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Tag Archives: Jesus
Girard, Jesus and the defence of the scapegoat
In my last post I described the story about the second century healer Apollonius of Tyana, and how René Girard analysed it as a scapegoating process. Girard then proceeded to contrast it with a story about Jesus, which sticks in … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Ethics, Society, Theology
Tagged Apollonius of Tyana, casting the first stone, Jesus, René Girard, scapegoats, stoning, woman caught in adultery
3 Comments
What did Jesus actually do?
This is a summary of what Jesus was up to between his baptism by John and his final journey into Jerusalem. It was my sermon for All Hallows Leeds last Sunday. It draws on the scholarship of the last 50 … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Churches, Ethics, Theology
Tagged Ambrose, Basil of Caesarea, Bible, Christianity, Communion, Eucharist, Galilee, Jesus, John Chrysostom, Roman Empire
4 Comments
May you flourish in the new year
When I was half my present age, we would take our children to a local park. We’d carefully hold hands, looking both ways as we crossed the road. Then, as we got to the park entrance, we’d say something like … Continue reading
The meanings in Christmas carols
Christmas carols. I love the tunes. But the more theology I read, the more unhappy I become with the words. There are exceptions, but most fit the medieval version of Christianity where the baby Jesus is a divine being along … Continue reading
Who creates wealth? God?
When, around the year 200, Clement of Alexandria wrote Which Rich People Can Be Saved?, most Christians thought they couldn’t. When Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson publicised their trips into space, the assumption was the opposite: all that wealth was … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Economics, Ethics, God, Theology
Tagged agricultural revolution, food, Hunter-gatherers, Jesus, just prices, just wages, resources, trade, wealth
1 Comment
Gold, frankincense and myrrh but no nappies
The symbolism of the wise men’s gifts Continue reading
Jesus insults his host
How Jesus undermined the inequality system of his day Continue reading
Why did Jesus send out missionaries?
Comparing the Jesus movement with Cynics Continue reading