Politics, Poverty

‘The Bible is a blueprint for Marxism’: the theology of Jeremy Clarkson

Photo by John-Mark Smith on Pexels.com It has been an important week for issues of faith and social justice.  On Tuesday, the Christians on the Left Summit debated how the church’s social action, such as Foodbanks and homeless shelters, connects to campaigning for social justice.  To use Desmond Tutu’s phrase, as well as pulling people out… Continue reading ‘The Bible is a blueprint for Marxism’: the theology of Jeremy Clarkson

Politics

Democracy in action…or not

Warwickshire County Council has just gone through a 6 month process to slash 26% from a budget over 4 years that had already been cut by a similar amount since 2010. Up and down the UK the picture is the same: older peoples' care, firefighters, road maintenance and libraries all under threat. As we approached… Continue reading Democracy in action…or not

Poverty

Church leaders call for the UK to “End Hunger Fast” this Lent

This is the text of a letter published today by over 40 senior Church leaders in The Daily Mirror to mark the launch of the End Hunger Fast campaign. It has been covered in the National News on both BBC and ITV tonight: Sir – Britain is the world’s seventh largest economy and yet people… Continue reading Church leaders call for the UK to “End Hunger Fast” this Lent

Poverty

National campaign started about the scandal of UK food poverty: End Hunger Fast

Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com Half a million people used food banks in the last year in the UK. Charitable support programmes are rapidly expanding but nonetheless a quarter of families are shrinking portion sizes. 5,500 people were admitted to hospital for malnutrition last year. The massive growth in the numbers going hungry has been… Continue reading National campaign started about the scandal of UK food poverty: End Hunger Fast

Poverty

Christians should lead the way in a boycott of The Daily Mail

In recent days, The Daily Mail has started a campaign arguing that Britain should divert money from its overseas aid budget to give to victims of the UK floods.   Its editorial yesterday said "Britain has given hundreds of millions towards flood relief overseas. Today, it is our own people who are enduring the misery,… Continue reading Christians should lead the way in a boycott of The Daily Mail

Theology

Finding God on Sundays (in the pub)

“A good local pub has much in common with a church, except that a pub is warmer, and there’s more conversation.” William Blake (1757 – 1827) A short walk from our church there is a pub which always has a lot of men in it, drinking a lot of beer, many of whom are sitting by themselves.  It… Continue reading Finding God on Sundays (in the pub)

Politics

On trial tomorrow: Christian activists who blocked an arms fair displaying torture equipment

Last September, a group of Christians knelt in prayer to block the entrance to the London arms fair - known as Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi). The protestors sang hymns, prayed together and prevented arms dealers from entering the fair for nearly an hour.On that same day as the protest, two companies were thrown… Continue reading On trial tomorrow: Christian activists who blocked an arms fair displaying torture equipment

Recommended books & reviews, Theology

When Grace is not so Amazing

Well Bono’s words about Karma and Grace have proved to be a bit popular - so far over 170,000+ people have shared it on facebook.  But what is it about Bono's words that so connected with people? The power of grace Some of it relates to the interest in what celebrities say.  Some of it is due the… Continue reading When Grace is not so Amazing

Films & music, Recommended books & reviews

Bono on the difference between Grace and Karma

"It's a mind-blowing concept that the God who created the Universe might be looking for company, a real relationship with people, but the thing that keeps me on my knees is the difference between Grace and Karma... You see, at the centre of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put… Continue reading Bono on the difference between Grace and Karma

Social commentary

The truth about Jury Service

Last year I got 'the letter' which summoned me to Jury Service for the middle two weeks of January 2014. Although it was a bit of a pain organising things at work around this, I was quite looking forward to participating in the justice system. Doing my civic duty and all that.  I even watched… Continue reading The truth about Jury Service