Christianity
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The Lord’s Supper and Eating Disorders
Introduction and Definitions Taking the Lord’s Supper is a duty of all Christians. However, many Christians have eating disorders which inhibit them. This raises vital pastoral issues which are considered a little here. I am a pastor who has had to work through this with a few Christians. Before a pastor, I was a hospital pharmacist on gastro-intestinal surgical wards. This providence has given me additional perspectives. By ‘eating disorders’ I do not limit the discussion to the psychological conditions which may first spring to mind. Anorexia, orthorexia, bulimia and others are included but what follows applies more pertinently to physical conditions.[1] Birth defects, disease, surgery and degrees of disability…
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In the image of God: Perfection and disability
What is perfection? In this article, we consider views of disability, perfection, and where this fits with our view of the image of God. We argue that our view of the image of God has been affected by our own perceptions. We propose that these perceptions can come from our own personal thoughts, and things such as advertising, and social media. This suggests that perfection has become key to understanding the physical attributes that people associate with the image of God. Considering disability theology, we argue that by our image of God we are able to understand what it means for everyone to be counted as exhibiting God’s image. This…
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The potential impact of closure of Churches in the metaverse
In March 2023 Microsoft ‘sunset’ its metaverse AltspaceVR platform to move its resources to support developing other immersive experiences. This may appear irrelevant to readers, unless you are involved in church mission in the metaverse.[1] Welcome to the metaverse! The term ‘metaverse’ first appears in Neal Stephenson’s 1992 science fiction novel Snow Crash describing a virtual environment where lifelike avatars engage with each other.[2] Thirty years later, it is a vision Silicon Valley are heavily investing in and a few churches (predominantly American) have grasped the vision of the metaverse mission field. However, churches in the metaverse are different, in August 2021 Facebook changed its name to Meta to focus…
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Doing Theology Through the Feathers: Reflecting on Practical Theology as a Student with OCD
“Why are you researching theology?” the Parrot asks me, as I submit the application forms for my PhD. He is mocking me. I already know everything he is about to say to me. We’ve been here before, he and I. The Parrot is always there – he is the voice that my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) takes. He is the voice of every doubt, every intrusive thought, every repeating phrase that gets lodged in my mind. He will bring up the fears I have that I’m not religious enough, as though that disqualifies me from studying theology. He will tell me that I can’t sit in that space of doubt…
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Wang Yi’s Prophetic Practice
In 2004 a human rights lawyer named Wang Yi made the list of 50 Most Influential Public Intellectuals of China. In 2005 he became a Christian and joined the persecuted church in China as an outspoken advocate not only for human rights, but for the cause of Christ. In 2006 he was invited to Washington D.C. to speak with President George W. Bush about the issue of religious freedom. And in 2008 this young, distinguished, legal scholar resigned his university position to pastor a church in Chengdu, China.[1] As a pastor, Wang Yi drew attention from government officials for allegedly distributing Christian content, leading a school and seminary that were…
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“Dear God, I want a unicorn”: A young person’s experience of Faith and Theology
One of my earliest memories is of walking down the driveway with my Dad on the way to church, when I was around three. Since then, I was raised by a religious parent (a Professor of Theology) who encouraged my journey of faith, and a parent who was indifferent to my experience, based on their own agnosticism. As the youngest of three children, I also had the participation of my siblings to observe in church services; watching them take Communion when I wasn’t yet old enough, or being asked to deliver readings to the congregation weekly. These are things that I desired to be a part of, regardless of the…
