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Christian Viewpoint: Could we learn from Russell Brand's thoughts?


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Positive News is an uplifting current affairs magazine.
Positive News is an uplifting current affairs magazine.

John Dempster with a host of positive news.

This is a mosaic of things I’ve read or heard over the last week. There’s so much media emphasis on conflict, and culture wars, and political disagreement, and moral failing, that we often overlook everyday stories of good news.

I heard of folk staying on holiday near Dingwall who helped a crofter out with their harvest, and were amazed that the whole community were involved in the work, and shared a massive pizza takeaway afterwards.

Then the latest issue of Positive News hit the doormat, packed with stories of people working together for the good of their communities, and the world’s future. There seems to be a growing recognition that there’s more to life than the material, that there is a spiritual component to human nature which is not nurtured by the relentless pursuit of possessions and success.

“What I’ve learned,” Russell Brand writes, “is that you must cultivate your spiritual life.” He calls us to seek “a deeper connection to something beyond the limited grid of material rationalism.” Wow! These are words Jesus might have spoken?!

Some “public intellectuals”, despite retaining their own atheism or agnosticism are recognising that Christianity, with its focus on the supreme value of human life provides a better basis for a healthy society than does rationalism.

For example Professor Niall Ferguson, an atheist, argues that atheism as a belief system is “a dangerous... framework for a society”. He is of the opinion that “with the inherited wisdom of a two-millennia old religion we’ve got a pretty good framework to work with”.

People like these seem to be longing for the Christian faith to be true, but can’t quite bring themselves to believe. Discussing the historical story of Christianity, Jordan Peterson says, profoundly moved “I probably believe that, but I’m amazed at my own belief and I don’t understand that”.

Again, Wow!

In the mosaic of my reading this week a pattern is emerging: it is the face of Jesus Christ who calls us to take a step of faith even though it might seem counter-intuitive.

And as we do, I believe we will encounter a spiritual reality which brings life into systems, souls and society, breathes into us a longing for the love which fulfils Christianity’s ethical framework, and calls us to loving community.

What could be more positive news than that?


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