Nicholas Baines

LATEST ARTICLES ( 612 )

• Questions and Answers

  This is the script of this morning’s Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans Show:I was getting off a bus in London late last night when a bloke... Read more

  Posted on 07 March 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Skripal, Russia and Poison

  It is obvious why Russia is being blamed for arranging the apparent attack on former double agent (Russian military intelligence office and MI5 spy) – there is ... Read more

  Posted on 06 March 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The Language of Leaving

  

  In her great book of essays The Givenness of Things Marilynne Robinson makes an observation that struck me:Whenever there is talk of decline – as in fact there... Read more

  Posted on 04 March 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• What’s It All For?

  This is the text of this morning’s Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 2’s Today programme, following yesterday’s debate in the House of the Lords on the EU... Read more

  Posted on 31 January 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The EU (Withdrawal) Bill: Debate in the House of Lords

  This is the basic text of my speech in the House of Lords during the Second Reading of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill:My Lords, many speakers will attend... Read more

  Posted on 30 January 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Flagging It up

  This is the script of this morning’s Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:News, by definition, is unpredictable. Read more

  Posted on 19 January 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Number Your Days

  This is the script of this morning’s Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans Show:I was on the train down from Leeds yesterday – at some unearthly hour... Read more

  Posted on 16 January 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The View from Space

  This is the script of this morning’s Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:Earlier this morning India launched a rocket to deliver a satellite... Read more

  Posted on 12 January 2018 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• BBC – Religion Under Review

  This morning the BBC is publishing a review of its engagement as a public service broadcaster with religion. I warmly welcome the report and the way the review... Read more

  Posted on 20 December 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Closer to the Light

  This is the script of this morning’s Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans Show:A few years ago I found myself in the Foreign Ministry of a Middle... Read more

  Posted on 12 December 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The Normalisation of Corruption

  A cursory glance at social media makes it clear that there is huge concern – across political and cultural divides – about the degeneration of public life,... Read more

  Posted on 07 December 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Bob Dylan: The Gospel Years

  

  A few weeks ago I interviewed author Clinton Heylin on his new book Trouble in Mind in which he recounts Bob Dylan’s Gospel years (1979-81). Read more

  Posted on 05 December 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Nothing Wednesday

  This is the script of this morning’s Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans Show:What day is it today? Wednesday? Just ‘Wednesday’? Read more

  Posted on 29 November 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Zimbabwe: the End of a World?

  

  Between 2004 and 2009 I visited Zimbabwe a number of times. The first visit exposed me to some of the realities and challenges of a beautiful country that Rober... Read more

  Posted on 18 November 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• New Bishop of Ripon

  

  It has been announced this morning by 10 Downing Street that the new suffragan [area) Bishop of Ripon in the Diocese of Leeds is the Rt Revd Dr Helen-Ann... Read more

  Posted on 09 November 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Fright Night

  This is the script of this morning’s Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans Show:I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of Halloween. Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• (More) Thought for the Day

  Well, that set the cat amongst the pigeons. Last night I posted a response to the dismissive and sneering comments by Today presenters on BBC Radio 4. Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Thought for the Day

  Tomorrow the Radio Times will publish an interview with presenters of the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme in which they dismiss as “boring” the Thought for the Day... Read more

  Posted on 30 October 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Understanding Germany and the EU

  

  Last night we went out with friends to the West Yorkshire Playhouse to see the Kneehigh Theatre Company’s production of Günter Grass’s epic The Tin Drum. It... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Dylan’s Gospel

  

  On 16 November I will be doing a gig at a pub in Pontefract with the acclaimed author of a new book on Bob Dylan. Clinton Heylin’s Trouble in Mind fills in all... Read more

  Posted on 26 October 2017 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY