Culture Wars

From India Narrative, Photo credit IANS

Here are questions that I am exploring.

In the summer there were a number of incidents in Leicester leading to violence and fear.  This resulted in an enquires about how future happenings might be prevented.  To me the more serious tensions might be between minority communities and white majority communities.  Ah you say, the white community in Leicester is the minority now.  Well it's not.  Leicester city and county merge into one another, so if you talk about 'Greater Leicester', then the white population remains a significant majority.  So how might inter cultural harm be stoked in Leicester?

In the Summer the media presented us with the  'Where are you from?  No where are you really from?' debacle.  This was a situation that could only really have significance because it came from the palace.

What might be the points of friction in Leicester?  My reason for thinking about this is my belief that what happening in Europe 90 years ago with the rise of fascism could equally happen again with the same devastating consequences. Hungary and Italy have governments that are openly hard right.  France is flirting with the hard right.  The UK has strong right wing sentiment in much of the national discourse.  

It was the Blair government who introduced the concept of 'Free School'.   Leicester had just gone through a painful process of closing so called failing schools (mainly the schools in poorer areas of the city) to rationalise resources.  Then Free Schools came along, and every religious group wanted their own state school.  Communities of children became more segregated.  So now we have (the pre-existing Catholic schools, a C of E secondary school, a Hari Krishna school, a Muslim secondary school, a Hindu secondary school, a Sikh secondary school, with lots of primary feeder schools too.

Each of these schools has specifically cultural aspects to their curriculum.  The Hari Krishna School starts the day with meditation.  The Muslim School has an adapted curriculum to avoid the complexity of teaching art and music within the broad Muslim community.  The Catholic School begins the day in prayer, and all the children attend regular Masses.  The Schools all have different uniforms. 

So far all schools stick to the same term dates, but they have the freedom to play with annual leave.

At the moment there is choice across Leicester.  Children are not forced to attend particular schools.  I welcome the idea of creating academic excellence within all cultures where the culture can be a majority culture, where  'western' values in education (which are shared across the world) are able to flourish.  The challenge might come if I was expected to send my child to a school were the day was started in meditation, or the curriculum did not have music, and my 'culture' appeared to be subservient.  Some minorities have lived with this for years, so there is a sense that now the shoe is on the other foot.  JWs have had exemptions for RE for decades, and minorities sort of accept that it will never go their way.

But in Leicester amongst thinking people, there is not the sense that imposing my values on your children is an acceptable thing.  I think there would need to be a great deal of bitterness and hurt stoked up and maintained for some time for this to become a prospect.  

It appears that the summer aggression and violence was a blow-up of tension, stoked by key figures inside and outside Leicester.  The roots do not seem to be deep.  

What else should we be mindful of?  Where might resentments grow?

A Third Way

A first edition
 £581.61 Abe books

I listened to the recent discussion about the work of John Rawls with 'Melvin Bragg and the Gang'.

 John Rawls was an inspirational modern academic, but he is also presented challenges to all people.

Rawls initially intended to be a priest in America, but the wickedness and evil he witnessed on all sides during the second world war sickened him, and he could not believe in a 'loving' or interested God.  He was also deeply affected by the death of two of his brothers who contracted a disease he initially brought into the family.

He went on to work as an academic at Yale and Harvard writing his most famous book, 'A Theory of Justice'. He did not give many talks about his work, saying that he had 'a bat-like horror of the limelight'.

In this book Rawls argues against 'Utilitarianism', which posits that a government's duty is to maximise happiness and security for the majority of people in a community.  This is the rational a Head Teacher uses when the special needs budget is spent to benefit the broad sweep of the pupils, rather than the individual with complex specific needs.

Rawls also rejects the 'Intuitive' position which states that if everyone advocates for their own position, all needs will balance each other out.

Here we have the full political spectrum.  But we see that the spectrum is 'bent', or curvy, rather that 'straight'. 

The Socialist position says 'What is best for society?' (With a liberal dose of self interest.) The Conservative position says 'What is best for the individual? (With an eye to the need for society to function in order to achieve this.) It's like comparing apples with pears.  The Socialist position is 'International'; the Conservative position sets it's boundaries closer to home.  The Fascist position say 'to hell with everyone else'.

The John Rawls' alternative is the principle that if we look after the most vulnerable in society, then we will have cared for everyone by default.  

