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INTRODUCTION
Are you fascinated by the mysteries of existence: God, life, the universe, and everything in between? Whether you follow a religion or none at all, this contest is your space to explore the most profound and meaningful questions we face as human beings. All perspectives welcome.
📝 How it works:
Every month, I’ll post a thought-provoking question. You respond with your perspective, in the form of an essay, story, poem, or any creative format that best expresses your truth.
🏆 What you get:
Winner: Receives the 25K Award Icon
Runner-Up: Earns the 10K Award Icon (if there are 3+ entries)
Every Entry: Gets a personal review from a global-historical, mainstream, inter-denominational Christian perspective; no submission goes unnoticed.
This isn’t just a contest. It’s a monthly conversation about the biggest ideas, and you’re invited to bring your voice.
🪐 Dare to wonder. Dare to write.
Are you in?
RULES & GUIDLELINES
Word Limit:2000 words and should be submitted in a bitem format. I prefer essays, but stories and poems will also be accepted if relevant. Entries must not be edited after the last day of the month to qualify. Please post your bitem entries in the prompt thread. Entries must answer or at least wrestle with the question posted to receive a review. The prompt and word count should be included at the foot of the submission. While I welcome Bible quotes and indeed quotes from other religious texts you will need to situate these in a literary context that demonstrates you know what they mean and in a way that is relevant to your response to the question. I am not going to accept 'undigested proof-texting' and you will be marked down if that is your approach. Similarly if you quote theological, historical, scientific or philosophical experts you will need to be able to explain why they are relevant and show that you understand what they were saying. Please no quote dumping. I am interested in what you think and feel about the questions, not in your attempts to rehash other people's approaches. You can lose up to two stars for badly edited work. The other three stars are focused on the substance of what you say. Go easy on the use of AI when trying to answer the question. Ultimately AI has no soul nor indeed a physical context, but you have both body and soul and a history that is unique to yourself. I am interested in your reflections on these questions and what they mean to you. AI might alert you to the important issues but on questions as important as these only your voice matters.
SEPTEMBER PROMPT
How & What We Share: Taboo Genres, Subjects & Styles?
Cultures are replete with taboos and prejudices about how and what we share with one another - subjects we avoid, opinions we suppress, experiences we hide, genres we dismiss and styles we consider unacceptable.
Imagine you are at our 26th Birthday Party, surrounded by fellow writers. Twenty-six years ago, some things were difficult to say that are ordinary today. Other things that once seemed unremarkable may now be taboo.
Sex, religion and politics used to cover much of the territory. But the world has changed.
What are the taboo subjects, genres, styles or ideas of our age, and what does that tell us about the age we live in?
Does your faith, philosophy or worldview give you the freedom to write about anything - or does it set boundaries on what you say and how you say it?
Consider the four pillars of modern science: Are they in conflict with, or complementary to, or irrelevant to your faith?
This question is a little ambitious but long overdue in the context of this contest. Some will suggest that I should have separated the four pillars into separate contest prompts. I have not done so because I am most interested in how you approach the big question here of how faith and science should interact in situations where the scientific method alone cannot prove the veracity of a particular model – only ascribe a degree of probability to it. Given a spaceship and a piece of paper a credible proof can be provided by math and observation that the earth is not flat and orbits the sun, but the below theories cannot be proven to the same level of certainty.
In the last few centuries, the consensus of modern science has grown to affirm four main pillars of a scientific worldview relating to the universe and humanity’s origins:
1) Big Bang - The idea of a beginning to the Universe replaced the earlier steady state theory argued by Aristotle and the Eternal Reoccurrence view of Hinduism (Physics - based on red shift and background noise)
2) Ancient Universe - (Physics – based on evaluation of laws of EM radiation)
3) Abiogenesis - Biological life evolved from non-biological matter by chemical processes (Chemistry – no supporting facts)
4) Biological ‘Macro-Evolution’ and Common Ancestry - explains the development of life on Earth. (Biology)
Modern Christian responses often contrast with the theological reflection of Thomas Aquinas for example. Thomas Aquinas did not think that human reason could prove whether there was a beginning of the universe nor indeed decide its actual age. He accepted the bible said there was a beginning but avoided Augustinian dating of that.
