One issue that is sure to bring Christian voices out in the public sphere is gay rights. The overwhelming impression that one gets is that Christians are opposed to extending gay rights, particularly when it comes to marriage or civil … Read more...
Category: Evangelicalism
Peter Rollins & The Rapture – St Anne & ‘Evandelism’ Tracts
There’s a new sculpture in St Anne’s Square in Belfast. Crafted by Lucy Glendinning, it is the figure of a woman being lifted up to the heavens. She faces out towards St Anne’s Cathedral, and it appears she is … Read more...
Dave Tomlinson Book Review – Re-Enchanting Christianity, & The Re-Emergence Conference (Belfast)
Dave Tomlinson is one of the keynote speakers at the Belfast Re-Emergence Conference, ‘The Church is Dead, Long Live the Church,’ scheduled for March 16-18, 2010, at the Irish School of Ecumenics (Trinity College Dublin at Belfast). In his most … Read more...
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2010: Can Ecumenism Be Born Again?
‘Born Again,’ is a term that is used derisively in Ireland to denote conservative evangelical Christians. Outsiders sometimes refer to them collectively as ‘the born agains,’ with either a smirk or a sigh, signalling their disagreement with their religion and … Read more...
The Iris Robinson Scandal and Evangelical Culture in Northern Ireland: Rejecting or Redeeming the ‘Sinner’?
Today’s Sunday Sequence programme on BBC Radio Ulster featured a segment by Malachi O’Doherty on the effect of the Iris Robinson scandal on evangelical culture in Northern Ireland. Amongst others, O’Doherty interviewed Dr Claire Mitchell of Queen’s University Belfast, a … Read more...
Pat Robertson on Haiti Earthquake: Knowing the Mind of God
American televangelist Pat Robertson has declared that the earthquake in Haiti was a direct result of a ‘pact’ Haitians had made with the devil. He also said it is a ‘blessing in disguise’ for the beleaguered nation.
Robertson, a … Read more...
Iris Robinson scandal – What now? Meaningful Change or Business as Unusual?
Last night’s BBC Panorama programme on the Iris Robinson affair, ‘The MP and the Whistleblower,’ followed much the same script as the original Spotlight programme. The Panorama showing, geared towards a wider UK audience, merely updated the on-going saga to … Read more...
The Robinson Scandal, Evangelical Pietism and Waiting for God to sort things out?
On today’s BBC Radio Ulster programme, Sunday Sequence, I discussed with Free Presbyterian minister Rev. David McIlveen, and former editor of the News Letter Austin Hunter, how the Robinson scandal may change Northern Irish social, political and religious culture.… Read more...
The Robinson Affair: DUP’s Evangelical Constituency May Find it Easier to Forgive than to Trust
In yesterday’s Irish Times, Fionola Meredith wrote that folks might be surprised that Protestant fundamentalists seem willing to forgive Iris Robinson. Meredith notes that this constituency (I prefer to refer to them as conservative evangelicals) has been quick to condemn … Read more...
Iris Robinson Scandal, Episode II – Dodgy Loans with a side of tea and scones…
Wednesday we found out about the sex, yesterday we found out about the money.
Last night the BBC ran the Spotlight programme that is assumed to have prompted First Minister Peter Robinson’s interview on Wednesday about his wife Iris’ marital … Read more...
The Iris Robinson Affair – Sex, Money & Christianity…
Last week when the DUP’S Iris Robinson retired, I blogged about her battle for the ‘moral soul’ of Northern Ireland. I was as surprised as anyone at the news yesterday evening about her extramarital affair, and her attempt last … Read more...