Resource type: Theology and Stories

After spending nearly 20 years in churches that preached a Bible message which insisted I must become straight and masculine in order to please God, I had to take matters into my own hands and discover for myself meaning from the scriptures. I consider Queer Theology as falling into two distinct types— defensive theology and…

Understanding Christian Anarchism

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Anarchism is a way of understanding the dynamics of power and how they relate to justice; it is an enlightenment response to an enlightenment problem – the nation state. Anarchism gives greater importance to social organisation than state-promoting theories like democratic liberalism, or Marxism. The literal meaning of the word anarchy is ‘without ruler’. Most…

Economics and Politics: Brandscapes

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We live in what the anthropologist John Sherry has referred to as ‘brandscapes’. Brands are a part of modern life, and they are in every sphere of it, including the church. Major corporations like Microsoft often feature on news stories, pop stars are increasingly marketed as brands, and even in the sphere of politics, brand…

Economics and Politics: How to stand on one leg

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There is an old Jewish story found in the Talmud, the Jewish Oral Law, that relates an incident in the life of Rabbi Hillel. ‘A man who wished to be converted to Judaism came to his school and said: “Convert me on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand on…

Economics and Politics: We Need Limits

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Growth is the mantra of every economist and every business leader, and therefore of every politician. Listeners to Radio 4 at 6.20 every weekday morning can hear the ‘business update’ where they will hear growth extolled and forecast. The perspective is infinity. These people live in a virtual universe, where profits will always go up…

Faith in Action Stories: Community Organising

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In the book of Acts (ch.2 v.42-47), we are given a glimpse into the church in its very earliest form. Within the framework of gathering, breaking bread, prayer and praise, two verses describe the actions of the first believers as they shared their possessions and gave to anyone in need. This is not given as…

Faith in Action Stories: ‘SoundCafe’ Homeless Ministry

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I was licenced as a Pioneer Priest working amongst people who are homeless with West Leicester Mission Partnership 2 years ago in December. I had a sense that God wanted to use my professional experience as an animateur and conductor but wasn’t sure about how this might be able to happen. Pioneer ministry thrusts you…

Like the morning stars

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Climate change is not an environmental issue – though thankfully environmentalists have been raising awareness of the issues for decades. By giving climate change a green or an environmental label, it makes it easier for us to shake off responsibility. Climate change needs to be mainstreamed. It is an issue of human rights and of…

A Christian Case for Vegetarianism?

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