The Revd Writes…I was asked a very serious question recently, “Do dogs go to heaven?” The person who asked the question was distressed on being previously told that Christianity gave a definitive blank ‘no!’ Presumably the one who gave the answer was holding to the idea that human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation and as such are the only creatures to have souls. It was St. Augustine, back in the fourth century, who, drawing on Plato and Greek dualism, articulated the belief in ‘body and soul’ and that only those with souls i.e. that part of the human being that is intelligent enough to make moral decisions and can, therefore, claim to believe in Christ, that can access salvation - unto eternal life.Modern-day canine psychologists could doubtless have a very long conversation with St. Augustine about whether dogs are able to know the difference between right and wrong and would probably argue that, with enough training and learning, – not unlike with a small child – such an outcome is possible. Dogs are intelligent and we are continually finding new ways of making them useful members of society; more recently, as an aid to medical services, we now know that dogs are able to detect, through their sense of smell, the onset of epileptic seizures in humans and to give warning before a fit occurs. Dogs undoubtedly bring glory to God by their usefulness.Dogs too are emotionally intelligent beings and form loving relationships with humans, and often with other pets within the household. Comforting a distraught child on the death of his dog, Pope Paul VI declared that, “One day, we will see our animals again in the eternity of Christ.” He was holding to the traditional view, promoted by St. Francis, that the whole of creation brings glory to God and that, in the fullness of time, God will restore the whole of creation, marred by sin and degradation, to its former glory. The Bible does not give an answer to the question but there are many powerful images used which describe a future state of paradise in which the ‘lion will down with the lamb’ (Isaiah 11:6) and the Promised Land is a place that flows with ‘milk and honey’ (Exodus 3:8) etc which could be interpreted as giving hope to those who cannot imagine a life after death without the presence of animals – in particular much loved pets.Do dogs go to heaven? I have two Jack Russell Terriers, one of whom would certainly qualify. But I have a sneaky suspicion the other one might just be going to the other place!God BlessMark
The Revd. Writes…Within days of the great fire of Notre Dame $1 billion had been donated for its rebuilding. That such a staggering sum of money should have been raised in such a short space of time has raised many an eyebrow. Such an amount is more than the gross domestic product of several countries put together and, it is fair to say, would transform the lives of many schools and hospitals. So, what is it about the potential loss of a landmark building that triggers the generosity of so many in raising so much money because they desperately want to save it? The psychological pain, felt by so many - not just the French – at the loss of a great Medieval cathedral, highlights the attachment and emotional investment in the built environment. Human beings derive meaning and a sense of purpose in a number of ways – and buildings, particularly buildings set aside for religious ritual, are one of them. Cathedrals and churches house not just altars and other such artefacts, they house too scared memories of rites of passage from birth through to adulthood and death. Generations of history and identity are given space both within and without, held for present and future generations, in stone and mortar. Those who pass by project their fears and anxieties, hopes and aspirations, in such a way that the wayside chapel takes on a priestlike task – enabling a quiet place to think and to re-evaluate, to encounter the self in a safe environment. A common response of many, who watched while the fire took its toll, was that it was as if the very soul of France was being put at risk. The very brave firefighters who rose to the challenge, saved not just the remains of a building, they saved too the possibility of a nation being able to rebuild itself from the ashes. Such hope is priceless. Closer to home some drew a parallel with the Great Fire of London and the loss of the old St. Paul’s. Christopher Wren, in building the new St. Paul’s Cathedral, rescued an important piece of stone from that loss, a stone that had carved upon it the word ‘resurgam’, meaning ‘I will rise again’. It was a piece of stone that helped a nation survive through the long nights of the ‘blitz’ 340 years later.Latest forecasts suggest that the cost of rebuilding Notre Dame is more likely to cost at least $3 billion dollars. Less than half the amount needed for the restoration of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. And there are very few who can imagine a London or an England without them!God BlessMark
The Revd. Writes…The great feast of Easter is the Christian celebration of hope over despair. The crucifixion of Jesus commemorated on Good Friday focuses the cry of protest, from within the very heart of God, that life is stronger than death and that ultimately it is life that will triumph. The very first protest that we make is the cry as a new born, often in response to having our bottom smacked by the midwife. The resulting yell fills the lungs with air and the bloodstream with oxygen. From our very beginnings protest results in giving life – keeping death at bay. As Moses defied the Egyptian authorities and led the Israelites out of slavery into the promised land, so the cry from the cross of, ‘Thy will be done’, ushers in the resurrection and extends a new vision of a new society in which all humankind and the whole of creation have equal share. Protest is key not only to human flourishing but to our very survival. The child who does not scream, will not be heard, will have no voice, will be at risk of dying quietly in the corner, out of sight, unnoticed. Similarly, the adolescent, in the quest for autonomy, needs to be able to test the truths of convention if an identity is to emerge which will eventually mean that I can say ‘I know who I am. I am me.’ In adulthood the responsibility for protest becomes more onerous, the fight is more for the preservation of integrity and dignity. God has given me my voice and that voice is entitled to be heard. I have an opinion worthy of respect.The Dever Valley has a rich tradition of protest. The Swing Riots of 1830 brought to the fore the adverse conditions endured by agricultural labourers, not just within in our own villages, but in many parts of the country at that time. The voices of ordinary people bravely articulated the injustices of poverty and demanded that they be heard by the powerful and the influential. If hope was to triumph over despair, then Christian faith demanded action. Conscience would allow for nothing else.The campaign to oppose the building of a very large waste incinerator within a stones-throw of the banks of the River Dever at Barton Stacey, is the right of Dever Valley people to have a legitimate say in how their communities and environment should be allowed to evolve. Protest is never just about saying a blank ‘no’. It is always about striving for life-giving Easter hope. God BlessMark
