Yesterday I posted about the breakdown of the ‘other’ religion category in the 2021 Census. Much has rightly been made of the increase in no religion, and the diversity of what this category means. Also, of the decrease in those identifying as Christian. There are many questions that surround these developments- not least of which … More Difference in religion 2011-2021
This morning (29/11/22) the data set about religion and belief in England and Wales was released. The headlines focussed on the changes in the numbers of the ‘big six’ (see Holt, 2019) as well as an increase in the numbers of those answering ‘no religion’. The headlines form the Office for National Statistics (ONS) outlined: For … More Other Religions in the 2021 England and Wales Census
This is the text of a short talk given to the Altrincham Interfaith Group on 15th September 2022. There is much more to say but this is what I managed to fit into 12 minutes. Words have power. That is undeniable- they can build up, they can inspire, they can tear down and they can … More A Christian view of freedom of speech
What do The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints think about freedom of religion and belief? At the heart of the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lies the belief that every person is a child of God. The Family: A Proclamation to the World outlines: All human beings—male and female—are created in the … More Freedom of Religion and Belief in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
There are many analogies used to describe the straight and narrow path. One that really helps me understand the need to keep moving, to keep putting one foot in front of another is to picture it as running up an escalator the wrong way. It requires effort, and if we stop for a moment we … More Spiritual momentum- running the wrong way up an elevator
Happy Easter! He is Risen! As I begin my talk I am mindful of the words of Elder Bruce R. McConkie in his last testimony. He started by saying: …the most important doctrine I can declare, and the most powerful testimony I can bear, is of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. His … More Easter and the Atonement
I was recently speaking to a friend who expressed concern for another of our friends. Her concern was for the disconnect between this person’s beliefs and behaviour. As I think about my membership of the Church over the last thirty or so years I have met many people for whom this description would fit, and … More I can’t dance
Tonight I am going to talk about the challenge or the cost of discipleship. It is an aspect of discipleship that we might gloss over or might be blasé about. This challenge of discipleship is alluded to in The Book of Mormon: And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we … More The Golden Thread of Discipleship
Today, Sikhs around the world are celebrating Diwali or more correctly Bandi Chhor Divas (Day of Liberation). The events celebrated by Sikhs revolve around Guru Hargobind. There are many events in the life of Guru Hargobind that are worthy of remembrance, not least the adoption of the two swords symbolising miri-piri when he became Guru. … More Guru Hargobind (Nanak 6) and the Freedom of Religion and Belief
One of the sayings that I heard a lot when I joined the Church was that as Latter-day Saints we are called ‘to be in the world, but not of the world’. It established an identity for us as disciples of Christ that suggested that we are different, as Peter describes us, we are a … More In the world
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