Pluralism's problems

I'm a fan of pluralism, when it is administered properly. It seems to me that religious freedom is an essential aspect of an earthly society. Christianity teaches as much when in 2 Corinthians 4 and 5, the apostle Paul describes Christian ministry as 'free persuasion', not secretive or coercive but yet still clear in its own position. The situation at the University of Birmingham suggests that some institutions are struggling to generate real pluralism. They've kicked out the Christian Union. Here's the story: what do you think should have happened in order to have a campus where people can believe what they wish, freely?


This article from the CASE archives might interest you, too.

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The Lion, the Pitch and the Auction

Back on deck after a season of feasting. Saw the first Narnia movie with a large contingent of 4-10 year olds. They had their usual reaction—"It was good"—which makes me wonder what it will take to arouse the senses of their generation. I thought it was better than good, with an appropriate focus on the spiritual awakening of the children, as they discover that they are both immortal diamond and quintessence of dust, kings and queens precariously. It was always going to be hard to get Aslan right, so I'm glad they went with the 'Aslan is a great lion' rather than anything more laboured. I liked the treatment of the sacrifice, too—a good balance of story and symbol.


I've escaped a lot of the hype, but I still enjoyed the C.S. Lewis auction hosted by the Wittenberg Door.

What did you think of the film?

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Sleep

There are traditionally two reasons for sleeping--to refresh the body, and as a memento mori, a preparation for leaving this world and entering the next. Is today's Western busyness part of our denial of death and a world beyond this one? Lauren Winner thinks so in this call to get enough sleep. I hope you do these holidays! See you in 2006.


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Christmas wishes

Christmas brings out the deeply serious and the deeply silly in me, so here's wishing all CASE readers a very word-became-flesh focused, theologically sustaining, carol-filled, Narnia-visiting, suitably Aussie (not Aussie), and fun festive season. Join us in 2006 for more courses, lectures and conferences—and a quarterly publication that is back on a quarterly timetable!
Cheers!
Greg Clarke

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