This is the idea that if the school in the most deprived area is able to ensure students graduate to secure and honourable positions, all schools will do the same.  

Rawls was a humble man, who tried hard to find others to attribute his original ideas.  'In Our Time' concluded that some of this ideas can only be attributed to Rawls. So good on him.

Doctors' Dilemma

Doctors' Dilemma
2012 National Theatre- by George Bernard Shaw

Consultation One

GP- Ah.....Mr Storr.  What can we do for you today?

AS- Well, you know every time I have met with you recently I have complained about my stiff knees? Now I've come about my stiff knees.

GP - Much pain?  What was it like for you coming here today?

AS - No so bad.  I still walk a few miles every morning, it's just more a hobble than a walk these days.

GP - That reminds me of a patient I saw last week.  He only lives across the road from the surgery, but he told me it took him two hours to get in because of his bad knees.  He was proud to still arrive on time, despite being in terrible pain; one of our old heroes I would say.

AS - And were you able to help him?  What treatment did you offer?

GP - None sadly, as he died at the weekend. 

So if you really feel you need something, I can refer you to the osteologist at the hospital.  Is that what you would like?

AS - Well if that's what you suggest, then yes, go ahead....

Consultation Two

Osteologist - Mr Storr, I see that you have swollen knees, and they have been like this for about a year.  For a cases like this I recommend surgery.  People often resist surgery, but we now have excellent artificial knees which are truly better than the real thing.  The prognosis is vastly improved by acting quickly.  Then all your problems will be in the past. What do you think?

AS - My goodness! I hadn't reckoned on that! Surly there must be something that can be done that's not  so drastic.  Operation!  artificial knees!  I must say I am beginning to feel much better now, thank you. No, I won't be needing an operation just yet.  

Can you help me up?

Osteologist - Take my hand.  Do think about it.  In the meantime some of my patients benefit from losing some weight.  Less pressure on the old knees.  Would you like a referral to our dietician?

AS - Yes please,  That sounds much more to my liking.  Please do refer me.

Consultation Three

Dietician - Come and sit down Mr Storr, or would you prefer to stand?  Ah I see you are sitting.  Take your time.  Now it's your knees.  Anywhere else?  Just your knees.  Diet has a major impact on the joints you know.  Where you aware of that?  What's your diet like?

AS - Well, I consider my diet to be quite normal.  We eat a varied diet in our house, but I am aware of  how food can affect health.  I have a number of relatives who have to watch what they eat.  

Dietician - So we might be on the right track.  I'll show you a list of the foods that are mostly closely associated with swelling of the joints.

AS - Thanks you.  Wow, that's a long list. "figs, porridge, coconuts, Yogurt and dates." These are all my favourite things?  This can't be right? 

Dietician - Makes you think.  This is your diet and your knees are swollen.  The question is how much do you want to get better.  Clearly your body is unhappy with something.  It is telling you that you have to change your lifestyle.  Are you willing to give it a go?

AS - I'm sorry but there must be something wrong here.  Is there some other way?  I can't give up on dates.  Do you have any other treatments that you can suggest?

Dietician - Well I can't help you if you refuse to even experiment with this change in lifestyle.  The only thing I can suggest is that I refer you to our psychological wellbeing consultant, who can help you to listen to your body and work out what it is saying to you.

AS - I can tell you, I'm not in denial.  I just have sore knees.  But if you thing they can help me, I'll try anything.

Dietician - I think we have established that you will not try anything, but I will make the referral.

Consultation Four

Psychiatrist -  Mr Storr, do sit down.  Tell me about your work.....

AS - I enjoy my work.  I work in Child Mental Health.

Psychiatrist - Tell me more about 'enjoying your work'.  What does that mean to you?

AS - Well I've come about my knees, not my work.  It's my knees that are suffering at the moment.

Psychiatrist - If your knees could talk, what do you think they would say?  What would they say about your work?

AS - My knees talk?  Right now they would be saying why did you bring me here?  

Psychiatrist - Yes I think they are crying out, saying that the weight of your work is too great.

AS - yes I can hear them now.  They are saying "run, run get out of here...."

Psychiatrist - I can now see that your knees seem perfectly fine.  You are running away.  Now fumbling with the door.  But remember you can't run away......

