Giles Fraser writes in The Independent that The cross is a symbol of cruelty, not a club badge.
Richard Beck writes about Wisdom and Sin.
Pierre Whalon writes for The Huffington Post that Religion and Politics Are Inseparable: Get Over It.
10 CommentsDaniel Burke in The Huffington Post asks What Did Jesus Do On Holy Saturday?
Paul Handley writes in The Guardian that Holy Saturday is a good time for Christians to reflect on worldy failure.
Benny Hazlehurst has this Soundtrack for Holy Week – Peter.
Tina Beattie writes in The Tablet about Towards the shining city: Rural and urban in the Easter story.
Sam Charles Norton writes about The stupid and ungodly culture of the Church of England.
Alan Wilson writes for The Guardian that The Church of England needs a reboot, not a rebrand.
And, starting with some references to Bishop Wilson’s article, Andrew Brown writes in The Guardian that The Church of England needs its own rebirth.
John Milbank writes for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about After Rowan: The Coherence and Future of Anglicanism.
Giles Fraser writes for the Church Times about going Back to the heart of the C of E.
17 CommentsSarah Dylan Breuer writes: Don’t make me Moses: On spiritually hazardous uses of models and metaphors.
Andrew Nunn (the Dean of Southwark) preached this sermon at the Consecration of the Bishops of Croydon and Woolwich.
Peter Price (the Bishop of Bath and Wells) preached this sermon at a commemoration service for Archbishop Oscar Romero: Church ‘obsessed with morality at the expense of justice’.
Paul Brandeis interviewed Elaine Pagels for The Huffington Post: Elaine Pagels’ New Book Offers ‘Revelations’ On The Book Of Revelation.
1 CommentRachel Held Evans has written 15 Reasons I Left Church and 15 Reasons I Returned to The Church.
Bart Ehrman asks in The Huffington Post Did Jesus Exist?
1 CommentGreg Tobin asks in The Huffington Post Who Was the Real Saint Patrick?
Also in The Huffington Post Pierre Whalon writes about Human Rights and Religion: The Highest Possible Stakes.
Giles Fraser writes in the Church Times about Unleashing the power of viral video.
Deirdre Good and Julian Sheffield write for the Daily Episcopalian that Lent is for our sake, not Jesus’.
Christopher Howse writes for The Telegraph about Devotional high noon at St Paul’s.
3 CommentsGiles Fraser writes in the Church Times writes Beyond two dimensions: fail better.
Nick Baines has preached a sermon about The Spread of Truth.
Alicia Jo Rabins writes in The Huffington Post about Esther, Vashti And Other Badass Women In The Bible.
Also in The Huffington Post Matthew L Skinner asks John 2:13-22: Where Can God Be Found?
2 CommentsRiazat Butt writes in The Guardian about The women who oppose female bishops.
Also in The Guardian, Julian Baggini asks Why do the religious insist on presenting a united front?
Michael L Cooper-White writes in The Huffington Post about Genesis 17:1-7, 5-16 and Mark 8:31-38: God the Game-Changer.
Giles Fraser wrties for the Church Times: Correct the false ideas of dominion.
Savi Hensman at Ekklesia asks Is making staff work on Sundays discriminatory?
9 CommentsPierre Whalon interviews Olivia de Havilland for Anglicans Online: Reading the Bible as a statement of faith.
And in The Huffington Post he writes that God Does Not Exist…
Mary Ann Sieghart writes for The Independent that You don’t have to believe in God to cherish the Church.
The Guardian published this editorial on Ash Wednesday: the lost art of dying.
Jane Williams writes in The Guardian that Lent is a chance to take stock and imagine a changed world.
Andrew Brown, writing in The Guardian, reports the views of the Archbishop of Westminster: Catholic Church leader rejects claim UK Christians are persecuted.
Naomi Young interviews the Archbishop of York for Reform (a publication of the United Reformed Church): John Sentamu interview: When the toe hurts.
Theo Hobson writes in The Spectator that The defence of Christianity needs a little more nuance.
Graham Kings has written a Credo column for The Times (and republished it at Fulcrum): Lent is a Time to Keep a Journal of Your Spiritual Travels.
7 CommentsBishop John Gladwin preached this sermon at A Way in the Wilderness Service held at St Margaret’s Church Westminster Abbey on 6 February 2012.
