Friday Lunchtime Talks
Exploring life's big questions
Friday Lunchtime Talks are an opportunity for us as a Christian Union to engage with the issues and objections which people in the university have with Christianity. We tackle common questions like "Hasn't Science made Christianity out of date?" or "How can we trust the Bible as history?"
If you can only make one CICCU event each week, this is the one to come along to with your friends.
A short talk with a chance to ask questions afterwards, free lunch, every Friday 1.10-1.50pm.
Got a question?
Have you got a question about God or Christianity that you want to have answered? Write it down here and we will try and answer it at one of our FLT's!
Details:
During Easter term 2012 we will be exploring the answers to the following big questions:
FLT: Can we be morally good without God?
In a world with so many philosophies, religions and definitions of morality, is God really necessary? If Christianity is all about being good, why can’t I just be good without it? Or is there more to it? David Cook will be speaking on this question.
Fri 27 Apr, 1:10pm - 1:50pm -- St Andrew the Great (opposite Christ's)
FLT: Have the gospels been doctored?
Christians claim that a first century tax collector, doctor and a couple of fishermen wrote the New Testament accounts of Jesus’ life. Two thousand years have passed and well over a hundred different translations exist today. Can we honestly believe that they are accurate accounts, or has the Church had its way and doctored them to its liking? Michael Ots will be speaking on this question.
Fri 4 May, 1:10pm - 1:50pm -- St Andrew the Great (opposite Christ's)
FLT: Does God hate sex?
Why do Christians feel they can’t have sex before marriage? Surely it’s natural and doesn’t do any harm! Is the God of the Bible just against fun and want people to feel guilty about being human? Or is there a reason behind this? Pete Nicholas will be speaking on this question.
Fri 11 May, 1:10pm - 1:50pm -- St Andrew the Great (opposite Christ's)
FLT: Why is Christianity growing everywhere but the West?
Is Christianity not a Western religion? Is its scientifically enlightened, post-modern society a factor in the decline of Christianity in the West and a sign we’re out-growing it? Or are we missing something that the rest of the world seems to be getting? Stephen Boon will be speaking on this question.
Fri 18 May, 1:10pm - 1:50pm -- St Andrew the Great (opposite Christ's)
FLT: Suffering: Divine negligence?
Everywhere we look today we can find suffering in some form: injustice, pain, heartache, loss, fatigue… we can go on and on with a list of our own forms of suffering, let alone those of, say, those in the poverty-stricken nations across the world. But where does God fit into this? Does He even care? Is the world endlessly suffering, in big ways or small, because of something He is doing or has done? David Illman will be speaking on this question.
Fri 25 May, 1:10pm - 1:50pm -- St Andrew the Great (opposite Christ's)
FLT: Can we love the God of the Old Testament?
Is the God of the Old Testament not depicted as a blood-thirsty dictator, willing to smite entire nations that annoy Him and lay down merciless laws? Why would Christians ever want to believe in such a God? How can anyone even tolerate someone like that, let alone love them? Charlie Skrine will be speaking on this question.
Fri 1 Jun, 1:10pm - 1:50pm -- St Andrew the Great (opposite Christ's)
FLT: Can we fix the world without God?
In 2012 there exist more charitable organisations across the globe than ever dedicated to helping all sorts of people in need. Moreover, governments are largely united in fighting terrorism, helping the environment and all sorts of major issues. But even on the smaller side, there are more counsellors, therapists, doctors, physicians, etc than ever! We seem to have things roughly in hand; so is God really necessary? Or does the problem run deeper? Dan Strange will be speaking on this question.
Fri 8 Jun, 1:10pm - 1:50pm -- St Andrew the Great (opposite Christ's)