Article archive
Homosexuality: A First Order Issue? (I)
14/11/2007 17:14
In one of the first comments on the blog, Blair asked me
do you think ’the gay issue’ is a first-order one, and if so, why? …To attempt an answer - it seems to me it’s a second-order matter, not ’church-breaking…’
My initial response said
I have a lot of sympathy with your reply but would put it...
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Primates' Meetings
14/11/2007 08:07
Within the Anglican Communion, the Primates’ Meeting has become an increasingly significant Instrument of Communion. The Anglican Communion Office recently re-designed its site and now has a whole section devoted to this Instrument. There is also an RSS news feed devoted to the Primates.
However, I...
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The frustrations of new technology...
13/11/2007 11:47
Nothing to do directly with theology or ethics but thanks to Jane Willis (and Facebook and YouTube) I've just discovered this great "medieval helpdesk" sketch. It is in Norwegian (with subtitles!). I have to confess I faced my own challenges with new technology and it...
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Affirming Liberalism
12/11/2007 20:58
Just found out - from Dave Walker’s wonderful cartoon blog - about yet another new grouping in the CofE and close to home for me - geographically, even if not theologically - as focussed here in Oxford diocese.
It’s called ’Affirming Liberalism’ and although its leadership is not clear it appears...
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Defending Jesus' rights
12/11/2007 16:04
I have to confess that I’m a subscriber to Private Eye and regularly enjoy their "Funny Old World" column compiled by Victor Lewis-Smith with bizarre news stories submitted by readers.
The most recent to catch my eye (Eye 1196) came from the Daily Nation (Kenya) on 31st August. Checking online it...
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New Jacques Ellul books - only in French!
11/11/2007 22:08
I did my research on Jacques Ellul and although I’ve not kept up to speed with the literature on him as much as I would like since I finished I’m quite excited to discover that there is what looks like a major (392pp) new study in French which has just come out.
It’s called Jacques Ellul: Une...
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Prison Reform and Jonathan Aitken
11/11/2007 18:54
It is reported today that Jonathan Aitken is to head a taskforce study into prison reform. It has been set up by the Centre for Social Justice that was established by former Conservative party leader, Iain Duncan Smith. This is, sadly, a much neglected issue and it is exciting to know Jonathan will...
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Guardian on Collapse of Communion
10/11/2007 10:21
Today’s Guardian has an editorial which is more of an obituary for the Communion. It opens
An enthusiast who has spent years patching up a vintage car is bound to find it tough to admit that the vehicle can no longer be driven. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, now finds himself in...
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How to be a good mobster
09/11/2007 21:56
Who says we are living in a lawless age where rules don’t matter? It is reported that the Italian police have found the “Ten Commandments” of the Mafia:
No-one can present himself directly to another of our friends. There must be a third person to do it.
Never look at the wives of...
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Lord Harries on regulating human embryology and fertilisation
09/11/2007 20:30
The former Bishop of Oxford - Richard Harries - contributed yesterday to the Lords’ debate on the Queen’s Speech and focussed on the Bill to regulate human embryology and fertilisation.He succicnctly highlighted the massive changes in thinking and practice we have experienced over recent...
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