How credible are these pillars of modern science? How important is the distinction between plausible probability and proof in evaluating the legitimacy of scientific models? How credible is a simple ‘I don’t know’ as an alternative to a workable scientific theory? Is materialism sufficient to explain origins? Can we set a scope for the naturalistic method of science, or a hierarchy of credibility to its models? On what basis can we evaluate scientific models without the scientific method – should we? Is uniformitarianism or catastrophism a better basis for historical trend analysis? Can we always make analogies or are some things/events entirely unique? How does the discovery that Dark Matter/Energy (the unseen material) forms 90% of the mass of the universe change things?
Do these four pillars undermine/conflict with supernatural views of the universe, do they complement them or are they irrelevant to them? How would you reconcile your faith with your answer to this question?
The Bible teaches, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,” but what does that truly demand of us? Can anyone be forgiven, even the godless architects of immense suffering like Hitler, Stalin, or Mao? Should individuals today seek forgiveness for the sins of empire and colonialism committed by previous generations? Is it fair that a lifetime of wrongdoing might be redeemed by repentance at the final hour? Does forgiveness require restitution, or rather does it represent a letting go of the desire for personal vengeance and a surrender to divine justice? Does forgiveness transform the one who grants it as profoundly as the one who receives it?
Exo-Self - Our Online Presence, Relationships, and Reality
Many people now live a significant part of their lives online, creating digital extensions of themselves, an “exo-self.” Through social media platforms and increasingly through AI interactions, these identities shape how we present ourselves and connect with others.
Does this exo-self enhance human connection and self-expression, or does it distance us from authentic relationships and lived reality? To what extent does our online presence reflect who we truly are and how might it reshape us in return?
In your response, explore whether the exo-self is ultimately a positive extension of human possibility or a distortion of it. You may also propose ways to evaluate whether an online presence is healthy, authentic, or harmful.
Do you have a soul? What is a soul? When does the soul begin? Does it end? Is the soul an emergent property of your physical form or an immaterial essence that can be independent of your body? Can a soul be crippled by injury, or does it remain intact regardless of what happens to your body? Do you believe in out of body experiences? Does the soul survive death and if so how, as a memory in the mind of God, in a waiting room for spirits, in heaven or hell, does it sleep until a resurrection reunites it with your physical form, does it simply migrate to a new body or disappear like vapor into the wind or is there another explanation?
Identity is one of the most contested and intimate questions of human life. What, at our core, makes us who we are? Is identity primarily material, shaped by body, history, and circumstance, or is there something sacred at its center? Do we bear the image of God, and if so, how does that shape our understanding of self?
Consider how gender, race, religion, culture, and family influence identity. Are these defining truths, inherited frameworks, or starting points to be questioned? Is identity bestowed upon us, by God, by birth, by tradition, or is it forged through struggle, choice, suffering, and transformation? To what extent do we discover who we are, and to what extent do we create ourselves?
This month, explore identity as something given, shaped, resisted, or remade. Writers may respond personally, philosophically, theologically, or imaginatively. Share how you would wrestle with what it means to say “this is who I am.”
Do extraterrestrial life-forms truly exist? What evidence or reasoning supports your belief? If aliens are real, how should we view them; as superior beings, angels or demons, animals, or simply beings equal to ourselves? If undeniable proof of alien life were discovered, would it challenge or redefine the world's religions? If not, how would your faith and beliefs adapt to this revelation?
Can violence ever be done in God’s name and still be righteous? From the Crusades, especially the first, where motives were arguably clearer, to biblical conquest and genocide in Canaan, Conquistadors in the Americas, resistance to tyrants like Bonhoeffer’s stand against Hitler, and revolutions where Christians took up arms (the English Civil War, the American Revolution, even the Taiping Rebellion in China), where, if anywhere, does faith justify force? Should “holy violence” be limited to the state, or can individuals act for God’s cause? Do war, conquest, or overthrowing governments ever prepare the way for the gospel, or do they ultimately betray it?
