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Life & Hope

Presenting challenging questions about life,

and our search for hope.

Exploring our evidence, reasoning, and then, faith.

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Life Questions

Why Suffering?

by Ian Denness | October 18, 2022 | Bible, Jesus, Justice, Secular | 0 Comments

Possible causes of suffering... 1. We don't know everything.2. A higher purpose - a wake-up call from God, to get our attention. God's megaphone to a deaf world, being allowed by God to bring us to our own end and to repent for our higher eternal good.3. We are all in...

What has God given you?

by Ian Denness | October 2, 2022 | Forgiveness, Hope, Identity, Life, Meaning in life, Secular | 0 Comments

God has given us so much! Many couldn't think of anything... A few said, "Not much!" What about sunsets, sunrises, flowers, life itself, love and friendships, as well as hope! Certainly our own human weaknesses can destroy much happiness. There are also storms,...

Should we say “Sorry” – to others, and to God?

by Ian Denness | September 24, 2022 | Bible, Forgiveness, Hope in life, Secular | 0 Comments

"Sorry" is not so easy to say... Probably because it hurts our pride! Some said that saying "sorry" would go against their personal self-image, and that would hurt their self-confidence and self-respect. So, they wouldn't say it. Most thought it was a good thing to...

Ignorance is Bliss – True, Depends, or False?

by Ian Denness | September 17, 2022 | Bible, Choice, Reasoning, Secular | 0 Comments

The "depends" won the day! It depends on whether the issue in question is trivial or big, some people thought. I don't want to have full knowledge about all the dark doings on the streets of the centre of our city at night, like the police would know. Those terrors...

Can God forgive your wrongs?

by Ian Denness | September 10, 2022 | Agnosticism, Bible, Christianity, Forgiveness, God, Secular | 0 Comments

"Yes" and "No"! How does that work? Surely one or the other, or the most popular choice, "No God"! Well, it depends on whether we try to get forgiveness for our wrongs from the 'system' God himself has put in place, or the way we think it is, or should be. Pretty...

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other…” Will we do it?

by Ian Denness | August 21, 2022 | Bible, Forgiveness, Karma, Morality, Secular, Selfism | 0 Comments

"Yes" was the answer! That is, we will be kind and compassionate to each other. Great! We are all made in the image of God, so all of us have the capacity to be kind and compassionate. No one group has the sole copyright or monopoly on this ability. However, the back...

Why are nature and the universe so ordered and rational?

by Ian Denness | August 15, 2022 | Bible, Big Bang, Dinosaurs, Evolution, Secular | 0 Comments

"The Origin of Species..."? With the mention of nature and the universe, most people would think of Evolution and the Big Bang Theory. Not surprising, since we have had those 2 hypotheses 'rammed down our throats' since primary school. They are very stong belief...

Who do you most want to forgive you?

by Ian Denness | August 8, 2022 | Bible, Forgiveness, Hope in life, Secular | 0 Comments

God? Other people? Yourself? They were the 3 choices! Which would you choose? On the day, the last was by far the most popular! I chose the first. It is to do with the most important person I strongly believe I have most offended. Offending God is far worse for me...

Is this life all there is?

by Ian Denness | August 1, 2022 | Bible, Buddhism, Eternal, Life after Death, Secular | 0 Comments

It was a surprise to me that in a secular stronghold, most people voted for "No", "this life is not all there is"... It was easy to explain why that happened. Most people in that area are either Atheists, or Western Buddhists/Pantheists. The latter were the ones who...

What don’t you like about Christianity?

by Ian Denness | July 25, 2022 | Bible, Christianity, God, Jesus, Secular, Wokism | 0 Comments

Most people looked like they had lots of thoughts as to why they didn't like Christianity. However, they were reluctant to write them down! Some said they didn't like the authority and control. Others that they didn't like any religion. Nobody addressed the issue of...

Would Jesus judge you for your words?

by Ian Denness | July 11, 2022 | Bible, Justice, Moral Relativism, Secular | 0 Comments

Jesus said we would be judged by our words... However, more people at the market said that maybe he never existed at all! That is another question for another day. In the Bible, Matthew unequivocally quotes Jesus as saying: "But I tell you that everyone will have to...

Who is “the ruler of this world”?

by Ian Denness | June 25, 2022 | Bible, Jesus, Secular, Secular Atheism | 0 Comments

Themselves, their cat, bacteria and fungi were given as some of the answers. Others gave the expected big names of tech, finance, and power. However, the question comes from a direct quote of Jesus, included 3 times in the Bible on different occasions. He said that...

