If the problem is Islam then the answer is … Love and get to know your Muslim neighbours

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I’ve written a little recently and shared some videos talking about how we engage with Muslims, how we get to know and love them as neighbours. I’ve discovered that nothing seems to get people’s ire as the suggestion that we should get to know and love Muslims. The assumption seems to be that I’m naive… Continue reading If the problem is Islam then the answer is … Love and get to know your Muslim neighbours

The minefield of when a state provides religious instruction

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The Supreme Court has ruled that religious education provision in Northern Ireland was unlawful.  A child that did not share the Christian views of the syllabus was discriminated against by a syllabus developed by the Roman Catholic Church, Methodists and Presbyterians.  As it happens, there are probably questions I would have about such a syllabus… Continue reading The minefield of when a state provides religious instruction

Do we need to disentangle Christian Nationalism?

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Andrew Wilson writes here about the arrival of Christian Nationalism in the UK. He draws heavily on, and interacts with, this article by Tim Suffield.  As always Andrew’s analysis is interesting, though I wonder whether we are further down the road than Andrew and Tim realise and that does have implications. Tim suggests that there… Continue reading Do we need to disentangle Christian Nationalism?

What should be our next step in the abortion debate?

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I recently explained, here, why I would not be signing a petition which calls for abortions to be banned once a heartbeat was detected.   However, I thought it would be helpful to talk more about the kind of debate we should be engaging in and how we should seek to move it forward. I believe… Continue reading What should be our next step in the abortion debate?

Should Russell Brand be baptising people?

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Russell Brand has reportedly been baptising people in a penguin enclosure.   In one case at least, the person had only professed faith that day.   Objections have been two-fold. First there are concerns about whether or not Brand should be baptising given that he is currently waiting for court proceedings to be heard about serious criminal… Continue reading Should Russell Brand be baptising people?

What about marriage and eternity?

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When Jesus responds to the Sadducees conundrum and the Levirate marriage, he insists that in “the age to come”, there is no more giving and receiving in marriage (Luke 20:27-40).  This may leave us with a few pastoral questions and implications. First of all, there was the immediate pastoral implication for people in that context. … Continue reading What about marriage and eternity?

Immigrants and asylum seekers are neighbours to be loved and welcomed not invaders to fear

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I recently observed to a friend that when it comes to antisemitism we seem to find ourselves compelled to defend and reason rather than simply call out the racism for what it is. However, I’ve realised that actually that isn’t so unique to antisemitism within Evsngelical Christian circles.  Rather, the same pressures are there as… Continue reading Immigrants and asylum seekers are neighbours to be loved and welcomed not invaders to fear

Christian Nationalism -origins of the term

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Where and when was the term Christian Nationalism first coined?  Well, some of the ideas, underpinning theology and ideology seem to have been around for a long time with or without the term. Indeed, it is worth observing that there are both people who are happy to overtly identify as Christian Nationalists, there are others… Continue reading Christian Nationalism -origins of the term

Is the Quran antisemitic? Evaluating Tim Dieppe’s (Christian Concern) argument

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Tim Dieppe of Christian Concern argues that Islam is inherently antisemitic because the Quran is.  He sets out his argument in a series of articles for Christian Concern.  In this article, I’m going to focus specifically on his article that claims the Quran is antisemitic.[1] He first cites Surah Q2:61 “And [recall] when you said,… Continue reading Is the Quran antisemitic? Evaluating Tim Dieppe’s (Christian Concern) argument

Is it an answer to prayer that Donald Trump says he will sue the BBC?

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A  few people have responded to Donald Trump’s announcement that he will sue the BBC for up to £5 billion as a wonderful answer to prayer. I want to suggest that it isn’t and here is why.  First of all, let me emphasise that I have consistently argued that the BBC is in the wrong,… Continue reading Is it an answer to prayer that Donald Trump says he will sue the BBC?