Quakers have always called each other ‘Friends,’ but what does this mean? Is ‘Friend’ just a quaint hangover from our past, or could it be a site of rich theological reflection? Emerging from my PhD research on Quaker theology and Whiteness, I’ve developed an online course for Woodbrooke reflecting on what it might mean for… Continue reading Whose Friends are we?
Tag: Jesus
Why God’s wrath and vengeance is necessary
I’m sure there are many of my fellow Quakers who would say that wrath and vengeance cannot possibly be part of who God is, particularly the God revealed in the life of Jesus. But what if wrath and vengeance are actually necessary aspects of the Divine? What if divine anger and retribution are good things?
Is love the central message of the New Testament? A comment on the 2025 BYM Epistle
The BYM Epistle is a letter that attempts to capture the essence and important themes of the gathering. The Epistle is sent to many other Yearly Meetings around the world, and is often read aloud in local Quaker meetings throughout Britain. I want to remark on one sentence of the Epistle: ‘We are reminded that the central message of the New Testament is one of love.’ This statement may seem incredibly innocuous, or so obvious as to need no further comment. But this sentence needs our attention, as I think it’s haunted by the ghost of Judeophobia.
Desiring Jesus in a world of queerphobic Christianity
It’s no secret that Christians do terrible things, or that terrible things have been done in the name of Jesus and the Christian God. As a scholar of Christian theology and racism I know that Christianity has some serious problems. But recent events in my life have brought this truth home to me in a deeply personal way, to the point where I’m questioning whether, as a queer person, being a Christian makes any sense.
Opportunities to work with me in 2025
I’ve got a number of exciting online engagements lined up for 2025. Do come and join me!
Advent Reflections Week 1 – The Ancestors
Part of a series of four Advent reflections centred on Mary and her song in Luke 1:46-55. "Her mercy is for those who fear herfrom generation to generation…She has helped her servant Israel,in remembrance of her mercy,according to the promise she made to our ancestors,to Sarah and Abraham and to their descendants for ever." I… Continue reading Advent Reflections Week 1 – The Ancestors
God doesn’t require suffering: a message for St Patrick’s Day
I believe that God can bring good out of evil. God can take the worst things and grow something good from that soil. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with us finding meaning and hope in our suffering. But that’s a different thing entirely to saying that God requires evil and suffering in order to bring about good. That isn’t the God I worship. The God of Jesus Christ wants us to have abundant life and wipe away every tear from our eyes. This God doesn’t hurt us and tell us it’s for our own good.
Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus 4/4
This is the fourth and final part of ‘Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus’, where I critique early liberal Quaker Edward Grubb’s understanding of Jesus. You can find the first part of the series here. F. Jesus the Jew When we reflect on what Jesus means to us today, we need to ask: How does Jesus… Continue reading Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus 4/4
Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus (3/4)
This is part three of four of ‘Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus’, where I critique early liberal Quaker Edward Grubb’s understanding of Jesus. You can find the first part of the series here. D. The Cross as an example of God’s love A central question about Jesus is ‘what did Jesus’ death achieve?’ Grubb offers… Continue reading Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus (3/4)
Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus (2/4)
This is part two of four of ‘Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus’, where I critique early liberal Quaker Edward Grubb’s understanding of Jesus. You can find the first part of the series here. B. Grubb’s use of the Bible In the previous section, I suggested that Grubb has fallen into the same trap the ‘Lives… Continue reading Rethinking the Liberal Quaker Jesus (2/4)
Jolly Quaker 