Category - God

Should politicians 'do God'?

Simon Barrow — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:37:48 +0000

Many believers want politicians to talk more about God and faith. Many secularists wish they would stop doing so. But are both missing the point?

Towards an economy worth believing in

Simon Barrow — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:34:10 +0000

A paper summarising some recent interventions from faith bodies on the debate about economy, globally and locally. It also highlights the historic links between Christian thought/action and oikonomia (the management of the household), some different stances on markets, and Ekklesia's own research paper, Is God bankrupt? - a response to a British and Irish churches' report on 'prosperity with a purpose', published in 2005. A brief update has been included relating to the 2008 credit crunch / banking crisis.

Simon Barrow

World survives media Big Bang experiment scare

staff writers — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:10:55 +0000

The Earth remains intact after the start of the largest particle physics experiment ever conducted, in Switzerland, following high profile scares that it might destroy the world - a sign, say many, of the media's "science illiteracy".

God is beyond metaphysics

Giles Fraser — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 03:03:57 +0000

Christianity has suffered as a result of trying to subject an ineffable and transcendent God to the inevitable limitations of speculative philosophy, says Giles Fraser. But divine reality impinges upon us much more immediately in the Gospel.

Rethinking Christianity - by Keith Ward

Simon Barrow — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:55:14 +0000

In an era where a basic understanding of what Christianity is about cannot be taken for granted, Simon Barrow welcomes a new book by philosopher and theologian Keith Ward which clears some ground and opens up issues.

What difference does God make today?

Simon Barrow — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:34:58 +0000

In a society which is publicly sceptical of Christianity and which often assumes that all 'God talk' is superstituous or merely subjective, this paper suggests how the basic grammar of Christian belief can make sense today, and how it can be mapped in relation to key issues like globalisation, responding to human suffering, and the crisis of communication within mixed-conviction societies. Unlike many of Ekklesia's research papers, it is not directly tackling public policy issues, but instead is an extended essay exploring (especially through the work of Nicholas Lash, and others) some fundamental questions about how Christian convictions are shaped and articulated in the public realm. This is important, because much of our work and commentary employs explicitly theological language - although usually at a more popular level. The paper seeks to show that the meaning of 'God' is widely misunderstood, both by believers and sceptics, and that Christian theology offers some distinctive and robust resources for coming to terms with the demands of daily life, politics, culture, economics and society - but not in the easy, prescriptive way that is usually supposed. It includes a brief historical look at how and why talk of God became meaningless for so many in Western culture - before moving on to show how Christian thought becomes intelligible and effective once more when it is embodied in relationships, passionate conversation, shared living and action for change, rather than in abstract metaphysical categories. The essay does not presuppose wide theological reading, but it is a fairly dense exploration of some foundational issues. [Updated July 2007]

Simon Barrow

God berates George Bush in dramatic UK newspaper advert mystery

staff writers — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:14:44 +0000

Readers of The Independent newspaper were yesterday surprised to see a paid-for advert by God urging US President Bush to stop wrecking the planet. So far no-one has claimed responsibility for the divine intervention.

Father knows best?

Simon Barrow — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 23:10:35 +0000

One of the many important life-issues raised by traditional Christian language about God is that of gender and paternity - human and divine.

Targets, markets and a vision of health

Savi Hensman — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 17:33:26 +0000

We need to ask deeper questions about the 'punishment and reward' theology of targets, markets and excellence that has come to dominate health policy, suggests Savi Hensman.

Being a cautious mystic

Johan Maurer — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:35:24 +0000

Johan Maurer asks what we mean by spiritual experience and mysticism