Biblical routes. A rant.

'If we let go of our biblical roots, what have we got left? Just peoples opinions..'

(BBC News, tonight. In an interview with an anti gay clergy parishioner outside a church where Gene Robinson had tried to preach).

Isn't this a lovely question? We are left with clear routes for argument and decision making..

Out walking yesterday.. near Harbottle Castle in Northumberland. Following a path between the modern evocation of medieval England and the hard contested borderland.. Taking easy delight in the form and function of the flora and fauna. We were commenting on the simple fact that seems to elude those bent on cul de sac philosophy. There simply is no need to limit one's wonder at the patterns and purposes presented to us daily. No need to stop at a creationist road map. There are tremblings in the foundations..

I think creationism is, in a sense, a kind of category mistake, as if the Bible were a theory like other theories. Whatever the biblical account of creation is, it's not a theory alongside theories. It's not as if the writer of Genesis or whatever sat down and said well, how am I going to explain all this... 'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...' Rowan Williams in The Guardian, 21 March 2006

A good try, Dr Williams but no cigar..

When will influential, articulate leaders admit their secret courage and speak plainly about the wonder that is bigger than the concept of god? The acceptance of Not Knowing beyond what can be proved? The anticipation of knowledge to be gained and the part we can all play in that process?

Rant over! For now....

Anyway, the walk through heath and moorland was a little wonder in itself. we deliberated over the potential toxicity of low lying purple fruited bushes, only to discover them to be Bilberrys and great for pies!


The Ministry of Defence was out for a bit of a fight in the hills when we arrived at the Drake Stone.

Puffs of smoke and the unexpectedly deep thumping of a machine gun rolled and wafted across the heather. A helicopter looked as if it was interested in our process through the bracken.

It was all very exciting. Until we realised that somehow, the constant bombardment had faded into the background. The surroundings, the pillow mosses, the lichen and the tiny flora, getting smaller as we looked were more interesting by far. We acknowledged then that were it not for the MOD, this area may well have fallen to farm. And suffered at the hands of commerce.

However,

It's small but undeniable compensation.

We went behind the Red Flags though. Hah!