One objection many people seem to have with organised religion is the number of rules that there seem to be. I have to say that it is view that I have some sympathy with.
For the Christian there are actually very few rules. As Paul says "For me there are no forbidden things" (1 Cor. 6:12), though he does go on to say "but not everything does good"
In fact the only thing necessary is this "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself" (Luke 10:27)
Jesus only gave his disciples one commandment "Love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another" (John 13:34)
If we follow these simple rules then we will always do what is right and no other rules are necessary. So why do we need all these other rules?
Well, here's the problem, if we followed God's simple rule about loving him and each other, we wouldn't need any other rules; because we would always do the right thing. All the other complicated (man-made) rules are there because people seem to be incapable of following the simple (God-made) ones.
If the whole World followed the rules set out above, there would be no need for religious laws. Furthermore there would be no need for any civil laws, no need for lawyers, policemen, armies or governments. Sadly this isn't going to happen anytime soon (barring the second coming).
Sunday, 13 April 2008
Saturday, 12 April 2008
Finally someone who knows what they are doing!
I've just spent a few minutes booking my train journey using the Trainline - it was so much simpler. I don't think I'll ever use the National Rail website again after seeing the comparison.
It still doesn't make any difference to my opinion of our railways. It was cheaper to buy two singles than to buy a return ticket - what is the point of having a return ticket if it is more expensive - I thought the whole idea of a return ticket was that it was cheaper!
Yet another example to prove that bureaucracy is the work of the devil; or of a deranged mind at any rate.
Well at least I can settle down to watch the Anglo-Welsh Cup final this afternoon. Come on Ospreys (I hope they do better than last week).
It still doesn't make any difference to my opinion of our railways. It was cheaper to buy two singles than to buy a return ticket - what is the point of having a return ticket if it is more expensive - I thought the whole idea of a return ticket was that it was cheaper!
Yet another example to prove that bureaucracy is the work of the devil; or of a deranged mind at any rate.
Well at least I can settle down to watch the Anglo-Welsh Cup final this afternoon. Come on Ospreys (I hope they do better than last week).
Why everyone drives instead of taking the train
I have just spent a very frustrating half hour on the National Rail website trying to figure out what ticket I can get for a journey I have to make for work.
As far as I can see there are no tickets on sale for the train I want, this website is totally incomprehensible to me. This is why I prefer to drive.
There was a time you just asked for a return ticket from X to Y and they sold it to you - privatisation, what a good idea - NOT!
As far as I can see there are no tickets on sale for the train I want, this website is totally incomprehensible to me. This is why I prefer to drive.
There was a time you just asked for a return ticket from X to Y and they sold it to you - privatisation, what a good idea - NOT!
Friday, 11 April 2008
Exercise is bad for the health
I played Badminton on friday, for the first time since I hurt my thigh before Easter, I played quite well, but managed to hurt my heel - probably due to my new trainers, which I haven't worn much yet.
I have come to the conclusion that all this exercise is actually bad for the health - it jsut seems to emphasis all the creaks and groans I seem to be developing as I get older.
Went to SVP this evening, it's always quite fun as well as spiritually uplifting and one older member keeps telling me she thinks I'm a student, because I don't look old enough to be holding down a full-time job - it's nice to hear you still look young, even if you no longer feel it!
I have come to the conclusion that all this exercise is actually bad for the health - it jsut seems to emphasis all the creaks and groans I seem to be developing as I get older.
Went to SVP this evening, it's always quite fun as well as spiritually uplifting and one older member keeps telling me she thinks I'm a student, because I don't look old enough to be holding down a full-time job - it's nice to hear you still look young, even if you no longer feel it!
Why I won't be watching the Olympics
Another long hiatus between posts. Life and TV getting in the way again. I've been a bit down since Easter - probably too much sugar!
Anyway, back to the Olympics and my lack of watching thereof. This isn't all about China & Tibet/human rights etc., though that's part of it.
The fact is I've never been a big fan of the Olympics; I see it as being about propaganda, the so-called Olympic ideal is a myth, and it has always been linked to the political situation both globally and in the host country.
All these people who go on about keeping politics out of sport are living in cloud-cuckoo-land. Sport is not somehow immune from, or above political realities. Sportsmen and women are part of the human race and cannot opt out of morality and reality.
This was seen clearly in the sporting boycott of South Africa during the Apartheid era. Some people said this was pointless; but it hurt the South African establishment - why else would they have gone to such lengths to persuade various rugby and cricket players to go on 'rebel' tours of the country.
It's not just the Beijing games I will be avoiding I will also be keeping away from the London games in 2012. I don't think 'democracies' are immune from the temptation to use sport for political ends - look at Gordon Brown trying to be English football's biggest fan and Rhodri Morgan cashing in on Wales' grand slam triumph (at least Wales is actually his country!)
What really disgusts me about the London fiasco is that huge amounts of money are being taken from the rest of the country to develop parts of London and the Southeast - the richest part of Britain. Once again the Southeast-centric government shows its utter contempt for the rest of us.
Anyway, back to the Olympics and my lack of watching thereof. This isn't all about China & Tibet/human rights etc., though that's part of it.
The fact is I've never been a big fan of the Olympics; I see it as being about propaganda, the so-called Olympic ideal is a myth, and it has always been linked to the political situation both globally and in the host country.
All these people who go on about keeping politics out of sport are living in cloud-cuckoo-land. Sport is not somehow immune from, or above political realities. Sportsmen and women are part of the human race and cannot opt out of morality and reality.
This was seen clearly in the sporting boycott of South Africa during the Apartheid era. Some people said this was pointless; but it hurt the South African establishment - why else would they have gone to such lengths to persuade various rugby and cricket players to go on 'rebel' tours of the country.
It's not just the Beijing games I will be avoiding I will also be keeping away from the London games in 2012. I don't think 'democracies' are immune from the temptation to use sport for political ends - look at Gordon Brown trying to be English football's biggest fan and Rhodri Morgan cashing in on Wales' grand slam triumph (at least Wales is actually his country!)
What really disgusts me about the London fiasco is that huge amounts of money are being taken from the rest of the country to develop parts of London and the Southeast - the richest part of Britain. Once again the Southeast-centric government shows its utter contempt for the rest of us.
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