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I see nothing here but an attempt to vilify gay people with every
possible crude slur. It's a mixture of ignorance, irrational fear, dubious ‘facts’ and illogical implications.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Advocating physical punishment
of children:</b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “So, from the start, the
little child must be taught that some things are right, and others wrong. For
example, it is dangerous to interfere with electric plugs. As soon as it starts
to poke things into the wall socket, our little one should be rebuked sharply
with the key word “No!” and if it persists, given a gentle slap. The tears will
flow, but it has learned that “No!” means “I must not do this”. We must not be
put off disciplining our children because they start to cry. Solomon is
definite about this – “Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set
your heart on his crying” (Proverbs 19 v18, margin). The tears will not flow
for long. Very quickly your son or daughter will learn you mean what you say,
and the reaction to “No!” will be immediate. Later, for example when they start
to cross the road in front of an approaching car, their automatic reaction to
“No!” may save their life. / As they become toddlers, it will become more
efficient to encourage good behaviour by little rewards and generous praise,
and to punish disobedience by sanctions such as withdrawal of treats. Physical
punishment will rarely be necessary.” </i>(https://www.thisisyourbible.com/library/show/735)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m no child psychologist, and I know there are differing opinions on
the use of mild physical punishment, but I find the sentence “We must not be
put off disciplining our children because they start to cry” very unsettling,
especially within the wider context of Christadelphian relationship models,
based as they are on ideas of authority and submission. Note also that the only
justification given is from the Bible – no reference is made to actual research
on the subject.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Intolerance of Wiccans:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Those
who continue in Wicca will die in their sins.” </i>(https://www.thisisyourbible.com/questions/show/1470)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sexism and female subjugation:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>Unfortunately, sexism and misogyny are
clearly in evidence. There’s an attempt to hide it by suggesting that men and
women can still be ‘equal’ by having different ‘roles’. Typically, when
Christadelphians are arguing in favour of separate gender roles, they use
language that is intended to sound balanced and reasonable, but on analysis
reveals itself to be actually quite aggressive. What is especially alarming is
the number of quotations from the Sunday School Union website on female
subjugation. This suggests that the message of male ‘headship’ is being
hammered home to young children before they are old enough to understand any of
the issues involved.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“In Genesis 2 v18 God observed
‘it is not good that man should be alone’, and he provided Adam with a
companion. Here we have the key to the primary purpose of marriage. It is to
provide companionship. Eve was not just another man, a duplicate of Adam. She
was specially designed as ‘a helper suitable for him’. She was to provide
qualities which would complement the man’s, so that together they would make a
strong and practical partnership. Straight away, we see how the spirit of our
age has spoiled this relationship. It tries to make women and men
interchangeable, with the same opportunities. There must, it decrees, be no
discrimination. Yet God’s arrangement was balanced. The softer qualities of the
woman – her maternal instincts, geared to caring for children, her dexterity in
spinning, sewing, and weaving, her patience, sympathy and affection, all match
the virile characteristics of the man – physically stronger, organising,
planning ahead, hunting and cultivating the soil, solving problems, protecting
and defending his family.”</i> (https://www.thisisyourbible.com/library/show/241)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">These are no more than crude stereotypes which anyone with any
experience of life (not just life inside Christadelphia) knows simply do not
hold true in reality.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“We do have to recognise though
that God has made men and women differently and for a purpose. If we are
honest, most women are better than men at preparing an ecclesial supper,
talking to children and old people etc. and men are, in general, better at most
of the more leading roles. We should all delight in what we can do and get on
with it.”</i>(https://cssu.org.uk/t/pdf/study/TW3T_27.pdf)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here we simply have unsubstantiated assertions. It’s also an insult to
women disguised as a compliment: women are only good at menial tasks, so should
only be given menial tasks; men are good at prestigious tasks, so should be
given prestigious tasks. To suggest that these different types of task are of
equal status, or give equal status to the people doing them, is simply
disingenuous.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This overt and irresponsible glorification of female subservience and
disempowerment is surely incompatible with charitable status.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Intolerance of people with Asperger’s
syndrome: </b>“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our concern from a
pastoral perspective is whether “Aspergers” can be used as an acceptable excuse
for behaviour which the Bible condemns. It’s worth noting that medical and
psychiatric diagnosis over the last 150 years has moved away from daring to
define anything as “sin”; instead, much behaviour categorized as “sinful” by
the Bible has become redefined as an intrinsic condition or disorder over which
the sufferer has no power or ability to change. It must also be noted that
because a “professional” has stamped a paper diagnosing someone with
“Aspergers”, this doesn’t mean that the diagnosis is correct. … Aspergers –
real Aspergers – is genetic. However, genes don’t define behaviour, nor do they
force us to be sinful. There is a school of psychology which claims that human
beings are basically machines, responding in predictable and almost inevitable
ways to stimuli. The Bible, however, speaks of sin as being a real avoidable
offence against God, and the requirement for repentance involves a recognition
that our sin was really our sin- whatever the reason for it, it was our fault
and we must repent. It’s no good blaming human nature, an external “satan” or
Aspergers or any mental condition. These may or may not be explanatory
background factors, but they don’t take away from the real guilt of committed
sin, and our need to repent and find cleansing in Christ.”</i>(http://christadelphia.net/wwa8-5.html)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">To be fair, I’m not sure this quotation actually demonstrates
intolerance or prejudice against people with Asperger’s per se. To me it
reveals more about Christadelphian anti-science attitudes (you can’t trust those
“professionals”) and unforgiving judgementalism (even if there is a good reason
for your behaviour, you’re still to blame). There is also a cynical, disparaging
assumption that people will use any flimsy pretext to excuse their own bad
behaviour – and that so-called experts will connive at this by deliberately
redefining ‘sin’ as ‘disorder’. This reflects typical Christadelphian attitudes about
the outside world.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My conclusion is that the NSS is entirely justified in criticising this
material, which is clearly unacceptable coming from a group of “charitable”
organisations claiming to serve the public benefit. To most Christadelphians,
of course, it’s not intolerance, it’s just standing up for God’s truth. It’s
hard to know how to break through that mental wall and make people really feel
just how much pain their attitudes can cause to others.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Representative of all?</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The stuff quoted here doesn’t represent the views of all
Christadelphians (though it probably represents the views of a large majority).
