Book 'banned' in blasphemy row; EX-MINISTER QUESTIONS NOTION OF VIRGIN BIRTH.Byline: ADAM Adam, the first man, in the Bible Adam (ăd`əm), [Heb.,=man], in the Bible, the first man. In the Book of Genesis, God creates humankind in his image as a species of male and female, giving them dominion over other life. ASPINALL AN UNHOLY row has broken out after a retired minister was accused of blasphemy blasphemy, in religion, words or actions that display irreverence toward or contempt for God or that which is held sacred. Blasphemy is regarded as an offense against the community to varying degrees, depending on the extent of the identification of a religion with after claiming Christianity had "caused great evil" and that the virgin birth was a fantasy. Former religious studies teacher Graham Hellier, from Herefordshire, made his controversial claims in his new book which he describes as a "rough guide to Christianity". But one religious bookshop in Hereford has hit back by refusing to stock the release, called Free Range Christianity, after labelling it blasphemous blas·phe·mous adj. Impiously irreverent. [Middle English blasfemous, from Late Latin blasph . Mary Short, manager of the Pilgrim's Progress store, said: "We gave it great thought, but what he's written isn't in line with our principles. "We're in the business of spreading the Gospel, not starting a debate on the very fundamentals of our faith. "He's saying the virgin birth isn't necessary, nor the divinity of Jesus. If you take away the fundamentals from your religion then you just float around. It's far too airy-fairy." Mr Hellier's book is a re-write of The Thoughtful Guide to Christianity, released five years ago. Marvellous That version was stocked by the bookstore, while his new release has been called "a marvellous compendium" by the Dean of Hereford. But the 73-year-old former Church of Scotland Church of Scotland Noun the established Presbyterian church in Scotland minister admits his latest offering will not appeal to church-goers who put their entire faith in church and the Bible. Mr Hellier, who taught religious studies at the Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat blue·coat n. A person who wears a blue uniform, especially a police officer. blue  coat School, said: "I don't think that I
am a radical in any way, shape or form because many of these ideas have
been around for a long time.
"Many Christians have questioned the idea of a virgin birth for centuries and I do so because I think it is just one interpretation of what is written in the bible. "I actually think that by making Jesus the result of a virgin birth, it just serves to separate him from the rest of us. It makes him non-human when he was simply a very fine man who de-fined the meaning of God better than anyone ever has. "I'm disappointed the book shop owners have taken such a fundamentalist stance. But I respect their viewpoint." Free Range Christianity is available for pounds 12.50 through Authorhouse. co.uk or 0800 197 4150. adam.aspinall@sundaymercury.net |
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