Category: ethics

Is the church helping asylum seekers to game the system?

On Sunday morning a Liverpool taxi driver realised that his passenger had an explosive devise attached to him. Bravely he chose to lock the cab doors so that the potential bomber was secured in the vehicle. As a result, when the bomb went off at the Liverpool Women’s hospital significant loss of life and injury… Continue reading Is the church helping asylum seekers to game the system?

Can a jury decide not guilty if they think the sentence is unjust?

Frances Crook, formally head of the Howard League For Penal Reform tweeted this comment. I’m not sure how long the tweet will stay up because it raises significant issues, not just in terms of morality but in terms of Legality Juries have a responsibility to remain within the Law and to fulfil the specific duties… Continue reading Can a jury decide not guilty if they think the sentence is unjust?

Electric cars, COP26 and the elephant in the room regarding climate change

Today at the COP26 (yes it’s still going) the focus is on switching to electric cars.  Dave Walker hs argued using his cartoon today that this is the wrong focus.  Switching to electric vehicles may prove costly, have its own environmental impact and not bring as significant benefits as we might hope for. He argues… Continue reading Electric cars, COP26 and the elephant in the room regarding climate change

Learning COVID lessons – Sweden and comparison tables revisited

I’ve seen two types of article about Sweden’s pandemic response over the past few weeks (as indeed I have throughout the pandemic). On the one hand, there are those who continue to argue that the Swedish approach demonstrates that we were wrong to bring in tough measures such as social distancing, face masks and lockdowns.… Continue reading Learning COVID lessons – Sweden and comparison tables revisited

Are we over-policing our language?

We are quick to complain about “political correctness gone mad” but do we Evangelicals have our own tendencies to a form of political correctness when policing each other’s language? Here are a few examples: “I’m going to church” “Don’t you mean that you are going to the building where the church meets in order to… Continue reading Are we over-policing our language?

In the face of climate change – what is our greatest need?

This week, world leaders have flown into Glasgow for the COP26 summit on the environment and combatting climate change. Two Christian responses to the summit raise some questions and challenges, First of all, a church in Glasgow responded by displaying this banner saying The World’s most urgent need is churches preaching Christ crucified, not climate… Continue reading In the face of climate change – what is our greatest need?

Is Original Sin a terrible concept?

Katherine Birbalsingh, has got herself into hot water this week. Bibalsingh is a free school headteacher associated with an education philosophy that focuses on knowledge rich pedagogy and strict behaviour policies. She has also been appointed the chair of a social mobility commission recently.  Her comments that have caused an outcry have been about the… Continue reading Is Original Sin a terrible concept?

Be careful little lips – on the language of political debate

Over the weekend, there was significant discussion about political culture and how politicians talk about each other and how the rest of us talk about politicians.  Now, given that it looks likely that the person who attacked and murdered Sir David Amess was motivated by Islamist extremist, there is a reasonable response to this. Namely,… Continue reading Be careful little lips – on the language of political debate