andygoodliff

Pope Benedict and Islam

I'm glad the Pope apologised today for an offence caused by his speech last week. However I must admit I am was horrified to see that the response by some Muslims in some countries was a violent one. Did they not recognise that the Pope was saying that was no room for violence within religion? So to respond violently - through attacks on churches - only goes to show there is some unfortunate truth in what some people have interpreted the Pope as saying. (Please note, I do not think Christianity has any less of a violent history). Muslims were right to voice their disappointment, maybe even displeasure, at the Pope's words, but there is no room for violence or incitement to violence. The Pope was either naive or being provocative and should have taken greater care with his words, or who he was quoting, or making more clear his point, or why the quote did not reflect his views on Islam (perhaps they do, see Giles Fraser). The Pope is right to want to confront Islamic extremism, but equally he must also confront Christian extremism, especially that of the growing evangelical right in America, some of who are looking for a war with Islam, or believe they are in a war with Islam. This Pope is emerging as much more interesting than many people originally thought.

What's Happened to Childhood?

A letter in the Daily Telegraph yesterday, signed by a variety of different people (including Philip Pullman, Robert Beckford, and lots of early childhood experts) are concerned that the rise in depression and behavioural problems amongst children is linked to too much junk food, too much screen-based entertainment and school system only interested in results. All the other papers have a response today (Times, Guardian, Independent).  This is not a new issue. Most of the letters' signatories have been going on about it for years. Rowan Williams wrote about it in Lost Icons (2000). The sad thing is that not much is changing. My worry is that this will be another 2-day news story from which little will change. One of the things we decided about Lounge (Bunyan's 11-16 youth club) was to avoid have computer games nights for the reason that most young people play computer games every night. It's an interesting question and an important one for the church. Do we as churches offer an alternative? Do we encourage and challenge those who are parents to think about how they raise their children? I rarely, if ever, have heard the church I belong to say anything about parenting or childhood. I'm not suggesting we become prescriptive, who of us would claim to have all the answers, but I do believe that the church needs to create spaces where conversations can taken place. I worry when I see the poor diet some children I know have and the way television rules in a house. We need to enable children to be children. I love watching Hannah with children because although we are not yet parents, she has learnt the skills that enable children she knows and works with to wonder and question and enjoy the world in which they live.

Sentamu's Public Witness

Just about to go to bed, when I discovered that Archbishop Sentamu is to forego his holiday to fast and prayer over the next 7 days for peace in the Middle East. He is to camp out at Yorkminister and through his public witness encourage people to pray for peace. This is a man who knows about Christian leadership. This is a man who goes the extra mile. Hannah and I as we spend next week near Holy Island will endeavour to pray with him for peace. I might even see if we can pop into York to join him.

It's a sin to fly!

The Bishop of London, Richard Chartes is reported as saying its a sin to fly because it contributes to climate change and is a selfish act. He says "Sin is not just a restricted list of moral mistakes. It is living a life turned in on itself where people ignore the consequences of their actions.” I agree. I don't think the word sin is too strong here. I think the type of flying he is attacking is the cheap short break to Europe type of flying whihc has become common for people to take several times a year. When it comes to the environment the church has a responsbility to be distinctively different, to think through their actions. Theologically the church must rediscover a doctrine of creation that sees humanity as stewards of creation and God's image-bearers within it.

Fairtrade Fortnight

We're almost halfway through fairtrade fortnight. Here's my plug to go fairtrade, boycott Nestle (here's why) and try not to shop at tesco (here's why). Hannah and I are trying really hard these days to shop more ethically and cut our waste.

