Part 3: God in the Rubble Holy Saturday is the day God is a civilian. No rank. No uniform. No strategic value. Just a body that needs burying. From the streets of Beirut to the ports of Yemen, the silence is the same. It is the silence of families waiting for names that will never be called. The Church often prefers a God of solutions. But Holy Saturday gives us a God of solidarity. If you cannot find God in a morgue in Gaza, you will not find him in a cathedral of power. If we only look for God in the ruins we find politically acceptable, we are not looking for God. We are looking for a mascot.
The Theology of the Airstrike
Part 2: The Theology of the Airstrike We have traded the Lamb who was slain for the lion who slays. We name our operations with the language of gods—Swords of Iron, Prosperity Guardian—as if we are the dispensers of divine justice. As if devastation is divine when we author it. Forgetting that when God finally came in the flesh, he did not bring fury. He brought a towel. He brought a cross. He brought a refusal to strike back. Crucifixion was a tool of empire. It was designed to demonstrate power, enforce control, and eliminate perceived threats under the cover of legality. Sound familiar? Christians ask, with straight faces: Who would Jesus bomb? Jesus was not the one authorising the violence. He was the one subjected to it.
The Weaponisation of the Table
Part 1: The Weaponisation of the Table If Jesus doesn’t have a litmus test for a traitor, why do we have one for a neighbour? The table is set. No purity tests at the door. No background checks. No border control. At the first Eucharist, the enemy is already at the table. Jesus does not remove him. He serves him. He washes the feet of the one who will hand him over to the state. We argue about the sanctity of the communion cup while our tax pounds—and our silent consent—help fill the cups of the broken-hearted in Yemen and Lebanon with the bitter wine of displacement. Who, exactly, are we excluding in his name?
International Women’s Day: God Is a Woman and the Church’s Defamation of Mary Magdalene
This International Women’s Day, God Is a Woman reminds us how women’s leadership has been erased, misrepresented, and silenced - from Mary Magdalene to today. Luisa Omielan’s fearless, laugh-out-loud show celebrates female authority, questions inherited patriarchy, and calls the Church, and all of us, to notice what we have overlooked for too long, inviting us to rewrite herstory.
Belonging First: Reforming the Room, Not Just the Chairs
The post (8of8) discusses The Every Child Achieving and Thriving SEND White Paper proposals of significant reforms to the current education system, moving from EHCPs to ISPs for improved consistency and early intervention. However, the article argues that true reform requires a cultural shift towards inclusion and belonging, rather than merely process enhancements, to support all children effectively.
Inclusion Beyond Compliance: School, Church, and Community
This post (7 of 8) discusses how the SEND landscape faces frustration with compliance procedures that, while necessary for safeguarding vulnerable children, can feel burdensome. Reforms aim to simplify processes but may overlook the importance of relational frameworks vital for genuine inclusion. Effective belonging cannot be achieved through paperwork alone; it requires community and connection.
Algorithms, Appetite, and the Economics of Harm
This post (6 of 8) discusses how children are shaped by economic systems, particularly through technology and food, which influence their desires and behaviours. It highlights the negative impacts of social media and ultra-processed foods on mental and physical health, advocating for reforms that consider these market incentives to foster genuine belonging and well-being.
Fear and Fences: Safety, Risk, and the Loss of Informal Space
Since the 1990s, safeguarding reforms in the UK have improved child protection, but they risk stifling opportunities for children's growth through over-regulation. Institutionalised environments, while protective, can limit informal interactions essential for developing relational skills. The challenge lies in finding a balance between safety and the nurturing of genuine community and resilience.
The Disappearance of Informal Belonging
This post (4 of 8) discusses the decline of informal spaces for children due to increased scheduling and digital interaction, impacting the concept of belonging and inclusion. While structured activities provide support, they may not foster genuine social connections, particularly for children with SEND. Emphasising unstructured experiences is vital for relational integration and community.
Creativity, Arts, and the Formation of the Human
This post (3 of 8 in a SEND reform series) argues that creativity is not merely an enrichment in education but essential for human development. Since the introduction of the EBacc in 2010, there has been a decline in arts education, particularly in state schools. This marginalisation risks reducing the understanding of personhood and spiritual formation, limiting both cognitive and social growth.
The Broken Church 