What is it to be HUMAN?

by Ian Denness | June 20, 2022 | Agnosticism, Bible, Christianity, Creation, Existentialism, Relativism, Secular | 0 Comments

"Made in the image of God." That's the most standout quality for me, as to what makes us human. So what do you think to be "made in the image of God" would mean? Here's the statement from the beginning of the Bible. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image,...

What controls you?

by Ian Denness | June 13, 2022 | Agnosticism, Christianity, Existentialism, Moral Relativism, Satan, Secular | 0 Comments

What would you like to be controlled by? Most would say, "Myself!" It usually doesn't work out that way in real life... The answers opposite show just some of those that were offered that day. My thoughts were: I am controlled by my desire to please God, since he is...

Are we without excuse?

by Ian Denness | June 6, 2022 | Atheism, Bible, Big Bang, Creation, God, Intelligent Design, Wokism | 0 Comments

Challenge yourself... "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since...

Can God know your thoughts?

by Ian Denness | May 9, 2022 | Bible, Existentialism, Hope in life, Judgement, Life, Spirituality, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Who is happy with God listening in to all their thoughts? Those who voted 'No God' made it easy for themselves. However, there were an equal number of votes for 'Yes', God can know our thoughts! Some of those were Christians (Followers of Jesus). The majority...

Would Jesus be ‘woke’?

by Ian Denness | April 24, 2022 | Identity, Jesus, Moral Relativism, Progressive, Secular, Uncategorized, Wokism | 0 Comments

Depends on what YOU mean by woke... It really did on the day! Those who thought that being woke was simply to be someone who rose up against racism and abuses of power in society usually voted "Yes!". Jesus was certainly against racism, saying that he had come for...

Which attitude is better for our society?

by Ian Denness | April 11, 2022 | Bible, Choice, Identity, Individualism, Pleasure, Progressive, Secular, Selfism | 0 Comments

Self-absorption or self-sacrifice? Another way of putting it - serving self only, versus serving others? If we are self-absorbed, do we recognize it? Self-absorption is only concerned with self, and the importance of self. If we are self-sacrificing, do we recognize...

Is Buddhism about putting down all your desires?

by Ian Denness | April 5, 2022 | Buddhism, Christianity, Individualism, Karma, Pleasure, Spirituality | 0 Comments

Buddha's main thesis? "We can eliminate suffering when we cease to desire." From my reading over the years, that seems to encapsulate it. Certainly there are other major themes for all Buddhists, be they eastern or western/eclectic Buddhists. However, does that...

Can men be pregnant?

by Ian Denness | April 5, 2022 | Bible, Creation, Secular, Sexual identity, Sexuality, Truth | 0 Comments

How has this question arisen? Apple released a new emoji earlier this year for a pregnant man. As well, the leader of the opposition in Australia stated that he wasn't 'woke', and that men couldn't be pregnant, even though the official and celebrated position of his...

These days, what can’t we talk about?

by Ian Denness | March 13, 2022 | Climate change, Secular, Sexual identity, Uncategorized, Wokism | 0 Comments

Freedom of public discussion? Some said on the day that we can talk about everything! What's the problem? Others said we can't, and that there are many things we can't talk about. I decided that the former must be people who agree with the mainstream media woke...

Is Hell self-chosen?

by Ian Denness | March 7, 2022 | Agnosticism, Bible, Choice, Hell, Karma, Life after Death, Secular | 0 Comments

Mention of Hell...? That word can confront! We know that some think they are already living in it. Strangely enough, such people seem to live in the comfortable West, from my observation. What if Hell would be just in this life? What we do has consequences, so "yes",...

What are our idols, and will they get us through?

by Ian Denness | January 18, 2022 | Agnosticism, Bible, Dying, Jesus, Meaning in life, Secular | 0 Comments

"Idols" in the survey was taken to only mean "celebrity idols" That was a surprise to me! What about "idols" that we make in our lives as being of the greatest importance to us personally, and as a society? Things like money and wealth. Like sex and leisure. Like...

What’s good about Christmas?

by Ian Denness | December 21, 2021 | Bible, Christianity, Faith, Forgiveness, Jesus, Secular | 0 Comments

Right up front I will say that for me Christmas starts and finishes with Jesus. He was the reason 2,000 years ago for it to start in the first place, wasn't he? That's why it is called Christ-mas. The last 3 letters meaning to celebrate. How long will it last?...

