Photo by Elina Sazonova on Pexels.com When Remembrance Day comes around every year, I feel uneasy. There’s something about this national ritual that doesn’t sit well with me. How we commemorate wars and the fallen can be misused. Especially when my Christian faith leads me to question why we go to war at all. Because… Continue reading Why Remembrance Day makes me uneasy – by Jeremy O’Hare
Category: Social commentary
Guns in America: religion is part of the problem but faith will be part of the answer
Photo by Connor McManus on Pexels.com As a Christian, I think its vital that we are honest about the way religion can often uphold and underpin injustice. Whilst its good to be inspired by the great faith-inspired social movements - like the battles against the slave trade, the civil rights movement or the fight against apartheid… Continue reading Guns in America: religion is part of the problem but faith will be part of the answer
How society and government policy facilitate sexual abuse – by Ruth Woodcraft
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Newcastle joined an infamous list of UK cities in August with the conviction of 17 men and one woman for rape, supplying drugs and conspiracy to incite prostitution. The media dissected events and the conclusions were critical of Northumbria Police. Early opportunities were missed to investigate the abuse, and thousands… Continue reading How society and government policy facilitate sexual abuse – by Ruth Woodcraft
‘I Didn’t Meme to Hurt You’: disagreeing better online
I am facebook friends with people with a very wide range of views: rabid right-wingers and loony lefties and everything in-between. Raving charismatics, fluffy liberals and hard-bitten atheists. Millie Tants, Chardonnay Socialists and Gary Lagers. Our on-line followers represent to some extent the worlds we move in. And for many of us, these worlds vary greatly.… Continue reading ‘I Didn’t Meme to Hurt You’: disagreeing better online
Taking a break from Fakebook – by Jill Rowe
I have not been here. Over the past little while I took a break from Facebook. I've not ‘photo-ed’ for Instagram and my tweeting volume has been close to zero. I have not been here. Why? Because I know that sometimes being here stops me being here, where I should be or where I need… Continue reading Taking a break from Fakebook – by Jill Rowe
Light in the darkness: fighting the misunderstanding and stigma of mental illness – by Giles Fraser
Photo by Daniel Reche on Pexels.com Carrie Fisher was more than a princess. At the age of 24 she was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder – or manic depression as it used to be called. And throughout the rest of her life she fought to demystify this condition from misunderstanding and stigma. She called her illness… Continue reading Light in the darkness: fighting the misunderstanding and stigma of mental illness – by Giles Fraser
Hallow’een, Selfish G’een – by Lizzie Schofield
Nothing puts me in a bad mood like Hallow'een. Apart from the whole 'celebration of evil' thing, it’s so ubiquitous. Even Facebook won't let me do a 'sad face' anymore. Instead I get a Frankenstein head. For a start, this is belittling of Frankenstein, who faced complex issues. He was more 'tortured' than just 'sad'.… Continue reading Hallow’een, Selfish G’een – by Lizzie Schofield
Disagreeing well is good for us (far better than echo-chambers which just reinforce what we already believe)
It has been a fascinating seeing the reaction to the article written by my old school friend, Nick Miles' on why he is voting for Trump. One of my cousins texted me and said 'Oh Jon, what have you unleashed on Facebook?' as he saw my feed flooded with heated debate in response to the pro-Trump… Continue reading Disagreeing well is good for us (far better than echo-chambers which just reinforce what we already believe)
We need more silence in our lives
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com "In modern culture, it almost seems like silence is extinct. We have given noise our consent to fill every moment of life. And it’s not just sonic noise, but even the mental noise that comes from constant entertainment. Through our smartphones, our tablets and our laptops, we always have access… Continue reading We need more silence in our lives
Beach-body ready or not, the real winners are the advertising industry
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com Protein World’s ‘Are you Beach Body Ready?’ adverts have created a massive row. In among the countless adverts that commuters are pummeled by, these posters immediately struck me as unusually crass and objectionable. So I was not that surprised to see the furore that has developed this week in response.… Continue reading Beach-body ready or not, the real winners are the advertising industry
Grace + Truth 