Have Your Say
Nightingale and M.L.King Jnr join the movement for a new faith.
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Stanley K
24th March, 2010
2:44pmI find it fascinating that nobody has stood back from this argument and asked the question, "So why would a prominent psychologist and theologian put up a billboard that is so vague and ambiguous?"
So why would he do it? Is it something like a Rorscharch inkblot where the billboard is not so much about Macnab, but where the vagueries of the picture allow us to be stimulated in an unexpected manner and then reflect on our own reactions?
Here is an example: Every time I drive under the billboard it reminds me that sometimes I have dreams like Martin Luther K. I see a world free of unfair prejudices, where humanity reaches its full potential. I look at Florence N, and she reminds me of my partner who works in the health area. She has strong feelings for wanting people free of disease, it reminds me of her caring personality and her love. And I see Dr M, and he reminds me of an immediate caring presence in this city.
Then I think maybe this is not about Dr M, but that it is quite appropriate for me to aspire to the great heights achieved by Florence and Martin, and that Dr M is inviting us to strive for such heights.
I just love inkblots! -
Francesca Collins
2nd March, 2010
1:41pmCongratulations to the early posters on this discussion. It took only 9 posts for Godwin's Law (As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1) to come in to play. That's got to be a record of some kind. -
Liz Green
2nd March, 2010
1:02pmThe banner does give a confusing and controversial message about Dr Francis Macnab and St Michaels but the derogative and ungracious tone of some of the comments from those who have not sat in a pew at St Michaels on a Sunday morning are invalid and biased.
An intelligent and fully informed conversation cannot take place unless Francis Macnab is viewed in the context of Sunday at St Michaels.
But there are questions that can be asked that may enlighten the uninformed.
1. What city church in Melbourne has a membership of 600 and approx. 400 people regularly attending each Sunday. On Easter Sunday and Christmas Day up to 1,000 may be present?
2. Does your church admit 40+ new members each year?
3. Does your minister get invited to speak at major events in Australia and around the world.
4. Do you have over 50 committees involved in a variety of worthwhile activities both in the church and the wider community and overseas?
5 Are there 40 elected members of Council acting as the Governing Body of your church?
One must ask the million dollar question - Why have many hundreds of people like myself attended or visited St Michaels during the ministry of Francis Macnab.
And why are other churches emptying amalgamating or closing.
I can only answer for myself why I am an active member of St.Michaels
I was intelligent enough to know that all the dogma that I had listened to for most of my adult life was irrelevant for me in the 20th - 21 st Century.
I was bored to sobs with the drone of the thou shalt nots, the dogma, the biblical contradictions that did not sit comfortably within my psyche, as being true to an image of a loving God and the teaching and example of Jesus of Nazareth.
I was going through the motions and spiritually hungry for something new that would change my life. I knew I needed to grow up and leave my underdeveloped version of Christianity behind me.
So I spontaneously stepped outside of the restrictions of my outdated religion and into the spiritual vibrancy of St.Michaels and all it had to offer.
It changed my life and who I have become.
I am never bored, I am not brain washed and I am challenged to live as Jesus of Nazareth challenged me to live.
Francis Macnab is controversial because he is not afraid to speak out about how we need to look at the scriptures with the knowledge and understanding that we have in this century.
He is passionate about a faith that is authentic and real.
Like a book that has been hidden in a dark cupboard for a long time. The leaves of the book have sensitively been dusted and one can clearly see the real meaning of the words.
Colossians 3 12-16
"Put on the colours of those who know God has accepted them and set them free.
The colour of compassion and kindness
of gentleness and patience
of tolerance, and of those who have experienced a release and are free.
Above all, study carefully how you love - let it be a love that genuinely binds you together. Let a real peacefulness flood your heart and mind. And then pause for awhile and be grateful that you are part of these gifts."
Quote - This Hungry Time
Author Francis Macnab
I am grateful for the gifts.
Liz Green
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John
1st March, 2010
7:43pmI agree with Justin. Your billboard makes no sense - you are putting some guy I've never heard of on the same pedestal as those of Nightingale and Dr King.
