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The Evangelical Liberal is a blog to explore more open and liberated ways of being a Christian, particularly for those who have struggled to find their way within the evangelical tradition. Read more-
Recent Posts
- “Up, civil unrest!” (an Easter-ish reflection)
- Still Evangelical Liberal after all these years?
- Reasons to be hopeful?
- Covid questions – 3. What kind of God would send a pandemic?
- Covid questions – 2. Is it sent by God to punish sin?
- Covid questions – 1. Is it the end of the world?
- All together at the cross
- Does light overcome darkness?
- God bless America
- The Penitent Thief – a Good Friday reflection
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Tag Archives: atheism
Stop arguing with atheists!
(Actually that should probably read ‘Let’s stop arguing…’ as it’s addressed partly to me, and probably doesn’t apply to a lot of my readers!). I’ve been on more than a few blog comments forums where Christians and atheists have squared … Continue reading
Good Friday: the day God became an atheist
I’ve written plenty before about Good Friday – about the death and triumph of love, about the historical and spiritual reasons Jesus died, about whether Christ suffered so we don’t need to, and about how on earth we can call … Continue reading
Posted in Atheism/agnosticism, Church calendar, Good Friday, Theology
Tagged abandonment, absence of God, atheism, death of God, Good Friday, Nietzsche, Pete Rollins, the cross
4 Comments
Madeleine McCann and the character of God
I approach this post with considerable caution and trepidation. One, because this is not a theoretical situation but real people’s lives. Two, because I have no direct personal relation to the situation and know nothing but what I’ve seen in … Continue reading
Posted in Anger at God, Divine intervention, Evil, Suffering, Tragedy, World events
Tagged atheism, deism, goodness of God, Maddie, Madeleine McCann, Suffering, the problem of pain, unanswered prayer
18 Comments
Why I am (not) an evangelical / charismatic / liberal / atheist / Anglo-Catholic…
With thanks and apologies to Pete Rollins and Brian McLaren for nicking ideas from their book titles… Throughout my life there have been many influences on my religious outlook from a variety of streams and denominations. I’ve benefited from a … Continue reading
Why bother – why not just give up on faith?
Sometimes when I’m struggling with all these issues of belief, I get all confused and tired, and just occasionally thoughts cross my mind like this: ‘Why bother? Why not just give up, cut loose, walk free? Is your belief in … Continue reading
Why Christians should listen to atheists
Militant secularisation? There’s been a lot of talk recently about militant secularisation in Britain. There was the case of Clive Bone objecting to council prayers in Bideford. There’s been discussion over whether religious organisations – like the Church of England … Continue reading
Science and belief
Over the last couple of posts I’ve been responding to Paula Kirby’s pair of anti-religion articles recently published in The New Hibernian. One other issue that she raises in passing deserves a post to itself, as it’s one that comes up … Continue reading
Posted in Atheism/agnosticism, Controversies, Faith, Truth
Tagged atheism, faith, reductionism, science
7 Comments
Breaking out from the prison of religion? Comfort, faith and ritual
Way back over a week ago in my previous post I was looking at Paula Kirby’s fascinating article ‘Atheism is the True Embrace of Reality’. Sorry for the delay in posting – work has a terrible habit of getting in the way. … Continue reading
Posted in Atheism/agnosticism, Emerging, Faith, Religion, Stages of faith, The faith journey
Tagged atheism, faith, freedom, hell, Paula Kirby, ritual
9 Comments
Is Atheism the True Embrace of Reality?
Has anyone else read Paula Kirby’s recent pieces in The Hibernian Times, ‘Atheism is the True Embrace of Reality’ and the follow-up ‘Breaking out from the Prison of Religion’? If not, do have a read. A good atheist friend and … Continue reading
Posted in Atheism/agnosticism, Psychology, Stages of faith, The faith journey
Tagged atheism, health, Hibernian Times, Paula Kirby, psychology, religion, scott peck, stages of faith
17 Comments
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