Read the article Ruth found so helpful here:Self-harm in the Bible.

Dear Freelance Theology
We recently used your answer to the question of war and pacifism as a basis for our church home group discussion. It provoked some very interesting debate and was a great tool for reference. The succinct summary of views from the Old and New Testaments were really accessible.
- Clare

Freelance theology has been approached recently by a student who wanted to quote an article in a college paper. For future reference, any material on this website can be quoted as long as credit is given to Jon the freelance theologian/freelance theology and the main web address (http://freelancetheology.com) is included in the Bibliography.

Click here to go to the group.

Occasionally, I’ve posted some of the positive comments sent to me by readers. I’d like to thank everyone who has written me a question and those who’ve just written! As it’s a special anniversary, I’ve included some of the comments below. Remember, if you have anything you want to ask, or say about freelance theology, then you can email me any time.

With best wishes

Jon the freelance theologian

Dear Jon, I came across you in Third Way (November 2005), looked up your site, and was really impressed by your answers. I have no idea how you manage to get through the amount and breadth of stuff on your site. Thanks.

Hi!
THANKS for your wonderful blog… I’ve spent the last hours reading and reading… great stuff. Thanks for your contribution to the rest of us

I really enjoy reading your site; however, I must admit that although I was raised a Christian (Lutheran, Missouri Synod specifically) I am now basically agnostic. I have an idea for your site – a feature called, “Answer the Agnostic”. I think it would stimulate some lively debate, and I think your site has the intellectual rigor to make this interesting.
[Jon replies: It's a possibility. Do any other readers have suggestions?]

Hi Jon. Glad for the information you gave. I passed my exams and will keep in touch soon as I am going to hopefully advance.

Hi Jon,
Very impressed with your reply on Zionism.
The most recent posting – Jesus destroying the power of sin and death – another interesting subject and reply.

I’ve been interested to read your site for a few days, and would have liked to follow up on a few things. I wondered if you had considered adding comments to your site, or whether you had decided against it for various reasons (e.g. – increased time demands).

As some of the topics (e.g. Islam, homosexuality etc) can provoke an impassioned response among people, it is more appropriate to encourage further questions or comments by email. These are occasionally published on freelance theology as ‘dialogues’. This is the best way to maintain the impartiality of the site, as commentators could post offensive, obscure or irrelevant comments that would undermine the ethos behind freelance theology.

If you would like to comment about anything you read on freelance theology, then please feel free to email. All emails are acknowledged and almost all questions are answered, although some answers may take some time!

From CP: Thanks for your update. I like the site a lot, and forwarded it to a couple of friends.

From CF: Thank you Jon. You are a first class theologian.

From MM: today was my first visit [to freelance theology], and having intended only to scan read one question and response, I have spent at least an hour reading all the questions and answers posted. Having been brought up the Anglican church, I have been reading the Apostolic Creed for many years; until today, I had never understood (or questioned!) why Jesus is ‘eternally begotten of the Father’. Thank you for teaching me something new and providing me with an essential detail about the Trinitarian and Eternal nature of God.

If you would like to comment on anything you have read on freelance theology, then please write in! Compliments are always welcome!

[For answers to recent questions scroll beyond the following comments!]

Comments from freelance theology readers

“Just wanted to say I think your site is great. There has been an online debate email thing going on with the Christian network of psychologists regarding homosexuality, some of them were coming up with some pretty convincing arguments and I was a little confused. I rocked up to your site and there it was, ‘my friend is gay’. I had never considered the fact that being gay makes no evolutionary sense. Very good for all the psychologists arguing it is genetically predisposed. Keep up the good work, I’ll be back – with friends!” – SLM, United Kingdom

“Good article on Noah – I think its absolutely right to take the emphasis away from the issues of whether it could have happened exactly like that and on to what God is trying to tell us through the story. It was interesting that you focused on the 150 days and how Noah must have felt that God had forgotten him. When I think of Noah, I always focus on how much faith he must have had to build the ark in the first place and stick to his guns when everyone laughed at him. It’s good to see another perspective!” – JW, United Kingdom

Don’t forget you can ask your question or comment on any answer given by emailing freelance theology!

Dear Jon, I’ve just come across your site and find it really interesting. – PR

Hi Jon, I like your website, I fancy it could be quite a useful reference tool, particularly for new Christians and those who struggle to overcome niggling questions, as well as for Christians when they’re asked awkward questions by their friends! – GT

I liked what you wrote in answer to my question on Stewardship. I’m chewing on it a bit. – CM

Dear JM
I just read the answer to my question, no one has explained it that clearly before, I should have just asked you ages ago!!! – FC

Have you got a comment about freelance theology? Say what you like and, as long as it makes sense and doesn’t contain too many curse words, I’ll list your comment in a future section. Or you can just ask a question. What’s bugging you? What piece of ‘Christianese’ jargon are you trying to decipher? What question does your minister always try and avoid answering? Send it to freelance theology using the ‘mail me’ button.