Right off the top, I am going to admit that Mere Christianity was a difficult read for me. Besides the war imagery to which I am (thankfully) not able to relate and the extensive use of "men" when discussing the entire human race, some of the discussions were ones I find hard to hear. Christianity has changed in the 53 years since C. S. Lewis wrote the book.
Nine straight days of rains from Hurricane Stan saturated the porous volcanic soils within Guetamala in early October. The result was heavy flooding in the coastal areas where much of the commercial agriculture is concentrated. Rivers overflowed their banks, flooding the flat plains. In some places it created new pathways washing away homes, crops and livestock. The heavy rains were equally unmerciful in the highland areas where many native Mayan people live. The rains brought torrential amounts of mud and debris down mountainsides. Small streams and rivers overflowed and threatened entire communities in their path. Though many communities were evacuated, some did not receive any warning, particularly in Solola and San Marcos. These areas have now been declared mass graves.
As a happily married heterosexual woman without children, I am offended by the argument that marriage without children is not really marriage. Michael Coren (October) uses this argument to oppose same sex marriage. He writes, "Sex between people of the same gender can by its very nature never result in new life and is in the final analysis a selfish act. . . and never a means to that most glorious of ends, God-given life."
Mere Christianity is remarkably autobiographical in detailing C.S. Lewis's own questions as he moved from atheism to Christianity. Questions he posed, insights he gained and understandings he reached are all shared. He does not assume his reader knows too much and so he deals with basic issues in a clear and concise way. This is one of the great strengths of the book, regardless of whether or not we agree with his particular interpretation of the issue at hand. At the same time this rational description and defence of the faith is being made from within a culture sympathetic to and supportive of Christianity, which, if not the religion of everyone, was still the religion that people were expected to have and one which received considerable support-such as BBC radio broadcasts.
Re. Pop Grammar, Letters, October
Re. Same Sex Marriage Minister Punished, October
I read with interest Old Tosh and Balderdash by Andrew Faiz in October. While I agree with the content and argument presented, I believe he does a disservice to the authors of the books noted in the article. He implies The Eight by Katherine Neville, and The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason, were written in response to The Da Vinci Code. In fact, Ms. Neville's book was written in 1988, preceding the publication of Dan Brown's blockbuster by 15 years! The Rule of Four was published nearly a year after Da Vinci, but I would be very surprised if they had not written the greater part of their book before the 2003 publication date of The Da Vinci Code. I agree both are wonderful reads, but let's get our facts straight! They do not "try to distance themselves from Da Vinci." although perhaps sales of both books have increased as a result of the popularity of Da Vinci. A happy accident indeed, but definitely an accident. And that is my final contribution to keeping the story alive.
Re. Editorial, October
I read with great pleasure the article about Azucena Antunez in October. It is good to know that Canadians will get to know her and the work of Soynica.
First row: Chris Ouellet, Emma Carinie, Claire Davis, Steven Lennox, Cassie Ouellet, Claire Fowler; back row: Anneke Cairnie, visitor, Michelle Jeter-Krasnikoff; missing: teaching partner Josee […]
Trinity, Campbell River, B.C. had three members take part in the opening survivor’s lap at the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in June. This event […]
A reunion of the Knox College graduating class of 1945 (the school’s centennial year) produced four graduates, three of them seen here: Rev. Charles D. […]
Operation Christmas Child is a mission initiative of Samaritan’s Purse, a Calgary-based non-denominational organization, which collects shoe boxes filled with gifts for impoverished children in […]
Click here for this month’s Called to Wonder.
“People with disabilities have taught me what it means to be human,” says Jean Vanier, Founder of L’Arche. Jody Evans, centre, is both a member […]
On June 24-26 2005, approximately 150 CGIT leaders, girls, alumnae and executive participated in the seventh Ontario Jamboree to celebrate CGIT’s 90th anniversary. Our jamborees […]
The baptism of Theodore Walter Stager in the historic Knox, New Glasgow, Ont., the church of his ancestors, was undoubtedly the highlight of the gathering […]
Happy times in the Maritimes! St. Paul’s, Glace Bay, N.S., celebrates the complete repayment of their loan with a special service and a burning of […]
When Gwen Poole heard the old electronic organ at St. Andrew’s – Knox, Fort Erie, Ont., needed to be fixed she took the opportunity to […]