Heck, even if he is that good, it only comes across as ridiculously arrogant! -
David James
1st March, 2010
3:19pmScience, medicine, communication, travel, IT, to name a few, have all advanced over time. One aspect of life still clings to old beliefs, creeds and dogmas that have not changed for centuries. Contrary to the superficial treatment by Barney Zwartz, Geoff Slattery and Max Champion (The Age - P3. 20/02) Dr Francis Macnab is leading a New Faith movement that tries to modernize our way of thinking about Spirituality and Faith in a broader, less dogmatic way and definitely not in an egotisical way as suggested by the erroneous article in The AGE. -
Sylvia Mitchell
1st March, 2010
3:04pmThank you Dr Macnab! On behalf of those with a strong spirituality and connection with God but feel no resonance or place of belonging in places of the \'old religion\' THANK YOU! You are the most exceptional person I have ever known and you ideas are intelligent, inspirational and innovative. I feel so blessed to have been part of your congregation in 2007. I can\'t wait to hear more of this conversation in Syndey and in all religious places. -
Justin
26th February, 2010
4:12pmI'm definitely in the progressive Christian camp, so it pains me to say the billboard is a shocker.
It says to me: it's all about Macnab. And he's as important as Nightingale and King.
Communication FAIL. -
Holytoledo
24th February, 2010
2:44pmKillin' Donald.. Where's the soul?
You are very amusing and you deserve to have footlights and amplification in a suitable venue - what say you the comedy festival at Melbourne Town Hall? Or a street corner where you can wield your ancient tome? -
Donald of Killin
24th February, 2010
12:54pmHolytoledo, what an interesting definition of ' faith '.
Holytoledo, indeed!
Something that gets you out of bed in the morning? Really? Now that would have variable power..
The sheepdogs must be sharing it, too. Is it some sort of biological survival mechanism, perhaps akin to the innate behavior of a spider spinning its web to catch the evening meal? Is that what you think?
No, HT, faith did not get me out of bed this morning (although I was looking forward to a reply, so thank you :), it was purely biological. No scripture inspired me to seek breakfast. Just like all those other folk you referred to. Or why refer only to people , include every animal too! I'm sure you have a name for this "faith" - what is it? Hunger?
Christian faith is Bible based. Oh, yes, with its contradictions, and translations, all present, particularly in the Old Testament, and between the two Testaments.
But it was interesting that you wrote your faith is one to get you out of bed, and to make the day happier, etc. A sort of organiser or motivator - a personal assistant . It's surely shared by millions of non-Christians around the world, not to mention my ever -happy kelpie.
But let's not call it Christian faith.
In fact, HT, you really don't need the Creed, and like those other happy souls, the Bible. Why bother with the trappings of Christianity? - a "belief system" can pick and choose, cherry-picking if you like (lots of that lately), it can make alterations overnight if that is also part of its agenda. A 'leader' can set up such a system, perhaps using the infrastructure of another, and it's a... "New Faith".
The "10% Christianity ".
(No, I've heard nothing from Macnab of late, in fact I thought the blog moderator or even you, Holytoledo, might be him !)
Cheers, and look forward to seeing you in Scots one day (across the border - literally). -
Holytoledo
24th February, 2010
11:40amHeresy relates to the negation of established beliefs especially of religion - a system of thought. If the debate Donald, is on faith, by your definition you can learn faith from the bible alone. Faith is what you have that gets you up in the morning (even after a tragedy) and gives you hope to keep moving and keeps you living, it might even give a sense of being happy and content. Tell me which scripture got you out of bed this morning. Tell me how the rest of the world that lives without a bible has any valid faith and any value in this world.
As you question Francis Macnab, Popes and clerics, do you not question the validity of those who wrote the testaments, and all the interpreters who transposed the lessons of wisdom? You are saying that faith is something that can be shaped by the bible and the testaments. Will you take all the contradictions from the bible into your faith, the violence, the judgements and hatred too? No-one is saying the bible is irrelevant, it is a valuable document that, as you say in different context, requires an educated understanding, an education that includes questioning.
I hear no lack of words of faith from the services at St Michael\'s, from the words from Francis Macnab. It is not about the adulation of the person Macnab, it is about drawing wisdom to live by from some or any of the messages. To find a faith that helps you get out of bed in the morning and function better.
I wonder still, have you actually heard anything from Francis Macnab. - Showing comments 1-10 of 22
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