Apparently, I am a grumpy bishop who has lost his sense of reality and missed the point of Christmas ‘magic’.
Last Sunday the Telegraph published a story about my new book and gave it the remarkable headline Traditional carols are ‘nonsense’, says bishop. The story then ran across the media, bringing me a host of abusive emails and an awful lot of invitations to do interviews with TV and radio. I have also received a pile of positive emails and texts, including examples of adults doing nativity plays for children and re-writings of some carols. But before we get into what all the fuss is about, let me point out one fact.
Of all the stories in all the papers (including the original one from the Telegraph), only one actually involved a journalist calling me to ask about it. Arthur Martin of the Daily Mail gave me the opportunity to respond and comment before he went to print. (And I can add that every radio and TV interviewer – maybe with one exception – has been intelligent, reasonable, funny and generous in the last couple of days.) Even entering the more challenging lion’s den of the Alan Titchmarsh Show was enjoyable and they gave me the chance to speak.
So, I was interested to see that the other papers seem to have simply lifted the words of Jonathan Wynne-Jones from the Sunday Telegraph and reproduced them – sometimes without even changing them – and in every single case without checking sources and looking at what I actually say in the book. Jonathan should charge royalties for such reproduction of his words. And the so-called commentators should hang their heads in professional shame at earning their money from bouncing off a ‘great media story’ without even checking out the book itself. I don’t know if we put this down to illiteracy or laziness, but it sure isn’t very clever.
(If I took the first paragraph of John Walsh‘s silly comment piece and then dissed the rest of his article without reading it, I assume he would consider that to be inept and unreasonable. So, has he bothered to contextualise the quotations from my book? Er… obviously not.)
Anyway, the story is that I am a ‘grumpy bishop’ who is filling the annual ‘barmy bishop’ slot by condemning the nation’s favourite Christmas carols. Apparently, I think O come, all ye faithful should be re-worded (I don’t), Away in a manger shouldn’t be sung (I don’t) and Once in Royal David’s City should be ditched (I don’t). So, I am a miserable killjoy who wants to take the magic out of Christmas. Apparently.
It’s a bit weird, then, that I am doing the round of the studios encouraging people to sing the carols, enjoy the carol services, pack out the nativity plays and celebrate well. Even weirder that an Anglican Bishop (a category of human being normally being told by the same papers to get some backbone in defending a Christian Britain faced with all kinds of threats) gets ridiculed for saying that we need to distinguish between the Christmas story (from the Gospels)and the other stories (pantomimes, fairy tales, etc.) that dominate the Christmas ‘experience’.
How odd that the intelligentsia don’t think that content matters – that we can sing what we like and it shouldn’t matter. I somehow think that the line would change if it were the BNP youth wing singing fascist songs around a campfire. Of course, it matters what we sing. As someone said on the radio yesterday, if you take the ‘text’ out of ‘context’, what are you left with?
But before tiredness makes me really grumpy – which I haven’t been for ages (except with Liverpool’s bad form…) and which certainly doesn’t characterise the book – here’s what I am saying in the book.
Some children now can’t distinguish between the Christmas story and (for the sake of brevity) pantomime stories. I love pantos and I love lots of the Christmas stuff that is funny and cheerful. But does anyone seriously think it doesn;t matter if our kids grow up unable to distinguish between God and Santa Claus, angels and fairies, Jesus and Cinderella? At the very least this is an educational point – it doesn’t even get close to the question of what you believe about the Christmas story. So, I think the Christmas story should be told in a way that makes it real and allows it its integrity.
Now, some commentators say that Christmas is about sentiment (feeling), nostalgia and ‘magic’. They say that simple carols are great for children to begin to learn the story. Absolutely right. But the people arguing this are not children, but adults who want to stay as children when it comes to matters of God and faith and so on. Think like a child when you are a child, but, for goodness’ sake, grow up when you are an adult.
