CALENDAR OF DOOM! [Parte Une].

For Christmas I was given, among other things, a calendar
for 2006. This is no ordinary calendar because it was put
together by a relative, Dawn Divyn, and includes some of
her own photography together with a saying or two for
each month. The aphorisms in question , I assume, are
calculated in a kindly way to challenge my faith.
I appreciate the effort that she has given to this project
and the well meaning motive which lay behind it: for
it is a kindness to try to put me right if one thinks I am
wrong.

Anyway I thought that it might be an interesting exercise
over the year to ruminate on these thoughts of hers and
to test their strength.

So to it:
January 2006. Credibile est, quia ineptum est.

"Religion is regarded by the common people as
true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as
useful." Seneca the Younger (4?BC-65AD).

That is probably a fair reflection on pagan religion by
Seneca - an ancient Roman philosopher and statesman.
The aphorism reflects the snobbery of the Roman
patrician class towards the people who were despised
as ignorant and maleable by those who considered
themselves wise and better fitted to rule.

Jesus torpedoes this sort of smugness when he said:
"I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
you have hidden these things from the wise and
understanding and revealed them to little children;
yes, Father, for such was your gracious will."
Matthew 11v25&26. It pleases God to subvert
human pride by choosing those most despised in
the world's eyes to receive the wisdom of the kingdom
of God. The Christian recognises the folly of putting
one's faith in those generally considered wise by the
pundits!

Oh - the latin quote - that's Tertullian being silly.
Something should not be believed simply because it
is absurd - but rather if something claims to pop
the pomposity of the proud it is at least worth
considering with humility. It is not wisdom as such that
is being questioned but the smug air of conceit that
often blinds those who are wise in their own eyes.

fin




ps. 10th May 06: I recently learnt that Tertullian
never actually said this, it is a commonly
accepted fallacy that he did. It is correct that he did
make the point that sometimes a counter-intuitive statement
has a degree of plausibility because it is not something
one would make up.

"Sharia by Stealth" Conspiracy Theory.

There seems to be an idea currently being peddled
around evangelical circles in the UK of a rather
unsavoury conspiracy; that Muslims are (over time)
seeking to take over the country and subvert it's
democratic institutions.

This notion has been put about by a couple of lobby
groups who have their own agendas and who
are attempting to garner support for themselves
from among Evangelical Christians by appealing to
base populism. Personally I am intensely
suspicious of the motives of anyone using such fears
as a persuader. "By their fruit you shall know them".

As an Evangelical Christian I wish to make it clear
that such groups do not speak on my behalf nor,
in my view, do they have the right to claim to speak on
behalf of Evangelical Christians generally. Their
message of gracelessness and fear is totally antithetical
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it is corrosive to our
witness to the onlooking world. I would urge
discerning Christians to graciously show these
interlopers the door.