Unitarian & Free Christian Bible Discussion

 This Monday Donald Jacobs will lead a discussion considering three questions:  1. What was the earliest part of the Bible to be written?  2. How can we tell?  3. Does it matter?  We will look at a few short passages that are contenders for being the oldest parts of the Hebrew Bible. Hosea 11 1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,     and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more they were called,     the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals     and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,     taking them by the arms; but they did not realize     it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness,     with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts     a little child to the cheek,     and I bent down to feed them Amos 5:24 But let justice roll on like a river,     righteousness like a never-failing stream! Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord,     for he

 On Monday 20th November Indra Sikdar will lead our Bible discussion at 6.30pm:  "Comparing Abrahamic and Vedic Faiths" Jewish:  “For you [Israel] are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6).   Christianity: New International Version John 14 Jesus Comforts His Disciples 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus the Way to the Father 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the

This week Lizzie Kingston Harrison will lead our discussion at 6.30pm. Lizzie writes:  Were the first Christians Unitarian? Should scripture be read on the basis that Jesus’ first followers did not believe he was God? Have subsequent generations of Christians mistaken an extraordinarily beautiful metaphor for the literal truth? Joseph Priestley thought so! Today’s bible study will give you the chance to explore a few passages that may lend themselves to a Unitarian reading… and is also a chance to find out what Joseph Priestley had to say on this controversial topic.   Join us at 6.30pm on Monday 13th November. Zoom link for the meeting  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82378042367 Meeting ID: 823 7804 2367 Passcode: 460019 Picture from Wakefield Chapel (photo credit, Paul Lindsay Dawson)

Jean Bradley will be leading the discussion group on the subject of Samson. He is often only thought of as a biblical hero who was made weak through his relationship with Deliah. But Jean would like the group to look more into the character of Samson. Was he resistant to the role he was expected to play as an adult? Or was he a deeply spiritual man who made foolish choices? Can we also see similarities in people's lives in the present day? If you wish, please read Judges 14 verses 1 - 14 Text of Judges 14.1-14 Once Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw a Philistine woman. 2 Then he came up, and told his father and mother, ‘I saw a Philistine woman at Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.’ 3 But his father and mother said to him, ‘Is there not a woman among your kin, or among all our[a] people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?’ But Samson said to his father, ‘Get her for me, because she pleases me.’ 4 His father and mother did not know