Consultation Five

GP - I have had to call you in I'm afraid because a referral to the hospital lasts only five years and you have gone over time limit.  I also understand that you declined your last treatment.  We are not going to be able to help you if you keep doing that.  

AS - Doctor, you would have run away if you had been there.  I felt that my vocation had become to be a patient for every discipline in the hospital.  I also realise that I'm not a bad as I thought I was, and that it  is thanks to your colleagues at the hospital helping me realise that there are people in worse situations.  So thank you.  It's all been worthwhile.

GP- Ok, but steady on.  There are a number of other options we could consider.

AS - Such as?

GP- There is the Pain Clinic.

AS- Drugs to control pain.  I'm not in pain, just stiff.

GP - There is Physiotherapy?

AS - I spoke with them and they recommend exercise.  I do plenty and it's not changing.

GP - Occupational Therapy?

AS - Walking aids?  No thanks. Not just yet

GP- Acupuncture?...(nope) Traction?...(nope).  

Yes I agree, we are getting no where.  I wish you good day Mr Storr.

AS- And same to you doctor.  Can you give me a hand to get up? 

Brutalist Tour of Cambridge

 There are three main sites.

1) The University Centre

2) The History Faculty (Designed by James Stirling)

3) Churchill College

Why Call His Name Jesus? By Peter Ridley

"...Through  Ignorance, Through Weakness and Through our Own Deliberate Fault...."

We start with what is 'Sin'? and why do we need to be 'Saved'? and what are we saved from?

Francis Spufford, in his book "Unapologetic: Why, despite everything, Christianity can still make surprising emotional sense,"  invents a new word for sin.  He calls is "hptftu", or  the Human propensity to fu*k things up. In his book, Spufford describes why he believes in Jesus, despite being surrounded by a sea of dissenters.

For me 'sin' can be understood by our contemporary western neighbours through these three characteristics; Ignorance, Weakness and our Deliberate Fault.  

Ridley sees this in terms of 'lostness'.  He highlights the stories Jesus tells of the lost; the lost sheep (sin of ignorance), the lost coin (the sin of weakness) and the lost prodigal son (sin caused by our own volition).   In our modern times we can see this clearly through our decent into climate chaos, though the terrible suffering of the poor across the world, and through the suffering caused by wars in plain sight (Afghanistan, Syria and The Ukraine).  We are lost, and we need a saviour.  But who will save us?

It becomes apparent that despite our modern prophets (such as Greta Thunberg), we do not have the strength to resist the comforts and ease of our privileges.  Poorer countries speak of the need for reparation.  This is based on the ethical model of 'insurance'.  Just as in a car crash, the one who is responsible pays through 'insurance', it is argued that the richer polluting countries should pay for the mess created in poorer countries.  But will this happen?

Our Saviour does more than deal with the material mess.  The key disasters are multiple broken relationships.  The first is with the Creator.  The world sees this as with 'creation', but it's actually with the Creator.  Although there is no magic here (ie the Creator does not reverse global warming for us), we are now in touch with the one who understands what's going on completely.  We have confidence that we are not alone.  Just as in Jesus' day, the people hoped Jesus would deliver them for physical oppression, today Jesus saves us from a spiritual disaster.  The physical mess is of our own making, and we must deal with it.

But Jewish history is set within eastern culture and tradition.  In the West we focus on individual responsibility.  The parables mentioned above focus on individuals.  However, the Jewish system of sacrifice was based mercy  to 'all people'.  The sin we are saved from is not just for what I do, it is also what our community does.  We need salvation from the sin associated with grinding poverty and climate destruction.  These is part of our modern liturgy. 

Many people have called out to the Creator and felt that there was no response.  Nothing.   In my view we as humans have decided what we think the Creator should do.  When the Creator does not do what we think the Creator should do, we become disheartened.  We assume that we are on our own, and if there is a creative force, it certainly does not have a heart.

There is a catch 22 here.  Because I know the Creator , and we have a relationship, I am on the 'inside'.  I liken this to being part of an Oxford college.  Outsiders can look in.  They can try to understand what goes on in those hallowed portals. They can imagine what it might be like to be part of college.  But as an outsider, they will never truly know.

Without the relationship, the Creator will feel distant.  This is a very human experience.

The Bible.

