Theos is a fantastic Christian think tank that seeks to inform the debate about the place of religion in society and does so with a good deal of intelligence and credibility. Yesterday I attended their God and Government conference, which… Read More ›
Theology
Who’s the ‘Us’ David Bowie wants Scotland to stay with?
Today’s guest post is by the Rev. Julian Mann. Julian is vicar of the Parish Church of the Ascension, Oughtibridge, South Yorkshire and also blogs at Cranmer’s Curate. ———— David Bowie’s political intervention in the Scottish independence debate at the Brit… Read More ›
Tom Daley, the Church of England and why we need to talk about sex
There was something very affirming that happened when Tom Daley appeared on the Jonathan Ross Show on Saturday. Public affection for Daley already rides high with his youth, good looks, sporting prowess and achievements working to his advantage. The death… Read More ›
Just how compatible are feminism, Christianity and women becoming bishops?
One of the more interesting developments over the summer in the blogosphere was the launch of Vicky Beeching’s Faith in Feminism website. The point of the site is to ‘tackle the themes of religion and gender equality, putting them under… Read More ›
Tackling child poverty – a Christian vision
I’ve deliberately avoided commenting on this weekend’s Church of England General Synod and the latest state of play on women bishops, as despite my best efforts I’ve struggled to follow the intricacies of the debate. The level of complexity for… Read More ›
Has the Church of Scotland voted to allow actively gay ministers or not?
The Church is often accused of being obsessed with sex (or at least a dislike of it under certain circumstances) and it’s not too hard to see why. Yesterday’s news was filled with the gay marriage bill and surprise, surprise… Read More ›
The Church’s biggest crisis?
The declining proportion of the population who identify themselves as ‘Christian’ along with church attendance is in the news yet again today and the numbers don’t look great. When the Church of England’s latest attendance figures were published earlier this month, there… Read More ›
Poll suggests more Anglicans don’t believe in God than take their faith seriously
Back in February of last year, Richard Dawkins decided he was going to have a public rant about the number of people who call themselves Christians but don’t go to church. Ipsos MORI had carried out a survey the week after… Read More ›
When I survey the wondrous cross: reflecting on Good Friday
On this day when we remember Jesus’ incredible sacrifice for us, it’s sometimes hard to put into words just how much it means to me that Jesus gave up his life on a cross so that I can become holy… Read More ›
Being gay, Steve Chalke and where the church has got it wrong
Back in the summer of last year I was given the chance to attend a seminar on supporting LGBT students in the educational environment. Most years as a teacher I will have one or two students who are openly gay, so it made… Read More ›
Spiritual but not religious? No thanks, I’ve got something far better
Last week I came across an article on the BBC website entitled ‘Spiritual but not Religious’. It was written in response to a report that suggested ‘spiritual’ people may suffer worse mental health than conventionally religious, agnostic or atheist people. I… Read More ›
Has the women bishops vote triggered a bigger crisis for the Church of England?
I have completely lost count of the number of press and blog articles I’ve read on the women bishops vote since last Tuesday. It feels as if every angle and view has been thoroughly picked apart repeatedly and analysed to… Read More ›
Women bishops – surely the time has come
Back in 1975 the Church of England’s General Synod passed the motion, ‘That this Synod considers that there are no fundamental objections to the ordination of women to the priesthood’. Thirty seven years later have we finally reached the point where… Read More ›
Rowan Williams: A wise man who makes my brain ache
Last night I was in London attending the Annual Theos Think Tank lecture, which this year was being given by Archbishop Rowan Williams. I don’t think I’ve seen so many dog collars in one room before, but I digress. This… Read More ›