Some carols are great for telling the Christmas story and I praise carols and carol singing in the book. But we should sing them (as adults) with our brains engaged and reflect back on the original story they are telling. Is that really so hard to understand or so radical that it is threatening to the great British public?
The ‘magic’ of Christmas is fine – up to a point. But ask any clergy and they will tell you about the ways in which Christmas is hard for many people and how the ‘magic’ makes it harder. It is for them that the reality of Christmas hits home: that God has not remained a million miles above contradiction, but opted in to the muck and messiness of the world and meets us where we are – in the vulnerability of the baby in Bethlehem. To tell that story is not to be miserable – but the opposite.
I am just not prepared to encourage people to live in a fantasy world, but doing my job as a Christian bishop in calling people back to the original story. Grasp it – and then celebrate hard and fully. I’ll be belting out the carols and watching the nativity plays along with the rest of them. But I will also be living in the real world and engaging my brain.
It is probably too late to ask the people who have whipped up this media story to actually read the book. As I said on the telly today, it isn’t exactly the Communist Manifesto. It’s a short, straightforward introduction to Christmas – and a strong affirmation of Christmas celebration. Jonathan Wynne-Jones has enabled the meaning of Christmas to be debated and that is some achievement – despite the personal ridicule it has engendered for me.
I leave the last word to an unrelated comment on someone else’s blog. He explains that he posted a photo of me so that his readers don’t confuse me with the keyboard player from the brilliant Kaiser Chiefs (who has the same name as me). One bloke responded with:
Do you not think ‘Kaiser chiefs’ would be a great name for the house of bishops, though?
Genius!
Nick Baines's Blog 
December 1, 2009 at 10:12 pm
You were bril on Breakfast!
Many sane people suffer from the Dully Tele, recovery is possible.
December 1, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I’ve got a copy of your book pending review. Guess I need to get a move on. Hmmm … wonder if you’ve given me enough here to write my review without actually reading it?? 😉
December 1, 2009 at 10:24 pm
It’s been a weird experience reading your book (mostly in the bath I must confess) and listening to and reading the commentary from the media. I keep having to check they are speaking and writing about the same thing. It does raise the question; if the media are so poor on this then what about their commentary and analysis of other matters?
On the up side, it does mean you’ve had plenty of opportunity to talk about the real Christmas story to listeners and viewers. Anyway, I’m enjoying it and thanks for all the sermon material in there. I guess the adverse publicity isn’t exactly harming sales of the book if our diocesan resources centre is anything to go by.
And Liverpool did Everton at the weekend so it’s not all doom and gloom!
December 1, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Nick – When I covered this story on my Sunday programme without having spoken to you (something we thankfully rectified as soon as we were both able) I prefaced our discussion with the fact that every time I’ve spoken to you about a story you’ve featured in, there has been some element of misrepresentation of your position.
With that caveat out of the way, we went on to discuss your main point (which you’ve outlined further above). All three of my guests (a journalist, church leader and charity worker) agreed you had a point and we shouldn’t just sing without engaging our brains.
I despair at much of the written/online press today and will only read the likes of Pitcher and Brown. The rest I swallow when I have to.
Ps. My copy of the Communist Manifesto is 84 pages long – so you’re not as far off as you think!
December 1, 2009 at 11:30 pm
You were terrific this morning, and what a twinkle in your eye.
Some people just don’t get it , do they. You are bringing the Christmas story right to the people, pretty good discussion follows on. A score, brilliant.
December 2, 2009 at 5:10 am
Nick,
As always – come out fighting. I saw the Times report and just laughed. Fortunately, I perhaps come from a position that agrees with yours.
I have the book on order – so I will actually see exactly what is said in the next day or so.
I was thinking of your comment regarding when a child – “think as a child, but when you grow up, think as an adult”.
Yesterday, I participated in taking Holy Communion to a care home, who look after those suffering from Dementia. It is Poignant to meet those, who have led fulfilled lives, and now in reality are in various stages of the illness – and some thinking as a child. It reminded me so strongly of
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'”
We sang Away in a Manger and all joined in and sang Gustily, it was one of the most moving experiences I have had recently.
