The Divine Universe

We humans are immensely impressed with ourselves. We think we are the last word in biological advance; many people believe we are God’s final masterpiece. It doesn’t seem to occur to them that there could be another, even more advanced species of primate yet to come, and another after that. Genesis says that God took [...]

People have some funny ideas about forgiveness, and some of the oddest centre around God’s forgiveness of our sins. There is the idea that suffering is God’s punishment for sins. The Jews assumed this (although there is a strong challenge in the story of Job), and we also encounter the idea in Hindu beliefs about [...]

Much in religion, philosophy and science is based on dualisms; God and creation is the prime religious example. Philosophers talk of psyche and soma – mind and body. Plato taught of universal ‘substances’ and ephemeral ‘accidents’ – mere projections from the real world on the canvas of our day-to-day world of sense. Conservative scientists think [...]

Religion is a difficult word to define; yet it is a very significant part of human experience and a powerful influence in political and cultural history. In an age in which the dominant western culture seems to be drifting towards scepticism and rejection of religion, it is still a major factor, both for good and [...]

Jesus’ disciples were fascinated by Jesus’ long periods of prayer, all night sometimes. And he seemed wrapt in joy. I can imagine they were more than curious, and felt that prayer, so much a part of Jewish tradition, must be more than they reckoned. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray like him, and [...]