Happy New Year to you also Brian. I have just had an email to say your reply is awaiting reply. I had checked the site over Christmas, though not since. Your response makes a lot of sense. I also prefer dialogue to dogma, so long as dialogue is not dogma in disguise, so ends with a shouting match rather than a mature discussion. We differ I guess in that I make no presumption that the Bible contains any ethical wisdom. In may do so, but each example has to be carefully argued. I have lived through an inquisition or two when someone believed that he/she knew the truth. The human condition rather is to live with ambiguity.

When you have a refined text, let me know - do nudge me on s.bigger@worc.ac.uk so I see it quickly.

Stephen