In the 1980s I edited View from Farr and in the 1990s Auldcastle View. The past two decades have given me another perspective and so I am beginning a new series in my blog called View from the Pew. It is specifically aimed at preachers, preaching and congregations. The reason for this is that whereas …
Reunions and Partings
The One Show on BBC 1 tonight draws attention to reunions and partings. I was watching this programme because the results of the BBC programme 20th-century Icons are announced on it. The finalists were clarified in tonight's programme and I have updated my blogpost. However, the same show had a marvellous story about the reunion …
When did BBC Question Time last change your mind?
Does the BBC flagship programme Question Time change anyone's mind? The standard of debate on BBC Question Time is poor and getting worse. We were told years ago that we needed female politicians who would bring civilised debate to male-dominated politics. I never believed it and I have seen no evidence that it has done …
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The 20th-century Icon
Rarely can it be so clearly demonstrated that people, and even whole societies, cannot see what is plainly in front of their eyes. Not only is this a theological truth, illustrated by the atheism believed by intelligent people, but the current BBC2 series Icons is yet another example of this common phenomenon. The aim …
No Deal Brexit and the integrity of the UK
Is it any surprise that the Brexit negotiations have resolved themselves into a debate and a vote upon the integrity of the UK? This is the essence of the No Deal debate over the next week in the House of Commons, beginning with the House of Commons vote tonight to try to hinder a No …
Christianity and secularism
Christianity is an optimistic worldview that faces the reality of human wickedness by addressing individual responsibility and accountability to God through Jesus Christ. Secularism is a worldview that denies the existence of God and acts as if mankind has enough collective goodness and goodwill to lift each other up and improve the lives of most …
Iolaire memories
The centenary of the Iolaire disaster should not pass without comment, although it is a sad way to begin 2019. It was even sadder for those affected in the Outer Hebrides in 1919 awaiting their loved ones' return from the horrors of the First World War. It is appropriate that the centenary is properly commemorated …
El Shaddai and hapax phenomena
A hapax phenomenon is one of my many coined terms, based on hapax legomenon. A hapax legomenon is a word that appears only once in a given text. Similarly a hapax phenomenon is not simply an event that occurs only once in one's experience but it is an event which conveys information that if one …
Market slump, after market high, is not unusual
After the US stock market highs of 2018, the US is set for the worst December fall since the Great Depression in 1931. The market was alarmed by the revelation that over the weekend the US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin took the unusual step of calling the chief executives of America's six largest banks to …
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Read my lips; how about his eyes?
The political pundits have had a field day over Jeremy Corbyn's muttering 'stupid people' in the House of Commons. The problem is that many of them think that he said 'stupid woman' about Prime Minister Theresa May during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. There were calls for Corbyn to return to the chamber to apologize, …