Nick Spencer writes in the New Statesman Rush to judgement.
The Bible Guide Online has its choice of Jesus Quotes: Top Ten.
Lucy Winkett gave this Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4.
Christopher Howse writes in his Sacred mysteries column in The Telegraph that work should be the making of us.
0 CommentsGeorge Pitcher explains on the Mail Online Why I signed the London clergy’s petition for ‘gay weddings’.
Giles Fraser writes in the Church Times As long as it is not a blessing . . .
And for the New Statesman he writes End of the hairy lefties?
Philip Ball writes in The Guardian that Even atheists must recognise the importance of a sociological study of religion.
Matthew L Skinner writes for The Huffington Post about Mark 1:40-45: The Inconvenient Truth About Taking Care of the Poor.
George Clifford writes for the Episcopal Café: Encourage People to Read the Bible? Maybe not.
Ursula Buchan writes A churchwarden’s lament for The Spectator.
Steve Parish writes in The Guardian about Female bishops and an exercise in diplomacy.
27 CommentsSimon Jenkins writes about his Epiphany in a bookshop. His article prompted this editorial at Anglicans Online.
Giles Fraser compares his new surroundings in the Guardian newsroom with his former workplace at St Paul’s Cathedral: Thinking Aloud podcast: a period of noisy reflection.
And in his weekly Church Times column he writes that Atheists can’t borrow the clothes of true faith.
Savi Hensman writes for Ekklesia about Women bishops and the church’s core purpose.
Martin Beckford in The Telegraph asks Will the Church of England ever find peace? “Arguments about women bishops will dominate public proceedings of the Synod, but gay marriage is one of the burning issues behind the scenes.”
Andrew Brown writes for The Guardian about Anglican Mainstream and the enemies of Christianity. “The anti-gay group deserves the censure it has received – unlike a small Evangelical Christian group in Bath.”
5 CommentsEmily Dugan interviews Giles Fraser for The Independent: ‘I’ve spent my life on the naughty step’.
Giles Fraser’s Church Times column this week is Bankers are victims, too, in the City cult.
Christopher Howse writes in The Telegraph that Migraine cannot explain Hildegard [of Bingen] and, in another article, that Christmas ends next Thursday.
Cullen Murphy lists The Top 10 Questions Everyone Has About the Inquisition in The Huffington Post (and gives the answers).
7 CommentsAlain de Botton, writing in the Comment is free belief section of The Guardian asks Should art really be for its own sake alone? “If art museums are the new churches, perhaps they should end the veneration of ambiguity and start serving our inner needs.”
Also at Comment is free belief Diarmaid MacCulloch writes that Compulsory celibacy is wrong and damaging for all clergy – straight or gay. “Not everyone called to the priesthood is also called to celibacy.”
Giles Fraser writes in the Church Times that A regiment forms a moral soldier.
15 CommentsRowan Moore Gerety writes in Killing the Buddha about Buying the Body of Christ.
The Guardian comments on a letter from a bishop: Bishops rail against Sunday excursions.
Giles Fraser writes in the Church Times that Running can seem like prayer.
On YouTube there is this: David Attenborough’s – Primate Crisis.
Desmond Tutu writes for The Huffington Post about Made for Goodness.
3 CommentsSavi Hensman writes for Ekklesia about David Cameron and Richard Dawkins: misunderstanding Christianity.
Peter Oborne writes about The return to religion in The Telegraph. “With the chill wind of austerity blowing through the country, religion’s warm embrace looks more and more inviting.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury gave this New Year Message on BBC television. You can watch it here.
Greg Carey in the Huffington Post asks What Does The Book Of Revelation Really Mean?
The Economist has published this leader: Christians and lions. “The world’s most widely followed faith is gathering persecutors. Even non-Christians should worry about that.”
Giles Fraser writes in the Church Times that Detectives don’t replace God: they seek him.
Gary Nicolosi in the Anglican Journal poses Seven questions every church should ask.
The Church of England has launched a competition to Design a Church Chair! Scott Gunn has some suggestions: Um, chairs?
2 CommentsThis week’s articles in The Guardian’s Comment is free belief section include:
Mark Vernon Is Christianity compatible with wealth? “The Christian tradition is not anti-money. Rather, it is excess and luxury that pose the spiritual problems.”
