Law and tradition

Press, 20 October 1981, Page 20

Law and tradition

Sir,—l wait in vain for any of your correspondents to explain to me without deviationist claptrap why atheists should expect God — if there is a God — to let them into his Heaven — if there is a Heaven. Arthur May's question concerning the ultimate destiny of Christians is answered in the nature of the God they worship. This may well be an answer found in the Christian’s Bible, infallible word of God or not. but it is also found in logical reasoning — i.e. if there is a Deity (a matter which Arthur May and his ilk may want to deny but I ask them to permit the possibility however improbable) then let him (or her) behave as Divine and so decide according to his (or her) own nature who may and who may not be admitted into Heaven.—Yours, etc., DAVID RATHGEN, October 16. 1981.

Sir.—Trevor Nicholls (October 17) suggests that the scripture nowhere teaches that Jesus was God. yet suggests that Jesus was the Son of God and equally the son of the w’oman Mary. The son of a cat is feline, the son of a dog is canine: similarly the son of God is divine and the son of a woman is human. In the person of Jesus Christ there are two natures, one divine given by his father and one human given by his mother. Because God became a man. born of a woman, all men and woman have an equal dignity regardless of religion, race, age, health, status or any distinction we care to make. Despite the many instances where Christians have lost sight of this perspective, it remains the basis of the Church’s' concern for social justice and its belief that it exists for the sake of the world.—Yours, etc., PAUL DALZIEL. October 18. 1981.

Sir,—Trevor Nicholls’ reply (October 17) to my letter disturbs me. If the Church does not exist for the sake of the world, what is it doing here? Jesus was a man who lived and died for others — for the world. The Church is the Body of Jesus; it is to live out Jesus's lifestyle in. the world now — compassion, concern for others. Part of this is listening to people, hearing- their actual questions and discovering their real needs. Then the Bible becomes useful, in giving answers and helping them. If one listens to people enough, one will eventually reach the fundamental questions of life and death. God has answers for all questions that people ask, answers which change and liberate them. Jesus did not condemn the world; he died for it. The Church is to live the same way.—Yours, etc.. R. M. ANDERSON. October 18. 1981.