Good Morning
There is something wonderful and special about childlikeness. Those of us who are parents, never quite forget those magical moments of growth and development in our children, marvelling at their growing up; their innocence, honesty, trust and love. That’s why the interview on this programme yesterday about how more than 4000 children aged 5 and under were suspended from Nursery School in England last year, really got to me. All of us bear some responsibility. The children we are raising inevitably reflect the kind of society we live in. Some of the stories emerging from the statistics are profoundly shocking: children aged 4 and under being suspended for bullying, assault, consistent bad language and even sexual misdemeanors. And whilst everyone wants to have their say; few seem to have an obvious solution. I feel most of all for the teachers: Whilst legislation does allow them to take action, they can only do so if such action, and I quote , "constitutes a proportionate punishment in the circumstances of the case." Who is to judge this? Teachers' representatives can produce many examples of where such action has led not only to suspension but even to the complete loss of a teaching career. One of the most simple things Jesus did in his whole ministry, when trying to get his message across to cynical, doubting, miserable adults was to take a child out of the crowd and to make them recognise the wonderful qualities of childhood. "Look," he said, and I paraphrase, " remember the qualities of this child when you consider the great dilemmas of life and faith and never forget what childlikeness means. Quite a lot of my ministry is taken up with working with children at primary level. And whilst most of those children might never fall into the statistical mire of suspensions and expulsions – the thought that any child might miss out on the joy and loveliness of childlikeness is very regrettable. The first step towards a solution obviously begins with parents. Good parenting demands honesty and realism – a long term as well as a short term view, particularly if our children are not behaving well. Headteachers and teachers need more support. The primary classroom is ideally a place of love, respect and learning; of courtesy and childlikeness. It’s too easy to have a facile view of childhood and to ignore the challenges and opportunities given to everyone, and I mean everyone, who has any influence whatsoever on the development and nurture of children. To celebrate childlikeness is to create an environment of love, acceptance and responsibility, where we simply, and with an uncluttered realism, help children to be children.
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Taste & Decency
A cab driver, delivering me to record a programme for Radio 2 this week asked me, what I, as a Vicar thought of what had been going on. "You know, he said, about Jonathan Ross and all that? Well, I started to say, it's complicated, until I soon realised that I was onto a loser when it comes to popular perceptions.
This has been a tough week for the BBC. What started as an infantile, crass and totally childish prank has resulted in a minor earthquake in broadcasting terms, the ramifications of which will be felt for quite some time.
Russell Brand, quickly realising the consequences of his part as presenter in the now infamous broadcast, consequently resigned from his programme and issued what I thought was an intelligent and exemplary apology. He said sorry and he seemed to mean it.
Jonathan Ross, who has been a controversial figure both inside and outside of the BBC ever since I can remember, will undoubtedly have a lot to reflect on this weekend. I doubt whether he would ever do anything like this again.
Sociologists and Psychologists could have a field day studying the response of the nation to events as they unfolded. Everyone had a vew.
The escalation of puerile humour, irreverent comedy, gratuitous swearing and the emergence of a cheap and disrespectful element within elements of society, is the responsibility of all us who are parents, teachers, politicians and even churches.
The "Am I bovvered" culture cannot be laughed at, and many of us do laugh at it sometimes, without accepting a consequent reduction in respect and courtesy towards other people.
Whilst holding firm to my own faith, I totally respect those who have no faith - even if I continue to be surprised, at how they often concur with the Christian doctrine of the connection between love and respect: for faith demands that our love of a Higher Being is rooted in a basic respect for our neighbour and in the giving of them space to be themselves.
I love a lot of modern comedy and much of the material is sound and ulighting. But if there is one lesson to be learned from the events of this week, it is surely that there are boundaries beyond which we should not trespass when it comes to the culminative effect our actions might have on another human beings. There are limits- the essence of what we mean by taste and decency.
This has been a tough week for the BBC. What started as an infantile, crass and totally childish prank has resulted in a minor earthquake in broadcasting terms, the ramifications of which will be felt for quite some time.
Russell Brand, quickly realising the consequences of his part as presenter in the now infamous broadcast, consequently resigned from his programme and issued what I thought was an intelligent and exemplary apology. He said sorry and he seemed to mean it.
Jonathan Ross, who has been a controversial figure both inside and outside of the BBC ever since I can remember, will undoubtedly have a lot to reflect on this weekend. I doubt whether he would ever do anything like this again.
Sociologists and Psychologists could have a field day studying the response of the nation to events as they unfolded. Everyone had a vew.
The escalation of puerile humour, irreverent comedy, gratuitous swearing and the emergence of a cheap and disrespectful element within elements of society, is the responsibility of all us who are parents, teachers, politicians and even churches.
The "Am I bovvered" culture cannot be laughed at, and many of us do laugh at it sometimes, without accepting a consequent reduction in respect and courtesy towards other people.