Advent for me is most exciting – I wish I could transmit this excitement in a real way to those detractors, to help them appreciate the meaning and significance of the Christmas story – unfortunately, sometimes, seeing the media, it feels like a voice crying in the wilderness.
December 2, 2009 at 6:30 am
Nick, is your book available in North America, do you know?
December 2, 2009 at 6:48 am
Its funny that some are trying to shoe-horn you into the role of miserable old git, taking the fun out of Christmas because some of the stories aren’t technically accurate. The irony is that there are plenty of those Christians out there – its just that you’re not one of them.
December 2, 2009 at 7:56 am
Marvellous! Congratulations on being picked for this year’s Xmas ‘barmy bishop’ slot! They don’t take just any ol’ purple shirt you know.
You have certainly got my team huffing and puffing about you and the meaning of carols in my parish – but at least they’re talking about theology for a change -while they’re trying on their elf costimes. Santa’s CRB check didn’t come through in time for the Christmas Fayre, so we need extra CRB’s elves to be with him at all times. Having trouble finding the biblical precedent for elves but the children’s mission team won’t have it any other way. ‘The children must never be disappointed at Christmas, Erica. We must have elves and sing Away in a Manger.’
I don’t have your backbone. I admit it, I caved.
P.S. I’m thrilled someone is quoting a band on this blog I’ve finally heard of…
December 2, 2009 at 8:27 am
Matthew Parris enjoyed his dig, based on a misreading of your remarks, on the Andrew Marr programme. Your discoveries about the British media are merely another chapter in a very long decline. I was intrigued however as to what you thought, post mortem, of your brief discussion with Madam Bunting, because it seemed to me that here we had an example of a very able, intelligent journalist unwilling to engage with what you were saying.
December 2, 2009 at 9:03 am
It is bizarre that someone as genial as yourself gets characterised as ” grumpy”. A priest friend of mine has taught ( often when confronted by someone qouting random texts from the Bible) that ” text without context is pretext”. In this case, a pretext for unloading their prejudice against Christians in general and Bishops in particular. Your colleaugues ought to learn that the slot will be vacant next December.
You did well on Today and Titchmarsh but
wasn’t Carol Malone determindly self opinionated?
I find it odd that cheerful Christians are characterised as miserable and those who critisise are often more vehemently self assertive than Iain Paisley.
December 2, 2009 at 9:05 am
1.Regarding relevance of carols, my Archbishop strongly does not believe that ‘the little Lord Jesus no crying he makes’ (and so eschews singing Away in a manger, as being untypical of a baby who might be woken up from a comfortable sleep.)
2. ref Phil Ritchie: Liverpool did not do Everton, Joseph Yobo’s left leg did Everton – twice!
December 2, 2009 at 9:36 am
Nick, what’s your position on the St Paul choir singing carols for the Disney sponsored event this christmas on Oxford Street and Regent Street? It can’t get more fantasy world than that, can it?
December 2, 2009 at 10:23 am
I saw you on breakfast yesterday, you were brill. What you said made loads of sense, and as a committed nonbeliever you’ve made me want to read your book. You seem like a top bloke, pity about the Red inclination though!
December 2, 2009 at 10:35 am
Nick, nice work on all your interviews and on the most gratuitous plug I’ve ever seen on BBC London news.
But reading this blog it’s not hard to see why you’re being called grumpy. I’d have thought that you’d be delighted at your extensive coverage, on tv, radio and in print, which has given you a great platform to put your case across and has got people thinking and talking about what Christmas is about.
Furthermore, I hear that your book has entered Amazon’s top 20 religious books following all of the plugs. Well done on both fronts.
Yet you take issue with our coverage, particularly on the “some carols are nonsense” line.
This is what you wrote: “I always find it a slightly bizarre sight when I see parents and grandparents at a nativity play singing ‘Away in a manger’ as if it actually related to reality…
“I think there is an even more serious third problem. If we sing nonsense, is it any surprise that children grow into adults and throw out tearless baby Jesus with Father Christmas and other fantasy figures?”
