Last Monday, Donal Trump was inaugurated as US President for the second time. What does Trump 2.0 mean for Christians in the UK? Here are my top three predictions for how the new presidency may influence the UK church. First, I think a large part of Trump’s victory was down to his ability to capture......
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‘Wandered lost in nights so black. Now I am sure, no turning back. Jesus, lift my soul so high. Break my chains, let me fly-y-y-y…’ With these lines, Ed Sheeran has seemingly joined Job and David among those on the long list of lyricists credited with verses that turn from lament to praise. Yet Sheeran......
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Some phrases think for us. They slip easily off the tongue, the obvious thing to say. We use them without noticing the presuppositions that have smuggled into our argument. ...
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Recently, I went to watch a friend sing Bach’s Mass in B minor in a beautiful school chapel. As voices soared towards the vaulted ceiling, I recalled the composer’s words, ‘The aim… of all music should be…the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.’ I wondered what Bach would make of music and cultural life today. ...
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What is the probability of artificial intelligence running amok and causing havoc in an extreme way? This idea has increasingly been hitting the headlines and was given a serious place at the table of world politics with the first international AI Safety Summit last week. Regulation is obviously worth pursuing, but what about the values embodied by AI itself? Rather than focusing on prohibition, how can we proactively rig the system for good? AI trains on data sets, and these data sets are shaped by human behaviour – meaning sin is built into...
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As AI technology continues to advance, its ability to replicate natural human language has become increasingly impressive. This development raises important spiritual questions about our perception of humanity, value, creativity, and purpose. From a Christian perspective, it’s important to consider how these advancements in technology align with biblical teaching. One of the key considerations is the question of humanity. The Bible teaches that human beings are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), which sets us apart from all other for...
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‘The metaverse may be virtual, but the impact will be real.’ Chances are you’ve seen these words before. They’re the tagline to Facebook owner Meta’s latest advert, giving people a utopian ‘glimpse of what the benefits [of the metaverse] could be.’ As Professor John Wyatt explained in this blog, the metaverse is ‘a 3D virtual reality (VR) world in which it is claimed we will soon be able to live our lives.’ It’s attracting billions in investment. Major brands and artists like Nike and Snoop Dogg have launched VR-only pro...
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Black History Month is a time to remember people who are often overlooked but played a key role in society. For example, last month marked the thirtieth anniversary of Dr Mae Jemison’s historic NASA mission as the first African American woman in space. Similarly, three Black mathematicians – two of whom were openly Christians – contributed to the moon landings, a story popularised by the film Hidden Figures. Another hidden element in today’s history of modern science is the contribution of Christian theology – in particular the doc...
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Mark Zuckerberg, like many other tech entrepreneurs, is driven by a dream – turning science fiction into reality. Not content with connecting 2.9 billion Facebook users across the planet, Zuckerberg is now focusing on the metaverse, a 3D virtual reality world in which it is claimed we will soon be able to live our lives. Working, playing, shopping, making friends, entertainment, and romance: it will all be available from the comfort of our homes. It’s a techno-optimist vision of a future in which advanced technologies enable every aspect of...
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Trigger warning: This article makes reference to abortion. I was captured by a news story this week about a woman named Heidi Carter. Ms Carter, who has Down’s syndrome, is bringing a legal challenge against a UK law that she perceives as ‘deeply offensive’ and ‘discriminatory’. The law permits children with Down’s or other disabilities such as cleft palate or club feet to be aborted anytime up to birth. ‘I will not tolerate it’ she stated. ‘That someone like me or [my husband] James could be aborted just before birth is jus...
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