It’s possible that the members of the ecclesias mentioned have never even glanced
at the website registered under their names. I can even imagine a few feeling
genuine sorrow over this toxic stuff. But that doesn’t change the fact that as
long as this material is being officially endorsed, the ecclesias and
organisations featuring it on their websites can scarcely justify their charitable
status.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Final thoughts</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In my opinion, it’s hard to argue that the promotion of Christadelphian
beliefs has any public benefit. In addition to the kind of intolerant and harmful
views the NSS is complaining about – widespread, though not universal, among
Christadelphians – the religion generally promotes a worldview in which people
are supposed to passively watch bad things happen and just wait for Jesus to
return and sort it all out. It explicitly refutes the idea of people having the
power in their own hands to make the world a better place. It does not make
engaged citizens; it does not promote individual self-belief or action; it does
not promote informed compassion and understanding.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And surely that's the opposite of what a charity is supposed to do?</span></div>
Phynnoddereehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00057348281393098313noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-36980715667314278962019-12-16T12:04:00.000+00:002019-12-16T12:04:25.585+00:00NSS refers Christadelphian charities to regulator<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As mentioned by a couple of commenters:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The National Secular Society has referred 10 Christadelphian charities to the Charity Commission over concerns that they promote deeply intolerant messages, despite their legal requirement to provide a public benefit.<br /><br />Material posted on some of the charities' websites condones the death penalty for LGBT people and Wiccans, associates being LGBT with child abuse and rape, and promotes female subservience.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2019/11/christadelphian-charities-condoning-violence-and-promoting-misogyny" target="_blank">Read more here</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/dossier-on-christadelphian-charities.pdf" target="_blank">Full report</a></blockquote>
<br /></div>
Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-33214103544392574522019-12-01T12:13:00.000+00:002019-12-01T12:13:11.329+00:00The Brexit prophecies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AXCyLxdJRonBbjh6oJqKYb2SLYJGwcxqg8C4EGcrmfiZjUg0163uQaK-3mQvubpt84gI5IiOfBmESMULdtINz-wk66lrzjdGlGwHzWY-xex0h33Oy262hsv9v3kpgaXPOOnWXi_DEgY/s1600/illustration-1835916_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AXCyLxdJRonBbjh6oJqKYb2SLYJGwcxqg8C4EGcrmfiZjUg0163uQaK-3mQvubpt84gI5IiOfBmESMULdtINz-wk66lrzjdGlGwHzWY-xex0h33Oy262hsv9v3kpgaXPOOnWXi_DEgY/s200/illustration-1835916_640.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>By Jon Morgan</b> <br />
<br />
In the lead up to the Brexit referendum, several Christian groups claimed that the Bible predicted a Leave vote, including many Christadelphians. When the Leave vote succeeded, they were quick to claim this trivial prediction as a stunning validation of the complete Bible message and a sign of impending Armageddon. However, while Brexit still seems likely to happen in some form, this year has seen it throw the UK parliamentary process into chaos, with no clear end in sight.<br />
<br />
While I don’t think scripture makes any statement on Brexit, I do think this saga has some important lessons about Bible prophecy interpretation that stretch far beyond Brexit. It’s all here: A crystal-ball gazing seer, Armageddon, even a reference to my favourite fiction from last year. Some of it is mocking, but I don’t apologise - if Christadelphians didn’t want that, they should have chosen something better than Brexit to nail their colours to the mast over.<br />
<br />
<b><b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2019/11/30/the-brexit-prophecies.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article</a></b></b></div>
Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com103tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-87839354020558836872019-10-02T15:07:00.000+01:002019-10-02T15:07:36.779+01:00Eyes opened to a tyrant god<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4qmlxZplinoK9_23dys18_t95A0FJOeLi7TtKUl7hLn9Y-15P2e7khZrZXiR8t1bCWnDFuE_C-ykFKTAZkHxWGlWHJBBflTM0ZSTaJukxqHxMM4bN04IXGpqqMQzOYf_R0egxgHCxi4/s1600/filey-2735136_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4qmlxZplinoK9_23dys18_t95A0FJOeLi7TtKUl7hLn9Y-15P2e7khZrZXiR8t1bCWnDFuE_C-ykFKTAZkHxWGlWHJBBflTM0ZSTaJukxqHxMM4bN04IXGpqqMQzOYf_R0egxgHCxi4/s200/filey-2735136_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>By Jon Morgan</b><br />
<br />
One of the dubious benefits of having been a lay preacher for over
ten years is that Bible passages often remind me of talks I built on
those passages. Recently, this happened with Ezekiel’s vision of God
leaving his temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8 - 11).<br />
<br />
Five years ago,
I used that as the starting point for my “Dies Irae” exhortation.