So when you talk about nonsense, what exactly are you referring to if not carols?
Are you not being lazy in having a pop at the media, which is a distraction from the much more relevant and challenging issue that you’ve raised?
December 2, 2009 at 10:46 am
Tim, I’m not sure. It will certainly be obtainable through Amazon.
December 2, 2009 at 11:09 am
Jonathan, I missed the gratuitous plug as I didn’t see the programme. My post last night was at the end of two days of endless interviews, but I thought I needed to get something up here (the first post for days). Thanks for responding and for kicking the whole thing off with your article – with which I was not happy when it appeared because of the way it would be taken, but have now moved on from.
You are right about the ‘platform’ – and I attribute that achievement to you personally in my blog post – and I am not grumpy about that at all. But, I think where you as a journalist and I as the ‘written about’ diverge is that you don’t see yourself ridiculed across the media and you don’t have to deal with the other journalists (unlike you) who didn’t read the book, don’t see what follows (or precedes) what you quoted and don’t bother to check the sources. I find it odd that you find it odd that this is a concern to me and others who find themselves on the receiving end.
I think we have to separate out the two issues here: (a) getting a story out and sparking a debate (excellent – well done) and (b) the ‘medium’ issues raised by the way the matter is handled. I am interested in both.
Now, about the ‘nonsense’. The headline to your story (which you didn’t choose) is strictly accurate in that I am questioning the ‘integrity’ of a couple of lines in a couple of carols – but it was picked up (and is read) as me dissing all traditional carols as ‘nonsense’. That is nonsense – as you know from reading on to the following paragraph in the book. So, the response put to me has consistently been that I am a Scrooge who wants to take the magic out of Christmas and dump all the carols. You know that I nowhere suggest that these carols shouldn’t be sung.
So, I am not complaining about the story or the way it has panned out over the last few days, but I might have expected too much in terms of adults in the media understanding nuance, rhetoric and the development of an idea to get people thinking. That is not a criticism of you! But I still think you should charge royalties on your ‘lifted’ words.
I’ll be adding to this in a post later.
December 2, 2009 at 11:53 am
I’ll add my congratulations to all your media coverage – it’ll help sales and it gets debate going about the oft-forgotten Christian message behind Christmas. I heard you on the Today programme with Madelaine Bunting – you both made some good points.
I’ve had a stab at the controversy in my CEN column this week. You’ll be surprised that I’m sympathising with you on your ‘Scrooge’ image. I think you’re in danger though of being a bit sneery over the idealised Victorian Christmas. Even from the most cheesy Yuletide image there’s a way of getting the gospel across. It was a good point that Madelaine made about the profound silence of a baby.
December 2, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Andrew, I am not surprised by anything any more! But thanks for the sympathy and your remarks. Madeleine did make an interesting point there – one that made me think about it in a different way – but she was the only one who did make me think differently.
December 2, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I don’t blame you for getting wound up at receiving abusive emails and negative coverage, and suspect I would be tempted to react similarly. From what I’ve seen, the real problem comes with lazy pundits/columists using it as an excuse to have a pop at the Church, via an attack on you. I think the issue is more with them and what it says about hostility to the Church than the standard of journalism.
However, the divergence between journalists and bishops isn’t as great as you might think. we are just as likely to be the object of lazy criticism, normally from people who bang on about despairing about the press as if it’s all somehow beneath them.
well done again on the book, and sales. and the plug was incredible, they did a close up of the book for a good few seconds before cutting back to you holding it in your hand.
December 2, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Jonathan, you are probably right about this. Thanks again.
