Nicholas Baines

LATEST ARTICLES ( 623 )

• Voting and Reading

  I was amused to read today that people are declining to vote because they despise politicians. Or, to use the media wording: “Fury at MPs”.The numbers of... Read more

  Posted on 27 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• #christmasmeans

  

  … the Christmas presence you've always wanted.… love sprouts eternal.… God among us, God with us, God one of us, God for us.… matter matters: the Word became... Read more

  Posted on 24 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Strictly Speaking…

  

  This is the script of this morning's Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Show with Jake Bugg, a Salvation Army band and the Strictly Come Dancing... Read more

  Posted on 20 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Poor Show

  

  The newspapers variously report today on the debate in the House of Commons about foodbanks.OK, make allowances for the natural party-political hype and... Read more

  Posted on 19 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Walk the Talk

  

  This is the text of my one-minute reflection on this morning's BBC Radio 2 Good Morning Sunday with the wonderful Clare Balding:When I heard that Nelson... Read more

  Posted on 15 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Perceptions

  

  Advent and Christmas are always a bit of a strain for clergy as they try to find new, fresh or creative ways of telling a traditional story. Read more

  Posted on 14 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom

  

  One of the things I will never forget is the sound of Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela singing ‘Free Nelson Mandela’ at the Mandela 70th Birthday concert at... Read more

  Posted on 06 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Nelson Mandela RIP

  Nelson Mandela is dead.Words are inadequate to celebrate such a man.He is being quoted extensively across the Twittersphere.If only those who admire, revere... Read more

  Posted on 05 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Doctored

  

  I haven't been writing much recently. Too many other things going on (or not going on, as it were) and not much to say.The Pilling Report needs more thought... Read more

  Posted on 04 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Dead Bishop

  

  The National Portrait Gallery in London has an excellent exhibition on Elizabeth I and Her People.A couple of weeks ago I was asked to write a brief blog post... Read more

  Posted on 04 December 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Burning Questions (maybe)

  

  1. Why is my fantasy league team rubbish and getting worse?2. Why did Education Minister Michael Gove recently accuse education in Bradford of having been... Read more

  Posted on 25 November 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Jfk

  

  This is the text of this morning's Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Show in the presence of Billie Piper, Lawrence Fox, David Dimbleby and the... Read more

  Posted on 22 November 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Prophetic Imagination

  One day in the life of the General Synod of the Church of England here in London. Women bishops legislation in groups The naming of dioceses Presidential Addres... Read more

  Posted on 19 November 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Approach to Synod

  

  The General Synod of the Church of England is meeting for three days in London. Like many others, I approach such meetings with a mixture of serious anticipatio... Read more

  Posted on 18 November 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Children in Need

  This is the text of this morning's Pause for Thought on the Chris Evans Show on BBC Radio 2:Whenever I hear the phrase 'Children in Need' I hear the echo of... Read more

  Posted on 15 November 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Remembrance Day

  

  Just back from the Remembrance Day observations in Bradford. A couple of thousand people turned out and observed two minutes silence at 11am. We also sang and... Read more

  Posted on 10 November 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Blue Suburban Skies

  

  This is the text of this morning's Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Show. He has a Beatles theme running through the week, so I thought I'd start... Read more

  Posted on 06 November 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Religion and the Public Space: a German View in Italy (7)

  

  So, the conference is almost over. The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung knows how to put on a good debate and the last few days have been very stimulating at lots of... Read more

  Posted on 30 October 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Religion and the Public Space: a German View in Italy (6)

  

  The final approach before the conference lands at lunchtime. This morning continues with yesterday's theme, looking at responses to societal and religious... Read more

  Posted on 30 October 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY

• Religion and the Public Space: a German View in Italy (4)

  

  This Konrad Adenauer Stiftung symposium in Cadenabbia, Italy, began on Sunday by setting the scene for the main theme: Der öffentliche Raum in Europa und seine... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2013 RELIGION, SOCIETY, SPIRITUALITY