Ironically, I sub-titled it “Finding our Blind Spots”, but I now see
that it was <em>I</em> who had the blind spot: The passage clearly
showed the unpleasant behaviour of the God of the Bible, and I was so
busy trying to find what <em>we</em> might have done wrong that I just couldn’t see it.<br />
<br />
<b>
<b><a href="https://www.jonmorgan.info/religion/2019/09/21/eyes-opened-to-a-tyrant-god.html#read-more" target="_blank">Click here to read the rest of this article</a></b> </b></div>
Jon Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434834424707954610noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-3262329252314901352019-08-31T11:00:00.000+01:002019-08-31T11:04:04.527+01:00Well done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vxcl0ezakwwUgx6Vff_IGKNGM2cn8ZAVy6oGzKzBlqdF9rHnfsVVrUBVL0Bne432TWAvxqg3t0lp25VS66XPm7Oa7IVmbz66rJS7IAxrRacMZPsEbQaVhm-u7z8qqRAc6EsSlC12bf4P/s1600/board-2303325_960_720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vxcl0ezakwwUgx6Vff_IGKNGM2cn8ZAVy6oGzKzBlqdF9rHnfsVVrUBVL0Bne432TWAvxqg3t0lp25VS66XPm7Oa7IVmbz66rJS7IAxrRacMZPsEbQaVhm-u7z8qqRAc6EsSlC12bf4P/s200/board-2303325_960_720.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>By Phynnodderee</b> <br />
<br />
Leaving the Christadelphians can be tough, painful and demand a lot of courage. So this is a message for ex-Christadelphians who have overcome significant struggles to mentally break free from the religion and move on.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<b>Well done.</b><br />
<br />
Well done for having the courage to think outside the narrow confines in which you were raised or instructed.<br />
<br />
Well done for having the courage and integrity to follow your own conscience and convictions.<br />
<br />
Well done for having the intellectual honesty to change your mind.<br />
<br />
Well done for having the courage to leave the all-encompassing embrace of a familiar community and face the difficult and painful process of adjusting to a different kind of life.<br />
<br />
Well done for having the audacity to think for yourself.<br />
<br />
Well done for rejecting bigotry and narrow-mindedness.<br />
<br />
Well done for embracing reality even though it is sometimes harsh.<br />
<br />
<b>Well done for being an ex-Christadelphian! </b>Phynnoddereehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00057348281393098313noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-66468275414880047492019-07-10T08:00:00.000+01:002019-07-10T08:00:01.384+01:00Christadelphians and independent thinking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r_tHo0EDCZgcKb9Z1M9U5Dd_ppUmFPrWpmK18-3gTU-l1vCYkUrPuLeoyjki7vmx-kuXNF2_Q0DzU1JyooCLRQiRKBCsJ9zRNMPeq70AbTMtE39t3mTH6rDT-oKWzsBAEx2odOn37UKX/s1600/jogging-70510__340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="453" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-r_tHo0EDCZgcKb9Z1M9U5Dd_ppUmFPrWpmK18-3gTU-l1vCYkUrPuLeoyjki7vmx-kuXNF2_Q0DzU1JyooCLRQiRKBCsJ9zRNMPeq70AbTMtE39t3mTH6rDT-oKWzsBAEx2odOn37UKX/s200/jogging-70510__340.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>By Phynnodderee</b><br />
<br />
The idea of independent thinking is important to Christadelphians. They pride themselves on not following the crowd, but standing apart as a community who ‘search out the truth’ for themselves. This spirit of free thinking is supposedly part of the legacy of the pioneers, and Christadelphians believe it sets them apart from both other churches and ordinary society. I grew up with the idea that other Christians uncritically accept whatever they’re told by their clergy, while people in ‘the world’ go along unthinkingly with whatever idea happens to be in vogue.<br />
<br />
I’d like to explain why I think this idea of independent thinking is actually illusory, and what is really required of Christadelphians is conformity.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b>Starting a new movement: John Thomas</b><br />
Christadelphians celebrate Dr. Thomas as an independent thinker who was uniquely able to break free of established theology to recover the Bible’s true message. He did this through an uncompromising commitment to independent, impartial enquiry into the Scriptures. While he was arguably a freethinker in the sense that he wasn’t afraid to disagree with the religious authorities of his day, and doggedly promoted his interpretations regardless of how many people disagreed with him, there are two important things to bear in mind before elevating Dr. Thomas too high.<br />
<br />
Firstly, the idea of his independence of mind needs to be carefully qualified. His ideas weren’t entirely original, but influenced by the general religious climate of his times, specifically the various restorationist ideas in the United States. He wasn’t the only one challenging established Christianity in the nineteenth century; he was part of a bigger phenomenon.<br />
<br />
Secondly, to whatever extent he deserves to be credited with independent thinking himself, he proved unwilling to tolerate it in others. He went from calling for freedom of thought to harshly criticising anyone who disagreed with him. The privilege of thinking for yourself, it would seem, did not extend to other people. In a pamphlet published in 1881, <i>A Glance at the History and Mystery of Christadelphianism</i> (full text available <a href="https://www.christadelphianresearch.com/historymystery.htm" target="_blank">here</a>), David King writes that Thomas was scathing about former associates who did not agree with his changing views:<br />
<br />
<i>“A few lines will show the kind of treatment those received who followed Dr. Thomas for some time after his re-immersion, but who did not advance with him in his more recent speculations. In this country were a few such, whom the doctor pleased to call Dowieites, and others, somewhat similar, in America, whom he named Benjamites. These parties, declining to follow him, when he made the resurrection of the saints in mortal bodies part of his gospel, were consequently handed over to Satan as deniers of the faith. Then, according to their testimony, he poured out a torrent of reviling…”</i><br />
<br />
To give another example, a review of <i>Elpis Israel</i> said:<br />
<br />
<i>“The author’s contempt for other men, other churches, other sects is quite unbounded. To disagree with Dr. Thomas is to be a fool, if not worse.”</i> (William Norrie, <i>The Early History of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God</i>, Vol. III, p254, PDF available <a href="https://www.christadelphianresearch.com/theearlyhistorynorrie.htm" target="_blank">here</a>)<br />
<br />
<b>Taking over the helm: Robert Roberts</b><br />
