New Video and News of the Week
Anglican Via Media. Israelis hostages rescued. The Far Right. Latin Mass. Scottish Churches.
This week I’ve been grading, grading, and grading! Also, I just found some lectures I did for the Canadian Baptist College and Seminary on political theology which you can find here.
New Video
In this video, I argue that the Anglican via media was not originally intended as a half-way house between Protestantism and Catholicism, rather, it was a way to mediate between different Protestant options fit for the English context. Anglicanism originally was Protestantism with catholicity rather than Anglo-Catholicism. I thought this was self-evident, but this video got a lot of push back!
News this Week!
Israel's rescue of four hostages is still big news and a big debate. Whereas the rescue of the four hostages would ordinarily be celebrated, many have complained about the cost in civilian casualties; a complaint which one might understand if it were not for how the hostages were treated and why Hamas deliberately kept them in built-up areas.
How to stop the far right. Konstantin Kisin rightly complains that the “far-right” now includes people who include very common and comment sense beliefs.
The Vatican Bans Latin Mass in Melbourne. In a move that has shocked and upset hundreds of Catholics in Melbourne, the Vatican has banned the traditional Latin Mass from the city’s St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Church of Scotland forced to sell-off Scottish churches due to declining numbers. This saddens me, because when I was in Scotland, 2005-10, there really was some good Church of Scotland congregations!
Here is the free audio commentary!
Thanks for the comments about the Church of Scotland. I was a Divinity student in Aberdeen in the mid to late 80s. In spite of being a Baptist I worshipped with the CofS, most of my friends went into CofS ministry and it seemed pretty healthy.
In addition to any theological observations that I'm not sure I can assess, I'd add a few more factors. Identifying as a Christian is on the decline in the UK as a whole. There are a lot of similarities between Scots and English society (as well as so important differences) but the decline in Scotland may also be influenced by the following.
The history of religious strife is livelier in Scotland than in England, stoked by sectarianism particularly in the Central Belt and West of Scotland. This is still kept alive through the Celtic/Rangers rivalry on the football pitch. Understandably it turns people away from organised religion.
The image of 'established' religion is less attractive than in England. The stereotypical image of the Presbyterian minister is dour and humourless. In England even Dawkins can appreciate the contribution that Anglicanism has made to English society. There's no such equivalent cultural love in Scotland.
The royal family is more loved in England than in Scotland where republicanism is more widespread and more respectable. The royals are associated with religion as part of a UK Establishment so by association if you reject the royals then you may be rejecting religion as part of the package.
Sorry for the length of the post. There's more I could write but I thought I probably shouldn't!
"many have complained about the cost in civilian casualties; a complaint which one might understand if it were not for how the hostages were treated and why Hamas deliberately kept them in built-up areas....." Mike ?? really ?? Are you thinking as a military man? In the worlds most densely populated enclave, ie Gaza, everywhere is (and has always been) a built up area!!
Why? Because Israel wants it thus!!
Every miserable, bloody inch has always been a built up, controlled, surveilled space that is now uninhabitable. The IDF knowingly put > 270 civilians/ kids/women to death for that rescue. Furthermore, the demons from Hamas seem to be matched all the way by the demons in the Isreali settlements - I am challenging you to bring some balance and fairness to this issue. Surely....?
You can't close the door on reality without it coming in through the windows.......