8 pm Tuesday February 19, 2019 at Lindisfarne House, Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS

APOCALYPSE UPDATED

Will the human race last forever?

 By Jim Smith, with an introduction by Geoff Pritchard.

We are familiar with the fact that a great many – perhaps even most – animal species are becoming extinct. It has already happened in the past to the dinosaurs and the dodo, and to apes broadly similar to ourselves, such as homo erectus and Neanderthal man. There have sometimes been mass extinctions in which most of the living creatures of the time became extinct. Some say we are living through a mass extinction right now, because of the failure of most animals to compete with humans for food and habitats.

The question many people are beginning to ask is, will the human race itself become extinct? Climate change is as much a threat to humans as to any other living creatures. Several scientists are convinced that the very nature of human beings means they cannot handle responsibly the great technological and destructive power that will soon become available to individuals and small groups. Others warn of the decline in effectiveness of antibiotic medicines.

Many Christians are familiar with the idea presented in the Bible that we or our descendants will see the end of the world. The language of Scripture in this respect is obviously apocalyptic, and it is easy to dismiss the relevant passages as speculative fancy. Certainly it is difficult to see exactly what some of the passages in the book of Revelation mean, or to use them to explain exactly why, or when, or how the human race will be wiped out. But the general idea remains fixed in our consciousness.

This evening’s meeting is not chiefly concerned with offering interpretations of Scripture, but with highlighting some of the practical possibilities, such as the threats presented by environmental change, war, disease and hostile technology. There will be short videos to help in this respect.

We want to offer time for discussion, so do please come along with your own perspectives on this important matter.

HEAVENS ABOVE!

ANCIENT BIBLICAL COSMOLOGY AND THE MODERN WORLD

with Dr Robin Parry

Tuesday 22nd January – 8 pm

at Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS

Biblical understandings of the cosmos in which we live reflect ideas found across the ancient world. Often when we read the Bible it never even occurs to us that its authors thought about the universe differently from us and so we impose our modern views onto the ancient texts without realizing that we are doing so. However, when we do start to notice some of the differences between our modern cosmology and the Bible’s ancient cosmology, the biblical ideas can seem very strange.

In this talk, Dr Robin Parry will explore ancient Israelite views about the sky: the sun, moon, and stars, the solid sky-dome above the stars, the heavenly ocean, and God’s dwelling place in the invisible heavens beyond the sky-dome. He will consider the interesting and tricky question of how we can and should learn from such ancient thinking, even in an age of astrophysics.

To download a flyer with more information, please click below:

B & S flyer Dr Robin Parry January 2019

Mobile phones are a blessing and a curse. Instant communication for good or evil purposes. This presentation will look at unexpected benefits.

Tuesday 20th November

8pm at Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS

Professor Paul Jackson will speak on

“Technology, Mobile Phones, and Peacemaking in Africa”

Mobile phones change the way work is done in conflict-affected countries. Mobile phone  technology has changed the way millions of people work across the Global South and has opened up new avenues of research, monitoring of violence and reporting of peace-making as well as the better known economic aspects. .Drawing on extensive field experience in Africa, this talk will look at the development of the technology including potential  use of mobiles for research in areas otherwise impossible to reach.

Professor Jackson is Professor of African Politics in the International Development Department at Birmingham University. He is a political economist specialising in conflict and post-conflict reconstruction and is a Project Leader in Sustainable Redevelopment for the British Academy. He has published widely on African issues and is actively involved in government and international groups for conflict prevention and resolution. Paul is associated with Bromyard Road Methodist Church in Worcester.

To download a flyer with more information, please click here: B & S flyer Paul Jackson November 2018

Some dates for your diary:

Tuesday 18^th September 2018

“Obesity and a new paradigm of treatment.”  In 2015, 58 per cent of women and 68 per cent of men were overweight and current predictions place the number of people with diabetes to 5 million by 2025. Are science and the medical community now turning to biblical wisdom to treat the problem?  Join us for a presentation of the scientific evidence and how some in the medical community are adopting a new paradigm of treatment, with Tomas Franco.

To download a flyer with more information, please click here:  Tomas Franco Sept 2018

Tuesday 16^th October 2018

The Rt. Revd. Peter Forster, Bishop of Chester will be speaking on “Theology after Einstein,” looking at the revolutionary and often ill-understood implications of Einstein’s thinking and the fascinating way they interact with Christian faith. This will include the post-Einsteinian concept of ‘the universe’, the movement from mechanism to field theory and its relation to space-time, the arrow of time, cosmic and human uniqueness, and Jesus Christ,  Light of the World, a unique and universal Saviour.

To download a flyer with more information, please click here:  Peter Forster October 2018

Tuesday 20^th November 2018

We welcome Prof. Paul Jackson, of the School of Government and Society at Birmingham University, whose topic will be “Possible roles for technology in alleviating poverty in world conflict and post-conflict zones”.  Prof. Jackson will consider how technology and artificial intelligence can be used to avoid the catastrophies often seen in conflict and post-conflict areas, and to improve recovery in such areas.  He has studied the drivers of such conflicts in Africa and elsewhere, and will present his experience.

We are currently putting together our programme for the autumn season, with talks planned for the 3rd Tuesdays of the month in September, October and November, as usual.  Once the dates and details have been confirmed, we will update the website, so please come back and visit again soon.

Thank you.

Friday 2^nd February

7.30pm

St. George’s C of E Church

St. George’s Square, Barbourne, Worcester WR1 1HX

We are delighted to have Riding Lights Theatre Company with us on Friday 2^nd February.  They are touring with their new production, “Faith In The Questions”, which is a dynamic blend of theatre and discussion. The first half of the evening is a specially commissioned one act play, Counting the Clouds, written by Nigel Forde and produced by Riding Lights Theatre Company.

Based in the book of Job from the Old Testament, Job is depicted as a respected scientist whose work is wrestling with the unpredictable as well as predictable structures of the universe.  Is God really in control and what does it mean when his personal world is shaken to the core?

A brief interval follows the performance, for refreshments and to allow the audience to write and submit their questions arising from the play or other related issues.  Then there will be a 30 – 45 minute Q and A session, with a panel of leading scientists/theologians who share a Christian faith.

There is no charge, but booking is essential.  You can book your tickets either on line via Riding Lights’ website, www.ridinglights.org/fitq, or by phoning 01904 613000 or 01905 726662.

P.S.  Please note that this replaces our January and February Tuesday evening talks, but we will be back at Lindisfarne House in March, on Tuesday 13th March, when John Gallagher, Professor of Cognitive Health at Oxford University and Director of Dementia Platform UK, will be with us.  His title is “When the mind malfunctions”, and he will devote a part of his talk to mental health problems her than dementia, which is his main research interest.