Before Dr. Thomas’s followers in Britain became a unified body going by the official name of Christadelphians, there was a degree of diversity in their beliefs and practices. But when Robert Roberts began to whip this loosely knit community into shape, setting out the official doctrines in a statement of faith and writing the ecclesial rulebook, there emerged an official line that had to be toed. Like Thomas, Roberts didn’t care about being a crowd-pleaser; he preached out of staunch personal conviction and steadfastly promoted the new faith no matter how discouraging the results. Freethinking? Perhaps. But he also followed the same pattern as Thomas in demanding freedom for himself but not tolerating differing ideas in others. Like his mentor, he was contemptuous of anyone who disagreed with him.<br />
<br />
Roberts was the de facto leader of the community in his day, and if he didn’t tolerate dissent, it’s hard to claim that there was any freedom for individual members to hold their own views, or at least openly express them. Some Christadelphians might claim that the pioneers needed to be this strict in order to establish a firm foundation of truth and prevent wrong ideas from creeping in and derailing the young community. But that is to assume that whatever the pioneers said was right, and to ascribe to them the kind of unquestionable authority that Christadelphians accuse other churches of vesting in their clergy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.christadelphianresearch.com/highchurchchristadelphians.htm" target="_blank">This article</a> published in <i>The Fraternal Visitor</i> in 1894 (well worth reading in its entirety) indicates how some Christadelphians around this time were unhappy about the growing authoritarianism and hostility to freedom of thought. The writer, “J.J.H.”, echoes the complaint that I’ve heard from many Christadelphians in more recent years: that among some brothers and sisters there is a tendency to treat the pioneers, the editor of <i>The Christadelphian</i>, or the ecclesia as infallible authorities, and to dismiss dissident views as the product of arrogance or the gripes of dissatisfied grumblers. Such people tend to assume that the truth has already been discovered in its entirety, and that there is therefore no need for further discussion. “J.J.H.” is concerned that the Christadelphians of his own time (just a few years before the death of Robert Roberts) are required to stop thinking as soon as they get baptised:<br />
<br />
<i>“Many – perhaps the majority – are baptised and admitted to the Ecclesia in early manhood, or early womanhood. It is required of them that they shall be for ever satisfied with the mental enquiry through which they have passed, and that instead of continuing to possess an open mind, they shall thereafter stifle all questioning, and accept the authority of "The Christadelphian Ecclesia" as being the custodian and proclaimer of all truth – "the truth in its entirety."”</i><br />
<br />
Although John Thomas’ original aim was to move away from creeds and confessions, it wasn’t long before the movement he founded developed creeds of its own. A fixed set of doctrines developed, and disagreements over these led to disfellowshippings, schisms and bad feeling. In short, Roberts didn’t foster a community in which things could be freely discussed; instead he required conformity. Unfortunately, this intolerance seems to have become part of the culture. From an early stage, there was pressure to conform if you wanted to belong.<br />
<br />
<b>Nonconformist, yet conformist</b><br />
<a href="https://www.christadelphianresearch.com/drthomasfreeenquiry.htm" target="_blank">Another article</a> in the <i>Fraternal Visitor</i>, published later in 1894, described a common pattern in reforming movements:<br />
<br />
<i>“The spirit of enquiry which originates a fresh movement gradually dies away, and the community settles down into an ‘orthodoxy’ of its own, which in its turn, is quite as unwilling to change, and as averse to any suggestion of fresh light, as the ‘orthodoxy’ it parted with at its birth.”</i><br />
<br />
This seems a good description of the Christadelphian community, which went from being a reforming movement to another example of dogmatic thinking defended on the basis of tradition and human authority. The statement of faith (whichever version you subscribe to) has become a creed as time-honoured and unquestionable as any other. Challenging hallowed traditional ideas is highly likely to get you criticised, cold-shouldered or threatened with disfellowshipping. To quote from the booklet <i>Christadelphia Redivivus</i>, written in the late 1950s:<br />
<br />
<i>“As with many communities and movements… the vision of the originator becomes hardened into rigid principles. To preserve the original line, freedom of thought becomes a danger and penalties must be imposed to be rid of deviationists. ‘Independence to think’ becomes associated with corruption, declension and moral odium.”</i><br />
<br />
The establishment of <i>Endeavour </i>magazine in the UK in the early 1960s also met with strong opposition among some Christadelphians, who simply did not want any fresh discussion of traditional ideas and were very unhappy about the idea of an ‘alternative voice’ being aired in the community<i>.</i><br />
<br />
Christadelphians nominally advocate independent enquiry but in practice they are expected to adhere to a predefined set of beliefs, interpretations and attitudes. They may be nonconformists in the sense that they maintain distinct differences from mainstream Christianity, but the point is they are expected to demonstrate conformity <i>within their own group</i>. It may take some courage and determination to be the odd one out at school or at work (I know that from experience), but that’s more a case of staying loyal to a close-knit community and maintaining group identity within a wider society which is seen as hostile and immoral.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, there are also a few Christadelphians who think it their duty to police the community by scenting out and denouncing people with unorthodox views. These self-appointed guardians of truth seek to ensure uniformity of doctrine and practice by disciplining members who don’t toe the line – even if it means violating the principle of ecclesial autonomy.<br />
<br />
<b>Real freedom</b><br />
I suggest that, with the possible exception of a
few more broad-minded meetings, Christadelphia does not offer real
freedom of thought, only the illusion of it. It may have started out as a
rebellious, reforming movement, but like so many other movements of its
kind, it quickly hardened into an orthodoxy of its own. The result is a
religion where, for the most part, you are expected to accept, not
question; submit, not challenge.<br />
<br />
Today, many Christadelphians are happy to simply adopt the beliefs they were raised with and hand over responsibility for thinking to the pioneers, the ecclesia, or their preferred publication. So those who believe they are independent thinkers don’t bother to exercise the right to think for themselves – or if they do venture any ideas of their own, they are quite likely to discover that their ideas are not welcome in a community that <i>knows </i>it already has the Truth.<br />
<br />
