One of the strongest accusations you can make about others is that they are “just virtue signalling.” Joining a demonstration, using a hashtag, taking the knee, tweeting your disgust at this or that behaviour. It’s just virtue signalling. The point of virtue signalling is that I can signal my position on something without it actually… Continue reading Virtue Reality
Posts
Getting fit again
It crept up on me a little. I knew I was a bit overweight and had been for a while and then in the middle of the pandemic I stood on the scales and discovered that I was not only several stone over my ideal weight but also that I was a couple of stone… Continue reading Getting fit again
COVID risk assessment update
Here’s my regular update on the COVID data. My purpose in sharing these updates is to help churches keep a view on what is happening as they make plans and risk assessments for re-opening. The risks that we have to consider include objective risks in terms of the potential to create a super spreading context… Continue reading COVID risk assessment update
Five MPs and the value of integrity
How much do we value integrity in public life? Well we’ve had an answer back from the House of Commons standards committee. 5 Conservative MPs were found to have breached standards by writing letters to judges in relation to the disgraced former MP Charlie Elphicke who was found guilty in July 2020 of sexually assaulting… Continue reading Five MPs and the value of integrity
COVID Passports revisited
The possibility of vaccine passports is back on the table again. On Monday the Prime Minister announced that these would be imposed on nightclubs as mandatory in September and that unlike with previous/voluntary options, the requirement would be for patrons to show they had been fully vaccinated. Currently, the COVID vaccine scheme offers three options… Continue reading COVID Passports revisited
Inviting the foul
Kevin DeYoung has got himself into social media hot water over his review of Beth Allison Barr’s book “The making of Biblical Womanhood.” You can read Kevin’s review here. You’ll see that he shares a lot of similar concerns to the ones I expressed in my review here. Why has he got into hot water… Continue reading Inviting the foul
What is our responsibility at this stage of the pandemic?
What’s your opinion about the 19th July re-opening? Strong opinions have been expressed from all sides and Christians and church leaders are not immune to holding such strong views. If you’ve followed this blog carefully over the past few weeks, you’ll have picked up that I’m cautiously positive about the decision to fully re-open. I’m… Continue reading What is our responsibility at this stage of the pandemic?
COVID forecasting – Rear view mirrors and uncertainty
What kind of COVID numbers can we expect to be seeing over the next few weeks? Knowing what we might expect to see is crucial for those involved in making the big decisions because case numbers impact on hospital admissions and that in turn has an impact on mortality figures. Those involved in leading churches… Continue reading COVID forecasting – Rear view mirrors and uncertainty
Policing temptation with what we wear
Social media is a dangerous place to go if you are worried about causing offense. Twitter in particular is a place where the compression of communication can lead to a lack of nuance and much misunderstanding. Of course it works well if your desire is to be provocative. But plenty of pastors have come unstuck… Continue reading Policing temptation with what we wear
Keep the Nightclubs closed
Where is the biggest risk going to be over the next few weeks as we move out of the final stages of restrictions? I suspect it won’t be in churches as we move back to normal worship, it is clear that churches are seeking to do this responsibly. It won’t be in your local supermarket.… Continue reading Keep the Nightclubs closed