December 2, 2009 at 1:31 pm
“I might have expected too much in terms of adults in the media understanding nuance, rhetoric and the development of an idea to get people thinking.” Surely you did not? Jonathan Wynne-Jones thinks the debate is not about the standards of journalism. It is about very little else. If people are despairing of the press it is precisely because of how little in general the British media can be relied upon to get right in any field of general rather than specialist news. I gave numerous examples in a previous thread contribution. This thread shows us two aspects of the situation – one is how thin-skinned journalists are when criticised and the other is how keen those in the public eye are to kiss and make up with the press after being savaged.
December 2, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Peter, I don’t agree about your last observation. I have always maintained that those who ‘put it out there’ (like I do) also need to learn from the experience and from the views that come back. Otherwise, what’s the point? JW-J and I have run-ins in the past and, no doubt, will have them in the future. I think he does have a point when he says that some of those who have had a go at me are lazily having a go at the church via me – if not, then some of their responses are even more irrational and puerile than I thought.
December 2, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I think Peter’s last point is also off the mark. Nick is one of the few bishops who sees it as important to engage with the media, who is prepared to meet deadlines or go into a studio at the drop of a hat and actually say something interesting. He does this, I imagine, at some cost to his own quality of life. His blog has also become a place where journalists can see him venting some of his frustrations and can come back at him. That degree of two-way communication is rare. Some of the points he has made over the past year or so have certainly made me think things over.
December 2, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Dear Bishop Nick,
I witnessed the Titchmarsh item. I have to add completely by chance – I needed something on whilst folding 2,500 Church Christmas Services Greetings Cards ready for distribution!
I just wanted to say what a phenomenon we witnessed. It was a fantastic illustration of how the world thinks and how Christianity is clearly counter-cultural.
The definition for claptrap is – what it says on the tin – a politician (or RedTop columnist in this isntance) saying exactly what they knew their audience wants to hear in order to attract applause.
By calling you ‘Scrooge’, and receiving cheers for it, however, it was a complete inversion of the Dickens story.
The character of Scrooge was in the first instance, self-regarding and self-centred: looking to please himself at all costs and, indeed, feeling very pleased with himself. Or, put another way, ‘worldly’.
Following encounters with the spirits of Christmas past/present/future he realised that, for the benefit of others, for social justice and for truth that he needed to change from being inward-looking and self-seeking, self-serving. In other words metanoia.
Astonishing to witness a crowd villifying someone for seeking simply to present the message of the Gospel. If there were a high hill, rocky outcrop or a scattering of stones handy would you have escaped? A prophet in his own land indeed.
Still stunned by the whole spectacle especially the final conciliatory or was it patronising hand on your forearm by your protagonist. It said to me either ‘don’t worry Nick, it’s only a bit of fun’ (!)or ‘sorry to put you through that, but I have a career to think of’.
Ken Livingstone was great though, wasn’t he? He has no arguments with Jesus’ position on welfare, social justice PC-ness etc. which was very kind of him – and actually silenced the baying crowd, I thought. Reminds me, though, of Field Marshall Montogomery, who once jumped up on a tank to rally the troops and began his speech by saying something like: ‘The Good Lord once said… and I think he was right…’
December 2, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Nick and Andrew: of course those who “put it out” also have to be prepared to take criticism. If criticism is intelligent it can be quite exhilarating. But what if it isn’t? What if it is puerile or abusive?You may then conclude perhaps that the engagement is not worth it – that there are new and different and more profitable paths to tread. However, let me try to be more precise. I think Nick was more than justified in expecting an adult response from the media. The people writing and broadcasting nationally have generally had the privilege of very good educations. It seems to me quite reasonable to expect what my own editors always insisted on – a modicum of responsibility. Parris – one of Cantab’s finest after all – on the Marr programme describes him as a silly bishop. He was not alone. His response was characteristic of the response elsewhere. And J W-J tells us it is not about journalistic standards but in order not to sell the pass it is necessary to know there is a pass to be sold. One of the most perceptive points Andrew makes is that Nick perhaps does his communicating at some cost to his own quality of life. It is not meeting deadlines that is so marvellous – we all do that – but it is the sacrifice involved in doing so that ought to be respected by those who deal with him.
