Issue 100 Contents

[Cover of Issue 100]

Editorial

Life

It is often hard to know what the best decision to make is. Advice from experts often conflicts with our own desires, and careers advisors, lecturers, friends and parents all have their own ideas as to what we should be doing with our lives. The Bible often doesn’t seem to have suitable answers. In this section, Lois Cross restores our faith in the ten commandments, and Peter Tylor takes a look at a sensitive issue. We also have two stories of the life of Christis, looking back over the events and decisions that have made the magazine what it is today.

The Story of Christis

Christis: What is it Good For?

Living as God’s People

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?

World

Christis writers are a neurotic lot. As we plod through the world section of Christis 100, it seems that with all the stress we are burdening ourselves with we’re heading to an early grave. But maybe that’s a bit unfair; after all, these are important issues, and someone has to worry about them. This issue’s crop of world articles has something for everyone. The champion of orthodoxy, Greg Melia unmasks heresy and invites us back into the fold. We also have an absorbing article by Policeman Nicholas Mattocks, who looks at the clash between police and protestors from the other side of the fence. This issue also sees the introduction of a new feature: ‘The Inquisition’. Each term we’ll be bringing you an interview with a different local luminary. We begin with newly appointed Anglican chaplain, Stephen Nicholson.

Know Your Heresy

All the Best Tunes?

Across the Barricades

The Inquisition

Belief

The language we use, both written and spoken, can be extremely influential. For example, the jargon of a certain group often has the power to alienate one person while including another. Have you ever stopped to think how those terms specific to Christianity affect those unfamiliar with them? Could jargon be causing people to feel excluded from the Church? Lois Cross takes up this subject, addressing the problem of ‘Christianese’.

The words used in the Bible are directly responsible for shaping the beliefs of millions of people, and one mis-translation can completely alter the way we read a passage. It sometimes seems that reading it would be much easier if we could all understand Ancient Greek. With different editions of the Bible often presenting us with completely disparate translations, going back to the original language may help us to get a clearer idea of what the original authors wanted to convey. So if your Greek only extends as far as ‘alpha’ and ‘omega’, you’ll be pleased to know that this issue includes a crash course in the language of the New Testament. It may not leave you entirely fluent, but at least it’s a start.