The Christian Middle Way Meaning and belief an

The Christian Middle Way

Meaning and belief: an illustration

God as meaning and belief God as meaning Beliefs about God

God as experience, basis of God as meaning

Experience and meaning of God don’t require absolute beliefs • Experience is experience: “In the seen, only the seen” • Experiences are associated with symbols that are meaningful to us and culturally available • ‘God’ is a contingent label for God experience • Absolute beliefs (God’s ‘existence’, revelations etc) have a completely contingent relationship with God experience and God meaning • Neuroscientific labels also contingent – but useful as further experience • Value and importance of experience and its meaning not undermined in the least by being disassociated from absolute beliefs

God as archetype: inspiration over time

Interpretative responsibility and Christian tradition Interpretation of Bible, doctrine, ritual etc not historical or based on traditional authority – but practical How does this symbol help to inspire us over time?

Christ as a symbol of the Middle Way • Mediates between idealised absolute demands (divine) and human limitations • An inspiration to bridge the gap by fully recognising our humanity and finding ideals fully meaningful • Crucifixion symbolises point of hopeless frustration in changing ourselves and society • Resurrection symbolises point of unexpected change when we reframe

Interpretation of baptism What is the most helpful way to interpret baptism, avoiding absolutes?