Ekklesia logo

Thinking For a Change

The weekly ezine from Ekklesia
exploring belief, politics and culture
 
Please help Ekklesia to continue its work by donating through PayPal here 
In This Edition
Why Christians should celebrate Darwin by Denis Alexander
We need a different way of doing politics by Jonathan Bartley
Being Christian in a sceptical climate by Simon Barrow
Quota: Nelson Mandela and Rabbi Michael Lerner
The week that was: Your sixty second roundup
The week ahead
Research Focus: Darwin and religion
Media and web debate
Event: Convention on Modern Liberty
Thinking in Action: Pledge your love with Christian Aid
Reading allowed: Reconciling Theology and Science
Journey to Jerusalem
ve
This Lent join Christian Aid on a virtual pilgrimage through the Holy Land.  From Bethlehem to Nazareth to Jerusalem, go beyond hearing about the people of the region and hear from them instead. From 25th Feb
 
2009 Ecumenical World Development Consultation
 
Partnership for development Working together with agencies, business, campaigning groups, governments and producers. High Leigh Conference Centre, 18-20 March 2009
 
Click here for more
Books on science from the Ekklesia bookshop
 
 
Cosmology, Evolution, and Resurrection Hope: Theology and Science in Creative Mutual Interaction
by Robert Russell here
 
 
 
 
 
One World: The Interactions of Science and Theology
by John C Polkinghorne here
 
 
 
 
Science and Theology: An Introduction
by John Polkinghorne here

 

 
Quick Links
 
Our Partners
Ekklesia is an independent member of the Root and Branch Network which includes the following organisations
Events
 
Convention on Modern Liberty
 
28th February
 
'Faiths and Freedoms' seminar
 
Mohammed Aziz (Muslim commentator, Faithwise), Vaughan Jones (Praxis CEO, URC minister), Savi Hensman (equalities adviser, Christian commentator) and Keith Kahn-Harris (New Jewish Thought). Chair: Simon Barrow (Ekklesia). Institute of Education, London
 

 
'Body & Soul'
 
28 Feb -1 Mar (Bristol)
 7-8 Mar (Birmingham)

Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our patner Workshop Living by values explores Christian ethics and lifestyle from the perspective of spiritual freedom and responsibility, taking on the hard questions about sex, gender, orientation, marriage and relationships as practical case studies.
 
 

 
'Peace & Power'  
 
14 -15 March (Leeds)
 21-22 March (London)
 
Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our partner Workshop this weekend looks at spirituality and activism: a biblical understanding of peace (shalom) and the challenge of political and social power engaging in the areas of ecology, church and state, peace and war, crime and justice.
 
 
Ekklesia Events
 
Convention on Modern Liberty
 
28th February
 
'Faiths and Freedoms' seminar (London)
 
Mohammed Aziz (Muslim commentator, Faithwise), Vaughan Jones (Praxis CEO, URC minister), Savi Hensman (equalities adviser, Christian commentator) and Keith Kahn-Harris (New Jewish Thought). Chair: Simon Barrow (Ekklesia). Institute of Education, London
 

 
'Body & Soul'
 
28 Feb -1 Mar (Bristol)
 7-8 Mar (Birmingham)

Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our patner Workshop Living by values explores Christian ethics and lifestyle from the perspective of spiritual freedom and responsibility, taking on the hard questions about sex, gender, orientation, marriage and relationships as practical case studies.
 
 

 
'Peace & Power'  
 
14 -15 March (Leeds)
 21-22 March (London)
 
Sponsored by Ekklesia and run by our partner Workshop this weekend looks at spirituality and activism: a biblical understanding of peace (shalom) and the challenge of political and social power engaging in the areas of ecology, church and state, peace and war, crime and justice.
 
 
More Ekklesia Bulletins
Find out which bulletins you are subscribed to, and change the ones you receive by using the "Update Profile/Email address" link at the bottom of this email 
 
Issue: # 31 12 February 2009
The two Darwin anniversaries (his birth in 1809; the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859) remind us that knowledge and understanding are never settled. They are in transition, sometimes in turmoil.
 
Our research focus this week is on Darwin and his complex relationship with religion, based on an essay by leading science historian Professor John Hedley Brooke, president of the International Society for Science and Religion. One of our feature articles, by Faraday Institute director Dr Denis Alexander, picks up the same theme, this time setting out why Christians have good reason to celebrate Darwin's extraordinary discoveries, and to disavow the fearful and misleading (theologically as well scientifically) response of 'creationists'.
 
A creative dialogue between science and theology is advocated in Radical Reformation terms by Professor Nancey Murphy in our 'reading allowed' book choice, available through our online sales partners - the Metanoia Book Service at the London Mennonite Centre. 
 