It is a fascinating thought that St Paul was using a recent Greek translation of the Jewish scriptures that to contemporary eyes is not as good as it could have been.  So we have Paul working with an imperfect text.  As Ridley points out, imperfection is woven into the fabric of society.  The idea is that the good and productive harvest is mixed with 'tares', fake and worthless frauds.  Jesus makes it clear that it is not for us to make the judgement call about what is genuine and what is a 'tare'.  The creator will do this.  This is a liberating thought because if it is true that this world has already supported 117 billion people, the Creator is the one to decide issues to do with salvation.  

And what are we being saved from?  Well that will be from 'death'.  Death is the end.  But death is not just what might happen (or not happen) after life.  It is also about 'life' now.  The salvation we look to is about how to live life to the full right now.  The longer the clock ticks without it, the more the potential life has to offer is spurned.  

 Our challenge is that just as a broken relationship creates pain and despair, our separation from the creator is not a great way to live.  The brokenness of this relationship is both personal, and social.  The whole community suffers, just like it might if ruled by a tyrant. 

So from the very start, 'Tares' have been part of our world.  Like virus', they serve a function, with all manner of consequences, some benign, some destructive and some deceitful.   It is helpful to accept the paradoxes around us.  We are presented with the challenge of finding the good and wholesome 'fruit' in amongst the dross.  What is it that points to the presence of the Creator, to Jesus; as in the children's party game, that calls out 'warmer, warmer, hotter'.

As the 2021 census results from the UK begin to be published, we discover that those who call themselves Christian in these nations have fallen to 46.2%. 

Density map of people profession to be
Christian in the UK (Wikipedia)

Beware the Buttresses

The picture that comes to me is of a dartboard.  The bullseye is our relationship with Jesus.  Around the bullseye are high scoring areas, but not nearly as good as the bullseye.  These are the slight 'mistruths', the buttresses.  I wonder what are the many buttresses used across our modern society?  

I have used Ridley's categories.

The Chosen - "I know that what I believe may not be completely accurate, but It's probably more accurate that what most people believe."

Faith - "I believe in positive values.  I believe in clearing my mind- being still - being open to the world."

Good Works - "I am essentially an 'OK' person.  I'm good (more good than bad)."

Wonderful Experiences - "I experience the excitement and joy of life.  I travel.  I still my mind. I connect with the universe."

Sacraments - What are modern day secular sacraments?  They are the things that affirm our beliefs as a society and draw us together.  In recent years Remembrance Sunday has been day where people of all faiths and none are united around an unspoken principle.  We have other sacraments such as honouring the dead at the spot where they died.  I am thinking of a memorial I recently saw on the fencing in the middle of the North Circular road in London.  There are many other sacraments of the modern age, that fill the gaps left by traditional religion.

Success - Who judges success?  I think of my in-laws who soldiered away in a church in the west end of Newcastle for many years.  It was hard going with a small group of eccentric believers.  Shortly after they left the parish, the church was closed.  Was what they did of any value?  Only the one who they dedicated all this work to will know.  

I agree this Ridley as he ends his book by raising up Jesus.  But this is not a 'Jesus' of our own creation.  This is not the theologically explored 'Jesus'.  

Jesus is the human division of the Creator's enterprise.  It is the presence with peoples across the earth and across all time.  This is the presence with the Mongolian people who crossed over the Aleutian Islands into the Americas perhaps 36,000 years ago.  It is the presence with the largest peaceful human gathering of people on earth at the Kumbh Mela.  It is the presence with the people deep in the Congo basin who live under the repression of others.  In all these situations it is not a passive benign present. It the the presence of hope, goodness, purity and joy.  It is the presence that opposes the forces of control, destruction and degradation.

 We are the fortunate few who have been given a structure from which to understand this story, and make sense of it.  Even with this story we still have room to write many books to reflect, explore and encourage.

For me the most helpful analogy for getting it right with Jesus is 'Marriage'.  I can be married.  I have the certificate and photos.  I have faith that I am loved.  I see what my partner does to remind me of their love.  We have rituals that reinforce our commitment, such as anniversary meals and gifts.

All these things are buttresses.  They are not the true nature of the marriage, which is a much deeper and  much harder to quantify.   I know that I am loved and that my partner will not leave me.  I just do.  I am full of confidence.  And it is so with Jesus.