IS GOD IN CONTROL?

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU

12/13/2018

Government figures show that the number of people referred to the UK government’s counter-extremism programme over concerns about “far-right activity” has risen by more than a third. Of the 394 individuals who received Channel support (Channel, which is part of the Prevent strategy, provides specialist support to people who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism), 45% were referred for concerns related to Islamist extremism and 44% for concerns related to right wing extremism. “Prevent,”

GENTLE COMMERCE?

12/12/2018

It has been fashionable for at least two hundred years to paint trade and commercial activity as an ennobling force for mankind. In the 18th century, the philosopher (and aristocrat) Montesquieu coined the term “gentle commerce” to describe this view. The trade of arms – of being a common soldier – was however seen as wholly degrading, even by those who officered them. The Duke of Wellington, Napoleon’s vanquisher at Waterloo, said of the British soldier: “Our [army] is composed of the scum

LIVING WITHOUT THE CHURCH

12/10/2018

Frequently in my writing I grieve that so few people in Britain attend church services regularly. Yet I myself no longer do so. The 2016 Scottish Church Census found that the number of people who regularly attend Sunday church services in Scotland has fallen by more than half over the last 30 years. Only 7.2% of Scotland's population regularly attends church today, down from 17% in 1984. A September 2017 survey (the British Social Attitudes Survey) finds that the number of people

URBI et ORBI

A politically non-aligned blog-site with an independent point of view that explores social, cultural, political and economic issues, as well as aspects of morality and spirituality

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IS GOD IN CONTROL?

Robert Dewar

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU

GENTLE COMMERCE?

LIVING WITHOUT THE CHURCH