Struggling to find a New (Sexual) Identity
I read Jenell Williams Paris’ remarkable book, The End of Sexual Identity (published by IVP US), over the summer, and have been cogitating on it ever since. It is a brave book, not least because it wouldn’t surprise me if it invites potshots (and worse) from all sides. It doesn’t take a degree in political science […]
Friday Fun 25: Urban Guerrillas Alive & Kicking on the London Underground
Thanks to my indefatigable colleague, Charmaine, who noticed this on The Poke, this week’s Friday Fun is brought to you courtesy of the London Underground. I suspect all Londoners have a love/hate relationship with the Underground e.g. I LOVE the Jubilee line and the DLR, but I HATE the Northern and Circle lines (that sort of […]
The Humanising Power and Infectious Exuberance of Music
I would imagine that writing a novel that conveys the power of music is as difficult as writing a song about the spectacular beauty of an African sunrise, or painting the throbbing anguish of raw grief. But when one medium succeeds in conveying the reality of another, unexpectedly different experience, one’s admiration for (not to […]
Bach, Bono and Rookmaaker – Eros and Agape in perfect harmony?
It is not uncommon for Bono deliberately to blur distinctions in his lyrics and, especially, in his performances. A classic example comes in the song, Mysterious Ways – it sounds like a song about a girl. Mainly because it is a song about a girl. However, as I’ve explained elsewhere, there are clear theological allusions to […]
Friday Fun 24: More perils of modern relationships
Reliable as ever, The New Yorker Cartoon production line has produced a few corkers recently. Couldn’t resist these. Especially the killer paisley. I’m now on high alert for this hitherto unforeseen strain.
Houellebecq’s ATOMISED: a crude & brutal exposure of the ‘suicide of Europe’
I hated this book. I can’t even remember who suggested it or exactly why (it must have been something to do with the work I’m doing on our culture of suspicion and alienation) – but that’s probably just as well! Michel Houellebecq’s ATOMISED came out in France in 1999, and then in English translation in […]
The Loser Letters: impish wit and a satirical dissection of atheism
Mary Eberstadt has a wonderful turn of phrase and an impish wit, which are used to devastating effect in her 2010 book The Loser Letters. She boldly takes on the mantle of C S Lewis’ Screwtape, but instead of infiltrating the murky world of Wormwood’s diabolical apprenticeship, she joins the New Atheists in their quest to […]
Cynicism or Criticism? Developing an integrated mind at University
This is an update of a talk I gave nearly 15 years ago to some students back in Sheffield. My aim was to help them avoid the classic polar mistakes of either avoiding the intellectual challenges of university or being swamped by them altogether. There are all kinds of other joys, opportunities and challenges when […]
Convictions of an octogenarian minister: John Stott reflects on 60 years
Having spent a few days weeding out stuff from my bursting filing cabinet, I came across a real gem previously forgotten. Back in October 2005, John Stott, then aged 85 and just a year or two off his formal retirement from public ministry, addressed a small group of ministers, invited for the occasion. We’d only […]
Q marks the spot – Treasure Map 48 (September 2012)
Sacred Treasure Bart Ehrman is a widely respected atheist NT scholar – this is an important site that engages with many of his controversial (though not particularly original) assertions The complexities of translation: you never realised John 3:16 could be so complicated – a great little video from Wycliffe Phillip “Red Tory” Blond has a […]