Why Christmas presents?

by Ian Denness | December 14, 2021 | Bible, Christianity, God, Hope, Jesus, Life after Death, Secular | 0 Comments

Christmas presents point to God, the giver of Jesus, who in turn, can bring us to God.

Is suicide ever ok?

by Ian Denness | December 5, 2021 | Bible, Hope in life, Judgement, Life after Death, Secular, Suicide | 0 Comments

Suicide is never ok

Does saying “O My God!” misuse God’s name?

by Ian Denness | December 5, 2021 | Bible, God, Judgement, Life after Death, Secular | 0 Comments

OMG?

Your tattoos – their meaning for you?

by Ian Denness | November 16, 2021 | Hope in life, Individualism, Meaning in life, Secular, Selfism | 0 Comments

There are some things we really want - like tattoos! Then we research them, chase and nail them. It's all a bit of fun. However, to get a tattoo takes time, a certain amount of pain, and money. It is also fairly permanent! Those who choose tattoos, have their own good...

Climate Change – has God lost control?

by Ian Denness | November 7, 2021 | Agnosticism, Atheism, Bible, Climate change, Creation, Evolution | 0 Comments

We should ask this… Where do you stand with the big issue of Climate Change? We all have an opinion about this! As well, we would all base our individual strong opinion on what we would claim to be strong scientific evidence and reasoning. To be really honest, we...

Can love be lust? Can love be pure?

by Ian Denness | October 5, 2021 | Atheism, Bible, Moral Relativism, Morality, Sexuality | 0 Comments

Depends on how you define "love" That word has about as broad a use in society as the word "Christian"! The scope goes from the cheap "made with love" label of a mechanically manufactured biscuit, to the sublime relationship between some couples of self-giving...

Do you reap what you sow?

by Ian Denness | October 4, 2021 | Bible, Buddhism, Karma, Life after Death, Morality, Spirituality | 0 Comments

Negative consequences follow from our negative actions? They usually do, but not always. For instance, sickness doesn't necessarily follow, unless we have been adopting an unhealthy lifestyle. It is to do with the law of cause and effect. You could even say cosmic...

Is there a universal right and wrong?

by Ian Denness | October 4, 2021 | Bible, Moral Relativism, Morality, Secular Atheism, Truth | 0 Comments

Should everyone find their own truth? Or are there some givens in all societies that are constant, and even part of our conscience? Should everyone just do what is right in their own eyes, like moral relativism? Ethical standards in each of us are real, even if we...

True or False? “The end justifies the means.”

by Ian Denness | October 4, 2021 | Agnosticism, Atheism, Bible, Moral Relativism, Nones, Secular | 0 Comments

We decide such challenges by our beliefs and worldview It involves something like, "Not just where you get to, but how you get there." Also, "Not just what you get, but how you get it." It includes ethics and morality. Can there be morally wrong actions, for morally...

Is Sex the new and highest religion?

by Ian Denness | October 4, 2021 | Atheism, Bible, Identity, Religion, Sexuality | 0 Comments

Our culture has elevated sex Sex is great, and such a gift to us! In its rightful place... We all know that it also can devastate in the wrong circumstances. Coercion, trafficking, rape for a start... What about sexual faithfulness? Is that higher or lower in this...

Should sexual identity be regarded as the main core identity of a person?

by Ian Denness | October 2, 2021 | Atheism, Bible, Choice, Sexual identity, Sexuality | 0 Comments

Surely there is more to my life and identity than just my sexuality? We can do better than that, can't we? What if I didn't live in such an affluent country? Food, drinks, freedom, individualism, and employment as given 'entitlements'? What if I didn't have as much...

What is the most major wrong in the world?

by Ian Denness | September 28, 2021 | Atheism, Climate change, Covid, Selfism, Wokism | 0 Comments

There are many contenders for this ignominious category! Things like Marxism, Climate change, trafficking, Covid, alarmism. The list could go on. Something even more wrong than trafficking I am thinking about something even more foundationally wrong than trafficking....

How will we escape the wrath of God?

by Ian Denness | September 26, 2021 | Atheism, Bible, Forgiveness, God, Judgement, Rebellion | 0 Comments

If you don't believe that God exists, or if you don't believe the Bible is true, then you wouldn't be bothered by this challenging question. However, if you do believe both, then what does the Bible say about this? The Bible says... "It is a dreadful thing to fall...

