Photo by Hugo Magalhaes on Pexels.com Every day around 100 homeless people come to the day centre run by the West London Mission for a hot breakfast, showers, clothing or to see our in-house doctor or nurse. Every Tuesday a Spirituality Discussion group takes place in the TV room led by our Chaplain. I love it… Continue reading ‘I just want to do God’s will’ – Martin Luther King’s final speech
Remembering the holocaust means fighting anti-semitism today – by Alan Bolchover
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com This week marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Many of my Jewish friends are sharing their own family experiences of the holocaust. Nearly all of us have them. Before the Second World War, my grandfather Elio lived in a village called Lubcz in Belorussia,… Continue reading Remembering the holocaust means fighting anti-semitism today – by Alan Bolchover
False Profits: why all companies should pay the tax they owe – by Laura Taylor
Tax collectors had a pretty bad name in New Testament times. And perhaps rightly so. At the time, taxation represented subordination and injustice – collected by a Roman regime stripping wealth from the territories they occupied to fund the machinery of their empire. Religious leaders of the day debated whether it was morally right to pay… Continue reading False Profits: why all companies should pay the tax they owe – by Laura Taylor
The personal cost of injustice: review of ‘Selma’ (12A)
Few people have integrated activism, theology and personal commitment in such an inspiring way as Martin Luther King. ‘Selma’ is the first major feature film made about King. It focuses on his campaign in Selma, Alabama in 1965, where the restrictions and obstacles enforced on black people meant that, despite having a constitutional right to vote, hardly… Continue reading The personal cost of injustice: review of ‘Selma’ (12A)
The secularisation of Martin Luther King
Ahead of Martin Luther King day tomorrow in the US and the release of the film 'Selma' in the UK, I am re-posting this article from 2013.
A journey of radical humility: ‘Pope Francis: Untying the Knots’ by Paul Vallely [review]
Recently I was talking with someone who was brought up a Catholic but it now an atheist. Although he has rejected the church of his upbringing, he was fascinated and excited by the approach of Pope Francis. It was just one example of the impact that Jorge Bergoglio has had since becoming Pope in March 2013. His generosity,… Continue reading A journey of radical humility: ‘Pope Francis: Untying the Knots’ by Paul Vallely [review]
I am Not Charlie: a Christian response to the killings in Paris – by Bob Ekblad
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com I was deeply troubled by the news of the killings of journalists at Charlie Hebdo, France’s beloved satirical newspaper, by two French Muslim brothers of Algerian descent, Chérif and Saïd Kouachi. I’ve been haunted by footage I saw of these gunmen’s shooting of a police officer in cold blood on… Continue reading I am Not Charlie: a Christian response to the killings in Paris – by Bob Ekblad
‘All Christians are political’ – putting our faith in the mixer
Photo by Stan Platt-Jones on Pexels.com 'All Christians are political, whether they realise it or not. But especially when they don't realise it' Kenneth Leech In football terminology, putting the ball ‘in the mixer’ means getting it into the penalty area right in front of the goal. It’s where there is often some jostling and controversy and where… Continue reading ‘All Christians are political’ – putting our faith in the mixer
We cannot pretend this violence has nothing to do with religion
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com My next door neighbour is a devout Muslim and he is the best neighbour that it is possible to have. He recently replaced the fence between our gardens. Not only did he refuse to accept any contribution from us for the cost of the new fence, but while we were away he came… Continue reading We cannot pretend this violence has nothing to do with religion
‘Back street theology’ and stories from the frontline
During 2014, the growing use of food banks across the country has been a major political story. A key reason is because the Trussell Trust, who coordinate the majority of the food banks in partnership with many churches, have been persistent and determined in communicating the crisis they see unfolding across the UK. They have told the stories from… Continue reading ‘Back street theology’ and stories from the frontline
Grace + Truth 