Christianity - Religious Disciplines

While there is certainly a place for (relatively) 'routine' and corporate worship, Christians believe that ~ through Jesus ~ they can approach God at any time with any need ... or indeed with thanks or praise. It is not a matter of having to know the right formula, nor waiting until a specified moment.

There are various well-established organisations such as Scripture Union and the Bible Reading Fellowship.

You might have thought the slow-worm was a good 'model' ~ for suggesting, perhaps, that Christians should be cautious and respectable, etc. ~ but actually this was the one that Eddison didn't use, maybe because there may well be occasions when a Christian needs to leap into action (to stand up for what's right, defuse potential conflict, offer timely charitable help or suchlike).

In his rather splendid taxonomy, the earthworm (answer 1) is humble and does necessary good works in secret; the glow-worm (answer 2) brings light to their own life and the lives of others, e.g. offering sympathy, companionship, clarification or guidance to a friend in perplexity; while a bookworm (answer 3) will be a regular 'feeder' on the Bible.

'Adultery' (i.e. 'the furthest one can go' ~ like 'ultimate' ~ in breaking down trust between human beings) is expressly forbidden in the Ten Commandments, which Christianity more or less imports wholesale from the Old Testament / Jewish tradition. Since the readier availability of contraception in the 20th century, sex has been seen (and done, dare we say) by many people in an atmosphere of recreation rather than responsibility; many mainstream Christians might well feel that individual disobedience on this score has contributed less actual happiness, but, rather, more pain and relationship breakup to the sum of human experience. So yes, as though you weren't sure: however powerful the temptation, from a Christian standpoint, sex anywhere outside of marriage is simply wrong.

Many Christians avoid alcohol (answer 1) because they recognise that (slightly as with sex, perhaps) it may appear to promise temporary happiness but it leaves one feeling out of control, like handing the strings of one's own puppet to somebody else. Alcohol blurs one's awarenesses, including of the conscience, and can lead to people doing things they normally wouldn't ... and which may have awkward, painful, even potentially fatal consequences (think drink-driving; but not for long!).

There is nothing the matter with films, online activity or sport as such. If the films are of an aggressive nature (lots of killing, carrying an assumption of a 'cheapness' of human life; or with a plot whose conflict involves 'wrong choices' &/or intrusively lingering 'bedroom scenes'), they may not be a wholesome influence ~ though the Bible itself does not shy from such issues. Obviously we should steer clear of the cheapening and addictive nature of onscreen pornography and perhaps, also, overly-absorbing fantasy games ('get a life').

Competitive sport in good spirit is fine, again provided it is engaged-in in overall proportion: there is nothing the matter with training one's body and technique to their possible best, and bringing the pleasure of competitive endeavour to others, provided (as with any hobby or lifestyle choice) it does not become an 'idol' ~ i.e. more important than the Creator God who first gave the talents and opportunities. The tricky matter of whether one should attend sports gatherings that are scheduled across Sundays (i.e. in apparent conflict with traditional routine church attendance) may be a matter for careful discussion in certain households, but mainstream Christianity has come some distance since the 'sabbath' issue at the crux of the historically-based film 'Chariots of Fire'.

Giving up chocolate, say (the classic example, at the cold and dingy time of year when Lent usually falls in the northern hemisphere), is all very well; following in Jesus' metaphorical footsteps during His 40 days and nights alone in the wilderness, we train our mind to overrule the urges and cravings of our body. But rather than just making ourselves feel 'virtuously miserable', it is a stronger witness if we then (quietly) donate what we would have spent on chocolate ~ or whatever ~ to a good cause. Time that we free up from a bad habit can be put into more disciplined prayer &/or reading and research on Christian topics, or even practical Christian or charitable action (e.g. visiting / supporting the lonely and vulnerable).

Provided one is not actually uncomfortable to the point of distraction, these details are really not important. A sense of purpose and progression in one's devotions is more likely to come from the other three suggestions.

Apparently there was in fact a series of pillars, each taller than the last. We are not seriously suggesting that even our most devout quizzer should 'try this at home' ~ nor indeed anywhere else!

The rationale for this can be seen at St Benedict

This is usually reckoned from taxed income, though of course, with Gift Aid, it is possible to reclaim the tax (so a nett donation of £x will have any paid tax added back onto that, usually about a quarter more for basic-rate taxpayers). That way, the cause benefits that bit more without any further financial pain to the donor.

In recent times, the rise of food banks has been a definite if baleful socio-economic phenomenon; but at the 'mechanical' level, it is at least simple enough for those that can afford to spare it, to put (say) 3 items into a food-bank hopper at the supermarket or at church for every 30 they have bought for their own use.

Answer 1 was the fake in this case, though it carries echoes of real organisations. All the others are still active: the BMS (answer 3) is among the oldest, SPCK (answer 2) has an impressive publishing history, and the MtS (answer 4) does valuable service with staff in over 250 ports, ministering to the needs of men and women who face long periods of isolation and disorientation in their travels. (Interestingly, your author's webtrawl for an equivalent organisation for people in the newer air travel industry appears to have discovered no such body.)