God Matters: Role of the Virgin Mary

Fr. Richard Conrad OP continued our "God Matters" series last Tuesday with a talk on, "The role of the Virgin Mary". As on previous occasions, Godzdogz feature the video of the talk, below:

Fr. Richard uses art to explore Our Lady's role and there is a very comprehensive handout, which can be downloaded by clicking here: "Handout".

Tomorrow sees the final event in this year's series. There will be a panel of this year's speakers to answers questions and draw together recurring themes over the course of the talks. As before, all are welcome to come and participate at Blackfriars Priory Church at 8pm. Bring a friend or three!

God Matters: "Sex, Marriage and that sort of thing”

On Tuesday, Fr. Peter Hunter OP, gave a talk entitled "Sex, Marriage and that sort of thing” as part of our "God Matters?" series. The talk followed our usual format: talk, coffee, then questions (not recorded).



Tomorrow (Tuesday 11th March) Fr. Richard Conrad OP will speak on the Blessed Virgin Mary at 8pm at Blackfriars, Oxford.  Please do come if you can and bring a friend or three! If you can't get to Oxford, as on previous occasions, we will continue to post the video of the talk here on Godzdogz.

First Monday of Lent

Readings at Mass: Lev 19:1-2, 11-18; Matt 25:31-46

In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novel Small Gods, the ‘great God Om’ tries to manifest himself in the world, only to find himself in the body of a tortoise. The central character, Brutha (Pratchett may have modelled him on St Thomas Aquinas), is the monk who understands the tortoise is God, and listens to the speaking tortoise in the desert, to hear what God has to say. Brutha finds himself as a preacher, leading a reform movement to have a Church that is more open-minded and humanist. His wicked superior, Deacon Vorbis (head of the Quisition), is constantly plotting to increase his own power and influence, a sort of pharisee figure in the novel. A figure that is always telling his faithful - don’t do this, don’t do that... if you do this you will go to hell. And if you dare question me and my religious enforcers of the Church of Om, the Quisition will track you down and imprison you! As it turns out, Vorbis is a nasty piece of work although committed to the cause in his own way.

Once readers of the student blog have explored our lenten reading list in depth, Small Gods is a satirical book that is quite fun to read. In a light-hearted way it touches on some of the worries that secular society often has about organised religion. But, best enjoyed after the end of Lent. Moving on to more important matters, today’s Gospel has a simple message for Christians who want to inherit the Kingdom of God. Feed the hungry, visit prisoners, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for those who are ill. If we combine this passage with the beatitudes, we can see a simple message of Jesus, and how to be his followers and inherit eternal life. Jesus proclaims what is positive and truly good in life, achieving things like justice, satisfying basic human needs amongst those in need, and achieving peace. Jesus says blessed are those who mourn, those poor in spirit and those who are persecuted. Compare this style of writing with the first reading, which is a strict set of enforcement notices for a disobedient people. Don’t do this, don’t do that. You shall do this instead, or otherwise it is considered sinful. 

Attending a talk last week by my Dominican brother, fr. Peter Hunter OP, on the topic of “Sex, Marriage and that sort of thing”, it was mentioned as part of the talk and discussion that the Church has not always explained her message as effectively as it could, on matters relating to human sexuality. Either through misinterpretation, or proclamations being literally lost in translation, the goodness and richness of Catholic teaching on human sexuality and marriage has not always been conveyed correctly. More often, it is not conveyed in a compassionate manner and at worst we end up with what is sinful, a failure to live up to Jesus’s teachings that we love one another as He has loved us. There are of course problems with what our society tells us is desirable and supposedly equitable, versus the Church’s positive vision of authentic human development and human freedom in relation to sexuality, love and sexual orientation. Aside from the goodness and truth that is often not proclaimed, many unfortunately just hear a negative, legalistic message of “don’t do this, don’t do that...go to Mass when you are obliged, and then you might get to heaven”. Sometimes, lapsed Catholics that I know have encountered Catholic religious authorities or individuals that have focused on very specific areas of the human condition, in anything but a Christian and loving manner. Unfortunately it is not uncommon to hear of people who abandon the faith over some minor failing, or minor issue that for some reason a figure of authority has decided to have an obsession over.  

fr. Peter Hunter’s talk is available to watch online (www.godmatters.tumblr.com), and there will be a Q&A Discussion session on March  18th 2014, here in Blackfriars Oxford. 

God Matters: The Role of Women in the Church

On Tuesday evening, Blackfriars, Oxford continued its series of talks, "God Matters? Tricky Teachings and Difficult Doctrines". Sr. Ann-Catherine Swailes OP spoke on The Role of Women in the Church. As on previous occasions, the talk was very well attended! The talk was followed by tea and coffee, after which, the speaker and audience returned for questions (not recorded).

God Matters? talks and discussions continue on Tuesdays, 8pm, at Blackfriars, Oxford.  Please do come if you can and bring a friend or three! And if you can't get to Oxford, we will continue to post videos of them on Godzdogz.  The next talk is this Tuesday, 4th March under the title Sex, Marriage and That Sort of Thing.  