The lack of free thought in a group – as shown for example by hostility to open discussion or the suppression of alternative ideas – is a warning sign. The good news is that when you leave, you really do become free to do your own thinking. Not to follow any old selfish whim or jump on the latest bandwagon, as many Christadelphians imagine, but to approach life thoughtfully and identify your own principles and values by exercising a mind that is truly your own.Phynnoddereehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00057348281393098313noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-68332737168039793652019-06-18T14:54:00.002+01:002019-06-18T14:54:33.794+01:00No, The Bible Does Not Predict A Russian Invasion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U53Flpq_FtNXRA8qV9tTwJSrQIzwO04VrxGU5659Lrk7bl2sz01X4AkecOeMcgKHRReOT7Qzh6OZICmtHyiwYWeR5pJt4oh9NaDoExd2X46vrL2MhzW5tOQqc7zvihA3swk_8ReaQW4/s1600/tank-203496_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7U53Flpq_FtNXRA8qV9tTwJSrQIzwO04VrxGU5659Lrk7bl2sz01X4AkecOeMcgKHRReOT7Qzh6OZICmtHyiwYWeR5pJt4oh9NaDoExd2X46vrL2MhzW5tOQqc7zvihA3swk_8ReaQW4/s200/tank-203496_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>By Thom Jonas</b><br />
<br />
Everyone hold onto your hats and calm down. Christadelphians have been lecturing about Russia for much longer than I can remember and no doubt they will continue to preach fear and alarmism long into the future. I know I won't convince most of them that they have been misled, but for the few who are curious about why most scholars disagree with them, please read on.<br />
<br />
The Bible is an ancient book and sometimes difficult to understand. It is therefore not surprising to find that there are often multiple interpretations held by various scholars and that modern research sometimes overturns widely-held ideas. This topic is one such example.<br />
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<b>What the Christadelphians teach about Russia in the Bible</b><br />
<br />
It is not difficult to find information about Christadelphian teachings regarding Russia. Here is a quote from bibletruth.net.au:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In the book of Ezekiel, chapter 38 there is a description of the emergence of the nation of Russia and it leading a confederacy of nations to invade the land of Israel. Russia is named as Rosh in the Hebrew text of Ezekiel 38:2<br />
<a href="https://bibletruth.net.au/kingdom/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bibletruth.net.au/kingdom/</a></blockquote>
<br />
The site goes on to state that they got this reference from Gesenius (A Hebrew lexicon from the 19th century). We will return to this later.<br />
<br />
Another Christadelphian website has the following:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The leader of this invasion is named as Gog, who is described as “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal” (verse 2 RV). Unlike other names in this chapter at which we have looked, these ancient names have been superseded by more modern ones. Experts confidently assert that “Ros (or Rosh) is the most ancient form under which history makes mention of the name Russia”, and Russian historians themselves confirm this by stating that “the Russians derive their name from Ros”. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Ezekiel 38 adds its own confirmation to this interpretation by pin-pointing the geographical location of this prince of Rosh. This is described as “the north parts” or, as the Revised Version gives it, “the uttermost parts of the north” (verse 15). A glance at a world map will reveal that, in relation to the land of Israel, the territory of Russia lies in “the uttermost parts of the north”. It is particularly noticeable that Moscow (Meshech) is almost due north of Jerusalem. There can be no doubt that the Gog of this chapter represents the person in control of the affairs of Russia and is the leader of the forces that will invade Israel.<br />
<a href="https://www.christadelphians.uk/articles/russia-in-bible-prophecy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.christadelphians.uk/articles/russia-in-bible-prophecy/</a></blockquote>
<br />
Note the association of Meshech with Moscow. It is also interesting to read "Experts confidently assert that..." without any attempt to tell us which experts say this. It is followed by a quoted sentence which, when typed into Google, just returns more copies of this same article. Where are these so-called "experts"? Who were they quoting?<br />
<br />
As for the uttermost parts of the north, there are at least half a dozen other countries north of Israel as well, so it seems like a stretch to use this as evidence that the Bible is somehow referring to Russia.<br />
<br />
<b>What modern scholars teach</b><br />
<br />
Modern scholars give us a rather more benign interpretation of Ezekiel 38, and they provide some pretty compelling evidence to back it up. Perhaps unsurprisingly, we once again find that the ancient biblical authors were actually <b>not</b> writing about future nations they had never heard of.<br />
<br />
<b>Ros and Rosh are not Russia</b><br />
<br />
Firstly, the NET Bible has this comment in the footnote:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Heb</b> “the prince, the chief of Meshech and Tubal.” Some translate “the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal,” but it is more likely that the Hebrew noun in question is a common noun in apposition to “prince,” rather than a proper name. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:434-35. As Block demonstrates, attempts by some popular writers to identify these proper names with later geographical sites in Russia are anachronistic.<br />
<b>NET Bible - Ezekiel 38, footnote 4</b></blockquote>
<b><br /></b>Further, here is a comment from a book by two prominent scholars:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The attempt of politicians and religionists to equate ros with Russia is briefly described and debunked by Block, p434-435.<br />
<b>Ezekiel's Hope: A Commentary on Ezekiel 38-48, by Jacob Milgrom and Daniel I. Block, 2012. p9 Footnote 26</b></blockquote>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
Also in the commentary in the same book on the next page.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Gog's title remains a puzzle. Was he not a king? Ros, "chief", is best perceived as a lower case noun, defining the preceding nasi, "prince".</blockquote>
<br />
