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?
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