Playing Jesus: Further reflections on that image of Donald Trump

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On Monday, Donald Trump posted this image on social media before withdrawing it. There has been understandable outrage at Trump’s post. However, there can be ways in which we all are tempted into trying to play the part of Jesus. I explore the question further in this short video.

The blasphemous president

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There has not really been much doubt about Donald Trump’s brash self confidence and high view of himself. However, many of us have expressed frequent concerns about the way that his supporters have at times pushed the boundaries, presenting their hero as a messianic figure and comparing him to Christ. Donald Trump has himself now… Continue reading The blasphemous president

Trump’s misunderstanding of NATO is a big threat to his own MAGA project

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Apparently Donald Trump is once again threatening to pull out of NATO. His current complaint is that NATO failed to join the US in its action against Iran. I think there are a number of misunderstandings in his thinking.  Maybe they are intentional. All of this means that Donald Trump fails to act in America’s… Continue reading Trump’s misunderstanding of NATO is a big threat to his own MAGA project

Just calling something illegal does not make it illegal

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You will notice that since the Iraq War, it has been common place to insert the word “illegal” as an adjective to describe     any war that is opposed.  As it happens, I am waiting for a court ruling to determine that war to have been unlawful (which is probably the better term as “illegal”… Continue reading Just calling something illegal does not make it illegal

The ethics of war – USA/Israel v Iran a case study

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Martyn  Whittock has written for Evangelicals Now engaging with the question of whether the Iran-USA war is a just war.  As he explains: “Christian Just War theory represents one of the most influential ethical traditions for evaluating the moral legitimacy of warfare.  Developed within Christian theology but later influencing secular international ethics and law, the… Continue reading The ethics of war – USA/Israel v Iran a case study

Iran what next?

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On Saturday evening, reports were coming in that the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameni was dead. However, we still had to await official confirmation, alert to the possibility of body doubles among his security . On Sunday, it was confirmed by the Iranian news agency that Khameni’s body had been removed from the rubble after… Continue reading Iran what next?

NATO forces … Why Trunp is both right and wrong

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There is a lot of outcry at the moment, understandably, following comments Donald Trump made in an interview with Fox News at Davos. Trump claimed that NATO were unlikely to come to the US’ aid and in any case, the help of other countries was not needed.  He also claimed that those countries, implicitly including… Continue reading NATO forces … Why Trunp is both right and wrong

Choosing the wrong side? Why Christians need to be careful about not playing to Trump and Putin’s talking points

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I saw this video the other day. I was struck by a comment that Chris Wickland makes in it.  He warns that people  may find that they have been taking the wrong side.  It’s easy to do this, not out of malicious intent but out of naievity. In fact in a sermon just a few… Continue reading Choosing the wrong side? Why Christians need to be careful about not playing to Trump and Putin’s talking points

Peace for prizes

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Last week, Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela’s opposition leader presented Donald Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize.  This caused a lot of outrage. It was very clear that she could do what she pleased with the medal but this would make Donald Trump no more the winner of the Prize than my dad is a boxing… Continue reading Peace for prizes