Whilst holding firm to my own faith, I totally respect those who have no faith - even if I continue to be surprised, at how they often concur with the Christian doctrine of the connection between love and respect: for faith demands that our love of a Higher Being is rooted in a basic respect for our neighbour and in the giving of them space to be themselves.
I love a lot of modern comedy and much of the material is sound and ulighting. But if there is one lesson to be learned from the events of this week, it is surely that there are boundaries beyond which we should not trespass when it comes to the culminative effect our actions might have on another human beings. There are limits- the essence of what we mean by taste and decency.
Help For Heros
It’s been another great week to pay tribute to the heroism and bravery of our armed forces. Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher received the George Cross at Buckingham Palace “for an act of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger”. On the same day crowds lined the streets of Colchester to see the 2nd battalion of the Parachute Regiment honor 15 of their own killed in Afghanistan in the past six months.
In the same spirit, troops returning home from overseas tours of duty have been marching in various towns in recent months, welcomed home by local communities; the Fusiliers had a freedom parade in Birmingham. And this week the Chancellor agreed to waive VAT on a specially recorded single for the Help the Heroes charity which is being snapped up by many younger people.
Such public recognition and appreciation of the bravery and courage of these men and women is not new – but it has certainly been transformed and re-energized to a quite considerable degree over the past year. And to that extent, people seem to have heeded the call of the Royal British Legion which last year called for the public to have a renewed covenant with our armed forces. That is certainly well on the way to being achieved.
Today, in the Christian Calendar, is All Saints Day. The Church remembers all those great saints of the Church - men and women who have also shown extraordinary courage, often in the face of great human evil and sinfulness, to pursue a path of faith and peace against all the odds: a faith in the goodness of human nature and ultimately in the love of God.
Evelyn Underhill suggests that All Saints Day is about sharing in the attributes of courage and conviction because we are members of the same human family: she writes: “ we ought all to be a little bit like them; to have a sort of family likeness and to share the family point of view.”
Between All Saints Day and Remembrance Day, there is every opportunity for reflection and thanksgiving on the virtues of amazing courage, deep faith and the kind of family likeness that we as human beings can celebrate.
In the same spirit, troops returning home from overseas tours of duty have been marching in various towns in recent months, welcomed home by local communities; the Fusiliers had a freedom parade in Birmingham. And this week the Chancellor agreed to waive VAT on a specially recorded single for the Help the Heroes charity which is being snapped up by many younger people.
Such public recognition and appreciation of the bravery and courage of these men and women is not new – but it has certainly been transformed and re-energized to a quite considerable degree over the past year. And to that extent, people seem to have heeded the call of the Royal British Legion which last year called for the public to have a renewed covenant with our armed forces. That is certainly well on the way to being achieved.
Today, in the Christian Calendar, is All Saints Day. The Church remembers all those great saints of the Church - men and women who have also shown extraordinary courage, often in the face of great human evil and sinfulness, to pursue a path of faith and peace against all the odds: a faith in the goodness of human nature and ultimately in the love of God.
Evelyn Underhill suggests that All Saints Day is about sharing in the attributes of courage and conviction because we are members of the same human family: she writes: “ we ought all to be a little bit like them; to have a sort of family likeness and to share the family point of view.”
Between All Saints Day and Remembrance Day, there is every opportunity for reflection and thanksgiving on the virtues of amazing courage, deep faith and the kind of family likeness that we as human beings can celebrate.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Radio 4 Nov 1st
Sorry about the gap:
Been a bit busy!
TFTD
Saturday 1st November 2008: Rob Marshall
Good Morning
It's pretty certain that American churches will be offering prayers during this weekend of All Saints and All Souls for a right result in next week's Presidential election.
After a decade away, I've just returned from my first visit to the United States. Watching the election campaign on the domestic media gives you an altogether different insight into the hopes and expectations of the nation.
The wall to wall coverage of Obama and McCain reveals a serious, profoundly concerned electorate, reflecting many different cultures and issues.
What I noticed most of all, on all sides of the political spectrum, is a strong desire to move on. It’s almost tangible. The economic downturn is, of course, harshly felt. But the perception that America is no longer loved abroad as, perhaps, it once was - clearly affects the national psyche.
The importance, for better or worse, of religion in American national life continues to attract analysis and debate.
Jason Bivins, in his recently published book Religion of Fear, suggests that Americans are preoccupied with the role of religion in public life and argues that the religious right has transformed American politics and culture. Whilst in New York theological reflection on domestic issues was never far from lively conversations after church.
I’ve always personally found going to church in America very different to going to church in Britain. Generally speaking, there seems to be a greater level of commitment to Church as a way of life by a much larger proportion of the population.
