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| Books from the Ekklesia bookshop |
Faith and Politics After Christendom by Jonathan Bartley here
Threatened with Resurrection
by Simon Barrow here
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You can join Ekklesia and take action by asking your MP to sign the following Parliamentary motions:
EDM 1248 on Conflict Prevention
Ekklesia attends the All Party Parliamentary Group on Conflict Issues which is supporting this motion
Ekklesia is a founder member of Accord - mentioned in the motion - which seeks to make faith schools more inclusive
Ekklesia is working with the Still Human Still Here campaign which supports both these motions
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The radical demands of our age require more than common sense - which can, after all, mean a crowd-driven consensus rather than deep wisdom. What we need instead is uncommon sense, the reason, faith and hope of those who dare to look, speak and act differently.
Our features this week are of that quality - an appeal for restorative rather than retributive justice, and an invitation to explore the positive virtues of maleness as well as its distortions evident in the appeal of machismo and militarism.
Likewise, our research focus features a new and controversial book by Ben White which argues that the ideology behind the state of Israel's policy of 'separate development' and racial identity has played a major part in the conflict that has unfolded in what is supposed to be the Land of the Holy One. Agree or disagree, White is calling for honesty and tough-mindedness in the debate about how to achieve justice for both Palestinians and Jews.
Thinking in Action, exploring how reading the sacred texts of others can re-shape your own understanding, offers another counter-intuitive invitation to spiritual and social transformation.
This too is the theme of this week's book recommendation: Howard Friend's thoughtful and inspirational invocation of 'contemplative activism', which takes us back once again to the matter of less-than-common sense. This theme is also reflected in our quotations and event focus.
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| 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 |
Imprisoning hope and reason
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By Martin E Marty
No other democratic nation today imprisons people on such a scale or for as long as the US, one of the country's doyen religion commentators and scholars is reminded. Visiting prisoners is a central test of devotion to the Jesus of the gospels. We are also called to a vision of restoration and release, he suggests.
Read the full article here
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| War, men and the quest for solidarity |
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By Jill Segger
War and military service can be a male attractant, says Ekklesia's editorial adviser. If we will work with the grain of male nature wherever conscience permits and be honest in respecting its virtues, we will hold a better chance of being heard when we are compelled to stand against it.
Read the full article here |
| Quota |
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Sayings from the week and wisdom from the tradition
"Radical compassion for a stranger can inform our democratic participation when we keep our active commitment to the common good."
- Lucy Winkett, Canon Precentor at St Paul's Cathedral
"Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are anger and courage. Anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are."
- St Augustine |
| Research Focus |
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Israel, Palestine and apartheid
Christian journalist Ben White, who has significant experience of Israel-Palestine, has just published a powerful and well-researched book looking at the thorny issue of the ideology of Zionism and its connection to the history of conflict, violence and occupation in the region (http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/9699 ).
Endorsed by a range of church leaders, academics - including Israeli ones - and human rights activists, Israeli Apartheid: A Beginner's Guide (Pluto Press, 2009) is bound to produce intense and heated debate. White has provided an excerpt for Ekklesia: 'Wiping Palestine from the map' (http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/9701). The question of what it means to claim Israel as a 'Jewish state' (rather than a democratic society not defined by racial and religious categories) is one of the core issues of contention. |
| Ekklesia has launched a new subscription service giving a detailed, inside track on the news agenda for the coming 6 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, Reuters and the BBC. Find out more here |
| Media and web debate |
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 Ekklesia in the news this week
Ekklesia's comments about the language around the Iraq Inquiry received a name check in the New Statesman's " Best of the Political Blogs". Ekklesia associate director Symon Hill has being busy around Armed Forces Day. As well as writing an article for the Guardian's Comment is Free which will be published on Saturday, he has taken part in a radio debate with BBC Wales and given an interview for Sky News to be broadcast this weekend. Watch out also for Saturday's Radio 4 Today Programme and Sunday Programme. Ekklesia co-director Jonathan Bartley was interviewed for the Christian Science Monitor, looking at the Church of England's financial and theological crisis. Jonathan's podcast for The Economist on the European elections, should be available on Monday. Keep up-to-date with Ekklesia's Comments on Twitter here: http://www.twitter.com/ekklesiaComment
Ekklesia works on a not-for-profit basis. Please support Ekklesia's work with the press and other media by donating through PayPal here |
Christian Peacemaker Teams UK seeks people for training and equipping as nonviolence workers in areas of conflict. 1-30 October 2009. Also short-term delegation opportunities. Email Tim Nafziger: timn@cpt.org
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| Event: Nonviolence - A Practical tool for change |
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3rd to 5th July 2009
In July the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) is initiating a new project: a training weekend to give people practical skills in peacemaking and nonviolence. The weekend is for 18 to 30 (ish) year olds who are interested, active and/ or engaged in peace and conflict issues and who want to explore nonviolence and its uses.
The weekend offers the opportunity for those new to the subject, or old-time campaigners, to learn new skills, practice applying them, and discuss nonviolence as a tool for social change.
The conference is being held at the Guy Chester Centre, North London and is subsidised to allow as many people to attend as possible.
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| Thinking in Action |
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| Being tested by the text
For the 'religions of the book' (Christianity, Islam and Judaism) the question of how to read the text and what authority to give it is central. Giles Fraser, an Anglican priest, has been studying Talmud with a rabbi. It has opened his eyes further to the question of what scriptural faithfulness can mean. Not a mind-closing narrowness, he say, but the experience of interrogating and being interrogated by God afresh.
See: http://ekklesia.co.uk/node/9706 |
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Reading Allowed |
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 Gifts of an Uncommon Life: The Practice of Contemplative Activism By Howard E. Friend
This book of ten essays is a breath of fresh air, a source of inspiration, a wake-up call, and a bold challenge for ministers, spiritual seekers, and church members - both active and lapsed - who long for a new perspective, even a touch of creative irreverence. With an invitation to quietness and stillness, inner strength and resilience, audacious hope and insistent confidence, it welcomes those among the people of God who do not belong to a church or name themselves as Christian. Yet it does not shy away from raising difficult questions. Howard Friend offers forthright, at times disarming, candour as he shares his personal pilgrimage of social activism rooted in contemplation.
ISBN: 9781566993746 (Alban Books, 2008) 222pp, �13.75.
For more information and to buy through Ekklesia click here | |
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