I feel a distinct uneasiness as I attempt to write some reflections on the brutal killing of George Floyd and the subsequent events. It’s an uneasiness borne of the tension in accepting that sheer silence represents a failure to reckon with what is and has been happening, yet knowing ahead of time that words will … Continue Reading
In a single weekend, the government’s lead in the opinion polls has fallen 10%. The public are outraged by what they see as pure hypocrisy. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister is rigidly sticking by his advisor. Government MPs watch nervously as they see that hard-won confidence in the government crumble beneath them. Many voters had hoped … Continue Reading
On a tumultuous day preceding Pilate’s careless, populist, hand-washing referendum that was to dispassionately determine the fate of Jesus, a very large crowd spread their cloaks on the ground for him as he entered Jerusalem, in a kind of instant royal celebration. The crowd believed Jesus had come in fulfilment of his nation’s hopes – … Continue Reading
Most people will readily acknowledge that there is more than one way to write about theology on the internet. One very common way is to draw your newly polished theological Excalibur and carve up those deemed to be in error or heresy. Another approach, perhaps more befitting of my purposes here, is that of one … Continue Reading
A paper based on Jay Colwill’s transcript, delivered at the April 2020 “Beer and Theology” session; the first to be conducted online as a Zoom webinar during the Coronavirus lockdown. Introduction There is a proverb that says: ‘when the winds change direction, there are those who build walls and there are those who build windmills’. … Continue Reading
Following the sad news of the death of Bishop Simon Barrington-Ward on Holy Saturday 2020, formerly the Bishop of Coventry, we are pleased to publish a poem in memoriam, written by Sarah Cawdell. “Lord Jesus Christ” Berlin 1954 Post war community is found where trauma is faced, sin acknowledged, forgiveness found, poetry and friendship, love, … Continue Reading
A paper based on Stephen Godsell’s transcript, delivered at the 33rd “Beer and Theology” session in November 2019. Introduction What is truth (as Pilate famously asked of Jesus when he appeared before him)? What do we mean when we say that something is true; and how do we test or measure a claim that something … Continue Reading
Abraham Kuyper: his story On November 8th 1920, Abraham Kuyper died. You may not have heard of him, but if you had lived in the Netherlands from about the 1880’s to sometime after 1910, his would have been a household name. In his illustrious career he was a pastor and theologian, philosopher, journalist, founder of … Continue Reading
Joshua Penduck writes: And thus ends one of the more ignoble periods of British political history. Though looking at the forthcoming negotiations perhaps it is better to describe it as the beginning of the end. Or at least the end of the beginning. Hopefully. From the first stirrings of a referendum in Cameron’s 2013 Bloomberg … Continue Reading
This article was first published on the Covenant website and in the Church of England Newspaper, 17 Jan 2020, and is reproduced with permission. On May 5–8 this year, I will be leading a retreat on Women in the Bible at Launde Abbey. What do I hope people will get out of this retreat? That … Continue Reading