Category: ethics

Losing Sleep and a hill to die on

The other day I talked about the issues we choose to lose sleep about and not feeling compelled to lose sleep about everything that others are passionate about.  Well, I’ve just started reading a book by Gavin Ortlund called “Choosing which hill to die on.”  The imagery is about defending your position in battle and… Continue reading Losing Sleep and a hill to die on

Why I still think #EatOutToHelpOut is wrong … but what it might achieve

I have been arguing since it was announced that Rishi Sunak’s “Eat out to help out” scheme was a bad idea economically.  You see, the assumption seems to be that the measure will encourage people to start eating out in restaurants again. The problem is that the thing that has stopped people eating out over… Continue reading Why I still think #EatOutToHelpOut is wrong … but what it might achieve

Don’t lose sleep over it

Apparently I’m cold and unfair!  What has provoked this? The answer is that I choose not to lose sleep over the challenges that the private school sector face as a result of COVD-19.  The Economist has written an article explaining that schools have been hit financially and the ongoing crisis is likely to lead to… Continue reading Don’t lose sleep over it

Herd Immunity – on avoiding conspiracy theories

If as Christians, we want to engage with the world around us, it is important that we engage with the facts and stay clear from conspiracy theories.  Conspiracy theories ask us to believe that we cannot believe the evidence in front of us because secret, malign forces are at work. A good example of this… Continue reading Herd Immunity – on avoiding conspiracy theories

An MP, a rape accusation and #churchtoo

In the news this weekend, an as yet unnamed Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape. There have been calls for him to have the Conservative whip suspended, for example, Jess Phillips, the shadow Domestic violence minister has expressed shock that this has not happened yet.[1]Her argument is that naming him is necessary… Continue reading An MP, a rape accusation and #churchtoo

If we are going to see racial justice we will need to escape the monster/angel narrative

It did not take long did it.  Fairly soon after George Floyd’s murder and the outpouring of grief, anger and protest, the stories were circulating. Floyd was high on meth, Floyd was a serial, violent criminal so why was he being celebrated as a martyr. Of course those stories started with the socially required statements… Continue reading If we are going to see racial justice we will need to escape the monster/angel narrative

Assessing motives (what we can and cannot do)

Jesus is able to assess the heart, we cannot. This means a good rule of thumb when dealing with others in debate is that we should seek to respond to what they are actually saying, not what their motives or intentions are. Indeed,  we should seek to assume the best of others, taking a charitable… Continue reading Assessing motives (what we can and cannot do)

Skin Deep? Trustworthy?

When we bought our house, we took out a mortgage. Like many home owners up and down the country, we were making a promise, a commitment that over the next 25 years, we would pay back the money we had borrowed with interest. How could our Building Society be sure that we would repay the… Continue reading Skin Deep? Trustworthy?

Skin Deep? What if we took Jesus seriously about divorce?

Jesus says: 31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. As you can see, the culture of his day said… Continue reading Skin Deep? What if we took Jesus seriously about divorce?