The main tenet of Christian doctrine?

Getting soooo tedious now .

Really, Nonu?

Really ,

As a non-Christian I don't regard the Jesus story as I would any other fictional story (say Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). More like ancient history which contains a lot of guess work anyway.

A believe there is quite a bit of evidence for the historical Jesus actually but again only as much as you would expect from so long ago.

Annodomini, I too was brought up in the Kirk, and I attended Humanist meets whilst in Edinburgh. The Sea of Faith appeals because it attempts to save what in a scientific age is redeemable about the old Abrahamic faiths.

I am also attracted to the theory of the Axial Age as an explanation of how the OT prophets take their place within a new world zeitgeist that included also Confucius and Socrates, around 800-200 BCE

Quote ^The first classics in human history—the early works of literature, philosophy, and theology to which we have returned throughout the ages—appeared in the middle centuries of the first millennium BCE. The canonical texts of the Hebrew scriptures, the philosophical writings of Plato and Aristotle, the Analects of Confucius and the Daodejing, the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of the Buddha—all of these works came down to us from the compressed period of history that Karl Jaspers memorably named the Axial Age.^Unquote

Alexa, I must confess that I haven't previously heard of 'the Axial Age' but the thesis does make sense when you think of it. I must have a look for Karl Jaspers on Google. Presumably you are also familiar with the writings of Richard Holloway?

Yes, Annodomini I do remember Richard Holloway. I think probably everyone likes him. He was an example of a lovely churchman. I say was, maybe he is still alive?

To save anyone the bother of looking him up, he's still alive - here's the wiki info:-
Richard F. Holloway (born 26 November 1933) is a Scottish writer and broadcaster and was formerly Bishop of Edinburgh in the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Biography
Holloway was educated at Kelham Theological College, Edinburgh Theological College and the Union Theological Seminary, New York City. Between 1959 and 1986 he was a curate, vicar and rector at various parishes in England, Scotland and the United States. He was Bishop of Edinburgh from 1986 and was elected Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church in 1992. He resigned from these positions in 2000 and is now regarded as one of the most outspoken and controversial figures in the Church, having taken an agnostic worldview and commenting widely on issues concerning religious belief in the modern world. His own theological position has become increasingly radical and he has recently described himself as an "after-religionist".

Holloway is well known for his support of progressive causes, including campaigning on human rights for gay and lesbian people in both Church and State. He is a patron of LGBT Youth Scotland, an organisation dedicated to the inclusion of LGBT young people in the life of Scotland. He has questioned and addressed complex ethical issues in the areas of sexuality, drugs and bioethics. He has written extensively on these topics, being the author of more than 20 books exploring their relationship with modern religion.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Holloway was Professor of Divinity at Gresham College in the City of London. From 1990 to 1997, he was a member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and held the position of chair of the BMA Steering Group on Ethics and Genetics. He was also a member of the Broadcasting Standards Commission and is currently chair of the Scottish Arts Council and of Sistema Scotland.

Holloway has been a reviewer and writer for the broadsheet press for several years, including The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Sunday Herald and The Scotsman. He is also a frequent presenter on radio and television, having hosted the BBC television series When I Get to Heaven, Holloway's Road and The Sword and the Cross. He currently hosts the BBC Radio Scotland book review programme, Cover Stories. Holloway presented the second of the Radio 4 Lent Talks on 11 March 2009. On May 28 2012, he began presenting a fifteen-minute programme about faith and doubt, following The World at One on BBC Radio 4, called Honest Doubt: The History of an Epic Struggle.

Holloway lives in Edinburgh with his American-born wife Jean. They have three adult children; two daughters and a son.

Just out of interest, does anyone in real life actually use the term BCE (Before the Common Era) rather than BC (Before Christ)?

Not me. It is a PC step too far, and totally unnecessary. You can't give up using traditional terminology just because you have left the source of it behind.

I don't think it's PC at all. More rebellious than that. I've come across it quite a few times and I expect it will slowly catch on more as christianity fades.

JO5 - 'BC' is only of use when talking to christians... and wordwide they are a minority. I certainly have used BCE and CE in preference to the 'before Christ' and 'Anno Domini' initialisms.

Richard Holloway's autobiograhy "Leaving Alexandria", recently published is worth a read for anyone interested in his work. Karen Armstrong has written an excellent book on The Axial Age. Will have to go uptstairs and check the name! too lazy. Will log out and google it.

The book on the Axial Age by Karen Armstrong is called "The Great Transformation". Heavy tome but interesting!

I've already read several books by Karen Armstrong and like her approach to Christianity, a bit of a rebel.

I shall look up this latest one but I am expecting it to be expensive.

Not expensive it turns out. Just over £5 for Kindle version. Have downloaded sample.

Agree with joan re BCE thing.

I've just been reading Karen Armstrong and she uses BCE.

So is the term a rebellion against Christianity or isn't it?

I think it would be a disaster if this country turned its back on christianity. I don't agree with the pomp and ceremony of some churches but some of them do a lot of good that the state seems to ignore eg helping the homeless , counselling drug issues etc

Christians so not have a monopoly when it cones to helping others. So turning one's back on christianity cannot be said to be a problem with regard to being a good person. It irks me no end that so many people don't seem to be able to acknowledge that morality and ethical values exist without christianity (or any other religion).

Yes, Bags: that bothers me too. As the saying goes, 'You don't need God to be good'

Have heard Karen Armstrong speak on a couple of occasions. She has studied so many religions and is full of interesting information about all of them. Someone (at the Festival of Spirituality in Edinburgh) asked her, given her knowledge, what her beliefs were. She said she believed in compassion and that that was the starting point for all religions. There is a TED talk by her a bout compassion which is worth a listen if anyone is interested

My SIL is Catholic, but not practising. We had a discussion over Christmas about religion. I said I had no problem with people believing what they wanted. I did have a problem with organised religions as so many wars and deaths over the centuries have been caused by religions. I said you didn't have to believe in a god to be good and treat people as you would wish to be treated. He said that religion gave people rules to live by and 'not kill each other' I'm afraid I laughed at that assertion. I said that non believers don't roam the streets looking for someone to kill!!

It was a good natured discussion and never turned nasty. We agreed to disagree. I did ask him that if he was a believer, why hadn't he got around to having the children Christened!! After all both my daughters were Christened by three months old. I think you should offer your children the chance to make their own decisions regarding religion.

By the way - HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE