Same-sex relationships : a 1st-century perspective

Read in the light of other Jewish literature of the time, not least, Philo of Alexandria, Paul’s comments in Romans 1 about same-sex relations should be seen as a rhetorical ploy to gain a sympathetic hearing for his argument from the Roman recipients of his letter by appealing to common ground in deploring the sins of the Gentile world before turning to challenge them about the fact that all have sinned, and so need the good news of God’s righteousness revealed in Christ. Typically Paul’s focus is not just acts, but attitude and misdirected passions, which he sees as the result of misdirected and perverted understandings of God. Based on the Genesis creation stories, Paul assumes that all people are heterosexual and that the prohibitions of Leviticus should apply also to lesbian relations. Where these assumptions are not shared, Paul’s conclusions must be revisited in the light of informed compassion and responsible ethical insight.http://www.hts.org.zaam201

Jesus and the law revisited

This article revisited the issue of Jesus’ attitude towards the Torah on the basis of a critical discussion of the most recent extensive treatment of the theme by Meier in his A marginal Jew: Rethinking the historical Jesus: Volume four: Law and love (2009). It engaged Meier’s contribution in the light of contemporary research, concluding that, whilst Meier provided an erudite analysis, his thesis that Jesus’ teaching on divorce and oaths revoked Mosaic law did not convince, for it did not adequately consider the extent to which the contemporary interpretation of the Torah could encompass such radicalisation.http://www.hts.org.z

Inter- and intra-configurational transitions of europium (II) in Ba2Mg3F10

An optical investigation of the properties of europium (II) ions introduced in Ba2Mg3F10 single crystals is presented. The spectra and time-dependence of both the inter-configurational (f–d) and the intra-configurational (f–f) transitions are described. The emission spectrum consists of two emitting Eu2+ centres, each showing one broad f–d band and one 6P7/2 quartet. The thermal equilibrium between the f–f and f–d emitting states is investigated and found to take place on a microsecond timescale for one of the two Eu2+ centres. The spectroscopic results combined with numerical modelling of the influence of the host crystal on the 6P7/2 energy scheme allow the assignment of each f–f and f–d emission to its corresponding Eu2+ centre

The decision to opt for abortion

Key message points - Most women reach a decision to have an abortion rapidly. - Most women have reached their decision before the consultation with the abortion provider. - Certain women who have risk factors for post-abortion psychological reactions should be targeted and offered counselling. - Pregnancy options counselling should not be mandatory. - 'Cooling-off' periods lead to abortions at later gestation