Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
The current state of humanity could well be giving rise to a degree of despair in divine quarters: we certainly don't seem to have learnt much over the past two thousand years. With Easter now only just over a week away, perhaps it's time to see how a deeper understanding of logic and unconditional love could contribute to religious insight. Background music: 'Pastorale' by Joel Cummins
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Donald Trump's comment about Keir Starmer being 'No Churchill' wholly overlooks Churchill's part in destabilising Iran when the UK and US were the prime movers behind the 1953 coup d’état — or was he perhaps making reference to that? What followed was 26 years of authoritarian rule by the Shah, which brought about the 1979 Islamic revolution — then the past 47 years of more authoritarian rule. It's now more urgent than ever to provide a forum for stability and peace, and the UK has a real duty to help find the answer. Background music: 'Lost in Prayer' by Doug Maxwell
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Starmer has learnt the hard way that without truth there can be no trust. But throughout society people feel that they cannot take anything at face value, and the deception and dishonesty which riddles social media are significantly exacerbating this problem. The need for a moral compass is heavily tested without faith: GK Chesterton said, 'When people stop believing in God, they'll believe in anything’. Is this really where we want to be? Background music: 'Dark Alley Deals' by Aaron Kenny
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
There's been much discussion about the social media and NEET challenges for young people over the past week: the Bigger Picture reports on debates in parliament and The Hypnotist reflects on the importance of experience built up during childhood: experience that can be severely handicapped by social media addiction. Meanwhile the steady erosion of a moral compass for young people could result in serious instability for adult generations to come. Background music: 'Don't Look Inside' by Biz Baz Studio
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There's not much love being shared between Russia and Ukraine this Christmas. Putin calls for respect, but respect for others doesn't come naturally for him. Meanwhile, it's time that Rutger Bregman should see evolution as the essential process of continuous creation driven by our conscious creator who is unconditional love. Background music: 'O Holy Night' by DJ Williams
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Labour MPs' celebration of the Chancellor's abolition of the 2-child welfare benefit cap in last week's Budget statement completely eclipsed the outstanding need for a comprehensive strategy to address the economic and familial stresses impacting children, adolescents and young adults: so much worse than a few decades ago. We focus on three specifics in this commentary: the continuing denial of Government to deliver Child Trust Fund money to low-income young adults unaware of their money; the punishing burden of the student loan system, and the instability and insecurity caused by a society which has lost its moral compass. Background music: 'Generations Away' by Unicorn Heads
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(Prince) Andrew is not alone in undergoing a seismic fall from grace which has been amplified by a prolonged absence of remorse and contrition: politicians, senior business people and church leaders have all walked this path. Personal failure is an endemic part of humanity, but we need to accept when things have gone wrong and search for reconcilation. Not easy, but the alternative is escalation resulting in an even heavier fall from grace. Background music: 'Metamorphosis' Quincas Moreira Image source: Wikipedia
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
Conscience has challenged humanity for millenia: so much so that its entry on Wikipedia includes 22,000 words. However securing that moral yardstick is not easy, whether you are guided by faith or not. Meanwhile, what was personal has become societal, while technology and what appear to be victimless crimes promote amorality. The Christian faith has struggled with understanding the fluid nature of conscience, notwithstanding Jesus's clear illustration of its significance in St. John's Gospel. Will the Church of England's new Archbishop contribute guidance with understanding conscience — and, for that matter, explaining how to love our enemies? Background music: 'Lost In Prayer' by Doug Maxwell
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Original Broadcast: Thought for the Week
We've all benefitted from a blend of guidance, reaction and experience in our journey through life, and most of all in those formative years of childhood and adolescence. However, as David Willetts wrote 15 years ago in 'The Pinch', the link between generations is getting ever more stretched. Experience should not have to bear the full weight of the absence of guidance and reaction as family structures weaken; if that is the case, we will have only ourselves to blame for anti-social breakdown. Background music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins
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There's a strange convergence of aggression which is drawing both international conflict and personal hatred into the mainstream; social media bears considerable responsibility for this convergence, and Donald Trump's combination of his calls for peace while posting aggressive messages on Truth Social really don't help. There's a very straightforward instruction in the gospel of St. Matthew, to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, but little guidance or teaching from Church leaders on how to make this happen. Drawing inspiration from a variety of sources, here are some ideas which could work at both personal and international levels. Background music: 'Confliction & Catharsis' by Asher Fulero
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