INTRODUCTION, Page 9.

The Bible, which contains many paradoxes, is, of itself, a paradox. It is probably the least understood bestseller in the world. Because the Bible comprises many subjects, and widely varying writing styles, it lends itself to multiple levels of interpretation. Although The Book of Common Prayer states that ‘The Old Testament is not contrary to the New’, selected verses from each present diametrically opposed moral standpoints. ….. Many wars, crusades, acts of genocide, interdenominational strife and acts of petty bigotry have their roots in the fallacy that the Old Testament records the actual words and deeds of God acting in human history. The world has enough problems without the idea that God takes sides.

THE OLD AND THE NEW - Chapter 2, Page 52

…although it is understandably tempting to agree with Ludovic Kennedy’s observation and leave the study of the Old Testament to the scholars, no serious student of the meaning of the life of Jesus can do so with any level of integrity. To do so would be to ignore the suggestion that by sending His Son to save mankind from its sins it was not we who were changed – it was God!

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - Chapter 3, Page 55.

The Ten Commandments sit in the book of Exodus like a rose on a bloody battlefield. There is nothing in the stories of carnage and slaughter that precede their appearance to prepare the reader for them. There is certainly nothing to suggest that Moses, the protagonist of the book, or his people, were changed for the better as a result of receiving the Ten Commandments.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED - Chapter 4, Page 97.

The problem I have with the belief that Jesus ‘Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried’ as part of God’s plan to save mankind from sin, is the implication that God caused men to commit the most atrocious acts of cruelty and injustice. I would rather dismiss the claim that this happened as part of God’s plan to save me from my sins out of hand, than believe the vengeful God portrayed in the Old Testament is, after all, my Creator.

THE TEACHING OF JESUS - Chapter 5, Page 136.

Jesus did not establish, and hence the synoptic Gospels do not contain, any form of systemised religion. In fact, His bitterest condemnation was reserved for those members of the religious authorities who turned the life enhancing laws of God into a burden of rituals and adherence to the minutia of man-made laws. If He returned tomorrow, Jesus would not recognise the esoteric and mystical claims attributed to His Name. He certainly would not recognise the divided and divisive church that He was supposed to have founded.

THE GOSPEL OF PAUL - Chapter 6, Page 158.

Paul’s message, then, is uncompromising. Following Jesus is more than attending church once a week, giving generously to charities and being polite and helpful to our friends. Being a Christian means surrendering everything to the will of God and following whatever path that surrender may take you. Regardless of how you decide to do it, if you want to change your life - you have to change your life. Redemption is not only a wiping out of past mistakes; it is a turning away from them with the commitment not to repeat them.

REFLECTIONS OF AN EX-CHURCHGOER - Chapter 7, Page 177.

Perhaps the biggest misconception regarding biblical teaching is the belief that after death even the most casual believers will be whisked to heaven, there to be reunited with their loved ones. At Christian funerals, the preacher, in some cases with little or no knowledge of the quality of the religious and moral life that the deceased has led, blithely offers the relatives and friends comfort by committing the body with the words: “…. in the sure and certain knowledge of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” As we shall see, there is no coherent doctrine whatsoever in the Bible that can be used to support such a claim.

A TIME TO HEAL - Chapter 8, Page 189, 193.

The tragic irony of this problem is that the societies who are mainly responsible for the over consumption of the Earth’s resources are past the point of diminishing returns in terms of their quality of life. On the contrary, the sense of wellbeing for many of the citizens within these societies has actually declined. For a significant number of people living in these affluent societies there is a large hole in their lives where contentment used to be, and, no matter how much they own, spend, eat, take drugs or read self help books they cannot fill it Is the promise contained in the Bible of some future age when God will reign supreme and all evil and suffering will be brought to and end really true There is a message of hope contained in the Bible, but it contains three significant caveats. Firstly, salvation appears to be for individuals not societies. In the broad sweep of biblical history, when evil societies were destroyed, it was only the individuals within these societies, whom God regarded as righteous, who were saved. …….. The Bible appears, therefore, to be a book of individual salvation.

EPILOGUE, Page 198, 200.

Some days I thought that if I joined up all the dots in the Bible, looking from a distance, they would spell ‘Christianity’. But, in the end, I could see that the dots were a mirage. For all its power, there is no coherent theology in the Bible. Trying to create one is like trying to solve a faulty Rubick Cube – there will always be something that does not quite fit. Legend has it that John the apostle, when an old man, went about repeating, “Little children love one another.” When asked why, he replied: Because when this is done, all is done.