Monthly Archives: December 2013

Don’t deify the market

Malcolm Brown, the Director of Mission and Public Affairs for the Church of England, has written an interesting article about morality and the market in the economy. He describes his experience in inner-city Southampton where I watched “market forces” creating … Continue reading

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Why pray for the poor at Christmas?

And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the oppressed… So prayed the congregation at King’s College Cambridge as … Continue reading

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The purposes of education

There’s a telling article by Laura McInerney in Tuesday’s Guardian contrasting the recent Pisa report on the attainment of school children with the policies of the British Government. According to the Report Britain is middle-ranking and not climbing up the … Continue reading

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Be careful, they may be Christians

True story, from a non-religious friend. The family received a Christmas party invitation from the new neighbours who have just moved in. The invitation was to drink mulled wine and sing Christmas carols. Sing Christmas carols? Not part of the … Continue reading

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Why should I care about you?

In the last few days I have had a couple of bus rides sitting next to people who positively smelled. It was a redolent reminder of the variety of lifestyles people have. Because I live where I do and use … Continue reading

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Why does God allow evil?

This is one of the big religious questions, perhaps the biggest of all. Tess referred to it in a comment a few weeks ago, and I’ve been meaning to respond. There is a huge debate about it. The technical term … Continue reading

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Why did God allow those storms?

This is an article I wrote after Hurricane Katrina, but ended up not using. It begins with a quotation from the natural theologian John Ray, written in 1692: If a country thus planted and adorned, thus polished and civilized, thus … Continue reading

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Mandela’s virtues and his Christianity

Well-known people are usually praised at the time of their death, but not like this. Mandela, judging from all the descriptions, was more than a great person, more than a hero. He was a role model. Many of the tributes … Continue reading

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We don’t need to delay retirement

In today’s Autumn Statement the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer announces an increase in the retirement age. The young people of today will have to work until 70. I shall try to explain why it is completely unnecessary. There has … Continue reading

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