From David’s psalms to Gregorian chants, from hymns and organs to modern Evangelical rock and pop, and Pentecostals singing in tongues, music has long been a central feature of worship. But is music truly a divine tool, fostering reverential healing, teaching, and spiritual connection? Or is it a dangerous vehicle for sin, temptation, idolatry, and distraction?
Is the emotional power of music a gift, or does it dangerously overshadow doctrine? Should music serve the message of Scripture, or can it exist on its own as a form of worship? Is it possible for music to glorify God without making sense?
Explore the role of music in worship, its capacity to elevate or mislead, to strengthen or distract and wrestle with the question: Is music a profound blessing, or a subtle danger to the soul?
Can we say one way or another if a man or woman is good or evil? Can we judge others? Can we judge an elected leader in a democracy? I could have chosen Hitler or Stalin for this piece, but Trump seems more up to date as an example of someone people love to hate. What are the key dimensions of character assessment that are relevant here? To what extent is opinion on Trump decided by the political outlook and opinions of prominent influencers in a culture? Are our views on Trump our own or manufactured for us? By what criteria can we assess a person’s life? How does Trump compare to Christ? Does God think Trump is evil?
To guard against any legal issues please be careful not to make factual claims about Donald Trump that are not supported by law courts, historical record or reputable news sources. You have freedom of speech and religion but that does not extend to slander.
Christians claim that the Bible was inspired by God through 40 authors, in three languages and on three continents over 1500 years. The claim is that the Bible carries Divine authority. This claim has been seriously challenged in the last three centuries by contact with alternate religions, various archaeologists and theologians, by anti-supernatural Western ideology, by scientists discussing the origins of life, by interests and groups with agendas that contradict Biblical claims and by rapid technological progress. Has the Bible survived these tests as a source of Christian authority?
Scripture teaches: “Male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). But in our fallen world, many now claim that gender is a matter of choice, feelings, or identity rather than biology and God’s Word. Should the exception be the basis of the new normal or do traditional understandings hold weight for good reason?
It appears Charlie Kirk was shot for his views on transsexuality. This raises urgent questions: Are we still able to talk about such personal issues, or can this only be resolved with guns now? Can a man truly become a woman, or a woman a man? What happens when feelings replace truth? Is it fair for men who identify as women to compete in women’s sports? What is the impact on children when they are told to question the bodies God gave them? Should Psychiatrists have the authority to sanction the mutilation of minors?
Is transsexuality good, bad, mad, or just sad?
The Word & AI: Revelation, Creativity, and Human Connection in the age of robots & supercomputers
September’s contest dives into this theme all month long. Across major religions, sacred texts reveal and remind us of the divine, preserving the good news we share. Earth’s libraries overflow with our reflections on God, life, hopes, and dreams. Platforms like Writing.com celebrate human creativity, inspiring stories that capture the full spectrum of our shared experience.
Today’s AIs can flawlessly quote every book ever written and even craft polished, perfect prose of their own. So, has technology replaced the inspired human author? Can we still tell if our chat partner is a person or a machine? What will creative forums look like 25 years from now?
Why do we still write? What unique spark do human authors bring? And are our words still more powerful than any AI could ever write in shaping culture and vision?
Time & Eternity. Is time circular, linear, or multiversal? How should we measure time's passage?
This is a massive topic. I am looking for writers to make decisions about the biggest questions about time and to justify those decisions with the authorities they recognise. Is there a beginning and an end, or just a circle of eternal recurrence? Does time only move forward? Is time just one dimension in a multidimensional universe/multiverse that we have only just begun to understand? What is the relationship between time and eternity? Does time have the same speed everywhere? How should we regard our measurement of time? With ten figures, we count it, with twelve obelisks, the Egyptians marked the passage of time in the night by the stars – hence the 24-hour day. The Babylonians used base 60, so we have 60 minutes in an hour and 60 seconds in a minute. We watch the cycles of the moon and the yearly orbit of the sun. Is this measurement meaningful or just a countdown to oblivion/torment/paradise? Should we regard the passage of time with despair or joy?
