Nicholas Baines

LATEST ARTICLES ( 623 )

• 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

• Unfaithful Music…

  

  The great thing about holidays is the space to switch off and read stuff that has nothing to do with work. This time I am starting with Elvis Costello's... Read more

  Posted on 29 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• “Making the World Safer”?

  Donald Trump plays into that bizarre American obsession with 'safety'. You paint America as a dangerous place where before even catching a train you have to be... Read more

  Posted on 29 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Growing up into a Child

  

  This is the script fo this morning's Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Show in the company of Mo Farah, Tamsin Greig, Robert Winston and Jamie... Read more

  Posted on 22 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Will.or.May?

  

  I have been in the House of Lords all day today. I didn't put in to speak in any debate, but wanted to listen to debates on the European Union in particular. Read more

  Posted on 21 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Nudity and Nakedness

  This is the text of the article I was asked to write for this week's Radio Times. It was reported as a “lament”. It wasn't. I just thought it was quite... Read more

  Posted on 21 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• “Turbulent Times”

  The excellent Bishop of Hannover, Ralf Meister, delivered a brief ‘greeting’ on behalf of the Evangelischer Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) and ecumenical guests... Read more

  Posted on 20 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Hopes and Fears of All the Years

  This is the text of this morning's Presidential Address to the Leeds Diocesan Synod in Harrogate. It comes in the wake of the atrocity in Nice and the failure o... Read more

  Posted on 16 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Nice Turkey

  Turkey is not nice just now. And Nice is not how it sounds to English ears.This is not facetious. The terrorist atrocity in Nice last night and the military cou... Read more

  Posted on 16 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• EU Referendum: General Synod

  

  I am in York for the General Synod of the Church of England – a session that lasts from this afternoon until next Tuesday. The agenda was varied in order to... Read more

  Posted on 08 July 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• On Racism

  This is the script of this morning's Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, following the terrorist attack on Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and in... Read more

  Posted on 30 June 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The View from Germany

  For the record, these are two statements issued by the Protestant Church in Germany following the EU Referendum in the UK:The Chair of the Council of the... Read more

  Posted on 26 June 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Brexit and the Promised Land

  So, we are now a couple of days on from the EU Referendum in the UK. We have no credible government leadership. Her Majesty's Opposition is falling apart and... Read more

  Posted on 26 June 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Whither Europe?

  So, the people of the UK have spoken. But, what they have said is unclear. Nevertheless, the outcome is more than clear. We must now shape the future and not... Read more

  Posted on 24 June 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• The Humanity of Parliament

  

  Today saw the recall of both Houses of Parliament to pay tribute to Jo Cox, the MP murdered last Thursday in her constituency of Batley and Spen. Read more

  Posted on 20 June 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• EU Referendum

  Despite my deep European experience and connections (as well as affections), I decided early on in the referendum campaign to treat it like a real debate and... Read more

  Posted on 19 June 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Jo Cox

  It barely seems possible that only 40 hours ago a young MP was murdered on the streets of a quiet West Yorkshire town known previously for science (Joseph... Read more

  Posted on 18 June 2016 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY