Beware!

 Beware sentinels, sentries, guardians, gatekeepers protecting the 'truth' and those peddling opinions claiming authority for their statements: politicians, journalists, theologians.  This is not to say one should ignore opinions or claims of truth but be wary, do not accept them without careful consideration.  Be watchful of misinformation published on social media. If my university education was of any value it was that it  taught me to firstly evaluate evidence and then consider opinions drawn from the evidence.  In other words be questioning, critical but open-minded.  

Those who have gone through, or started on the road, to deconstuction have questioned the protectors of the truth, have evaluated evidence and have drawn their own conclusions, or are in the process of so doing.  For me the journey to deconstruction started with my blog.  As I wrote down my thoughts I published them.  My conclusions have changed as I progressed through over 400 blog posts.  Having set off as a doubting liberal evangelical I am now a humanistic atheist in my opinions.  The message attributed to Jesus and my long-standing support for liberation theology has confirmed by political standpoint of being a socialist.  

Now I am firmly of the opinion that what matters is not a set of beliefs.   What matters is behaviour, action, loving neighbour, not just as theory but by practical action, helping individuals at point of need and campaigning for systemic change to achieve social justice.

So, dear friends, this is where I am.  A good juncture to sign off my blog. Should you be so minded my blog posts are available on Facebook at John Hopkinson Personal Theology Blog.