It's ... not as bad as I feared. If one only judged by the newspapers, one might think Britain a complete hive of scum and villainy. I was glad to be reminded of its better aspects.
Yes indeed (Whitechapel was where I did my curacy). I often ponder, though, the point about friendship, ie Aristotle's comment that true friendship is only possible where there is a shared aim - so whilst there can indeed be a common cause against the monstrosities of the secular, I wonder how far the deepest friendships are possible outside of an explicitly Christian community.
I suspect that the best answer to that question is that we simply have to try. In my inter-faith academic work, such as it is, I do find like-minded Buddhists and Muslims with whom I have far more in common than with an ardent secularist, and whom I am glad to count my friends.
The only time I was in London, decades ago, I felt that it was THE most cosmopolitan city I have ever visited. Hotels, pubs, staff, waiters, clerks, etc were from all over the old empire and the rest of the planet. We actually began to joke that even though we were in the UK, we hadn't met any englishmen.....
.....i wonder📚 what Dickens, GKC, Orwell, Clive and Tolkien would think? ✍🏼I deeply appreciate your balance toward islam. There are puritans in every crowd, don't be a puritan. Grace and peace to you, we are all broke, ❤️🩹we all got our stuff. Blessed Lent, good strength!🕯️📿⚓🕊️☦️
{Ps: solid response to the young bloke about sh*t)
Thank you as ever, Robert. London is peculiarly un-English on the streets, while remaining deeply so behind the doors of ancient institutions, ecclesial, military, trade, professional and social. And within those, there are many perfectly English Muslims. Would that the higher echelons might nourish and inspire the lower: but this is considered an undemocratic sentiment.
Amen and amen
Thank you for this.
I’m not sure “enjoyed” is the right word, but I feel enriched by having read that. A really interesting snapshot of Britain in 2025.
It's ... not as bad as I feared. If one only judged by the newspapers, one might think Britain a complete hive of scum and villainy. I was glad to be reminded of its better aspects.
Yes indeed (Whitechapel was where I did my curacy). I often ponder, though, the point about friendship, ie Aristotle's comment that true friendship is only possible where there is a shared aim - so whilst there can indeed be a common cause against the monstrosities of the secular, I wonder how far the deepest friendships are possible outside of an explicitly Christian community.
I suspect that the best answer to that question is that we simply have to try. In my inter-faith academic work, such as it is, I do find like-minded Buddhists and Muslims with whom I have far more in common than with an ardent secularist, and whom I am glad to count my friends.
Thank you for this post Father. 🌐⛪🏴🇯🇵🇬🇧
The only time I was in London, decades ago, I felt that it was THE most cosmopolitan city I have ever visited. Hotels, pubs, staff, waiters, clerks, etc were from all over the old empire and the rest of the planet. We actually began to joke that even though we were in the UK, we hadn't met any englishmen.....
.....i wonder📚 what Dickens, GKC, Orwell, Clive and Tolkien would think? ✍🏼I deeply appreciate your balance toward islam. There are puritans in every crowd, don't be a puritan. Grace and peace to you, we are all broke, ❤️🩹we all got our stuff. Blessed Lent, good strength!🕯️📿⚓🕊️☦️
{Ps: solid response to the young bloke about sh*t)
Thank you as ever, Robert. London is peculiarly un-English on the streets, while remaining deeply so behind the doors of ancient institutions, ecclesial, military, trade, professional and social. And within those, there are many perfectly English Muslims. Would that the higher echelons might nourish and inspire the lower: but this is considered an undemocratic sentiment.
Thank you for taking the time to respond.
Onward to Jerusalem, to behold His empty Tomb....