Supernaturalists

“Getting righteously offended has become something of a hobby over the last few decades…”

Pete Baker on September 24, 2012, 12:03 pm

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The ‘outraged supernaturalists‘ narrative may already be wearing a bit thin in Libya, and further afield. But, taking that narrative at face value, there may be some points being made that are applicable closer to home. From Saturday’s Irish Times Getting righteously offended has become something of a hobby over the last few decades. Nothing binds people together more securely than a perception that somebody else is saying something nasty about their faith, nationality or hair colour. Rushdie describes the …

Giants’ Causeway Interpretive Centre: “The National Trust fully supports the scientific explanation for the creation of the stones 60 million years ago”

Pete Baker on July 6, 2012, 4:07 pm

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Which is fine, but misses the point. The National Trust continues to try to defend its decision to give in to the lobbying of the Caleb Foundation and include young-Earth creationist beliefs in the Giants’ Causeway Interpretive Centre. [Are they after the crank pound? – Ed] Maybe… and maybe not. Yesterday’s NT press office blog carried this quote A National Trust spokesperson said: “The interpretation in the visitor centre showcases the science of how the stones were formed, the history of …

Giants’ Causeway Interpretive Centre: “This is, as far as we are aware, a first for the National Trust anywhere in the UK, and it sets a precedent for others to follow…”

Pete Baker on July 5, 2012, 2:27 pm

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John’s professed concern is misplaced. As the National Trust press release on the “new state-of-the-art visitor centre” at the Unesco World Heritage Site Giants’ Causeway noted New interactive displays and activities inside the visitor centre include an animation of the legend of Finn McCool and an innovative hand-held audio guide. Such distractions aside, and without access to the material at issue, the quotes in the UTV report from the National Trust raise serious questions. The trust said that the exhibit gives …

“It was a trivial problem that… occurs every year”

Pete Baker on December 28, 2011, 3:42 pm

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Just your average family gathering at Christmas, with a bit of an argument about the seating cleaning arrangements… Scuffles have broken out between rival groups of Greek Orthodox and Armenian clerics over a turf war in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity. Bemused tourists looked on as about 100 priests fought with brooms while cleaning the church in preparation for Orthodox Christmas, on 7 January. Palestinian police armed with batons and shields broke up the clashes. Groups of priests have clashed …

“So stick to the day job, archbishop, I’d say”

Pete Baker on June 9, 2011, 11:54 am

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Before spending too much time contemplating the political musings of the supernaturalist archbishop [or, indeed, those of the publicity-hungry former Prime Minister – Ed], read Michael White’s post. Rowan Williams is guest-editing this week’s New Statesman (will he do for the Spectator next week? Don’t be silly) and used the occasion to gain exclusive access into the political views of – yes – himself ! Williams thinks the coalition lacks a democratic mandate for its radical package of austerity measures …

“I wonder if he has been dropped because he is an embarrassment.”

Pete Baker on September 15, 2010, 10:58 pm

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The last minute substitution of one of Emperor Pope Benedict XVI’s team to visit the UK has been, officially, blamed on ill health. The Telegraph’s “blood crazed ferret” Damian Thompson has welcomed the news that a moderate theologian, the 77-year-old Cardinal Walter Kasper, will not be part of the semi-state visit. But I doubt the reference to “aggressive new atheism” had anything to do with it. After all, Benedict’s been there before. Here’s a rough translation from a FOCUS magazine report In the …

Trouble at the Cathedral with a Needle

Pete Baker on August 18, 2010, 11:37 pm

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According to a BBC report Five board members at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast have resigned over the Church of Ireland’s decision to drop the post of Director of Music. In their resignation letter, they said the decision was “destructive of the Cathedral’s excellent choral music”. It is understood the current director, Philip Stopford, has been off work on health grounds since the decision to axe the post earlier this summer. The Chuch of Ireland said the issue was a matter …