“God must love us – He made beer!” was the theme of a “Q&A with the Bishop” at a local pub recently. I responded to a range of questions including …

• Where has the love gone?
• Why do good people get the raw prawn?
• If God is all loving and compassionate, how can he allow children to suffer disease, torture and abuse?
• Why are people so unkind to one another?
• What is love? Is family more important than the church?
• God helps those who help themselves, God help those that help themselves to my stuff…
• What’s the difference between a bishop and a pope?
• What’s the difference between Church of England and Christian?
• Why bring religion into the pub? I just want a beer in peace!
• Which God is the correct one, Jewish, Muslim, Christian or Jehovah?
• Which religion is the correct one?
• Why does the church actively protect people that appear to be working against the interest of children? Namely apparent protection of pedophiles?
• How can the church justify its million in cash assets when there so many starving?
• If all different religions got together you could call them the God squad.
• Why do we accept the boat people when we have Australians suffering? They get more than Aust. pensioners for what??
• Is the separation of church and state still a priority for the Anglican Church or is there a place for the church in politics i.e. social advocacy?
• Honour they Father and thy mother?

Thanks to the participants for a stimulating and civil conversation.

The issue of suffering is the number one question I am asked at pubs, schools, radio, churches. A helpful article is, Easter & the meaning of suffering and the series of articles on Suffering; see Christians respond to suffering #1.