Unitarian & Free Christian Bible Discussion

  Next Monday Francis be leading a discussion on Psalm 22, which opens with the famous words that Jesus cried out on the cross. We'll read the whole Psalm then look at it in two separate discussions. Firstly  without  Jesus. Psalm 22 is remarkable in its own right and an important part of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). It seems to be a passionate complaint  against  God, even suggesting that God abandons his people. What's our gut reaction to reading it? What, if anything, is unusual or surprising in it? Who is speaking these words? Who are they for? What are they saying? Secondly, we'll ask why the writer of Matthew's gospel put these words in the mouth of the dying Jesus. Why would Jesus say this? What point was the author trying to make? Do you think this really happened like this? Are these words an aberration, if not, how do they fit in with what Jesus taught and stood for? Time: Sep 27, 2021 06:30-7.30 PM Join Zoom Meeting  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89833287015... Mee

This Monday's discussion will be led by Ernest Baker. He writes: Epistle of James ( “Faith” & “Works” ) I suggest we look at/read : James 2:14-26; James 3:13-18 We might ask ourselves: What do we understand by “Faith” and “Works”? What relevance does such consideration have for us today? Notes : James is regarded as the most “Jewish” of the Christian Scriptures. The mere 2 references to “jesus Christ” may be interpolations. It is an early writing, possibly preceding Paul’s letters. Its canonicity was disputed up to the C6 th CE, though Athanasius (367CE), included it. Origen (185-255 CE) was the earliest writer to quote it. Luther, for whom “Salvation by Faith” (more properly “Salvation by Grace through Faith”, I think!) was dictum, labelled it “The Epistle of Straw!” Much favoured by Unitarians, certainly of an earlier generation. See, c.f., James Freeman Clarke (q.v.), whose C19thCE contra-Calvinist “Five Principles” (q.v.), including “Salvation by Character”, used to adorn

 We're back!!! Discussion for Monday,  6th September led by Francis Elliot-Wright. Full details below: James 3:1-12 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of r