There have been threads on the facebook site (which you should all join if you haven’t already!) about whether anyone believes such things, or does such things any more.

I have to say, that saddens me a little. The thing is, I lost my faith in the church. That did not mean I should throw out everything that the church has taught me – some of…[Read more]

This is a completely shameless plug for my new book, details available here which deals with a whole lot of TLS-like issues, including perceptions of God (part 1 is called Deicide), scientific method, mental illness. There are also links to my first short story Bubbles.

It is classified as science fiction, but then I did another post about why…[Read more]

There have been a couple of posts on the facebook site from people talking about using tarot cards etc, and it disturbs me, but not completely for the reasons that you may assume. Or rather, I am looking for the reasons that certain of these things were challenged in the bible.

The reason I have a problem is not a simple “the bible says you…[Read more]

OK, I know others may disagree with this, but I have not been to a church that really seems to understand music. I have done some blog posts (and there are more coming) around this, but I wondered what other TLSers might think.

To clarify, I think I have probably finally left churches, as I have been occasionally attending a local one. The…[Read more]

On another thread, I raised the important (to me) issue of questions being more important than answers. I think there is a lot more worth exploring on this. At the same time, I posted a blog post about the way that churches like words far more than action. I think these two are related. Churches like questions and answers because they like to have…[Read more]

Some time ago, context I can’t remember, @David told me that “if you want to do this, you need a thick skin” – “this” being rejecting church, and it was said in a supporting and positive way, not a negative or dismissive way. But it made me think whether this is true.

More recently on twitter, @Amy made some comments that brought me back to…[Read more]

OK, there is a theoretical discussion here, but this is also a very practical, personal issue.

I have a degree in theology – which, incidentally, makes me the most theologically qualified person in most churches, including the clergy – and training as a reader, implying acceptance by the CofE as a person who is suitable for ministry. I would…[Read more]

This is specifically from a Church of England perspective, but I believe that it applies to other denominations, especially ones where leadership is defined and decided at a higher level than a local church.

The thing is, the process for ordination is a long and difficult process, that can take several years. The process is about moulding a…[Read more]

Seems like I should introduce myself. I have been an Anglican for pretty well the last 30 years, with a variety of others before that. I was a licenced Reader in the church, and have a theology degree. I tried for ordination but was rejected.

Last year, having failed at a third church to be accepted as a reader, I decided I had had enough of…[Read more]