Articles, thoughts, essays, and content from Brian as well as students – our budding theologians.
Managing Monday with Thomas Aquinas – Take 2
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) is regarded as one of the most significant shapers of Christian theology. He followed the tradition of scholasticism, and was a champion of reason and natural theology. His “necessary first cause” argument for the existence of God is still widely used – albeit a source of much debate. The Catholic Church continues to view him as a model teacher for those studying for the priesthood. While this selection from his insights cannot possibly do justice to his work, they can perhaps act as a tiny taster...
read moreWill Kindness Win the World? Insights from the Early Church…
Recently I had the priviledge of opening the “Insight” conference for Grace Christian School in Bunbury. This is a slight rework of some of the main points I made on the day… By pretty much anyone’s calculations, 2017 was a tough year for the church – or certainly that is true for the church in Australia. There was the release of the findings of the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It makes sobering reading – no, more than sobering – it is heartbreaking, heart wrenching stuff. Perhaps the...
read moreManaging Monday with Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) is regarded as one of the most significant shapers of Christian theology. He followed the tradition of scholasticism, and was a champion of reason and natural theology. His “necessary first cause” argument for the existence of God is still widely used – albeit a source of much debate. The Catholic Church continues to view him as a model teacher for those studying for the priesthood. While a selection of a few of his insights cannot possibly do justice to his thoughts, they can perhaps act as a...
read moreManaging Monday with Billy Graham – Take 2
With tributes to Billy Graham (1918-2018) still pouring in, I thought it appropriate to dedicate Managing Monday to a few of his quotes. The most successful evangelist of the 20th century, Graham’s ministry was truly remarkable, and his legacy continues in the lives of the estimated 3.2million people who responded to the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as their personal saviour at his many crusades. To this should be added many million more who responded to his televised broadcasts – estimated to have been seen by over 2.5...
read moreFollowing Jesus or the Pharisees? A 10 Point Check
In Christian circles it is usually considered a significant insult to suggest that someone is a Pharisee. Knowing the hard time these religious leaders gave to Jesus, and the harsh words he said about them in Matthew 23 – well, who would want to be a Pharisee? Yet if the essence of being a Pharisee is being legalistic and harshly zealous about faith, quick to dismiss others as beyond the pale and even quicker to declare oneself righteous, many would suggest that there are more than a fair few Christians who fall into this category. Now...
read moreManaging Monday with Billy Graham
With tributes to Billy Graham (1918-2018) still pouring in, I thought it appropriate to dedicate Managing Monday to a few of his quotes. The most successful evangelist of the 20th century, Graham’s ministry was truly remarkable, and his legacy continues in the lives of the estimated 3.2million people who responded to the invitation to accept Jesus Christ as their personal saviour at his many crusades. To this should be added many million more who responded to his televised broadcasts – estimated to have been seen by over 2.5...
read moreWhy Christianity is Probably True… My next book
British Publisher BRF recently confirmed that they will be releasing my latest book Why Christianity is Probably True in October – the 19th October to be exact (and ISBN number 9780857466549). Here is a taster from the book – the opening chapter to be precise. It gives a feel of the territory to be covered. Hope you enjoy it – and I’ll give some updates as the publication date draws closer… Chapter 1: About Probability… Perhaps you have come across the bus campaign run by the New Atheists. The little slogan...
read moreA blog update…
Perhaps you have noticed, but there have not been any new posts on my blog lately, and you might have wondered why. Some of you have been kind enough to check if poor health has been the reason – be assured, that is not the case (but thanks for your concern). A few weeks ago the site ran into a technical hitch which meant that while all posts could be accessed, no new ones could be added. It has taken the immense skills of the wonderful Ben O’Reilly to sort this out – and sort it out he has. Huge thanks to you Ben. So...
read moreManaging Monday with Dorothy Day
Dorothy Day (1897-1980) is remembered as a journalist, social activist and an unlikely (but very genuine) convert to Catholicism. A key figure in the Catholic Worker Movement, and regarded as controversial and radical, she has neverthless drawn high praise from both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis, and her possible canonization is currently being investigated by the Roman Catholic Church. Here are a few of her thoughts… I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least. Dorothy Day The Gospel takes away our right...
read moreManaging Monday with Gustavo Gutierrez
Born in Lima, Peru, Roman Catholic Priest Gustavo Gutierrez (1928-) is regarded as one of the founders of liberation theology. His work is thought provoking and challenging, and it is certainly worth taking time to reflect on some of his insights… There is no true commitment to solidarity with the poor if one sees them merely as people passively waiting for help… The goal is not to become the ‘voice of the voiceless’… but rather to ensure that in some way those without a voice find one. Gustavo Gutierrez We live...
read more