Nicholas Baines

LATEST ARTICLES ( 599 )

• The Public Discourse

  This is the text of this morning's Presidential Address at the Leeds Diocesan Synod:The fifth of November. The day we remember how we used to burn Roman... Read more

  Posted on 05 November 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The Fragility of Civilisation

  

  I am in Erfurt, Germany, to preach at the Reformation Day service in the Augustinerkirche where Martin Luther studied at the university and became a monk. Read more

  Posted on 31 October 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Maybe the Poet…

  This is the script of this morning's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today programme:It is said we live in interesting times. Read more

  Posted on 27 October 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The Meanings of Brexit

  It is clear that the government is working assiduously to create some shape out of the decision in the June referendum to leave the European Union. Read more

  Posted on 18 October 2016 SOCIETY

• Loving.Living.Learning

  

  This is the script of this morning's Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Show in the company of Robbie Williams, Anne Robinson, Mark Strong, Michael... Read more

  Posted on 30 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The Nature of Belief

  

  One of the questions constantly raised about the term “freedom of religion or belief” is that “belief” is assumed to be synonymous with “blind assumption”, “mer... Read more

  Posted on 15 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Freedom of Religion and Belief

  

  A quick link to the speech by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, at this morning's opening session of the IPPFoRB conference at the Reichstag in Berlin.... Read more

  Posted on 14 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Promise, Politics and Law

  

  Following my post last night on the corrosive nature of promises (as opposed to conjectures or wish lists) that can't be made, by people who have no right or... Read more

  Posted on 14 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Promises and Politics

  I am writing this in Berlin while attending an international inter-parliamentary conference on freedom of religion and belief. Parliamentarians have come from... Read more

  Posted on 13 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Why Discuss Cosmology with Clergy?

  Here are video interviews with Professor Brian Cox and Professor David Wilkinson during the first Diocese of Leeds clergy conference in Liverpool earlier this... Read more

  Posted on 09 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• More Science

  

  It is purely coincidental that our clergy conference discussion between Professor Brian Cox and Professor David Wilkinson took place just before the announcemen... Read more

  Posted on 09 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Cosmic and Earthed

  

  I have just got back from the first ever clergy conference in the Diocese of Leeds. We met at Liverpool Hope University – a place to which I used to deliver... Read more

  Posted on 08 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Science and Faith

  I am currently at Hope University, Liverpool, for the first clergy conference of the Diocese of Leeds. Nearly 400 clergy have crossed the Pennines, beginning... Read more

  Posted on 07 September 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Who is Martin Luther?

  

  This is the script of this morning's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today programme:I went into a bookshop last week to get a book I'd seen reviewed and,... Read more

  Posted on 29 August 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• Five Questions

  

  1. The Prime Minister has summoned her ministers to Chequers to discuss Brexit today. What are they discussing? Wouldn't I love to be a fly on the wall. Read more

  Posted on 28 August 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Loyalty and Loyalties

  This is the script of this morning's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today programme:It's been an interesting couple of weeks, hasn't it? Read more

  Posted on 22 August 2016 RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY

• A Bit About Sport

  This is the text of an article I wrote for the Yorkshire Post, published here today and anticipating a conference at York St John University next week – the... Read more

  Posted on 19 August 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Making Somewhere Great Again

  

  What is it about politicians that encourages them to make absurd pitches for power? During the EU Referendum campaign we saw ridiculous promises, based on... Read more

  Posted on 18 August 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Memory and Vision

  This is the script of this morning's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today programme:I have just got back from the reading of fat books on holiday. Read more

  Posted on 15 August 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• What Did the Romans Ever Do for Us?

  

  Every government should fire one advisor and appoint one historian. I have remarked on this before, especially when reviewing Christopher Clark's study of the... Read more

  Posted on 04 August 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY