Home ›

The Savi Hensman Column

Savi Hensman reflects on religion, society and politics

  • 27 Oct 2009
    Setting all God’s people free

    The whole people of God, including the clergy, are part of a living church present in communities throughout the world, says Savi Hensman. But the centrality of an empowered laity to a liberating faith can often be lost amidst debilitating church squabbles.

  • 5 Oct 2009
    Care and control at life's end

    It is disappointing, says Savi Hensman, that so many people who are passionate about the assisted dying debate (whether for or against legalisation) do not seem nearly as concerned to tackle violations of dignity which can be prevented at present.

  • 7 Sep 2009
    Conservatives or radicals?

    Regarding people as good or bad simply on the basis of religion or ideology is risky, says Savi Hensman. Similarly, those who call themselves conservatives are often advocating radical change.

  • 17 Aug 2009
    Keeping the flame of solidarity alive

    Acts of solidarity can offer opportunities for growth, to connect at a deeper level not only with other humans but also with the divine, says Savi Hensman, drawing upon recent events and biblical wisdom.

  • 25 Jul 2009
    An uncertain future for Sri Lanka

    The war in Sri Lanka is over, say the headlines. Savitri Hensman, a native of the troubled land who now lives in Britain, offers a more complex account of the continuing struggle for peace with justice.

  • 14 Jul 2009
    US Anglicans forty years after Stonewall

    The Stonewall riots in June 1969 in New York helped to transform society in the USA and beyond, says Savi Hensman. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church in July 2009 is far more sedate, but the issues facing Christians of all traditions are profound.

  • 23 Jun 2009
    Honouring members of the armed forces

    Armed Forces Day will be celebrated in the UK for the first time on 27 June 2009. Savi Hensman asks whether the government's rhetoric is matched by reality.

  • 7 May 2009
    Will Anglicans learn the lessons of Jamaica?

    The Anglican Consultative Council has been meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, writes Savi Hensman. But when will Christians really learn the harsh lessons about how hatred and homophobia are inimical to the Gospel?

  • 27 Apr 2009
    Holding onto hope for Sri Lanka

    The grim situation in Sri Lanka shows the hazards of extreme ethnic nationalism, says Savi Hensman. In today’s world, many people – whether they regard themselves as atheists, agnostics or religious believers – in reality put their ‘nation’ first, often symbolised by a flag.

  • 3 Apr 2009
    Resisting the urge to scapegoat

    The targeting and scapegoating of vulnerable groups can undermine the very values which are supposedly being defended, says Savi Hensman. She also sets out the strong Christian case against such practices.

  • 1 Mar 2009
    Moving faith forward on civil liberties

    There are many people in Britain's faith communities who have not yet grasped the importance of taking action now on threats to civil liberties, says Savi Hensman. She would like to see that change.

  • 28 Dec 2008
    The Christ child, the vulnerable and human rights

    Confusing divine greatness with human notions of power and grandeur can end up justifying human rights abuses, says Savi Hensman. The Christmas story is a radical corrective.