Jennifer Sleeman, an 80-year-old mother of a monk, has called on women to boycott mass this Sunday, September 26. Her proposal is in many ways old news, having been debated in various media for the past month.
As I’ve … Read more...
Category: Religion in Britain
The Pope’s Apology – Will there be a ‘Benedict Bounce’ or a Boycott?
Pope Benedict expressed his deep sorrow for clerical sexual abuse yet again during his state visit to the UK. The BBC has called his remarks on Saturday his ‘strongest public apology yet over the scandal.’ On the same day, the … Read more...
Kester Brewin Book Review: Other
What does it mean to be a Christian? That’s a question that is at once too simple and too broad. One answer that could be given is in the subtitle of Kester Brewin’s latest book, Other.
That subtitle is: … Read more...
Cary Gibson Guest Post on Emerging Churches – Beyond Generalisations, Retreats and Institutions?
Today this blog features a guest post from Cary Gibson, whose thought and involvement have helped to shape the Belfast-based Christian collective Ikon. Gibson originally posted a comment in response to my post on ‘What does the Emerging Church Want?: … Read more...
What does the Emerging Church Want?: Reflections on a Dark Gospel
What do people in the emerging church want? This is a question that is being posed increasingly in one form or another by academics, critics of the emerging church, and people who are themselves involved with the movement.
Of course, … Read more...
Ian Paisley and the Pope: The Return of Dr No?
It’s been awhile since we’ve heard the Rev. Ian Paisley rail publicly against the pope, identifying him as an ‘anti-Christ.’ But in an interview with the BBC World Service, Paisley reverted to ‘anti-Christ’ mode as he voiced his opposition to … Read more...
Christians v. Atheists? The Battle for the Buses and the Ulster Museum
In its annual report, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority’s (ASA) has noted that it received 392 complaints about the British Humanist Association’s campaign slogan: ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.’ The presence of this slogan … Read more...
Are there any Christians in Religionless Christianity?
In the West, where ‘institutionalised’ forms of Christianity seem more tired, creaky and discredited by the day, some people involved with ‘emergence Christianity’ or the ‘emerging church’ are advocating a ‘religionless’ approach to Christianity.
The term ‘religionless Christianity’ is associated … Read more...
British Religion in Numbers: Launch of New Website
Searching for an up-to-date source on the latest quantitative research on religion in Britain? The launch of a new website, British Religion in Numbers, looks to be an invaluable source for scholars and others seeking a one-stop-shop for statistical … Read more...