Darwin changed the agenda of the biological sciences forever. These days we are experiencing upheavals in the ecosphere, in global politics and in religion; realities which invite equally radical reassessments in those spheres. So Ekklesia co-directors Simon Barrow and Jonathan Bartley offer reflections on, respectively, Christian belief in a sceptical climate and redoing politics from the ground up.
 
Meanwhile, our quotations highlight counterintuitive thinking of peace and economics from the former South African president and a progressive American rabbi. 
 
The event we are promoting - for the second and final time - is the Convention on Modern Liberty. This has expanded considerably over the last three weeks, stretching across Britain and Ireland, gaining national coverage, and posing sharp questions to the government about human rights, secrecy, identity and security. Ekklesia is joining the debate on the 'faiths and freedoms' agenda - with a panel including Christian, Jewish and Muslim voices.

Last but not least, we are 'spreading the love around' for St Valentine's Day with Christian Aid - who want you to pledge your troth to people and planet in some practical ways, and by challenging our institutions to respond. 

Ekklesia works on a not-for-profit basis, and deliberately maintains its independence from large institutions and their funding.  If you value this bulletin please consider making a donation to keep it going and support Ekklesia's work. You can do it through PayPal here
Why Christians should celebrate Darwin
By Denis Alexander  

One of the deep mysteries of the early 21st century is why one set of Christians tries to persuade another set of Christians to reject the theory of evolution, says Denis Alexander - a biochemist and neurochemist who is also an evangelical Christian. He suggests a positive perspective on the interaction of faith, science and the legacy of Darwin.

Read the full article here
We need a different way of doing politics
By Jonathan Bartley
 
Following Barack Obama's inauguration in the USA, there has been debate about whether Britain might one day get a black Prime Minister. A better question is whether we will ever be able to make our political system truly representative - and how to empower people through civic action to reshape the system and recreate political action from the margins.  

Read the full article here
Being Christian in a sceptical climate
By Simon Barrow 
 
My experience of being a Christian is that of a surprising, continual and contested process of reformation and rediscovery, says Ekklesia's co-director. It's far removed from the caricature of faith that many zealous believers and non-believers seem attached to. It is based on going deeper into the tradition at the same time as moving to the frontiers of contemporary society - rather than sacrificing one for the other.  
 
Read more  
Quota
Sayings from the week and wisdom from the tradition
  
"The most powerful method of overcoming conflict is peace." - Nelson Mandela
 
"[We need] to embrace a "new bottom line" in which corporations, social practices, government policies and individual behaviours are judged rational, efficient or productive not only if they maximize money or power, but also to the extent that they maximize love and caring, kindness and generosity, ethical and ecological sensitivity, enhance our capacity to treat others as embodiments of the sacred and to respond with awe, wonder, and radical amazement at the grandeur of the universe." - Rabbi Michael Lerner
The week that was
London Peace MarchYour sixty second roundup 
 
The Church of England's general synod met in London this week.  It discussed the economic downturn and voted to ban clergy and staff from membership of the Far Right party the BNP.  It also looks set to support the rights of asylum seekers to work, when it discusses the issue tomorrow.
 
But it also emerged that the Church of England had finally sold its shares in Caterpillar, the company responsible for exporting bulldozers which destroy Palestinian homes, and killed one peace activist. The Church said it had done so for 'economic' (rather than ethical) reasons.  Campaigners suggested that perhaps it should also then sell its holdings in two mining companies - Xstrata and BHP Billiton - that were criticised in a report about mining in the Philippines this week, and backed by church leaders.  The Church had a holding worth �80 million in 2007.  In the last year however, the BHP shares have halved in value, and those in Xstrata have lost 80% of their value.
 
By way of contrast, a microfinance institution backed by other churches announced that it had increased its field investments by one third, reaching out to poor people often excluded by the commercial banking sector in spite of the global economic downturn.
 
Churches also welcomed the day of celebration dedicated to the achievements of scientist Charles Darwin during the year marking his 200th birthday and 150-year-old book on the theory of evolution. And the NHS reinstated a nurse who had been suspended for asking a patient whether she would like to be prayed for at the end of a home treatment session.  
 
Abroad, The United Church of Christ and its partners welcomed several policy and legislative decisions in support of justice issues made by US President Obama, and called for more.  UK Parliamentarians also said that the new Obama administration had a golden opportunity for a formal cessation of hostilities and normalisation of relations with North Korea.

But the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in Kenya warned that more than ten million Kenyans are at immediate risk of hunger, because of mismanagement and corruption by the government.  Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance said it hoped the government of national unity would see the rule of law established in Zimbabwe along with the release all political prisoners.


For more on all these and other stories our News Briefing (http://ekklesia.co.uk/content/news/news.shtml) contains the full archive of daily UK and international news, including all those above, plus features and columns. The page also tells you how you can get Ekklesia's running news on your web site in seconds.

