Category Archives: Religion

The anti-Semitic Martin Luther

Luther calls for the secular authorities to burn down all the synagogues and schools, and ‘what won’t burn should be covered over with earth, so that not a stone or piece of slag of it should be seen for all … Continue reading

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The Theology of Church Interiors

Expressing the inexpressible is impossible. But those that want to worship want to create an atmosphere where worship is enhanced. Here are three interpretations of religious atmospheres created by religious groups over the ages. A Quaker Meeting House emphasising (leaderless) … Continue reading

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God

Omnicompetent Omnipotent Omniscient Leading to the irresistible Omnishambles Chris

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Two Yeshiva Jews celebrate a goal

“it was only when he heard one mutter to the other, ‘I don’t like it Myer- they’ve scored too soon’ and the other reply, ‘I know, I know’; that he understood the significance of their sitting hunched and quiet amid … Continue reading

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Home-schooling, the National Curriculum and yeshiva schools

Section 7 Duty of parents to secure education of children of compulsory school age – The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to receive efficient full-time education suitable— (a) to his age, ability and aptitude, … Continue reading

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Girolamo Savonarola and the bonfire of the vanities

The Franciscan monk Girolamo Savonarola was the antithesis of Pope Alexander VI. Savonarola was an ascetic monk who preached against wealth and conspicuous consumption. Pope Alexander devoted his life to power, wealth and the pleasures of the flesh. As Savonarola’s … Continue reading

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Anchorites: The Search for Perfection

St. Benedict’s Rules (530 AD) were the first to be widely adopted by monasteries . These governed every aspect of a monk’s life. Intensely religious people, both men and women, wanted a purer religious experience without distractions. These people wanted … Continue reading

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Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

I’ll show you life, life in a single moment A moment of pain, of memory gone, night and day fading Embracing you, clinging, moulding your soul into the Passion. Mind and body focused, oozing happy expectation. Life in a single … Continue reading

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Religious fanaticism and the normality of ISIS (aka Daesh)

Religious fanaticism takes many forms sharing one thing: malevolence. War, theatrical brutality and a desire for religious conformity are part and parcel of religious fanaticism. ISIS is simply another example of the gruesome reality of intolerant certainty attempting to enforce … Continue reading

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British Military Interventions 2001-15

Beginning in 2001, the UK has been in continuous war and the current (2015) military commitment in Iraq and Syria is open-ended. The principal characteristics of the four major conflicts has been that they aren’t against countries. The 9/11 attacks … Continue reading

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