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Theology, History & Science
June 05 2005 By virtueonline Why were our Reformers Burned? - Bishop JC Ryle

It is fashionable in some quarters to deny that there is any such thing as certainty about religious truth, or any opinions for which it is worth while to be burned. Yet, 300 years ago, there were men who were certain they had found out truth, and were content to die for their opinions.-It is fashionable in other quarters to leave out all the unpleasant things in history, and to paint everything a rose-coloured hue.

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May 31 2005 By virtueonline About the Pastoral Provision for Anglicans going to Rome

The Pastoral Provision is a service rendered to the bishops of the United States by which former Episcopal ministers who have been accepted as candidates for priestly ordination receive theological, spiritual, and pastoral preparation for ministry in the Catholic Church.

Since 1983 over seventy men have been ordained for priestly ministry in Catholic dioceses of the United States; seven personal parishes have been established and the Book of Divine Worship has been authorized.

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May 25 2005 By virtueonline "An Unworkable Theology" - by Philip Turner

For thirty-five years, I have been such a participant observer in the Episcopal Church. After ten years as a missionary in Uganda, I returned to this country and began graduate work in Christian Ethics with Paul Ramsey at Princeton University. Three years later I took up a post at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. Full of excitement, I listened to my first Student sermon - only to be taken aback by its vacuity.

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May 16 2005 By virtueonline ON THE HOLY SPIRIT - by Ephraim Radner

ECUSA's Presiding Bishop has, for some time, been propounding a theology of "unfolding truth", whose movement in history he ties to the particular work of the Spirit. "It is through the agency of the Holy Spirit that God's creative activity continues in the world and Christ continues to unfold his truth" (Frank Griswold, recent Pentecost sermon). The proper term for this work, therefore, is one of "evolution".

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May 12 2005 By virtueonline On Remarriage After Divorce - by John Owen

Others teach that this divorce is only a separation "from table and marriage bed" and therefore the divorce does not actually dissolve or terminate the marriage relation. Instead, it merely relinquishes one from the duty of providing physically and sexually for their spouse.

I am convinced of the first opinion. I will show that the second view is unthinkable and unscriptural because of its many weaknesses and also give three reasons why the first view is true.

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May 07 2005 By virtueonline On the Sorrow of Open Communion - by Ephraim Radner

One bishop on the Commission flatly stated that "the horse is out of the barn on this one, there is nothing to do, nobody is interested in theological arguments about this, so why bother?".

The fact that ECUSA canons were being flouted is obviously no longer a problem for most bishops, unless perhaps it affects their budgets and public standing.

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May 06 2005 By virtueonline Bible writers got the Beast’s number wrong, say scholars

Until now, commentators have followed later readings that assign the number 666 to the Beast — a code that is thought by some to have referred to Nero, who persecuted early Christians.

The Revd Professor David Parker, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Palaeography at the University of Birmingham, said on Tuesday that the possibility that the sign of the Beast was 616, not 666, was considered by Irenaeus in the second century, but he rejected it.

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May 06 2005 By virtueonline Take my advice, please! - by Kevin Martin

Recently, I taught a seminar in a diocese for a group of small churches. I have gotten to know their Bishop over the last few years and I personally like him a lot. At a break in the activities, he told me that something that I wrote in one of my newsletters had affected him in a very interesting and good way. He had decided to take my advice. He got my attention.

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May 06 2005 By virtueonline A United Methodist Reflects on Inclusivity

I have asked congregates, church leaders, and students what they think the word "inclusive" means and, almost without exception, they confuse it with pluralism. In the absence of clear definition and application, it is easy to see how this might happen; they both imply openness, multiplicity, and non-confrontation. Yet, the words denote very different concepts and, even after making the difference clear, many remained convinced that pluralism should be what inclusive means.

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April 28 2005 By virtueonline BEDFORD, TEXAS: The Windsor Action Covenant

* I will build solidarity with laypeople, bishops, priests and deacons who profess and practice the Apostolic Faith; of standing beside parish priests and leaders who are being pressured for adhering to the teaching of the Communion, and; o standing with those who stand with me regardless of what they feel they must do in their situation;
* I will work with other parish and diocesan leaders to clarify our response to the Windsor report;

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