My Comments on the ANVIL session.

We had a really good session with a good turnout and much lively and thoughtful discussion – of course not all agreeing, but all listening to each other carefully.  As a result I have revised the paper I used as the basis for my talk and I am placing it here. Continue reading →

January 14 – 2015  Christopher Maltin gives a talk to the ANVIL discussion group in Wincanton on The World’s Most Environmentally Friendly Fuel Christopher Maltin provided us with an excellent informative and challenging presentation on diesel, biomethane and natural gas as fuels which took us to places most of us had not recognized before. What follows is my report and reflections on his talk. Continue reading →

For our last Anvil session on Palestine and Israel in addition to our excellent session I have written up how this deeply troubling subject now seems to me after careful study.  My views however I am sure are deeply controversial.  All the more reason if you find an error or inaccuracy in facts or reasoning that you please let me know email johnbaxter@nullgetshot.co.uk

Julie Arliss’ talk went very well. To read a report  Continue reading →

When this meeting was planned months ago, the tragic war between Israel and the Palestinians which exploded this August had not begun, though as Derek’s paper makes clear, the “peace” was fragile. Not surprisingly our meeting attracted a full house and Derek added to his paper extra notes ( http://www.johnbaxter.org/anvil-discussion-group/palestine-and-the-arab-israeli-conflict-2/ See here the notes Derek Added) listing what has happened in this conflict and giving us some vital statistics. Continue reading →

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 →