God Matters: The Beginning and End of Life

If you missed the second talk in the present series, God Matters? Tricky Teachings and Difficult Doctrines, you can catch up by clicking on the video below.
Bioethicist, Fr Robert Gay OP, spoke on The Beginning and End of Life. The talk was followed by refreshments and a Q&A session, which were not recorded, in order to encourage a free-flowing discussion.

Watch this space for future videos. The talks and discussions continue on Tuesdays, 8pm, at Blackfriars, Oxford. 

The next talk is this Tuesday, 25th February: Sr Ann Catherine Swailes OP, a Dominican sister and Assistant Chaplain at the University of Cambridge, will speak on The Role of Women in the Church. Come along, bring a friend, and join the discussion!

God Matters: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory

We are delighted to share with you the first of the talks in the present series, God Matters? Tricky Teachings and Difficult Doctrines.

Here, Fr Richard Ounsworth OP, speaks about Life After Death: Heaven, Hell & Purgatory. The talk was followed by refreshments and a Q&A session, which were not recorded, in order to encourage a free-flowing discussion.

Watch this space for future videos. The talks and discussions continue on Tuesdays, 8pm, at Blackfriars, Oxford. 

The next talk is this Tuesday, 25th February: Sr Ann Catherine Swailes OP, a Dominican sister and Assistant Chaplain at the University of Cambridge, will speak on The Role of Women in the Church. Come along, bring a friend, and join the discussion!

God Matters? Tricky Teachings and Difficult Doctrines

Following the success of last year's series, the God Matters free talks are back! This year, the focus will be on Tricky Teachings and Difficult Doctrines. The talks are an opportunity for all people – Catholics, other Christians, people of other religions or none – to understand Catholicism better and to discuss these contentious topics in a free and open way. We want to reach as wide an audience as possible, so if you are thinking of coming, please bring a friend along with you!

Details are on the poster above, which you are encouraged to distribute as widely as possible. In brief, the talks will be at Blackfriars, Oxford, on consecutive Tuesdays from 11th February to 18th March, 8pm-9.30pm. The format will be the same as last year: a short talk by a Dominican friar or sister, time for refreshments and informal discussion, then a question and answer session with the speaker. And it's all free!

The topics include the doctrines of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory; bioethical issues about life and death; the role of women in the Church; the Virgin Mary; and the subject of sex and marriage. But these topics will surely raise other questions, too, and that is why there will be a wide-ranging panel discussion in the final Q&A session. If you have a burning question to ask, please send it in to the God Matters address: godmatters@english.op.org

If you cannot easily make it to Oxford, rest assured that the talks will be videoed and put online (watch this space!). The discussions and QA sessions, however, will not be recorded. So do come along in person if you are able. And bring a friend!

Why pray to God?

Br Andrew Brookes, one of the Dominicans students (and thus contributors to Godzdogz) at Blackfriars, Oxford, concludes the priory's God Matters? series of talks by offering an exploration of the spirituality of atheists, agnostics, and Christians in a talk entitled 'Why pray to God?'

Is Jesus God?

Fr Richard Ounsworth, the editor-in-chief of Godzodgz, continues our 'God Matters?' series by asking whether Jesus is really God:

God Matters?

Continuing our series of evening talks and discussions to mark the Year of Faith, we are able to share with our more distant readers the most recent talks given by the brothers here at Blackfriars, Oxford. Those who are able are most welcome to join us next Tuesday at 8pm to hear Fr Richard Ounsworth address the question of whether Jesus is really God. 

On Tuesday 13th February, Fr Richard Conrad OP considered whether science has 'disproved' the existence of God.

On Tuesday 19th February, Fr John O'Connor OP asked whether God is cruel:

Does God Exist?

This Tuesday saw the first of six talks in a series entitled "God Matters? Questioning God, Questioning Faith" being held at Blackfriars, Oxford as part of the Year of Faith, and aimed at people who have questions about religious belief, as well as Christians looking for ways to explain their faith to non-Christian friends and colleagues.

The opening talk, given by Fr Peter Hunter, OP, focused on the question of the existence of God:

The series will continue for the next five weeks on Tuesdays at 8pm: more details can be found on the series' own website.

God Matters?

Readers in striking distance of Oxford are warmly invited to join us for a series of talks exploring some of the challenging questions that non-believers sometimes put to people of faith. The talks - which will be given by a number of Dominicans, including Godzdogz's own Br Andrew Brookes - are free, and will take place on six consecutive Tuesdays at 8pm, starting on February 5th. The evenings will include an opportunity for open discussion and questions (as well as some refreshments: Dominicans believe in feeding mind and body!).

All are welcome: you need not be a Catholic, nor even a theist: we hope that this will be an opportunity for all of us to reflect critically on our faith and to grapple with some difficult issues. Of course, those who don't necessarily have any burning questions are welcome to come along and listen (we won't press-gang anyone into sharing their opinions or views). We look forward to seeing you!