When did traditional morality become ‘fundamentalist’?
It was a question posed by Professor John Milbank on Twitter a few days ago. Or, rather, it wasn't posed as a question, such as the 'when' inquiry into conceptual…
Idolatry
Candlemas: from the Presentation of Christ to ‘Radical Inclusion’
Today we mark a Church Feast which is known as either Candlemas or the Feast of the Presentation of Christ at the Temple. I doubt if any of us will be feasting – after all, few of us mark other…
Israel Folau – a fool for Christ’s sake
Israel Folau plays rugby in Australia. He plays at quite a high level, actually, being paid around $1.6m per season. He is, however, considered to be worth every cent, not…
‘If the Cross of Christ is anything to the mind, it is surely everything’
"If the Cross of Christ is anything to the mind, it is surely everything – the most profound reality and the sublimest mystery", wrote John Stott in his book The…
Notre Dame de Paris – the soul of France consumed by unholy smoke
The air is full of mourning and crying. The hearts of Christians are bereft; another tribulation of Christendom defiles God's acre on the Seine. They sang ancient Elysian hymns as…
Bishop denounces Boris Johnson as an “amoral liar”
It was a good lecture by the Bishop of Leeds, if a little long. Delivered to mark the centennial celebrations of Bradford Cathedral, he expounded some of the root causes…
Worcester Cathedral hosts heritage event – Methodists not welcome
On 4th December Worcester Cathedral is hosting an educational heritage event: In line with the 2018 commemoration of the end of the First World War, Worcester Cathedral Education Department is…
Imam to preach Eucharistic sermon at University Church, Oxford
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford dates back to 1086. It was the first building adopted by the University of Oxford in the 13th century, and…
A quarterback and a porn star walk into a bar…
You might think this would be the set-up line for a bad joke, but, no, it’s for real. Amidst the typical National Football League off-season stories about murder, sexual assault,…
Does installing Tim Peake’s spaceship in a cathedral glorify God and lead people to salvation?
If you install a junk spaceship or other space detritus in a sacred space and then pat yourself on the back for increasing your visitor numbers by 600% to 58,000,…
Ely Cathedral flies UKIP flag to welcome Brexit conference
"The world feels a bit warmer now" is how one Brexiteer reacted as the UKIP flag was hoist over Ely Cathedral. Members of the Ely UKIP branch have expressed their…
If Irish Catholic hospitals are forced to perform abortions, the Roman Catholic Church should close every one of them
Well, that didn't take long, did it? ‘Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has hit out at socialist parties and groups in the Dáil, accusing them of wanting to “turn religious people into…
“We have built our tower to the Moon, and now we build it to Mars. What, then, is denied to us?”
This is a guest post by Carl Jacobs: a Christian by grace, a Calvinist by conviction, an American by birth. Husband of one, father of two, an engineer by profession,…
Steve Chalke: the wrath of God and the experience of Grace
Steve Chalke tweeted about the wrath of God which is apparently often heaped on his head by 'Church people' (as opposed to Christians?), compared to the grace he experiences directly…
How Bishop George Bell became a victim of Church of England ‘spin’ and a narrative of ‘decisive leadership’
This is a guest post by The Very Rev’d Professor Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. _______ Some may begin to wonder how exactly the Church of England’s National…
Theological illiteracy: 46% of Protestants think it’s okay to worship idols
Talk about theological illiteracy: the recent YouGov poll asking whether the 10 Commandments are still widely considered important principles to live by yielded some data of jaw-dropping incredulity. There's no…
If Brexit can’t be done, then Ted Heath lied, and our “essential national sovereignty” is gone
According to Alastair Campbell, Brexit can't be done. That's apparently what Theresa May has concluded and, if she were honest and any kind of leader, that's what she'd tell the…
Catholic School removes statues of Mary and Jesus to be more inclusive
In this season of rampant anti-statue-ism, where Cecil Rhodes must fall, Edward Colston must tumble, Robert E Lee must be toppled, Captain Cook must yield, Admiral Horatio Nelson must be…
Redefining hate: from diabolical anti-love to any criticism of the fragile self
This is a guest post by by the Rev'd Dr Gavin Ashenden. _____ During the General Synod debate on homosexuality I took to twitter. It’s like sitting up in the…
The plot to terrorise the mushrikin of Manchester – where’s the analysis of this prophetology?
"'Mecca is BELIEVED TO BE the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad.' Good to see the doubts over that breaking through!" tweeted historian Tom Holland, who knows a thing or two…