Thomas Web-Zine
Past Issues for 2006
Love Your Neighbour?
(November 2006)
This famous saying occurs in Mathew 22:37-39, when Jesus answers a question posed by the Pharisees about the law; a question that was meant to trick Jesus. But it became important for the early Christian communities as they experienced anxiety and persecution from many sides; they needed to support each other. Today this saying still has a powerful influence as many churches and religious societies use it to give meaning to their outward activities. This has led to a service-minded religion that emphasises charity as 'God's work'. Many charity workers however, become disillusioned; at best they draw back from further involvement or at worst they become 'burnt-out' by the demands of such work.
Deeper Communication
(September 2006)
Most spiritual traditions encourage followers to recognize the spirit in others. Most of us find this hard to do especially if we have to deal with bored shop assistants, hooligans, or even dictators. Where is God in these people?
Logion 15 in the Gospel of Thomas seems to give us a clue:
Jesus said:
When you see
Him who was not begotten of woman
prostrate yourselves upon your face
and worship him;
that one is your Father
The Market Place
(July 2006)
For thousands of years people have met together in market places to buy and sell goods, food, trinkets, etc. But they also met to have conversations; to share news, gossip, or to hear and learn new ideas and thoughts.
Thomas records the sayings of Jesus. Don't think that Jesus just uttered these sayings out of the blue: they came during conversations.
