STUDY RESOURCES
Microsoft Power Point presentation [60.2 MB]
A PowerPoint with audio for individual or group study. The Bible didn't fall from heaven ready-written. It has a human history; it evolved over hundreds of years and exists with literally tens of thousands of different variations in the text. What do we know about its authors? What contexts do the books arise from? What order were they written in? Scholarship over the last 200 years has told us a great deal - it's a pity that so much of what it has revealed seems to have been largely ignored. Why not find out more and then reflect on what it means for you?
Adobe Acrobat document [488.8 KB]
The FREE STUDY NOTES above give you all you need to facilitate a study day/weekend or a series of group meetings, alongside reading this classic book from 1963 together. It is still easily available second hand. The somewhat sexist language is out of date of course, but it seems to me that conventional believers have never addressed the questions he raises: What do you mean by 'God'? What was the death of Jesus all about? What kind of world do we live in and how do we make moral choices? None of these have passed their sell-by date!
CONTACT ME if you'd like me to share in the discussion with you, either in person or by email or Zoom!
Adobe Acrobat document [376.2 KB]
WELCOME
Can Christianity and its central human figure still mean anything to those who are not convinced by the usual ideas of a 'God'? Maybe what we used to call 'God' is actually an aspect of ourselves that Jesus embodied in his life and death. Maybe deeds are far more important to our mutual wellbeing than creeds. This website offers a range of ways to explore these questions.
On this page you'll find details of how to obtain my book 'The Apostate's Creed'. PLUS a series of short essays 'Updating the Map' on the different kinds of themes in the Bible and how we might engage with it today as human literature.
PLUS a link to a page that explains why I am not 'a Christian' and another which sums up my approach to the Way of Jesus. Is there another way to engage with the Jesus story that doesn't require you to take it all literally or sign up to the religion that bears his name?
In Study Resources you'll find a PowerPoint (with audio) on 'Who Wrote the Bible'? And some Discussion Notes on the classic book from the 1960s, ''Honest to God' which still raises so many key questions that have never been answered. And my own first book: humanist reflections on the Psalms from 2011: 'Walking without God'. These are all FREE.
Book Reviews suggests some reading which I've found helpful.
Friendly Feedback is always very welcome. Please let me know if you have found my ideas interesting.
Make a loan. Change a life.
Support small businesses in developing countries with microloans. Then, when the loan is repaid, you can lend the same money again!
Print 