Who knew that the humble Easter egg actually has a long and noble theological history? Going way back to the early church, the practice developed of teaching new converts the basic foundations of the faith before they were baptised. Along with learning, they were expected to undertake a serious time of fasting, prayer, and spiritual …
The devastating pictures of the war in Ukraine bring to mind for some Christians Jesus’ description of ‘wars and rumours of wars’ as a sign of the end (Mat 24:6). Eschatology (the study of the last things – or the end times), is a controversial and often dangerous practice for Christians – a magnet for …
‘In the Beginning, God created…’ Certainly this ranks among the most recognisable opening phrases of any literature known to mankind, yet what does it really mean? Do we ever stop to ask, ‘in the beginning of what?’ When we read ‘In the beginning’, it’s a bit like ‘Once upon a time’. They both immediately …
‘What are you giving up for Lent’? I first remember being asked by a friend at school, and I hadn’t the faintest idea what she was talking about. My parents didn’t know about Lent either – except that it wasn’t in the Bible, so we didn’t need to bother with it. It was a Catholic …
Robots used to bring to mind rather clunky metal creations appearing or sounding vaguely human. The terrifying Daleks who kindled nightmares in the Dr Who generation of the 1960s had a fatal flaw which saved humanity – they couldn’t climb stairs! But robots have evolved, and today we have artificial intelligence (AI), a far more …
What does the Bible say about the end of the world? Absolutely nothing. That phrase is never found in Scripture. So where does the idea come from, and why do I have several books on my shelf with ‘end of the world’ in the title? Jesus frequently speaks of the ‘the end’ – but he’s …
If you’re of a certain age, you may recall a time when the word ‘globalization’ didn’t exist. It’s a modern invention – only entered the dictionary in 1951. Legend traces its widespread use to a famous article in the Harvard Business Review in 1983. Surprised? Globalization is now so established in common parlance that we …
Have you ever wondered about the relationship between theology, life, and the Bible? ‘Not really’, I hear you thinking. Well, perhaps not consciously, but that’s the point. As Christians we are continuously faced with questions about how we should live, what choices to make, how to lead godly lives in a complex world, how to …
Language is a strange thing. My nose runs and my feet smell – or does my nose smell and my feet run? Who doesn’t love a bit of wordplay? What did the ram say to his wife? I love ewe. Hebrew poetry is rife withwordplay – and poetry makes up over 30% of the Bible. …
We’ve probably all been asked at one time or another, ‘Do you take the Bible literally’? My advice? Never, ever, ever answer that question. Why not? Because the questioner is either naïve, or it’s a trap. The question is simply not legitimate. First, the Bible is not a book. It’s a collection of books – …
