Spring Harvest (2)

I was interested to find that, as in my blog reviewing Spring Harvest, Dave Walker had also noted a number of significant changes at Spring Harvest in his Church Times blog. Walker found a less dogmatic branch of Christianity to the one he remembered from previous visits.

A couple of examples that stuck in his mind included:

• Other religions. When asked about people of other faiths in a 'heaven and hell' question and answer session the reply from the speaker surprised me with its inclusiveness. Something along the lines of "I don't know. But I think God will be more merciful than we expect him to be" (not an actual quote) "We will not regret God's decision" (an actual quote).
• Opinions about hell. Universalism, or at least 'restorative punishment' is mentioned in the Spring Harvest notes as being an alternative to eternal conscious torment or annihilation. Of the three options eternal conscious torment seemed to be the least favoured (so to speak) by the people at the front.
• He felt there was a greater willingness to leave questions unanswered, criticise past failings within the Evangelical movement and allow non-literal understandings of certain Bible passages.

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Gavin Bryars - Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet.