Category - post-Christendom

Society sees churches as both dangerous and valuable, says Methodist leader

staff writers — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:19:16 +0000

The General Secretary of the Methodist Church in Britain has urged creativity and variety in establishing both new local churches and 'fresh expressions' of church in communities up and down the country.

Christianity versus ‘the church of power’

Simon Barrow — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:26:08 +0100

Christians have moved from non-engagement to engagement in politics, says Simon Barrow, but often in domineering and selfish ways. To argue for church as alternative community is not to advocate either 'secularism' or 'religionism', but the recovery of authentic Christianity in a plural environment.

The state of independents: alternative politics

Simon Barrow — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:29:22 +0100

Since 2002, Ekklesia has been arguing that a key element of political and democratic renewal in Britain hinges on the encouragement of independent, citizen-based and associational politics as a counter-weight to the hegemony of top-down party elites, and as a challenge to a parliamentary and voting system badly in need of reform. This paper examines these ideas in theory and in practice. It offers Q&A responses to the criticisms that have been made about non-party candidates and 'alternative politics' in the context of the scandal over MPs' expenses and calls for change. The paper situates 'the rise of independents' in a wider context of 'politics as the people's work'. Finally it offers fresh perspectives on the relation of religion to politics and the creative role the churches can play in renewing democracy - after the 'power games' of Christendom. It includes substantial references and resources.

Simon Barrow

Rectifying a historic Christian mistake

Jim Wallis — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:28:55 +0100

The domineering and partisan politics of the US religious right was a serious Christian mistake, says Jim Wallis. To be faithful to the Gospel, Christians need to engage publicly and politically from the vulnerable space that Jesus made his own.

Matching the church's actions to its words

Press Office — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 01:23:23 +0100

Commenting on the Easter sermons by Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and Catholic Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor (which argue, respectively, that Christians should live by example and sh

Christians urged to find common agenda for Reformation jubilee

staff writers — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:36:35 +0100

The bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover in Germany has issued a strong plea to give the upcoming jubilee of the Reformation a clear emphasis on common Christian witness.

Faith needs a freedom agenda

Simon Barrow — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:11:55 +0000

Genuine faith – in God, in the good, in people and in the future of our planet – grows through freedom, depends upon freedom to keep it honest, and can contribute to the shared openness and strived-for equality that is an essential part of our free flourishing, argues Simon Barrow.

How faith can face the challenge of freedom

Press Office — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:01:43 +0000

Rather than resorting to fearful rhetoric about 'marginalisation' or 'persecution', Christians and people of faith in Britain have a real opportunity to contribute to the public good and to defend the civic freedoms upon which we all rely

Mixed picture emerges on British attitudes to religion in public life

staff writers — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:27:41 +0000

A new BBC backed poll suggests a majority of people in Britain believe religion should be respected and valued in public life - but other research also says they oppose domineering religion.

Being Christian in a sceptical climate

Simon Barrow — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:34:28 +0000

My experience of being a Christian is that of a surprising, continual and contested process of reformation and rediscovery, says Simon Barrow. It's far removed from the caricature of faith that many zealous believers and non-believers seem attached to.