Wayne Ferguson

Let us imagine that in order to realize their dream of having healthy, happy children, prospective parents not only had to create many more embryos than they would actually end up caring for, but that even those embryos which were not destined to be cared for would still have to be brought to term. Let us imagine, further, that these latter embryos (now infant human beings)-far from being raised and cared for as children-are, instead, necessarily condemned by their parents to be tortured for the same period of time that their more fortunate counterparts live out their happy, healthy lives. How would we feel about a couple who chose this course of action in pursuit of their dream? Would we really consider them to be good and loving parents?

“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40).

This little booklet is for “unbelievers” who feel drawn to Christianity –
or who would like to understand what a friend or family member
might see in it – but who have yet to hear it explained to their
satisfaction. It is also for “believers” who have yet to experience the
joy of their salvation. And, finally, it is for pastors and intelligent
laypeople who are troubled by skeptical questions or criticisms that
they are unable answer to their own satisfaction, much less to the
satisfaction of the incorrigible skeptic or critic.

The Major Arcana of the Tarot  Marseille offer an effective illustration of Neoplatonic Christian philosophy, together with the moral and spiritual crossroads at which we stand.  In particular, the Tower, the Wheel, the Lover, the Hanged Man, and the World offer (together) an effective illustration of the choice that confronts us between putting on the mind of Christ and entering the kingdom, NOW, or continuing to play the wheel of fortune in pursuit of personal power, pleasure, and prestige.  The "easy yoke" of the Master is also discussed in the context of the Magician:

“Learn at first concentration without effort; transform work into play; make every yoke that you have accepted easy and every burden that you carry light!” ("Meditations on the Tarot:, Letter I, “The Magician”).

Readers are also invited to "Play the Fool" as they continue on their pilgrimage.

The texts in Romans 7 and 8 are difficult and subject to a number of different interpretations. I suggest that the kind of inner conflict described in Romans 7 prepares the way for the advent of Christ in our lives by creating an “inner space” or “spiritual depth” in which the grace of God can work, generating, among other things, a knowledge of our own helplessness and a willingness to accept the free gift of salvation by grace, through faith. When the free gift is accepted -- when we truly trust in Christ -- the conflict between the “flesh” and the “spirit” is transcended as “the inner man” is regenerated by the power of the Spirit and the “old man” is (or begins to be) crucified with Christ. At that point, I have suggested, the conflict with the flesh ceases to be a “tug of war” (as in Romans 7) and becomes instead a tendency to alternate or oscillate between two different gestalts – i.e. two different ways looking at the world: either through the perspective of the “carnal mind” OR through the mind of Christ (cf. Galatians 5). The former perspective tempts us to try to manipulate other people in our life as we strive to arrange our circumstances through our own strength and cleverness so as to secure the realization of our temporal hopes and the satisfaction of our personal desires. The mind of Christ, however, provides an unfailing sufficiency, here and now, through the strength and power of the Spirit and the living Word of God, within us.