To understand and reconcile how we best interpret the whole of scripture requires us to ask deep, open and honest questions.  The Bible is far too important for us not to have this discussion.

How can we live our lives in accordance with a book that seems to endorse slavery?  How can we navigate through the modern world, guided by texts that – on the face of it – regard women as second class citizens?  Should we make crucial decisions based on the wisdom of ancient texts stooped in a forgotten culture?

However, by encouraging an open approach of dialogue with scripture, Steve argues that the Biblical texts remains just as relevant to us today as it has to Christians thought the ages.  The Bible remains at the heart of Christian faith and it is up to us to restore confidence in the timeless wisdom of scripture.

Scripture is the vital life blood of Christian life.  But we know that through the centuries various Biblical texts have been read to justify some of the most inhumane, brutal and repressive episodes in human history: to sanction inquisitions and the torture of hundreds of thousands of those of other faiths; to denounce Copernicus’ and Galileo’s breakthrough in understanding of the cosmos; to approve witch-hunts across Europe and North America, which saw tens of thousands of innocent women slaughtered in the name of God; to portray African people as cursed by God and therefore justify the enslavement of millions; to legitimise apartheid and anti-Semitism. And still today, to condone the death penalty, to keep women subservient to men, to incite Islamophobia, to insist on a ‘young earth’ – antiscientific – six day understanding of creation, to oppress gay people and to abuse the environment.