Culture and Review - Religion and Society

New painting challenges image of St George the crusader

staff writers — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:53:46 +0100

A new painting of St George by Scott Norwood Witts, which depicts the saint as a man of compassion rather than a crusader, is to be unveiled at the Catholic Cathedral of St George, Southwark, to mark the saint’s day next week.

Faith, grief and adjusting to death

Andrew J. Weaver — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:32:58 +0000

There is a strong link between positive psychological adjustment to a death and one’s ability to deal with of the loss through one’s faith and religious practices, says Andrew J Weaver, a United Methodist minister and professional research psychologist.

Giving up Establishment for Lent

Simon Barrow — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:35:23 +0000

The natural presumption of Establishment insulates the Church of England, says Simon Barrow. Even worse, it takes the opposite direction to Jesus, who rejected worldly power in the Temptation that Christians recall during Lent.

What lies beyond Lambeth's Sharia humiliation?

Simon Barrow — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:36:28 +0000

Asking where the Church of England can go from here, Simon Barrow looks at why and how Rowan Williams got hold of the wrong end of the stick over religious communal practice and the civil legal system, why a larger 'multi-faith settlement' is unhelpful, and how post-Christendom beckons.

Praying for unity across a century of division

Kersten Storch — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:53:44 +0000

The history of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is not just about church cosiness, says Kersten Storch. It is about the quest for healing in a divided church and an unjust and unequal world.

Christ is an unwanted gift for the religious

Simon Barrow — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:10:01 +0000

Whether we love or hate Christmas, we know all about it. But the same may not be true of the coming of Jesus, says Simon Barrow. In Christ, God radically disrupts religious 'business as usual'.

Theology in the Fiction of George Eliot - Review

Alison Goodlad — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 00:09:59 +0000

Theological truth and creative fiction are much closer to each other than might at first be presumed, Alison Goodlad discovers in reviewing Peter C. Hodgson's evocative treatment of the work of George Eliot.

Advent in a time of AIDS - Calendar

agency reporter — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 23:53:21 +0000

As well as preparing worship resources for World Aids Day the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. has this year put together an excellent Advent calendar of daily readings, pictures and meditations. Many of the meditations are written by people living with Aids.

Prize-winning film about Mennonites comes to London

staff writers — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:43:08 +0000

Mexican director Carlos Reygadas’ latest film, Silent Light, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in May, will be released in London this Friday 7th of December.

Salaam Bethlehem - looking beyond the wall

associate writer — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:08:11 +0000

Salaam Bethlehem is touring in the UK throughout the season of Advent with performances until 22 December 2007. This is the story of a production which highlights the situation of a famous city and today's Palestinian Christians and Muslims.

Open secularism meets open religion

Simon Barrow — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 20:48:34 +0000

The debate about religion in public life is often cantankerous, says Simon Barrow. But a constructive new pamphlet on secularism from the Humanist Philosophers' Group shows us that a better standard of discussion is possible.

Struggle, surprise and sainthood

Simon Barrow — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:58:07 +0000

Christian faith is about sustaining faith in face of the knowledge and reality of death, says Simon Barrow. The feasts of All Saints and All Souls put us in solidarity with a host of people who have struggled to see right prevail.

Making Manga out of the Bible

Deirdre J. Good — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:32:43 +0000

Manga Bible fever is hitting the shops this month. New Testament professor Deirdre Good explores the cultural and interpretative values involved, particularly in relation to the presentation of 'family'.

Mixing football and morals

Giles Fraser — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:15:43 +0000

Football, money and morals make odd bedfellows, concludes Giles Fraser after his experience of preaching to an uncertain congregation at a service marking the 150th anniversary of the world’s oldest club - Sheffield FC.

Making sense of religion in America

Jonathan Bartley — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:49:53 +0100

Those hoping that when George W. Bush departs the Oval Office, religion will accompany him are likely to be disappointed, says Jonathan Bartley, if a book by the former Guardian religious affairs correspondent is right.