Is God and faith confined to one planet alone? Were we designed to live solely on Earth? How might our theology change if we became a multi-planetary species? What kinds of motives should drive us to explore beyond, and what reasons might hold us back?
Is this a matter of technique, trust or a bit of both? Is it achieved or a gift received? Who best models’ inner peace and why? Can we reconcile the awkward disturbances or challenges of faith with the desire to be at peace? In what ways is a lack of inner peace linked to the modern mental health crisis? How can we navigate a way through the false claims of the charlatans and find true inner peace?
What is your problem? Sin, pain, poverty, or false perspective?
Is your problem that you messed up and broke God’s rules – again! Is it because someone/something hurt you and you have yet to recover from your wounds? Is it that you just do not have the resources to make things right for yourself and others? Is it because you just don’t have the right perspective yet on what has happened? The solution fits the problem. Are we looking for forgiveness, healing, riches or enlightenment?
Can we communicate with God and each other? How is this possible?
How is it that you can share your thoughts with me and others? Are there limits to language and consciousness of another person? Can you share what you are with someone else? How can things that we cannot touch or see be explained with shared words? Do we always misunderstand the meaning of these words, converting them into our private languages? Is there something in our shared design that allows us to communicate without words? Is understanding each other just a product of shared experiences, or is it something more than that?
Can you force people to behave like Christians? Can you force someone or indeed a culture to be good? Christian nationalism is arguably a force behind Trump's recent election victory. It is a background factor in Putin's Russia and a driving force in African countries like Uganda. If Christians are in charge to what extent should they enforce their theology and ethics? What is the value of a union or separation of church and state? Which is better - Christian control, guided freedom, freedom of religion or the moral relativism of Western Europe?
The majority of the world’s population believes in one or the other and that percentage is growing faster than the global population. Who is better and why? Who would you rather spend eternity with? If you are a Hindu or an atheist/ AN Other can you explain why your perspective is not competing with Islam and Christianity?
Reviews Review of "Jesus Vs Mohammed?"
ERROR: Hebrew word for young woman in Bible is almah ( connotations of purity). Betulah is normal word for virgin Gihon is a river. I used the wrong word in my argument.Septuagint used word parthenus denoting virgin to translate into context. Review of "Who is Jesus?"
If God is One in Three persons, then we can speak of an eternal personal love of each member of the Trinity for each other. Therefore, when we say that God is love this is something that has always been an essential feature of His character. His love for us then takes on the character of eternal love manifesting in the particular context, moment and person that it touches. Is it possible to speak of eternal love without the Trinity?
Is there a mind behind all things or do things just happen at random, or as a result of a long process of random events now solidified in natural laws? Has science overthrown the notion of special creation with its theories of abiogenesis and evolution? Do we live in a universe where catastrophic rapid change and supernatural interventions occur or are naturalism and uniformitarianism safer assumptions on which to base an evidential view of reality? How does your answer to this question contribute to the way that you approach life, the universe and everything?
What does it mean to you to say that God exists or does not exist?
It is impossible to prove whether God exists or not and a futile waste of time to try and use reason or science in the effort to do so. This conviction is held, or not held, by faith, or the lack of it. However, it is a meaningful question to ask what the implications of God’s existence or non-existence are. God, in this exercise, is referred to as an infinite, eternal, almighty, all-knowing Being that created, sustains and will hold to account your existence. If He exists or does not exist what changes?
This site is not dependent on outside support but I am thankful when it is given. Thanks to: Averren - 50k GPs Tegs - 100k GPs One Solitary Voice - 25k GPs
26th Birthday Party 
Word Limit:2000 words and should be submitted in a bitem format. I prefer essays, but stories and poems will also be accepted if relevant.
un: 
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