The Good Book Blog

We live in an age of information with news at the click of a button. But sometimes stories about Christians and Christianity can get buried under the mountain of articles that flash across our screens each day. So here are a few stories that we thought might be interesting to share. We don't necessarily agree with what the authors are suggesting but we do wonder if their words might help fuel our thinking, our praying and maybe even some letter-writing...

Rowan Williams to step down as Archbishop

Church powerless to stop same-sex marriage even if hundreds of thousands object

One rule for Jesus, another for Muhammed?

Films with faith basis make more money

Church of England condemned as "the last refuge of prejudice"

Bus driver faces disciplinary action over marriage petition

Red Bull drops Jesus advert after South African bishops complain

Christianity in the News

Public Prayers: Is the Secularist Society right?

Carl Laferton | Dec. 3, 2011

The National Secularist Society are seeking to use human rights legislation to ban a local council praying to God before council meetings.

Here’s an unbiased report from the Press Association.

Here’s George Pitcher in the Daily Mail, using the "this is a Christian country" argument.

Here’s the National Secularist Society's take.

Here are a couple of observations:

Christians might actually agree with the NSS stance on this. It's worth asking whether it's a good idea that councillors pray as a matter of agenda-decreed routine. Could this be a little like "collective acts of worship" in schools, where thousands of children mumble a Lord’s Prayer they don’t mean, sing a song such as “Give me oil in my lamp” they don’t like, and decide that Christianity has nothing relevant to say?
Would it be worth saying to our friends and colleagues not “This is a ridiculous attack on our national church” but “Maybe the NSS does have a point here. After all, Jesus himself got really annoyed by people saying things they didn't really mean. In fact, Jesus often clashed with people who thought of themselves as religious, I wonder if you know that?"
Bideford Council voted on this issue—and decided to carry on praying. So the NSS is taking them to court. It's legitimate to ask whether the NSS believes in democracy (even when people disagree with them), or not? They often use the argument that the majority of British citizens no longer go to church (see the article). But isn't that irrelevant if there is a cause which trumps democratic will?

Christianity in the News

Tom Beard | June 20, 2011

Faith should not dictate political affiliation

Top court won't hear Anglican property dispute

Choosing to die misses the depth of life

Church of England set to allow celibate gay bishops

Trevor Phillips wades into debate on religion in modern society

Christianity in the News

Tom Beard | June 13, 2011

Christian expression is shown no tolerance: new Moderator

Pastor, Church Official Shot Dead in Nigeria

India Briefs: Recent Incidents of Persecution