The One, the Three and Danish Cartoons

There's a great post on the difference the doctrine of the Trinity makes here on Faith and Theology (which by the way is a great blog for those interested in theology, although fairly academic). Jason Clark is at the Emergent Theology Conversations with Mirsolav Volf and blogging each day, day one is here. I was tempted to blog about Danish Cartoons, but instead will point you in the direction of Richard Sudsworth and Big Bulky Anglican. A colleague and I taught a lesson today around the related issues - free speech and stereotyping. There is a big need for education of your children and young people (and a lot of adults), who don't know who the Prophet Muhammad is and see all Muslims as extremists - this is probably not helped by the response worldwide by some Muslims with their violent messages. We need to avoid language of 'us 'and 'them' and polarising the issue into the West on one hand and Islam on the other. Tariq Ramadan made some helpful points in yesterday's Guardian:

We are facing an incredible simplification, a gross polarisation: apparently a clash of civilisations, a confrontation between principles, with defenders, in one corner, of inalienable freedom of speech and, in the other, of the inviolable sacred sphere. Presented in such terms, the debate has unfortunately become a battle of wills, and the question becomes: who will win? Muslims, wanting apologies, threaten to attack European interests, even to attack people; western governments, intellectuals and journalists refuse to bend under threats, and certain media outlets have added to the controversy by republishing the cartoons. Most people around the world, observing these excesses, are perplexed: what sort of madness is this, they ask?

It is critical we find a way out of this infernal circle and demand from those stoking this fire that they stop their polemics at once and create a space for serious, open, indepth debate and peaceful dialogue. This is not the predicted clash of civilisations. This affair does not symbolise the confrontation between the principles of Enlightenment and those of religion. Absolutely not. What is at stake at the heart of this sad story is whether or not the duelling sides have the capacity to be free, rational (whether believers or atheists) and, at the same time, reasonable.

The fracture is not between the west and Islam but between those who, in both worlds, are able to assert who they are and what they stand for with calm - in the name of faith or reason, or both - and those driven by exclusive certainties, blind passions, reductive perceptions of the other and a liking for hasty conclusions. The latter character traits are shared equally by some intellectuals, religious scholars, journalists and ordinary people on both sides. Facing the dangerous consequences these attitudes entail, it is urgent we launch a general call for wisdom.

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However, it is just as excessive and irresponsible to invoke the "right to freedom of expression" - the right to say anything, in any way, against anybody. Freedom of expression is not absolute. Countries have laws that define the framework for exercising this right and which, for instance, condemn racist language. There are also specific rules pertaining to the cultures, traditions and collective psychologies in the respective societies that regulate the relationship between individuals and the diversity of cultures and religions.

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We are at a crossroads. The time has come for women and men who reject this dangerous division of people into two worlds to start building bridges based on common values. They must assert the inalienable right to freedom of expression and, at the same time, demand measured exercise of it. We need to promote an open, self-critical approach, to repudiate exclusive truths and narrow-minded, binary visions of the world.

the unteachables?

Had a long day in school because of year eight parent's evening. I came home in time to watch the last episode of the channel 4 series The Unteachables. A fantastic series which looked at ways in keeping excluded - unteachable - young people in the education system. The outcome saw 9 young people get stuck into learning and enjoy being in the classroom. The secret in part was a high dose of kinaesthetic learning - active out of your seat surprising interesting activities. Watching these students discover self-confidence, manage their behaviour in ways appropriate to their personality was very moving. The series is a wake up call to the government to not just invest in education, but invest particularly in developing the kind of teachers and the kind of schools that will help our unteachable students learn. The current school system fails to educate, fails to help every student learn, because it fails to recognise their individual learning needs - you can't do it with the size of classes and the kind of teachers we have. We do not have enough kinaesthetic teachers, who base their lessons not primarily on auditory or visual learning, but in getting young people really active. Is any young person unteachable? This series suggests perhaps still yes, but many who end up excluded, and therefore considered unteachable, are not adverse to wanting to and being able to learn. We need more youthworkers and more specialist teachers in our schools. We need to allow students to learn at their own space in their own way.

Elusive Peace

Tonight I watched a new BBC2 series called Elusive Peace about the peace process between Israel and Palestine. It's been in the press, because in a later episode Bush tells someone (can't remember who) that he believed God told him to invade Aghastian, Iraq and everything else. Tonight's episode was about Clinton's failed attempt to broker peace between Barak and Arafat in 1999-2000. It was really interesting hearing what was going on behind scenes and how things got close and then someone got cold feet or intervened (e.g. first Sharon and then later Chirac) to ruin chances. After Christmas I'm looking at the whole question on Jerusalem with my year 8 class. So this is good preparation.

