In this week’s episode we look at the history, culture, and politics of Scotland. I have taken over a year to do this. It is possibly the hardest thing I have ever had to do because it is so hard for me to be objective. This is deeply personal. And there is so much to say. It was difficult to decide what to leave out – I literally had hundreds of hours of material….I hope what has remained in will be helpful in understanding modern Scotland – and indeed the modern world. I of course am very interested in what your perceptions and views are.
There are lessons for all of us in seeing how Scotland has changed, been blessed and declined. We look at Scottish influence on the world; from psalms to paganism; Braveheart; the history of Scotland; John Knox; Education; LGBT Education; the Universities; Abortion; Martin Comston; Sir James MacMillan; The Chief Apologises; Woke Scotland; Nicola Sturgeon; Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre; Pregnant Men; Conversion Therapy; Authoritarian Scotland; The New Highland Clearances; Eilish McColgan and Andy Murray; the decline of the Church; and hope for the future.With music from the Peat Bog Faeries, Slim Dusty, St Peters Free Church, the Battlefield Band; Sir James MacMillan; the Average White Band; Deacon Blue; RunRig; Nazareth; and Steph Macleod.
Here is the music used in this weeks podcast – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5sH4SJn2QTxksRHgiFx4P8?si=6ba17ab4f6ad4ddc
Quantum 288 – The Promise or the End of America?
There are numerous articles on Scotland on this website – just type Scotland and the subject in the search engine…here are some –
How Evangelicals Facilitated Scottish Church Collapse – EN
Ten Reasons Why the Church of Scotland is in Decline
Scotland’s Hate Crime Bill is a charter for the suppression of free speech
Why has conversion therapy become a major election issue in Scotland? – CT
@holyrooddaily Labour MSP Michael Marra says he has obtained data showing that Edinburgh University accepted no Scottish students on a number of courses outside of widening access places. “For Scottish pupils from ordinary families in an average school, the doors are closed…” #scottishparliament #scottishlabour #universityofedinburgh #scotland #fmqs
Does Scotland’s First Minister believe all trans women are women?
Scottish Gov has just implemented an effective ban on trans prisoners who’ve committed sexual & violent crimes against women being moved to a women-only prison. @itvnews pic.twitter.com/DRbvItHZ3i
— Peter A Smith (@PeterAdamSmith) January 30, 2023
This man screaming at feminists is now an SNP Disabilities Officer!#YouCouldntMakeItUp#SNPFail https://t.co/xEoeirbsTK
— 🤐 🦖 Dr Lesley (Ancient Dyke) Semmens KPSS 🦖 (@LesleySemmens) August 16, 2022
Hold the line, mate. Liberty’s in every blow.
Thanks! A fascinating report. A trip to Scotland (a quarter century ago) cured me of atheism. Kildalton Cross will outlive woke lunacies-about there being no absolute truth-although saying-‘there is no absolute truth’ -saws off the branch one is sitting on. Try this video-‘Islay Scotland Relax Video at Claggain Bay’-if needing a dose of the Hebrides.
Sad indeed David but was it ever to be otherwise? Scripture says there will be a falling away, and how great and fast is that fall currently. We know our Lord is sovereign, so, let’s keep the faith and pray for better days ahead by the grace and mercy of God.
Hi David,
Just wanted to give a little bit of hope. I’m an evangelical in Scotland, based in Dumbarton. Came to faith in my early 20s, moved to St Andrews for a bit then to Durham to do some ministry training and have returned with my wife due to a calling to reach out.
I agree with you in regards to your criticism of the political and institutional issues in Scotland. Which are very real and very sad. But I’m starting to see a shift in the Spiritual hunger in people, especially young men I’ve met recently. Last month my colleague started attending church with his young family and is flourishing, another man, an artist I sat next too at a buisness conference disclosed, after learning I was a Christian, that he’d started considering Jesus and had in fact been having dreams about Jesus. This gave me a great opportunity to witness to him.
I suppose I’m saying, it may look bleak on the surface, but at the relational level my wife and I are starting to notice a shift.
Pray it continues and Jesus is once again glorified in our great land!
Hi David, I appreciate it may be a subject you are unable to speak about, but I’d be interested to know what you were referring to in terms of corruption among Scottish football clubs. Do you mean bribery of officials or match fixing? Or the use of performance enhancers? I’ve long suspected that the big 2 clubs in Scotland make extensive use of the latter.
Overall it was a fascinating episode which made me both sad for my homeland and glad I am raising my children in England, although I suspect England is on exactly the same trajectory and Scotland simply has a head-start.
I’m afraid that I can’t speak about it – yet! AS I had promised I wouldn’t. But without mentioning clubs it involved backhanders in transfer fees, intimidation of individuals and smaller clubs, tax evasion etc….none of it I could prove….but I have a lot of stories to tell!
Hi David. It is indeed very sad to see the state of the church today in Scotland AND England. The path they are following is a dark one, rejecting the truth and replacing it with lies. I thought you might be interested to listen to a sermon by Martin Lloyd Jones on the MLJ Trust website. It’s titled ‘A Picture of the Church’. What Martin Lloyd Jones says in this sermon is fascinating, encouraging and just as relevant today as when he spoke those words many years ago. He could see very clearly the direction in which the church was going and had some very wise words regarding the solution to make things better again. I hope if you listen to it, you will be encouraged in your ministry as well David.