‘A dialogue between two infants in the womb concerning the state of this world, might handsomely illustrate our ignorance of the next,’ wrote Sir Thomas Browne, the 17th century physician and scholar and writer of ‘Religio Medici’ who was a follower of Francis Bacon in advocating observation and independent thinking.
(I might at this point add that I was at one time accustomed to conducting services once in a while with a seated marble effigy of Bacon casting a benign eye over proceedings in the chancel of St Michael’s, St Albans. Bacon was one of the great minds of the Renaissance and gave his name to a school that was then in the city.)
Browne made his comment in the course of a meditation on death and ways of dealing with it. It was John Donne, whose life overlapped that of Browne, who speculated that it was always autumn in heaven. That exaltation of fruition, fulfilment seems a reasonable emphasis in any consideration of life eternal and it is difficult to go further with any confidence. Expressions such as ‘the weight of glory’ have the same constraints.
Browne’s great strength was his recognition of his own limitations. It is something we do well to emulate. Anything more than words like ‘bliss’ and ‘beatific vision’ are enough to be going on with in the absence of any more precise visionary language. Dante went a great deal further in his ‘Divine Comedy’ and most of us, while recognising his singular greatness as a poet, can hardly accompany him on his sharp-eyed journeys through what is beyond space and time.
Browne’s caution in recognising the limits of understanding is one of the ingredients of the Christian faith. If that ingredient is missing, we expose ourselves to the scepticism of acquaintances who may be curious about what we believe. If we seem to believe too much (the name for that is arrogance) we fail to commend the Christian Gospel. Better to see ourselves as infants in the womb as far as some questions are concerned.
TIDY, TIDY SINGAPORE
Singapore has a reputation; it is orderly. Its Anglican churches are highly organised.
ST ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL
The recently appointed Dean, Titus Chung, leads a bustling congregational life. Heading the English congregation is the Vicar, Lewis Lew. Alpha is part of the time-table.
CHAPEL OF THE RESURRECTION
Having started with 80 worshippers in 1979, the Chapel of the Resurrection has five church plants and two extension centres to its credit. Leading the ministry team is David Lee. A 40th anniversary film can be found on its website.
MARINE PARADE CHRISTIAN CENTRE
With Alpha prominently on its time-table, the MPCC has Vicar Terry Wong leading the ministry team. It serves the Joo Chiat community.
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