I wonder if the title 'elusive peace' will always be true about the situation or whether things will change and peace will be achieved. I'm not sure if it does whether it will be a real peace - a reconciliation between two enemies. I do wonder if everyone took their religion - whether it is Jewish, Islamic or Chrisitan - more seriously and found a way beyond buildings, peace could be made and Jerusalem could be light to the world in how to live with difference.

No Sex Please We're Teenagers (2)

Last night was the second episode in the No Sex Please, We're Teenagers series on BBC2 and like the first it revealed a lot about doing youthwork. It began with the British young people completing their visit to the USA by attending a Silver Ring Thing event. This appeared to be the typical big light show with a message that was black or white, which stirs the emotions and convicts the conscience. Yes, many of the young people took the ring, but I wonder how much it was the hype of the event. The whole USA visit was markedly different to how the two youthworkers had been working with the young people - and they both acknowledge this and voiced some concerns.

The other interesting thing was to observe that when something works well our immediate reaction is to try and grow it. The introduction of other people into the group was never going to work, because the original 12 had formed an identity and support group together through the journey they had taken. This journey immediately created a membership which new people could not share because they had travelled together. Group identity in youthwork is so important and although we should try and resist the exclusivity that young people create in their groups, we must realise the strength of that identity. With the small group we run, we've just had 5-6 or new faces join (through them reaching secondary school-age) and its not all smooth. We're going away for a weekend to re-establish the group identity and hopefully help the new guys feel like they belong and the others more comfortable with having new people in their space.

The programme shows that talking about sex and relationships can transform young people's views and ideas about the importance and place of sex. It was great to see them go and talk to class of public school children so confidently. The trailer for next week (in what I think is the final episode) suggested that not all of 12 young people kept the no sex for 5 months promise, which if it is the case shouldn't take away from the strengths of what the youthworkers have achieved. Hopefully the programme will act as a wake-up call to the government, schools and churches to get their act together over sex education.

No Sex Please We're Teenagers

This is a new BBC2 documentary where 12 teenagers pledge not to have sex of any kind for five months by two Christian youthworkers. This was a well-made and interesting program, looking at the issue of sex among teenagers, well until the trip to America! I thought the two youthworkers went around the issues well, were upfront about their faith, but not over-prescriptive (typical British style youthwork) - the teenagers involved were definitely thinking about the questions in a new light.

The contrast with the youthwork scene in America was revealing. Indoctrination and bible-bashing appeared to prevalent - American Christian teenagers kept referring to the Bible, but you wonder if they could point to any texts. There was also a false belief that sex on their wedding night was going to be this wonderful thing - when most of the British teenagers revealed that the first time is often not a wonderful time! Putting the British teenagers into this environment seemed to be damaging some of the good work that had been going on back in the UK. Three of the girls were very obviously uncomfortable with the charismatic youth service they were invited to attend. This made clear how strange church services must be to young people outside of the church. One girl said, church in the UK is just about saying prayers, not singing! The American 'youth pastor' was unable to dialogue or listen to the  young people, in complete contrast to the British youth workers, who kept stressing that the teenagers were free to choose and believe what they like.

Another point that emerged was the whole 'no sex before/outside of marriage' message has no (moral) weight with a generation that disbelieves in the idea of marriage. Where getting married seems pointless, apart from having the dream wedding day and relationships are finite, the message goes unheard. It made clear again to me, that the debate is not about sex, but about marriage. There is a need for the church to re-establish the place and point of marriage in our culture - give it meaning. What does a marriage provide that living together does not? Why is sex best within a marriage?

I think its sad that the only option we have is to speak about having safe sex, that avoiding sex until marriage or at least later in life, is not a message we communicate in schools and youth clubs. The safe sex message seems to be resigned to the fact that young people will be having sex probably at some point between 12-18 yrs old. I would like to more work done on talking about relationships, on why its better to wait - I'm not advocating a 'true love waits' message - just that sex is complicated and actually requires a maturity. I would like to see a better discussion of the validity of marriage.

Next week, they're still in America and go to a 'silver ring' event - you saw a clip of the youth pastor saying if would pay for their rings, if the teenagers signed-up! BBC2, Tuesday 9pm. I'll post more next week.