Honest Faith
6.30 - 8.30pm first Sunday of the month in the Lecture Hall
Please note that 'Honest Faith' will NOT meet during September but will resume again on Sunday 1st October when we will continue the DVD series entitled 'Painting the Stars: Science, Religion and an Evolving Faith' “When I have a terrible need of – dare I say of religion? – then I go outside at night and paint the stars.” Vincent Van Gogh.
'Painting the Stars' is an introduction to how our recent scientific knowledge informs and attempts to enrich our faith. This series wrestles with some basic questions at times avoided by the church. The communion of science and faith is examined positively along with exploring the promise of evolutionary Christian spirituality. It features leading theologians and progressive thinkers, and is designed for those who are not afraid to explore, to ask questions, to see different points of view. The course is open and honest in its approach on where Christianity is going. No prior study is required – just curiosity!
Looking ahead to Sunday 1st October the subject will be "Getting Genesis Wrong" where the focus will be on sustainability and respect for all living plants, animals and humans. Bruce Sanguin (who provides preparatory reading) writes, "Genesis suggests that our role as humans is to have 'dominion' over the rest of nature … it was obviously intended to suggest that just as God exercised dominion with justice and kindness over the human realm, so as God's stewards we should do the same with the non-human world. It is a call to exercise responsibility."
Some people sense that at its core, Christianity has something good to offer humanity. At the same time many have a sense that they are alone in being a "thinking" Christian and that "salvaging" Christianity is a hopeless task. What is needed is a safe environment where people have the permission to ask the questions they've always wanted to ask.
The DVD courses we follow seek to provide opportunities to explore the Christian faith for today's world considering a range of different topics with honest discussion where we are free to express differing views - thereby trying to offer an open-minded alternative to courses which attempt to give participants all the answers.
Some of us support 'Progressive Christianity Network Britain' which provides help and resources for groups such as ours - please see their website: www.pcnbritain.org.uk
Sessions are held monthly on the first Sunday evening of each month in our Lecture Hall - please check our monthly Church Newsletter for up-to-date information and news etc. If you would like to join us you would be very welcome to come to any (or to all) of the sessions. Each session is complete in itself so don't worry if you can't come every time. A warm welcome with refreshments from 6.30pm (a voluntary donation of £2 per person towards general costs suggested) with the aim of finishing by 8.30pm.
