Postscripts notes Cupitt’s Emptiness and Brightness on a second Axial Age, Alex Wright’s book, planned issue themes, SnowStar and other conferences, and a column on dons who became fantasy writers.
Seafarer reports revisionist scholarship questioning the historical Muhammad and Koran, arguing liberals avoid it for interfaith reasons while the findings fit religion as human creation. He then thanks the retiring SoF team.
Postscripts announces the one-day ‘I’m Talking About Jerusalem’ conference with Tony Benn and Leslie Griffiths, other conferences, a text-message Lord’s Prayer, and Philip Pullman’s Radio 4 interview ahead of next year’s SoF conference.
Postscripts column on the Botticelli’s Dante and Stanley Spencer exhibitions and the play God Only Knows, with notes on how the Church Times and Channel 4 view the Network.
Postscripts column: a reply to Roy Hattersley on Christianity and socialism, a Nietzsche quotation, and a critique of the BBC documentary Son of God and its claims about Jesus’ appearance and birth.
Postscripts column: the Hinduja brothers’ sponsorship of the Dome’s Faith Zone and a passport, Kumbh Mela commentary, Paul Oestreicher against Anglican establishment, Stephen Jay Gould on science and religion.
Postscripts column: appeal for Dr Younus Shaikh, charged with blasphemy in Pakistan; Richard Holloway’s lectures on Christian myths; artist Conrad Atkinson’s landmine porcelains; and Lloyd Geering’s honour.
Postscripts column: reflections on SoF’s positions, Don Cupitt’s tour, Steven Berkoff’s play Messiah, a reply on Tony Blair, a Finnish counterpart society, and doubts about R. S. Thomas.
Postscripts column: politicians’ religious rhetoric, Stephen Pattison’s call for public theology, a visitor’s account of a Croydon Sea of Faith group, the New Zealand conference, and an editorial correction.
Seafarer’s column responds to readers’ views of the magazine’s new look and a provocative hippy Jesus illustration. It also covers Hansie Cronje blaming Satan, and Tate Modern and Duchamp’s urinal.
