There are some enduring debates that will probably never be resolved. Did Lee Harvey Oswald shoot JFK? Are single-sex schools more effective than mixed ones? Should scones be pronounced sCOnes or scONs? And do we trust journalists or politicians less? It’s been… Read More ›
Media
Shock! Justin Welby admits that he believes in God
This is of course a ridiculous headline, but what makes it ridiculous? There are plenty of people who don’t believe in God after all. We make assumptions all of the time and a common one is that our leaders are… Read More ›
The Big Question or just patronising? – ‘Can you be a Christian and vote for UKIP?’
Last Thursday I was invited to appear on BBC1’s The Big Questions on Sunday morning. The subject I was asked to discuss was ‘Can you be a Christian and vote for UKIP?’ I’ve had a few requests for media appearances now… Read More ›
Justin Welby’s debut radio phone-in was a breath of fresh air
Justin Welby conducted his very first radio phone-in on LBC this morning and from the outcome one wonders why this has taken so long to come about. Spending an hour answering questions he covered plenty of ground and it was refreshing to… Read More ›
Maureen Greaves preaches God’s forgiveness on Radio 4 Today
If I was in the habit of making Top 10 lists, then under Inspirational Individuals of 2013, Maureen Greaves would be right up there near the top. The way she has dealt with the brutal murder of her husband on… Read More ›
Justin Welby and Martin Lewis’ mission to save Christmas
The Archbishop of Canterbury has done it yet again. Several days ago I wrote about the fact that the press is lapping up his comments on society. This week exactly the same thing has happened regarding his comments on how… Read More ›
Clearing up the mess that deliberately alarmist journalism leaves behind
Late on Friday night I received a message from a friend at Christian Aid who was considerably concerned about a Telegraph article that had just been published entitled Charity millions ‘going to Syrian terror groups’. The strap line under the headline… Read More ›
Since when did the Church of England decide to curl up in the corner and wait to die?
Last night some bizarre rumours began to circulate on Twitter. Apparently the Church of England had announced that this country had become so clueless about Christianity that there is no point trying to convert anyone anymore. This, if true, would… Read More ›
36% of children don’t know whose birthday is celebrated at Christmas-time for an advertising campaign?
I’m not really in the mood for Christmas yet, but thanks to ChurchAds.net launching their new Christmas advertising campaign this week I’ve ended up thinking about it a bit too much over the last couple of days. Their Christmas starts… Read More ›
It’s a baby boy, not a celebrity
So finally after all the waiting, we have confirmation that the Duchess of Cambridge has produced a son weighing in at 8lbs 6oz. Like so many of us, I’ve been sitting in front of the television this evening watching the media… Read More ›
Dear BBC, please stop ignoring God
Yesterday was another traumatic day for Maureen Greaves, the widow of Alan Greaves, the church organist who was brutally murdered on his way to a Christmas Eve service last December. With one of his attackers already found guilty of murder,… Read More ›
The BBC admits failings in its treatment of Christians
The BBC has had a problem for some time regarding how it deals with religion. It has regularly been accused of giving Christianity in particular a tough time. What gives these accusations substance is that they have not just come… Read More ›
The Woolwich murder coverage – not the media’s finest hour
It’s not the first time that someone has been murdered in London this year, but it’s entirely understandable that yesterday’s brutal and horrific killing in Woolwich has gained so much attention. There is still an underlying nervousness in our society… Read More ›
A tale of two bomb attacks
Last night’s news of the explosions in Boston was truly horrendous. Within moments of it happening my Twitter feed went into overdrive with every picture and piece of video flying round the world as it was hastily retweeted. Even though… Read More ›
Giles Fraser’s attack on Evangelical Christians is both ignorant and unnecessary
It’s always easier to be dismissive of people you disagree with rather than trying to find some common ground and attempting to engage productively with them. I’ve learnt a lot about this over the last year as I’ve observed and… Read More ›
Just how offensive was Rowan Atkinson’s Comic Relief Archbishop of Canterbury?
Along with several million other people, I sat down on Friday night to watch the biennial fundraiser that is Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day. Before too long, up popped Rowan Atkinson posing as the Archbishop of Canterbury to give his address… Read More ›
Why is the media in a frenzy over the gay bishop ‘news’?
I’ve thought for a while about whether to write about this subject or not since this story blew up on Friday afternoon. In one sense it’s not really news at all but the way the media has latched onto it… Read More ›
Leveson – where do we go from here?
So finally today is the day we all get to see what Lord Leveson made of his vast 8 month inquiry that involved 184 witnesses. I don’t know if I feel more sorry for those who have had to compile… Read More ›
My interview with Wm Paul Young, author of The Shack and Cross Roads
Something non-politics related for a change… Back in 2007 a Canadian Christian self-published a book he had originally written for his family as a Christmas present. His name was Wm Paul Young and the name of the book was The Shack. It went on… Read More ›