Giles Fraser Bethlehem’s church of the punch-up. “The latest brawl between Armenian and Orthodox monks in Bethlehem is a product of Christianity’s romance with buildings.”
Pope Benedict XVI Europe’s crisis of faith “In hard times, Europe could learn much from Africa’s joyful passion for faith.”
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown writes in The Independent that Christianity deserves better worshippers.
“Too many are like Cameron, part-time Christians of convenience who use religion as a weapon.”
N T Wright writes for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation about Suspending scepticism: History and the Virgin Birth and in response Andrew McGowan writes about Greeks Bearing (Christmas) Gifts.
3 CommentsGiles Fraser writes in the Church Times that Christmas is meant to be shocking and in the London Evening Standard that We owe Dickens a great debt for his Christmas vision.
Here are some of the articles in the Comment is free belief section of The Guardian this week.
Chris Chivers Why vicars like me are handing out leaflets this Christmas
“Not only does it up attendances, but it reminds us all what churches are for.”
Mark Vernon Christian morality has the power to bring all things to account
“Objectivity in ethics is valuable not because of what it might tell us to do, but because of where it suggests we might be heading.”
Eddie Arthur The Bible should be available to read in every Christian’s native language
“As an adviser who helped create a New Testament translation for an Ivorian village, I saw what an impact such work can have.”
Denis Alexander Evolution, Christmas and the Atonement
“We are not descended from Adam and Eve – but still, Jesus was born to save us.”
Jonathan Freedland The story of Jesus is the ultimate political drama
“I shouldn’t be interested in the life of Jesus, but I can’t help it – his story makes for gripping entertainment”
Richard Beck writes on his Experimental Theology blog about A Christmas Carol as Resistance Literature: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear.
Andrew McGowan writes for Biblical Archaeology Review Magazine about How December 25 Became Christmas.
And finally, a small selection of Christmas messages
Archbishop of Canterbury In Congo or in Croydon, God is there for us
Bishop of Chelmsford One person can make a difference. That person is Christ
Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church Christmas reflection
Archbishop of York’s Christmas Message for YouTube (including a transcript)
Bishop of St Asaph Christmas message
Bishop of Ely Christmas and New Year Message
President of the Methodist Conference Challenge your pre-suppositions this Christmas
Bishop and Archbishop of Liverpool
Archbishop of Wales
Andrew Gerns writes on his blog about Choosing the anchor of certainty over the sails of comprehension.
[This is in response to the article by Joseph Bottum The End of Canterbury that I linked to last week.]
Nick Spencer writes in The Guardian that The Church of England’s future grows ever more bleak.
“One grim finding for Anglicans in the British Social Attitudes survey is how few find religion after not being born into it.”
Christopher Howse of The Telegraph has made a seasonal pilgrimage from Nazareth to Bethlehem: Holy Land pilgrimage: Away to the manger.
Giles Fraser writes for Church Times about Waiting and the need for God.
Joseph Harker writes for The Guardian that For all its flaws, religion remains a force for good.
“I’d rather have a reminder of what I should be striving for than hear no message at all.”
In The Economist Bagehot writes about God in austerity Britain.
“As recession looms, the Church of England is active and vocal, but in the wrong way.”
Robert Orlando writes for The Huffington Post about A Polite Bribe: A New Narrative For Paul And The Early Church?
In a Church Times article now available to non-subscribers Duncan Dormor writes about Where students can reconnect.
“Cambridge chapels flourish, as the young engage with tradition.”
Joseph Bottum writes for The Weekly Standard about The End of Canterbury and asks “Will the sun set on the Anglican communion?”
Chris Bryant writes in The Independent that As a vicar I found that most churchgoers are liberals trying to find meaning in life.
Savi Hensman writes for Ekklesia about Fruitful love: beyond the civil and legal in partnerships.
9 CommentsBishop John Packer writes about Cathedrals, Bishops and Committees – What is a Diocese?
Although prompted by the proposals to amalgamate three Yorkshire dioceses including his own, most of what the bishop writes is applicable to dioceses in general.
In a Church Times article now available to non-subscribers Alan Billings writes They belong, but don’t believe. “Many in church at Christmas need their tentative beliefs to be nurtured.”
Deirdre Good and Julian Sheffield at the Daily Episcopalian ask Is the Kingdom of Heaven a Ponzi Scheme?
5 Comments