"The Book of Ezekiel", a commentary by scholar Daniel I. Block, is possibly the leading commentary on Ezekiel these days and widely recommended. Here is a brief excerpt from that book regarding the identification of Rosh:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The issue revolves around whether ros is the name of an ethnic group or a common noun. Both the LXX and the construct pointing of the Masoretes argue for the former. But who then is this Rosh? The popular identification of Rosh with Russia is impossibly anachronistic and based on a faulty etymology, the assonantal similarities between Russia and Rosh being purely accidental. In the 19th century some scholars associated Rosh with Rus, a Scythian tribe inhabiting the northern Taurus Mountains, according to Byzantine and Arabic writings. Recent attempts to equate Rosh with Rashu/Reshu/Arashi in neo-Assyrian annals are more credible, except that the place so named was located far to the east on the border between Babylon and Elam, and would have had nothing to do with Meshech and Tubal. This interpretation is also difficult (though not impossible) from a grammatical point of view. If Rosh is to be read as the first in a series of names, the conjunction should precede "Meschech." Ros is therefore best understood as a common noun, appositional to and offering a closer definition of nasi. Accordingly, the prince, chief of Meshech and Tubal, combines Ezekiel's preferred title for kings with a hierarchical designation, the addition serving to clarify the preceding archaic term. Ezekiel's point is that Gog is not just one of many Anatolian princely figures, but the leader among princes and over several tribal/national groups.<br />
<b>The Book of Ezekiel, Daniel I. Block, 1997. pp 434-435</b></blockquote>
<br />
A publication by J. Paul Tanner, a research professor in the field of Old Testament studies, also gives the following summary:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Thus the name "Russia" has a rather late association with the modern-day state and would certainly not have been the intention of Ezekiel writing in the sixth century BC.<br />
The more plausible explanation is that the text should be translated "the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal"<br />
<b>Rethinking Ezekiel's Invasion by Gog, J. Paul Tanner, p31</b></blockquote>
<br />
Another noteworthy book, also referenced by the NET, is "Foes From the Northern Frontier" by Edwin Yamauchi. Here is a comment from its foreword, writing about Old Testament prophecies:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Some of these ancient peoples have caught the attention of modern readers who think their names can be identified with modern places. Building on that, some commentators have tried to interpret the prophecies as applying literally to Russia, Germany, and other states of the twentieth-century world. Although these views have spread widely and convinced many, Yamauchi shows why they are wrong and should be avoided by the careful Bible student.</blockquote>
<br />
And then we have this comment from p20 of the book proper:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
For one thing, even if one were to transliterate the Hebrew rosh as a proper name ... rather than translate it as "chief" ... it can have nothing to do with modern "Russia". This would be a gross anachronism, for the modern name is based upon the name Rus, which was brought into the region of Kiev, north of the Black Sea, by the Vikings only in the Middle Ages.<br />
<b>Foes From the Northern Frontier, by Edwin Yamauchi, 2003, p20</b></blockquote>
<br />
And one last quote, this time from the book "Ezekiel", by Joseph Blenkinsopp:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Gog is further described as "chief prince" of Meshech and Tubal. There are only two proper names here, since ro'sh ("chief, head") is nowhere attested as such. It has no more connection with Russia (a name of Norse extraction) than Meshech has with Moscow.<br />
<b>Ezekiel, by Joseph Blenkinsopp, 1990, p184</b></blockquote>
<br />
So it seems based on the best recent scholarship we can conclude that the word ros in the Hebrew was most likely intended as a common noun, not a place name. Not only that, but the ancient name of Russia (Rus) only came into that region in the Middle Ages, making any association of Ezekiel 38 with Russia clearly anachronistic.<br />
<br />
So why do so many Christadelphians think Ezekiel was talking about Russia?<br />
<br />
<b>Where the Christadelphians got the idea from</b><br />
<br />
Well, as we will see below, there are 3 main sources that heavily influenced the identification of Russia in Ezekiel 38:2. These are The Septuagint translation, Gesenius, and the Scofield Reference Bible. There were a few others but these appear to be the most influential.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The German Hebraicist Wilhelm Gesenius (1786 - 1842), professor of theology at the University of Halle in Prussia, played a key role in the process by which Gog came to be identified as Russia. Gesenius, whose Old Testament lexicon of 1828 long stood as a standard reference work, viewed "Rosh" not only as a proper name but as an early form of the word "Russia." In another step that would prove highly influential for prophecy interpretation, he also claimed that "Meshech" and "Tubal" were present-day Moscow and the Siberian city of Tobolsk.<br />
<b>When Time Shall Be No More: Prophecy Belief in Modern American Culture, Paul Boyer, 1999, p154</b></blockquote>
<br />
Much has been written about this topic but it seems that the vast majority of writings can be traced back to Gesenius either directly or indirectly.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The Hebrew word for "chief" (ros) in Ezekiel 38:2 was transliterated by the Septuagint as a proper name (Ros), giving rise to a widespread impression that "Russia" was intended. According to Custance:<br />
<br />
<i>It may be observed that "rosh" ..., which in this passage is translated "chief prince," signified the inhabitants of Scythia. From it the Russians derive their name. Russia was known as Muskovi until the time of Ivan the Terrible, a name undoubtedly connected with Meshech (pp. 90 f.).</i><i><br /></i><i>Much later in history we meet the word Meshech in the form Muskovy. It is possible that the two famous cities of Moscow and Tobolsk still preserve the elements of the names Meshech and Tubal (p. 97).</i><br />
These groundless identifications have unfortunately gained widespread currency in the evangelical world through many channels: the first and the second editions of the Scofield Reference Bible; the phenomenally popular book by Hal Lindsey and C. C. Carlson, The Late Great Planet Earth; and the lectures of Campus Crusade evangelist Josh McDowell on numerous college campuses.<br />
The perpetuation of such idenfications based on superficial similarities is completely untenable in the light of the clear evidence of cuneiform texts which locate Mushku (Biblical Meshech) and Tabal (Biblical Tubal) in central and eastern Anatolia.<br />
<b>Meshech, Tubal, and Company: A Review Article, E. Yamauchi, 1992</b></blockquote>
<div>
<br />
<div>
This last quotation is highly important in that it brings weighty evidence to bear on the identification and location of Meshech and Tubal.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Tubal or Tabal was the territorial designation of the interior Anatolian kingdom know to the Assyrians as Bit Buritash. This landlocked kingdom, between the Halys River and the Taurus River in Asia Minor, was bounded on the west by Meshech, on the south by Hilakku, on the east by Melidu and Til-garimmu (Beth-togarmah) and on the north by Kasku.<br />
