Letters

Climate change: a coming catastrophe or false alarm? I do believe in climate change as the climate has always changed but I am not convinced that humans have hastened this. There are no more catastrophic events now than previously. Climate change predictions are just that, and often based on computer modelling which has proven to be wrong. In my opinion ...

On John Calvin’s Institutes Marilynne Robinson (the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Gilead) reflects deeply on John Calvin in her 1998 book of essays The Death of Adam, specifically on how no one reads what Calvin himself wrote but instead read learned-looking books which do not “include a single work of his immense corpus in their bibliographies, nor indicate in ...

More thoughts on marriage from Pittsworth Some thoughts from a regular church attender. I read with interest Barbara Lanham’s comment on marriage in the Summer 2018 edition of Journey. This is her personal view as Pittsworth congregation have not voted on the use of church buildings for marriage. Judging from the number of church people I have spoken to most ...

A continuing dialogue I am saddened by the continuing emotive letters appearing in Journey on the subject of same-sex marriage. For a number of years now I have dabbled in theology and philosophy and so I can only conclude that there has been inadequate thinking about this subject. So let me make two points at the outset. Words are labels ...

No time to have a broken rudder I certainly agree with you that “Christian men” (and I would add women as well) in Australia need to think deeply about many matters of faith today. It is very important to know where you stand personally in matters of your vital faith and “be ready to give a reasoned account of the ...

Feedback on the Winter edition I am writing to offer my encouragement and appreciation. I am sorry to say in past years I have “passed up” Journey when it arrived in our foyer and Samford Community Church. Not sure why—maybe a cursory look once, determined it didn’t appeal? Well I am now a convert. My business is about listening to ...

Debating the resurrection I was dismayed to read Dr John Frederick’s feature in the previous Journey (Autumn 2018 edition), especially if this is an example of the approach taken in the biblical education of candidates for the Ministry of the Word. A literalist approach is taken to the Easter story and this is overlaid with a materialistic interpretation. There are ...

Does the Old Testament still apply today? I appreciated Dr Paul Jones’ article in November’s Journey and would like to add my bit. The Old Testament is needed today more than ever. The redemptive types and shadows which God gave Israel are the map or pattern which spells out the journey of the church as the cloud of the spirit ...

Remembering the Reformation I wholeheartedly agree with the letters to the editor in November’s Journey. I found it disappointing—and also the whole issue of Journey—in commemorating one of the most significant events in the history of the Christian church, a fundamental question was ignored: what would Martin Luther say about the church, and in particular the Uniting Church today? Would ...

Too theological? I refer to the article in October’s issue of Journey, “Reformation and the Uniting Church”. It appeared to me that this article was written for trained theologians. I found it difficult to understand. I had never met the word “apophatic” before. Journey’s aim surely is communication with the person in the pew. I believe this article failed that ...