The Bible, as a textbook for living, is often and easily quoted with a disconcerting kind of confidence. And even if that’s off putting for some of us, you can't knock the way they put faith into action - because they take the Gospel message very seriously and they get out and help others. A lot of social activity and adult education is offered by many different churches. They’re also huge providers of social care and health provision to the very poor.
Since September 11th we all know that the world has become an increasingly tense, distrusting, polarized and somewhat more aggressive place to live. Many ethnic groups feel vulnerable and victimized. Faith boundaries have become more defensive and, therefore, insecure.
Religion has been an integral, almost organic, part of this campaign so far, rather than a campaigning platform for either of the candidates.
But whichever of them is victorious next week – they have an enormous job to do to unite Americans of all faiths and none, and to make the most of what is good about religion in America.
Been a bit busy!
TFTD
Saturday 1st November 2008: Rob Marshall
Good Morning
It's pretty certain that American churches will be offering prayers during this weekend of All Saints and All Souls for a right result in next week's Presidential election.
After a decade away, I've just returned from my first visit to the United States. Watching the election campaign on the domestic media gives you an altogether different insight into the hopes and expectations of the nation.
The wall to wall coverage of Obama and McCain reveals a serious, profoundly concerned electorate, reflecting many different cultures and issues.
What I noticed most of all, on all sides of the political spectrum, is a strong desire to move on. It’s almost tangible. The economic downturn is, of course, harshly felt. But the perception that America is no longer loved abroad as, perhaps, it once was - clearly affects the national psyche.
The importance, for better or worse, of religion in American national life continues to attract analysis and debate.
Jason Bivins, in his recently published book Religion of Fear, suggests that Americans are preoccupied with the role of religion in public life and argues that the religious right has transformed American politics and culture. Whilst in New York theological reflection on domestic issues was never far from lively conversations after church.
I’ve always personally found going to church in America very different to going to church in Britain. Generally speaking, there seems to be a greater level of commitment to Church as a way of life by a much larger proportion of the population.
The Bible, as a textbook for living, is often and easily quoted with a disconcerting kind of confidence. And even if that’s off putting for some of us, you can't knock the way they put faith into action - because they take the Gospel message very seriously and they get out and help others. A lot of social activity and adult education is offered by many different churches. They’re also huge providers of social care and health provision to the very poor.
Since September 11th we all know that the world has become an increasingly tense, distrusting, polarized and somewhat more aggressive place to live. Many ethnic groups feel vulnerable and victimized. Faith boundaries have become more defensive and, therefore, insecure.
Religion has been an integral, almost organic, part of this campaign so far, rather than a campaigning platform for either of the candidates.
But whichever of them is victorious next week – they have an enormous job to do to unite Americans of all faiths and none, and to make the most of what is good about religion in America.
Monday, 13 October 2008
St Mary Abbots 12th October: Systematic Thought
1 John 3.1-15
Trying to explain how it call works.
Classic systematic theology
We are God's children now
Sin in its proper context
Good/Jesus
Eveil/Devil
Love one another.
Then, a few nuances!
Revelation - the most common verb here - (read it again!)
Sin
Linked to title Son of God
in destroying the works of the devil
Love
commandment
from the beginning
not popular in the world
love-life
hatred-death
Trying to explain how it call works.
Classic systematic theology
We are God's children now
Sin in its proper context
Good/Jesus
Eveil/Devil
Love one another.
Then, a few nuances!
Revelation - the most common verb here - (read it again!)
Sin
Linked to title Son of God
in destroying the works of the devil
Love
commandment
from the beginning
not popular in the world
love-life
hatred-death
New York Revisited
It was very good to be back in New York. Nine years since I was last there and, shared with friends, it was a great time.
Particularly, staying next to Ground Zero (the last time I was there I went to the top of the World Trade Centre) provided poignant refelction and thought throughout.
A super time!
Particularly, staying next to Ground Zero (the last time I was there I went to the top of the World Trade Centre) provided poignant refelction and thought throughout.
A super time!
Sunday, 7 September 2008
1st September
Royal Geographical Society annual meeting lamented the demise of the map.
Sat Navs ignored all the important things to the right and the left of us: we were beginning to seriously ignore our heritage.
There was no longer a sense of place.
Recently challenged on a day retreat to do a map of my own life:
M ission
A action
P lan
What are the priorities?
What resources do we have?
David Hope as Bishop of London and his Agenda for Action programme.
Teaching & Nurture
Care and Service
Prayer and Worship.
Do we know where we are going?
Sat Navs ignored all the important things to the right and the left of us: we were beginning to seriously ignore our heritage.
There was no longer a sense of place.
Recently challenged on a day retreat to do a map of my own life:
M ission
A action
P lan
What are the priorities?
What resources do we have?
David Hope as Bishop of London and his Agenda for Action programme.
Teaching & Nurture
Care and Service
Prayer and Worship.
Do we know where we are going?
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