I have recently been re-reading C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition Of Man – an absolute masterpiece of prophecy and prose. In it, he argues for the existence of objective moral value, and shows that (in 1940) it was in grave danger of being cast aside for some sort of purely rational and ‘scientific’ view of morality … Continue reading The Normal
All nice and neat, tied up in a little bow
The notion of Karma is a powerfully attractive one. The idea that there is a nice logical intelligibility behind the sequence of life’s events – the fortunes and calamities and everything in-between. That it follows a neat pattern of righteousness-blessing and unrighteousness-curse. This is so deeply wired into us that we are sometimes outraged when … Continue reading All nice and neat, tied up in a little bow
Work Work Work Work Work
1. Introduction The purpose of this essay is to answer the question, “How should I approach work as a Christian”. Obviously, this will be a highly personal and specific answer. Work looks different for every Christian and we all have a unique set of gifts, circumstances, backgrounds and personality traits that give rise to different … Continue reading Work Work Work Work Work
The increasingly shrill platitudes of pop musicians
Only one world. Oh, one world. Only one … In the end, it’s just love What the heck does this even mean? What specific problem does this help me solve? As a huge fan of Coldplay, I’ve grown up with and lived many of life’s peak emotional experiences through their music. I often say they … Continue reading The increasingly shrill platitudes of pop musicians
Virtue in a digital age
Ugh. Another article about digital technology? Add it to the pile of moralistic hankerings for a bygone era where screens didn’t exist. You can if you want to. In the last piece, I argued that as humans we are primarily desiring creatures, not thinking ones, and that our desires are shaped by our repeated actions … Continue reading Virtue in a digital age
Virtue and Liturgy
In this piece and the next, I hope to connect two dots in a way that is hopefully fresh: Virtue and Technology. I hope to convince you that as humans we are primarily desiring creatures, not thinking ones, and that our desires are shaped by our repeated actions until they are crystallised into virtue or … Continue reading Virtue and Liturgy
Book Review: Piranesi – Susanna Clarke
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The storytelling was masterful and the themes developed were deep and relevant. Basic Plot Recap Piranesi is the protagonist who lives in a labyrinth of statues and flowing tides, which he calls ‘the House’. Over the course of the book, it is gradually revealed that Piranesi is actually Matthew Rose … Continue reading Book Review: Piranesi – Susanna Clarke
Book Review: On Reading Well – Karen Swallow Prior
Overall review I quite enjoyed this book. The first thing it has done is expanded my reading list. But more deeply than that, I think it will change the way I read in the future. Karen Swallow Prior takes us through 12 virtues, accompanied by 12 works of literature. She analyses the virtues through the … Continue reading Book Review: On Reading Well – Karen Swallow Prior
An analysis of opinions on The Voice
If you’re anything like me, you have been watching The Voice debate intensify and draw nearer to a vote with a sense of guilt that you haven’t properly thought through your position on the topic. Worried that you will make an uninformed decision, you dip occasionally into the newspaper or social media commentary and pick … Continue reading An analysis of opinions on The Voice
Outbound 