December 2, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Actually, Peter, it is the Parris/Marr exchange that has provoked the most response to me privately. Even one or two who disagree with me were really disappointed at the lowering they witnessed there – they expect better of ‘serious’ journalists.
December 2, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Martin, Carol Malone touched my arm and said: ‘You were never going to win that one.’ I am easy about it. It was inportant to have the balls to turn up, I think. Interestingly, a comedian I met on my way out came over, shook my hand and told me he thought I’d done well despite being given a rough ride. He needn’t have said anything, but was generous.
December 2, 2009 at 5:08 pm
[…] Nick Baines, the Bishop of Croydon and my area bishop, has been in the news a lot the last few days. He’s been ’saying things’. That, my friends, is always dangerous. Of course, when nothing is said, the C of E is criticised for saying nothing. And when something is said, it is often criticised for what is said. And especially when what is said doesn’t fit with the benign, feeble and inept image people like to keep of the C of E. You see, people want the church to say something, as long as it says something that doesn‘t make a difference. Doesn’t challenge. Something suitable bland. […]
December 2, 2009 at 5:37 pm
My dear Bishop Baines, what does one expect from the current “news” media? Read your book before they tear it apart? Heavens, that might mean they would have to engage with your book, and actually try thinking!
Well, I’m off to Barnes & Noble to see if I can find a copy!
Kurt Hill
Brooklyn USA
December 2, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Kurt, Amazon might be a better bet!
December 2, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I shallbe preaching at an all age sermon on the 13th and you will get some en passant support as I deconstruct the manger and hope to show e.g. That the angels look back to Jacob and forward to Revelation, the donkey moves from Bethlehem to Jerusalem, and the shepherds green fields lead to Calvary. The genius of St Francis is in placing the manger firmly in the imagination which it is our task to relate to the unfolding story of redemption set in the everyday. world of journo’s footballers and children dressed as lobsters!
December 3, 2009 at 8:16 am
I haven’t read the book or most of the articles — just one cited on a blog elsewhere — but my first thought at reading that one was “Oh, that’s got to be completely out of context, hasn’t it?” and I commented to that effect, perhaps less politely than I might here.
I don’t know how much the “any publicity is good publicity” idea holds true here. If this whole thing gets more people reading your blog, your book or even (let’s really splash out here!) the Gospel, so much the better. But will that really happen? Won’t most people either swallow the sensation and forget about it, or be put off by the media and explore no further? I’m certainly guilty of the latter most of the time.
How much of the difficulty is with irresponsible or sensationalist journalism, and how much of it is with an audience that accepts written word as truth without question but seeks entertainment rather than information? I would respectfully submit that inappropriate literalism is about as dangerous when reading newspapers as it is when reading the Bible.
I don’t know how to respond to either problem usefully, but the two-way communication other commenters have noted is surely part of a constructive engagement with the issues, at least.
December 3, 2009 at 10:19 am
…”as I deconstruct the manger..”
Then, presumably, we’ll all be left with no choice but to go to IKEA?
December 3, 2009 at 10:09 pm
Having been on the receiving end of the media’s notion of the ‘TRUTH’, Roger Cook’s was totally perverse,it never ceases to amaze me that the art of the misquotation is alvie and well in Press Corridors.
I think its a good point, whilst very happy and joyful in promoting the birth of Christ, being an honest citizen some of the are pure drivel with words put together to create a rhyme.
NIcely said NIck.
December 4, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I’d like to recommend a great song by Aussie Christian kids singer (and not Anglican bishop) Colin Buchanan. It’s called ‘Jesus is no fairytale’ and sums up what you’ve been saying, Nick. Found on Colin’s album King of Christmas
December 7, 2009 at 9:12 am
This has been an interesting ride, Nick. There’s a quaint old Christmas tradition that UK newspapers need, on best Flat Earth News principles, a “Vicar who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus” story. Personally, I have always been rather worried that I might meet a Viar who did believe in Santa Claus (in the sense they mean).
