In this weeks podcast we look at communion on the moon; banning Jews in Edinburgh; Kate Forbes resigns; Lord of the Rings; England v. India; Country of the Week – India; Prison Officers compelled to lie; Chinese spies in the UK; Angela Rayner and Muslim Heritage Month; Brisbane Anglicans reject Scripture; the Dutch self-generating sea wall; the Chinese Vertical Forest City; The News Agents on the Quiet Revival; the closure of Spurgeons College and Trinity; Feedback on Gaza; Niall Ferguson on genocide; recognising Palestine: Major Andrew Fox on Triggernometry; Final Word – Psalm 46 – With music from REM; Radiohead; Booker T and the MGs; Shankar- Essen- Loy; Bridge Music; Golden Earring; Annie Lennox; and Larry Norman;
Here is the music used in this months podcast on Spotify….
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Quantum 366 – Black Sabbath, Danny Kruger, Cambodia and John Macarthur
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I’m all for representing different viewpoints – but it is very sad and worrying to see a man of the cloth denying that famine and genocide are currently taking place in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite what people seem to think this conflict was created by the British in 1947 not Hamas in 2023. Futhermore the despicable military actions in Ukraine, Sudan and other regions are spurred on by the inability of international diplomats to deal with the situation in the Middle East. I would be very surprised if the esteemed Ms Forbes would agree with you and would be extremely disappointed in her if she did.
You cite fake news, images etc. – are you saying the British and other national consultants working in Gaza and the West Bank are telling lies? Ditto with members of the IDF, Israeli politicians, the families of the hostages and other people who are sickened by the way the conflict has developed.
I think the final indication that all is not as you portray is the fact that external media are not allowed into Gaza to see what is going on- the Israeli government even tried to stop photography from the planes doing airdrops. These photos alone show the devastation. Goodness knows what like conditions on the ground are. I suppose like Fergusson you feel these are fake as well.
I’d be interested to hear what your church members and adherents think of your views in these podcasts.
Why ‘the man of the cloth’ jibe? Do you expect all the clergy to agree with your political analyses and views?
I disagree with your assertions and I am not going to lie about it just because you threaten to tell my congregation.
1) There is hunger but not famine in Gaza – even the UN have not called it famine. They have however said there is famine in Sudan.
2) There is no genocide in Gaza. There is a horrific war, and hostage situation – with other countries refusing to help, Hamas being willing to sacrifice its people, and in my view, Israel going too far. But it is not genocide.
3) This conflict was not caused by the British in 1947. That is, to say the least, a simplistic view of history – ignoring the years and decades before, and the years and decades after.
4) Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar etc are not caused by Israel.
5) It’s actually really hard to know what is happening on the ground…so much is fake news, political propaganda and staged photo ops. Israel is winning on the ground. Hamas is winning the propaganda war. I suspect the latter will be more significant. Meanwhile people on all sides suffer. And there are wrongs on all sides as well.
6) You seem to contradict yourself. On the one hand you say that the media are not allowed into Gaza – on the other you say that we should listen to those in Gaza.
7) The devastation is terrible. Thats what happens when you fight to create martyrs…. and booby trap every house and use women and children as shields. It’s also what happens in modern war – look at the devastation of Berlin and Hamburg in 1945.
Life isn’t as simple or simplistic as you suggest. Take a broader perspective. Read different sources. And please understand that posts that threaten me will not be published again….we have a word in Scots for people who want to run off and tell ‘teacher’ what is being said. Don’t be a ‘clipe’!
I do not consider asking what your congregation/ members/adherents think of your blog as either “threatening” nor “clipping”.
Oh I see – you just being intellectually curious and your subtext wasn’t at all – I think his congregation would be horrified at his remarks – if only they knew (they do by the way….they can read and listen to podcasts too!). And its clipe not clip!
What about the bull dozing of Palestinian houses and Jewish settlers building their own houses? Not mentioning at all to excuse atrocities of Oct 7th by the way.
Yes – that is atrocious and wrong. I am not arguing that one side is completely right and the other completely wrong…
Glad you recognise this Reverend. The lived experience of my late Scottish Jewish husband suggests that this behaviour, the wholesale repression of the 1947 population and this ongoing theft of land and treatment of the Palestinians like they were not fellow humans are some of the major components of the current problem. These are deep seated on both sides and will need the wisdom of Solomon and Divine Intervention to solve.
Meanwhile as you say horrific conflicts are still ongoing in many other parts of the world. We also need Divine Intervention to develop strong international law. I don’t know did you see any of the VJ commemorations, but a number of sentiments were proposed by ex participants that the inhumanity of Man should cease. This contrasts sharply with our politicians – who are too old to fight themselves but are so prepared to ask younger people to go to war on their behalf.