Will there be a “Day of Judgement”?

by Ian Denness | September 26, 2021 | Bible, God, Judgement, Life after Death, Spirituality | 0 Comments

Many would scoff at such a thought Most wouldn't see a 'Day of Judgement' even as a threat. However, Jesus often talked about such an event as real and coming. He didn't mince his words about it either. He gives the result for those who are on the wrong side of the...

Were there dinosaurs on Noah’s ark?

by Ian Denness | September 26, 2021 | Bible, Dinosaurs, Evidence, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Noah's Ark | 0 Comments

Sighting of Dinosaurs Secular evolution has it that dinosaurs died off 65 million years ago, and that no human has ever seen a living dinosaur. However, if you replace the word dinosaur with dragon, then it becomes a different matter. It was in 1841 that dragons were...

What’s the most important item on your bucket list?

by Ian Denness | September 20, 2021 | Bible, Christianity, Hope, Jesus, Life after Death, Truth | 0 Comments

Your bucket list?

What’s lacking in Christianity?

by Ian Denness | September 20, 2021 | Christianity, Evidence, God, Jesus, Justice, Reasoning, Truth | 0 Comments

Do you think Christianity is deficient? What I call 'Cultural Christianity' is definitely deficient, in my opinion. That is what a lot of people think Christianity is, but it is only a name-only version, and a poor one at that. You could call it 'Churchianity' with...

Does pursuing abortion and euthanasia enhance our credibility as a civilised society?

by Ian Denness | September 17, 2021 | Choice, Identity, Life, Morality, Reasoning, Secular Atheism, Selfism | 0 Comments

'Pro-Choice or Pro-Life? Does being pro-life mean that society is more civilised, or does being pro-choice mean that? You can see from the blackboard result opposite that the majority of respondents in the market thought the latter. I do find that difficult to accept...

Why is there evil? Where does it come from?

by Ian Denness | September 11, 2021 | Choice, Evil, Karma, Rebellion, Satan | 0 Comments

Evil can be thought of as the absence of good. Another way to think of it is as the opposite of good. Some may say "bad karma". An evolutionary worldview Evil would be fully expected in an evolutionary worldview, based on "survival of the fittest", and "dog eat dog",...

What sort of God don’t you believe in?

by Ian Denness | September 7, 2021 | Agnosticism, Atheism, Faith, God, Nones, Secular | 0 Comments

Probably, I also don't believe in that God! Misconceptions and stereotypes can travel in all directions. Is it that God who is really mean, the Richard Dawkin's one, or the one that hates only LGBT people, or the one that will never forgive someone who's had an...

Where have we humans come from?

by Ian Denness | September 6, 2021 | Chance, Creation, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Origin of life | 0 Comments

Where have we humans come from?

With at least 1 out of 4* occupants destined to die, isn’t the womb the most dangerous place to live? (*WHO)

by Ian Denness | September 2, 2021 | Atheism, Christianity, Dying, Humanism, Life, Morality | 0 Comments

The WHO statistic is disquieting, isn't it? Nowadays it's difficult to know what percentage of pregancies end in spontaneous abortions (miscarriages), and what percentage from induced abortions (terminations of pregnancy). It seems that the spontaneous ones are mostly...

In this ‘Sexular Age’, should sexual identity trump everything else?

by Ian Denness | September 1, 2021 | Atheism, Choice, God, Identity, Sexual identity, Sexuality | 0 Comments

What should trump everything else? We all make priorities in our lives. Instinctively, we choose what is most important and what is less, and then seek to live with as little inconsistency as possible. Would life, or love, faithfulness, choice, God, Atheism, or...

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FOUR

Challenging Questions

1. Where have we come from?

2. Why am I here?

3. How should I live?

4. What will happen to me after I die?

Where do we get our evidence and reasoning from, for the big and important questions in life?

Those sources drive our faith, our belief.

In the end, will they prove to be true, and showing what is reality? Or will they prove to have been untrue, producing only wishful thinking, false hope, and blind faith?

So then:

How much of our hope is actually based on blind faith, from the wrong resources?

Why

Why Life & Hope?

Both necessary parts of living life successfully and purposefully…

For many, life is difficult, for whatever reason.

However, there can be great hope, living hope.

Hope that is not just good feelings, but grounded in reality.

Hope that, in the end, will be found to be not just wishful thinking, but fulfilled hope…

View more questions

Get in Touch

Let’s talk

I’d like to hear thoughts about hope in life.

I am better at asking questions, than answering.

Feel free to post and start a conversation.

About

Life & HOPE

Ian

I love exploring evidence, reasoning, and then faith.

Direct email? obm@generalmail.com