(1) Your book challenged that on a meta level, by articulating that the various levels and elements of the Christmas story include the historical as well as the tinselled.
(2) The usual brouhaha, which can be relied on to last at least a week phutted out in a couple of days. This may be to do with the more crowded media space, or the speed of news, or the decline of the engines of the old media agenda. Not sure, but it was over sooner than usual this year.
(3) The conversation above between you and Jonathan Wynne-Jones is a gentle reminder of something sometimes forgotten: religious people often and understandably feel misrepresented/ misunderstood by the religious correspondents, but the correspondents in turn are speaking into a vast and ludicrous ignorance — thus the Marr/Parris encunter.
Congraulations on bbeing this year’s Santa denirer in such a way as to point people towards the gospel: which some would think is exactly what your job is about!
December 7, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Hi, I have finally managed to obtain and read a copy of your book. I just wanted to thank you for exploring how we should begin to experience and understand the true meaning of Christmas with such courage and clarity. It is something I have struggled to get my head round for years. It seems to be a hard subject to address appropriately, as it is so intertwined with the comforting traditions many of us are used to, protect and enjoy. (but which have little truth or substance). I think you have spoken of finding out the facts about Christmas in a thought provoking and sensitive way. It saddens me that people have found the need to create negative press/interviews based on snippets taken from your book. It seems as though they can’t possibly have read it properly! Still, if it means some of us pick it up for ourselves and search for the truth it can’t be all bad! Happy Christmas!
December 7, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Thanks, Alan. I particularly take your point about the challenge facing journalists who speak into an ignorant audience. But I think that simply points up the need for accurate reporting and comment.
December 7, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Ellia, this is very kind of you. I hope others who have jumped on the critical bandwagon have also read it for themselves and be in a position to judge appropriately. Happy Christmas to you too – with lots of carol singing…
December 9, 2009 at 10:02 am
[…] weeks ago, who disliked secular funerals, it seems all this has been taken entirely out of context. Writing on his blog, Nick explains: Last Sunday the Telegraph published a story about my new book and gave it the remarkable headline […]
December 10, 2009 at 8:09 pm
What is wrong with the” red inclination” ? Nothing at all in my book !
December 12, 2009 at 12:42 pm
[…] for a week, then finished). We noted how an observation taken out of context then gets reported (in my case) as ‘complaining’ which then gets passed on as ‘disdaining’, ‘pouring […]
December 18, 2009 at 4:54 pm
thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain you, but more importantly what God is about at ‘Christmas’ on the bus, in school, the street, St Paul’s cathedral gift shop, up the Tudor Rose and not least in a Kenley pulpit! God bless you
February 28, 2010 at 9:40 pm
I know I’m a bit late to the party as it were, but I saw this and thought of you… http://asbojesus.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/611/
June 9, 2010 at 5:03 pm
[…] I discovered last December, speak about the reality of the original Christmas events and you invite the piling of ordure on […]
June 9, 2010 at 5:41 pm
[…] I discovered last December, speak about the reality of the original Christmas events and you invite the piling of ordure on […]
July 9, 2010 at 5:44 pm
[…] I discovered for myself last December (when I ‘banned’ Christmas – apparently), the initial story is taken as accurate, […]
August 28, 2011 at 1:29 am
This not in response to the above article but support for you reference the things going on in Zimbabwe. I am an ex-soldier who to his deep regret oversaw the election in Rhodesia in 1979-80. I have been apalled by the events that came after the corrupt and to the shame of our government at the time who were not at all bothered about what preceeded the election just that it had to take place so we could wash our hand of it. But since then successive governments have continued to look the other way whilst going into other countries to clean up the regimes. Keep up the good work highlighting all the things that are going on behind the backs of a lot of people who should know but are happy to turn a blind eye.
December 9, 2011 at 12:27 pm
[…] take my life as I was now a ‘disgrace to the Church’), I put my case in a post entitled Grumpy Bishop – an accusation levelled at me despite the sheer happiness of the book I had written. […]