The Archbishop of York caused something of a stir when he commented on the fact that some people found calling God father at the start of the Lord's prayer difficult. He was referring to it in the context of many people having difficulties with a patriarchal images of God because of the experiences they have… Continue reading Our parent, who art in heaven …..
Author: David Tatem
Reflections of an English European
If someone asks me which country I come from I always reply England. If I have to think about my passport I realise it's a British one and I know what that means but when I start to think about my identity it becomes more complex especially now in the wake of Brexit. Am I… Continue reading Reflections of an English European
Weapons or gifts? A reflection for inter-faith week
We've come a long way from the days when it was normal for people of one faith community to automatically view the members of another as strange and threatening but sadly far too much of it still remains and even flourishes as we have seen in recent years in relation to the attitude of some… Continue reading Weapons or gifts? A reflection for inter-faith week
The fractals of prejudice
Prejudice based on where someone comes from is, of course, a dangerous nonsense. I've written a tongue in cheek piece based on my own experience plus a little imaginative extrapolation that hopefully illustrates the point. It should be read aloud in a strong Devonshire accent, which I can provide on request... "I was born in… Continue reading The fractals of prejudice
Trigonos and Welsh Slate
The view towards mount Snowden from the edge of the slate quarry near Nantle. The Welsh slate trails lead you into an almost bizarre landscape where the green of the hills is broken up by the harsh greyness of the slate scattered randomly in huge slag heaps of slate across the hillside. Quarries have often… Continue reading Trigonos and Welsh Slate
Words, words, more words and the abuse of language
It’s hard to know what to write or think these days. I once had the naive belief that gradually things would get better, that we would make a gradual progress towards a more sensitive and caring socety; that the political far right would be confronted and would eventually give way and not so much be… Continue reading Words, words, more words and the abuse of language
Tossing and turning on the Dutch coast
We crossed over to the Netherlands in our camper and spent the first night parked in a row of vans looking out over the exit from Rotterdam Harbour. Inevitably I ended up thinking about the impending exit from the EU and how unnatural it feels. Despite the water between us we have been part of… Continue reading Tossing and turning on the Dutch coast
Thinking Aloud 