If you value this service please support Ekklesia's news production through PayPal here
The week ahead
Next week's agenda
 
13-14 - G8 finance ministers and central bank governors meet in Rome
13 Feb - UK Parliament rises Half-Term recess (till 23rd)
 
13 Feb - BMS World Mission International Day of Prayer
 
14 Feb - World Vision 24 Hour Famine Weekend
 
14 Feb - Valentines Day
 
16 Feb - President's Day (US)
 
16 Feb - Environment ministers in Nairobi to discuss climate change and food crisis (till 20th)
 
16 Feb - War Child (U2 frontman Bono's charity) releases Heroes album
 
20 Feb - First World Day of Social Justice (UN)

Ekklesia has launched a new subscription service giving the inside track on the news agenda for the coming weeks. Suitable for church leaders, campaign groups, local government and anyone working in or with the media, it is already taken by the Times newspaper and the BBC.  Find out more here
Research Focus
Darwin and religion  
 
Charles Darwin, the pioneering naturalist who posited the common descent of all species through evolution by natural selection, made a discovery that has become foundational to the remarkable progress of the modern biological sciences, most recently in the arena of genomics. In this paper, reproduced courtesy of the International Society for Science and Religion, Professor John Hedley Brooke, one of the world's leading historians of science - who is also actively involved in science-religion discussions - gives an overview of Darwin's interactions with religion and belief. This essay forms a useful context and corrective to some of the zealous material seeking to 'rescue' or 'advocate' Darwin in relation to different religious and non- or anti-religious outlooks. There is also bibliographical and web material on issues related to evolution and belief, especially Christianity.
 
Read the full paper here
Sign up to Amnesty International's Stop Torture campaign here
Media and web debate
Ekklesia in the news this week
 
Ekklesia co-director Simon Barrow's reflections on Gaza and the Christian traditions of restraining violence and moving towards non-violence has appeared in the latest Anglican Messenger newspaper in Australia.
 
Jonathan Bartley has done the Thought for the Day slot on the Guardian website here.
 
Ekklesia works on a not-for-profit basis. Please support Ekklesia's work with the press and other media by donating to support its work, through PayPal here
Event: Convention on Modern Liberty
 
Ekklesia is one of the backers of this major event (http://www.modernliberty.net/) on 28 February 2009, which includes a large gathering at the Institute of Education in London and parallel conventions in Belfast, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester. The focus is the growth of the 'security state' and the erosion of civil liberties in the UK. At the London event, Ekklesia is coordinating a 'Faiths and Freedoms' seminar (http://tinyurl.com/c6xwu4) with Mohammed Aziz (Muslim commentator, Faithwise), Vaughan Jones (Praxis CEO, URC minister), Savi Hensman (equalities adviser, Christian commentator) and Keith Kahn-Harris (New Jewish Thought). Chair: Simon Barrow.
Thinking in Action
Pledge your love with Christian Aid  
 
Want to pledge your love to something that really deserves it this Valentine's Day? Then go to www.christianaid.org.uk/cophenhagen and pledge your troth to the planet.
 
Rhian Beynon, campaigns manager for Christian Aid, explains: "The year 2009 is a crucial one for making real progress on climate change.  World leaders will meet in Copenhagen in December to negotiate an international climate change deal. We are calling for industrialised countries to pledge to reduce their CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.  Without this commitment it's impossible to keep the global temperature rise below 2˚C and prevent climate catastrophe.  As a result, 30 million more people could go hungry, 18 per cent of Bangladesh will be underwater and up to 3 billion people could face acute water shortages."
 
Taking the Copenhagen pledge includes a commitment to:

* Reducing your personal carbon footprint through recycling, reusing and reducing consumption
* Writing to the Prime Minister and speaking to your local MP to let them know you expect  the UK Government and other world leaders like Obama to work for a new  international climate change agreement that is fair to poorer countries
* Encouraging friends and family to sign up to the pledge.

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/cophenhagen


Reading Allowed
Reconciling Theology and Science: A Radical Reformation Perspective by Nancey Murphy  
 

Showing how the warfare between theology and science in this century has been both unnecessary and unproductive, Nancey Murphy, currently Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary, makes theology and science mutually intelligible by demonstrating how recent developments in both fields open up possibilities for a constructive dialogue and partnership.
 
ISBN: 9780969876243 (Pandora Press, USA,1997) 103pp
 
For more information and to order through Ekklesia click here

Thinking of Unsubscribing? 
 
Ekklesia runs a number of different emal bulletins.  If you unsubscribe you may be removed from all our mailing lists, so take care.
 
If you want to be removed from all our mailing lists permanently then use the "SafeUnsubscribe" link below. 
 
If you just want to unsubscribe from this email, or change which emails you receive from Ekklesia, then use the "Update Profile/Email Address" link.   You will then be able to change which emails you receive.