This paper is a critique of supernaturalist thinking in general and the way it is used within traditional Christianity. It also explores the way most people think and the sort of underlying world-view they adopt.  This has, it seems, changed remarkably little since the time we were hunter-gatherers. despite apparent secularisation and the fall in Christian church attendance in Europe. This underlying world -view has three main aspects, the Theistic/spiritual, the Magical/miraculous and the Predictable and rational. I label this TMP for short.

The paper explores the Christian resurrection stories, evangelical conversion, and proposes a positive alternative to supernaturalist thinking.

Looking at the Facts
Yes, lets face it we were all rather daunted after signing up for this session when Jo’s paper arrived. Continue reading →

On Wednesday 18th of June Jo Penberthy, vicar of Cucklington will be our speaker. Continue reading →

I have been looking again at the gospels and thinking about the man they describe and have come up with a new way for me of reading them. I see them as examples of  theistic, magic, realism or TMR. Am I on to something or have I got it wrong? Read the paper and tell me.

For details and the PDF of Gill’s paper go straight to the ANVIL page Continue reading →

Our speaker was Dr Steve Mandel, a professional economist and past Senior Researcher at the New Economics Foundation. His paper makes out the case that both the theory and practice of economics as generally accepted by those responsible for financial policy is fundamentally flawed Continue reading →

At the first meeting of ANVIL we had an excellent discussion with really thoughtful contributions from everyone who came.  Clearly the subject has relevance to all of us. In the light of that discussion I have written a thorough revision of my paper which is now entitled The Right to Choose a Safe, Painless, Death. In addition go to the end of the article and see the thoughtful comments I have received. Add yours by emailing me at johnbaxter@nullgetshot.co.uk

On Saturday 21st Sept 2013 I am attended a Sea of Faith conference in London to be addressed by Stephen Batchelor – on Secular Buddhism and Don Cuppitt on Secular Christianity and Richard Holloway, the former Scottish Episcopal Church Primate. I tried asking them to say in simple terms of about a paragraph to express the Christian or the Buddhist narrative in a secular way. Simplicity I believe is vital if this talk is to go beyond academic discussion. Continue reading →

1982 and I was teaching at Ilfracombe College, what some might later have described as a “bog standard” comprehensive for 1100 children 11-18.  Continue reading →

It was back in 2007 that I was provoked into writing the paper WHO SUFFERS as a response to what I felt was the immoral uttererances of Cardinal O’Brien with regard to abortion when he equated abortions with the Dunblane Massacre of primary school children. I found this grossly immoral because he seemed unable to recognise the difference between the appalling suffering of those children, their parents and families  and the termination of potential persons without awareness or any capacity to suffer. Continue reading →