...<br />
Meshech, to be identified with Mushku/Musku in neo-Assyrian sources, was also located in central Anatolia. Ancient records attest to contact with the Assyrians as early as the reign of Tiglath-Pileser I in the 12th-11th century.<br />
<b>The Book of Ezekiel, Daniel I. Block, 1997</b></blockquote>
<br />
<b>What do we know?</b><br />
<br />
While many religious people, including some scholars, still cling to the old writings of Gesenius and others from the 19th century, modern scholars increasingly interpret the word "rosh" in Ezekiel 38:2 as "chief". For examples, see the footnote in the NET Bible and also "The Book of Ezekiel" by Daniel I. Block.<br />
<br />
Further, all of the other places mentioned in Ezekiel 38 also appear together in the table of nations from Genesis 10, but "Rosh" does not appear there at all. In fact, the word "rosh" is never translated as a proper noun, despite appearing many times in the Old Testament.<br />
<br />
Lastly, the identification of the remaining nations such as Meshech and Tubal has been settled by the discovery of Assyrian cuneiform tablets bearing all of their names. They refer to several ancient places that were situated near each other in the region of Asia Minor. This rules out the identification of Meshech as Moscow, and Tubal as Tobolsk, both of which were based on flawed etymology (they sound a bit the same - go figure!). The same applies to the association of Gomer with Germany, and you can follow this theme with most of the other places listed in that chapter.<br />
<br />
I'll leave you with this quote from Edwin Yamauchi, who has written extensively on this subject:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It is a reflection on evangelical scholarship when some of its spokesmen continue to adhere to the groundless identification of ros as Russia, and the association of Meshech with Moscow and of Tubal with Tobolsk, when we have had cuneiform texts and discussions of them that provided the true clarification of these names since the end of the 19th century<br />
<b>Meshech, Tubal, and Company: A Review Article, E. Yamauchi, 1992, pp 243-244</b></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-60382781391300293512019-05-23T11:04:00.004+01:002019-05-23T11:04:51.594+01:00Tribalism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another fantastic video by TheraminTrees about Tribalism, what it is, why it's sometimes useful, and sometimes harmful, and how we can all do better.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-80405186838337373692019-05-16T15:38:00.000+01:002019-05-16T23:08:35.027+01:00The Christadelphian Obsession With Death<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Thom Jonas</span></b><br />
<br />
Have you ever noticed just how obsessed many Christadelphians are with death? I recently drove past a Christadelphian hall which had a sign out the front advertising an upcoming lecture titled, "What happens when we die?"<br />
<br />
Of course, like any rational human being, when I want to find out the answers to such scientific / medical questions I always seek out my local Christadelphian community and trust them to know the correct answers to all things about human biology and natural chemical processes. I jest. What I actually did was type the above lecture title into Google, which linked me to a science article with a handy graphic showing the various stages of bodily decomposition in slightly unnecessary detail.<br />
<br />
But why are Christadelphians so obsessed with death?<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
This is not normal.<br />
<br />
<b>Value Distortion</b><br />
<br />
To the Christadelphian, the only significant, worthwhile goal in this life is getting into the next one. Why? Because, they say, it will be so much better than this one. Immortality, perfect health, perfect happiness, perfect harmony, pure joy, and so on, are the kinds of attributes they claim will describe the next life, all promised to them allegedly by the same being who created all the suffering in this life. Don't think about it too hard.<br />
<br />
But why would they want to devalue this life so excessively? Is this life not enough for them? If all that we experience is the creation of a loving god, why would it be sinful to enjoy that creation by living this life to the fullest? Surely to embrace this life including all manner of experiences would be the highest compliment one could give to a creator! Yet the Christadelphians want none of it. And they want you to despise it too.<br />
<br />
Sure, they will give talks about the "wonders of nature", full of carefully cherry-picked examples of beauty and awe (and omitting any mention of the viruses and terror that plague most of the planet's living creatures daily). But there are rules around what you are allowed to enjoy. Concerts? Music? Only the ones they approve of. Movies? Best to keep that to a minimum and don't tell. Parties? how sinful! Science and technology? it's evil and to be feared and held in suspicion. Career? that depends on your gender, and your standing in the ecclesia (which also depends on your gender, among other factors).<br />
<br />
<b>Control Mechanism</b><br />
<br />
Take a closer look. Why is it that so many of the men who stand on the platform and encourage you to give up on the attractions of this life, often seem to have done pretty well for themselves? It's one rule for them, and a different rule for you. Why are your music choices being restricted by their personal tastes? Why are you being asked to dress in a way that pleases them? Of course they'll always tell you that's what God wants. Have you ever wondered why God always seems to want the same things as those who are most influential in your ecclesia? On a related note, did it ever occur to you that all of the words of "God" in your Bible were written by people who claimed to speak on his behalf? Every. single. one.<br />
<br />
Christadelphians love to give talks criticising you for how you spend your time, and heaping guilt upon you for not doing enough to please God. They tell you that your salvation depends on this, and urge you to spend more of your time doing activities they approve of, and less of the activities you personally enjoy. By instilling in your mind the powerful, negative voice of criticism, right from when you were a small child, they can ensure that you will always feel guilty for feeling pleasure and for following your own pursuits in life.<br />
<br />
This is not normal.<br />
<br />
