Popular communication today thrives on polarisation. Social media channels are not neutral carriers of unbiased opinion, they are shaped to stoke strong opinions which fuel the shallow politics of our age. The current controversy surrounding Gary Lineker, the BBC and his social media comments on the government’s refugee policies is a perfect example. The government… Continue reading Lineker & refugees: politics, punditry & polarisation
Category: Politics
The political roots of the Watch Night New Year church service
Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com The tradition of a New Year's Eve church service was originally started by Moravian churches to reflect on the year that has past and to contemplate the one to come. John Wesley adopted the practice for his Methodist followers. But it was given new significance by African-American communities on… Continue reading The political roots of the Watch Night New Year church service
‘Individual sovereignty is over-stated by the right and underemphasised by the left’
The relationship between social justice and personal responsibility is an inescapable subject in discussions about poverty. Where is the line between what is the state’s responsibility and the responsibility of the individual? Most of the conferences and events I attend focus on ‘systems change’ and how resources are allocated and managed. Focussing on the failures… Continue reading ‘Individual sovereignty is over-stated by the right and underemphasised by the left’
‘Saving Liberalism from Itself’ – by Ian Geary
A review of Saving Liberalism from Itself: The Spirit of Political Participation by Timothy Stacey, 2022 Understanding the contemporary variant of liberalism which dominates the West at this time is an important subject for the Church in order to understand its mission and witness. Liberalism places human freedom at the centre of economics, politics… Continue reading ‘Saving Liberalism from Itself’ – by Ian Geary
Dividing body, soul & spirit: Gnostic heresies live on – by Martin Kuhrt
Photo by Andreea Ch on Pexels.com When I was a student in the 1980s, one of my left-wing, feminist friends said that the Prime Minister of the time, Margaret Thatcher, ‘was not really a woman’. At the time, I laughed it off. But I thought about it again this week when the Labour MP Rupa… Continue reading Dividing body, soul & spirit: Gnostic heresies live on – by Martin Kuhrt
‘A toolbox for peace & liberation’? An activist reads the Bible
Review of Open for Liberation: an activist reads the Bible – by Tim Gee (Christian Alternative, 2022) Tim Gee believes the Bible is chiefly a narrative of liberation for the oppressed. In Open for Liberation, he claims Jesus led an anti-colonial movement of the dispossessed which affirmed women's leadership, racial equality and sexual diversity. Gee… Continue reading ‘A toolbox for peace & liberation’? An activist reads the Bible
Jesus and guns: faith, politics & polarisation
It would be hard to find a more succinct summary of the polarisation of religion and politics than the campaign bus of Kandiss Taylor who is running for Governor in Georgia. Three starred bullet-points tells you all you need to know about her core commitments: Jesus. Guns. Babies. When I first saw this picture, I… Continue reading Jesus and guns: faith, politics & polarisation
Why I am not a pacifist
When I worked in a large hostel in East London, one of my colleagues intervened when he saw one of the residents threatening someone else. The aggressor turned on my colleague, punching him hard enough to break his jaw, and then left the hostel. I was on shift the next day when the attacker returned.… Continue reading Why I am not a pacifist
What’s the point of the Labour Party? – by Alan Bolchover
After the disaster of losing the seat of Hartlepool by a landslide, the Labour Party is doing what it does best: navel-gazing. The day after the election both the left and right of the party came out, guns blazing...on each other. Peter Mandelson was on Sky blaming the defeat on the continuing negative impact of… Continue reading What’s the point of the Labour Party? – by Alan Bolchover
Possessed by a cult of ‘Christian’ nationalism
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com For many people the Christian support for Donald Trump is one of the most mystifying and worrying aspects of US politics. It was no surprise to see Jesus banners amongst those carried by those who stormed the Capitol building. Four years ago, an old school friend, Nick Miles,… Continue reading Possessed by a cult of ‘Christian’ nationalism
Grace + Truth 