The recent death of left-wing politician Tony Benn has prompted a flurry of analysis about socialism in the UK. I heard Tony Benn lecture at Bristol Baptist College when I was a student over 30 years ago. He was MP for Bristol South at the time, and, although he did not profess a Christian faith himself, had a long free church heritage in his family. He was charismatic as a personality, and always stimulating and intriguing to listen to. His five questions to ask people in power are now famous:
Welcome to March 10th: international day of awesomeness.
I kid you not ... a bunch of laugh-loving people are inviting you and I to spend today displaying awesome acts. Their strapline: no-one's perfect but everyone can be awesome! The ideas are diverse but, at their heart, quite simple - validate someone else's awesomeness, affirm your own awesomeness - then do something awesome (be that having an amazing meal or doing something profoundly life-fulfilling) and blog about it. The primary aim is to have fun. Lots of it!
On balance, I don't think I'm going to be engaging with this day of awesomeness in any specific way but it did get me musing on the journey to work today ... As Christians:... continue reading
If yesterday’s Church of England debate about women bishops told us very much at all, it was to do with what happens when pragmatism and popularity becomes confused with principle.
This post isn’t a comment on the rights and wrongs of women bishops—it’s about how you arrive at the positions you hold, and how you argue for those positions.
I’m not an expert on the ins and outs of how the Church of England’s General Synod works, but here are, as reported in the media — eg: here and here — the three main reasons why the church needs female bishops, and needs them now (or at least within the next year).
These all sound great. But none of them are good.... continue reading
I don't read The Telegraph often but one of the lead stories today caught my eye: Your child is not a genius. Get over it.
Its basic thesis is this: Being ahead or behind in reading or maths as a child has little bearing on achievement as an adult. So take off the pressure, enjoy your kids and let them grow at their own unique pace. Really, it's not a competition. And, quite frankly, who wants to be a genius anyway?
Intriguing words... You see, I've noticed a trend among many of my friends: Extra tuition, practice papers every week, an abundance of extra curricula activities that will boost their child's chances of getting into a better school or more prestigious university. The diaries of children are a hive of activity and, at times, a melting pot of pressure.... continue reading
A survey for the Bible Society, released today, shows that almost three in ten children don't know key Bible stories, or if they do, they don't realise those stories come from the Bible. And it's not just the children and young people (those surveyed were 8 to 15-year-olds) - their parents didn't recognise many of these stories either.
So how do we respond to this kind of news? It's easy to tut about modern standards, shake our heads at the state of religious education in schools, and hark back to "the good old days". But here are three more positive suggestions instead:... continue reading
It’s a simple scheme: Buy a miniature of what you want god to give you. Offer god the little replica (alongside some lit cigarettes). And then wait to see if he gives you the real thing… Think I’m joking? Absolutely not!
Clearly, I’m not recommending it - but it happens – in Bolivia, to be precise.
At the “festival of miniatures” those desperately seeking love can purchase a mini marriage certificate … those eager to dump their other half can buy a tiny divorce document. Also on sale: mini children, cars, phones, TVs, piles of wood (with which to build a house) and suitcases full of money. Whatever your heart desires can be found on a stall in teeny-tiny form, all ready to take home as a hint for your deity of choice.... continue reading
The revelation by the European Union that corruption and bribery is rife in Europe has come as a shock to many. But it ought not to be a surprise to anyone who takes the Bible seriously.
I remember being shocked the first time I came across this. I worked as a journalist reporting on Middle-East affairs for many years, and stories of bribery and corruption in contracts with Arab states were rife - and often hilarious. One evening I asked a businessman who specialised in medical equipment which country he thought was the worst for corruption. I expected him to mention somewhere in Africa or the Middle East.
"Germany" was his instant, unqualified response.... continue reading