"Do more Bible study", they say. "But it's so boring", you think. "That's the sinful flesh talking", they counter. These voices become internalised until you feel paralysed into inaction and depression. And when you are at your lowest, they offer you forgiveness, and so begins the cycle of abuse. They set an impossible standard for you to follow. They may even appear virtuous themselves when in public (don't look too closely though!). Then, when you fail, they heap guilt on you until you feel miserable and depressed. And then they hold out forgiveness, pretending this to be an act of compassion. It's not. This is emotional abuse. Plain and simple.<br />
<br />
This is not normal.<br />
<br />
<b>Distorted View Of Love</b><br />
<br />
Have you ever loved someone so much that you just wanted them to be happy? You would give so much of your energy and time for them and be excited for them when they did well in life. Real love is like this.<br />
<br />
So isn't it highly suspicious when Christadelphians tell you that you need to behave in a certain way in order to win God's approval? How is a being that is supposed to be "all-loving" incapable of simply loving and accepting its own children for who they are? Why would such a being sentence us to death simply for being human? If that is love, what does love even mean?<br />
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They command us to value God's happiness over our own, as if an all-powerful being would need any such thing. But in reality what you are being asked to value are precisely those things the speakers (or those most influential in your ecclesia) care about more than your own needs. The message is clear. Your needs don't matter. Only the group matters. Spend all of your energy helping the ecclesia. This can actually sound like a positive thing until you start to ask who actually speaks for the ecclesia. Why, it's those who are most influential, of course!<br />
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While we're on the subject of love, probably the kind of love you need most is self-love. The positive feeling that you are a being worthy of love and friendship. But what do Christadelphians teach? "Without God, you are nothing!" Guilty of sin. Worthy of death. In need of forgiveness. All for the crime of being human. Is it any wonder that so many Christadelphians suffer from severe depression throughout their lives? If you are experiencing feelings of worthlessness, guilt, emptiness, and/or meaninglessness, I strongly encourage you to talk to a qualified medical doctor. A good doctor will offer real help, which may include sessions with a qualified psychologist who can help to reframe your thinking patterns and offer practical strategies for returning to positive mental health. In some cases they may suggest medication, which can be a powerful, temporary boost to provide the energy you need to get back on the path to recovery.<br />
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Don't listen to the Christadelphian BS about being weak and sinful creatures. They tell you that because people who think they are "weak" just happen to be the easiest to control and manipulate with guilt. The love you need most is your own, and there are books you can read and qualified professionals who can help you get there. Look inside - there's a strength inside you that has been there all along.<br />
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<b>Faux Salvation</b><br />
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So now we return to the Christadelphian obsession with death. Their Bible is full of stories where God allegedly killed people left, right and centre simply for not obeying him. They think this kind of behaviour is normal. Perhaps it was normal for kings to behave that way in the times when the Bible was first written, but it is not normal in 2019.<br />
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Those who wrote the Bible had a very different (we might say, "primitive") idea of moral justice, and they ascribed their views to a god, perhaps to bolster their authority. But make no mistake. The fact that the morality in the Bible closely matches that of the societies of the time and place in which each book was written, is no accident. This collection of books was written by humans who claimed to speak on behalf of gods. It was also edited and compiled by later humans who claimed to know which of those earlier writings were the words of the <i>real</i> God and which things were not. And somehow even though all of these things originated in a highly superstitious era, and contain all manner of superstitions we now know to be false (demons and evil spirits anyone?), we are supposed to think they got it absolutely correct when talking about the magic being in the sky. The all-loving being who kills everyone he doesn't like.<br />
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The whole Christadelphian message is pretty silly when you stop and think about it. Worship this invisible being so that he can save you from the death he invented in the first place. Because if you don't worship and believe in something you can't see or detect in any way, he will kill you. But he loves you. Really. Those voices in your head can't all be lying, can they?<br />
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This is not normal.<br />
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Christadelphians are terrified of death, because they spend their whole life devaluing everything that is pleasurable. They convince themselves that people in "the world" have nothing, or that they do not live meaningful lives. But this is clearly yet another false belief manufactured to keep people from questioning the religion. Just like the belief in a future utopia. It's fake. It offers false hope, which just robs people of the one life they could have enjoyed.<br />
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Why do they discount this life so much anyway? Do they honestly think that regularly attending meetings with a small group of people to sing together and read stories from a collection of iron age books is going to win them favours with an invisible being in the sky such that it will save them while killing everyone else? Really? Do they actually think that the whole point of this life is to solve this cosmic riddle so that an invisible genie can grant them a role in his magic castle?<br />
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This. Is. Not. Normal.<br />
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Christadelphians obsess about death because they want you to fear. Because people who live in fear are easier to manipulate.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-463445167640495548.post-14310392474487475532019-04-03T09:15:00.001+01:002019-04-03T09:15:21.671+01:00Letting Go Of GodIf you haven't yet watched Julia Sweeney's monologue, "Letting Go Of God", you really should. It's hilariously funny, enlightening, and just a fascinating journey. Well, Julia has recently announced that the whole video is now available on YouTube! So find yourself a spare 2 hrs and a comfy chair, and watch it.<br />
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