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Jill Segger

  • 22 Apr 2011
    Wondering again over the Passion

    A setting by an 18th century German composer of a translation into his own tongue of a Greek account of the trial and execution of an Iron Age Mediterranean religious radical, performed in a 15th century English church. This cultural, artistic and creative hybrid has enabled Jill Segger to think afresh about the death of Jesus and its meaning.

  • 11 Mar 2011
    Inspiring women, changing lives

    Neither International Women's Day nor Ash Wednesday usually have any great significance for me, says Jill Segger. The Quaker belief that all days and times carry the sacred within them is usually sufficient. But this year, I am moved to consider it possible that I may have been mistaken.

  • 20 Feb 2011
    A 'Good Society' cannot let the Nimbys have their own way

    How much power can Nimbys be permitted to exercise over the long term well-being of their communities? Jill Segger says that 'localism' and the 'Big Society are actually obstacles to the building of the 'Good Society'

  • 11 Jan 2011
    Co-operation: the path to truth

    If we are fixated upon privilege or special treatment, we will miss the Gospel message that transformational relationships are at the heart of the faith of Jesus, says Jill Segger

  • 5 Jan 2011
    The King James Bible, Quakerspeak and the journey towards truth

    Drawing on the emotional and aesthetic qualities of words is essential for our growth and nourishment, says Jill Segger. But even the best loved texts are only pointers to the truth.

  • 23 Dec 2010
    Christmas, myths and the nudge towards truth

    It is good to enjoy the carol services, nativity plays, mince pies and mulled wine, says Jill Segger. But let us not ever mistake them for anything more than a nudge towards the truth.

  • 22 Nov 2010
    A right Royal confusion

    The surge of popular feeling generated by the recent Royal engagement has pointed up a public inability to think rationally about the institution of monarchy, says Jill Segger. But the accompanying polls are perhaps a first step towards the logic of a republic.

  • 9 Nov 2010
    Truth, lies and the pain of Remembrance

    What must we do to understand the meaning of remembrance, to remember human suffering, and to grasp the human dignity lying so far beyond the ritual words at this time of year?, asks Jill Segger. Only painful truth-telling is adequate to the task, she says.

  • 15 Oct 2010
    When 'fairness' falls short of social justice

    Politicians of all persuasions wheel out 'fairness' as a justification and a palliative for everything to which the electorate might possibly be expected to raise an objection, says Jill Segger. But the 'f' word is elusive and slippery when compared to the firmer moral, political and religious roots of 'justice' and 'equality'.

  • 15 Sep 2010
    The Quaker, the pastor, the Pope and the tolerance question

    To tolerate in the sense of acknowledging that different experiences are likely to produce different outcomes, and that without the experience, we should tread the paths of judgement with great care, is wise and charitable, says Jill Segger. This forbearance is perhaps better perceived as humility than as tolerance.