Part 396. Be pragmatic.

Following a long process of deconstruction my position is that I choose to follow the guidance ascribed to Jesus, namely: to love your neighbour. I choose to regard all people as equal, regardless of sex, race, political beliefs, wealth, status etc.  However, for society to achieve social justice systemic change is essential.

Others, with the objective of campaigning for social justice, may seek inspiration and guidance from other sources including political, faith, social and economic philosophies, or be firm adherents of mysticism, socialism, communism, capitalism, a faith and so forth.  Whatever route is adopted it is of human origin,  a consequence of the influence of ideas, perceptions, experience.

I do not hold the opinion. that the end justifies the means.  There are many different routes to achieve social justice but to my mind it is important to follow the principle of love.

There are no self-evident truths to impose on others.  I refuse to be controlled by any 'ism'.

Part 395. Parish woes and blessings

I have posted before on my dismay that the vicar and governors of our Church of England primary school resigned and ceded control to an outside agency, thereby breaking an important connection between the church and community. I write as a former governor of the infant aided and junior controlled schools that merged to create the primary school.

I note the parish is having difficulty filling the position of treasurer, a problem for many voluntary organisations.  Furthermore it would appear the parish has lost one of the churchwardens (no explanation in the parish magazine). The remaining warden took on the role, having retired previously, when her successor resigned.

There is some good news.  The choir continues to perform magnificently.  In May a parishioner will  receive his lay minister license from the diocesan bishop.  

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting should be interesting.

Part 394. Who needs scripture?

Who needs scripture?  Certainly those who believe the bible in the inerrant, infallible word of god.  They hang on every word.  One could go so far as to say that such individuals are more interested in the words of a book than living out the message of Jesus.   

I choose to follow the underlying message of the bible as summarised by Jesus: to love my neighbour. I read the bible as an aid to understanding, not as an instruction manual. Loving neighbours is not restricted to the Christian faith.  People of other faiths, or of no religious conviction,  act is similar fashion seeking to assist others and campaign for social justice.  

Love is expressed in the here and now.  It seeks to improve life on earth, not by waiting for some cosmic event to occur in the future, but by working for it now, by tackling concrete issues.  Love is not engaging in attempting to secure a place in the hereafter so beloved by the scripture fundamentalists.