About
The Evangelical Liberal is a blog to explore more open and liberated ways of being a Christian, particularly for those who have struggled to find their way within the evangelical tradition. Read more-
Recent Posts
- “Up, civil unrest!” (an Easter-ish reflection)
- Still Evangelical Liberal after all these years?
- Reasons to be hopeful?
- Covid questions – 3. What kind of God would send a pandemic?
- Covid questions – 2. Is it sent by God to punish sin?
- Covid questions – 1. Is it the end of the world?
- All together at the cross
- Does light overcome darkness?
- God bless America
- The Penitent Thief – a Good Friday reflection
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Category Archives: World events
Covid questions – 3. What kind of God would send a pandemic?
Last time I was looking at whether pandemics and plagues are sent by God to punish sin, and concluded that (even in the Old Testament) the picture is a lot more complex than that. So did God actively send coronavirus … Continue reading
Covid questions – 2. Is it sent by God to punish sin?
Last time I was saying that one common religious response to strange and difficult times (such as our current Covid-19 situation) is to see them as a sign of the End Times – and that some people even find this … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Calvinism, Divine intervention, Fundamentalism, Sin, Suffering, World events
3 Comments
Covid questions – 1. Is it the end of the world?
Well, we’re certainly all living in interesting times, as the old proverbial curse has it. Who even a few short months ago in 2019 could have predicted the situation we’re currently living through? (Who a few short months ago had … Continue reading
Was God’s will done in the US election result?
Like many, I’m still reeling from the US election result. Right now, and from right here, the world’s future looks more uncertain and more troubled than ever. God clearly didn’t answer my prayer not to let Trump be elected president, … Continue reading
Posted in Calvinism, Politics and faith, World events
Tagged Calvinism, deism, determinism, Donald Trump, free will, God's will, human freedom, US election
11 Comments
Please don’t let Trump in!
I’m not sure if this is more a heartfelt last-ditch appeal to the good people of America, or a desperate prayer to God. I’m not really expecting this blog to make a difference – but I have to do something, … Continue reading
Posted in Politics and faith, World events
Tagged America, democracy, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, US election, vote
10 Comments
New Year – new hope or no hope?
Happy New-ish Year to you all. If Christmas is the most stressful season, New Year is surely the most depressing (particularly for natural pessimists like me). Once the celebratory fireworks have faded, the January skies look even blacker and bleaker … Continue reading
Posted in Eschatology/end-times, World events
Tagged 2016, climate change, End Times, hope, New Year
7 Comments
I’m a monster, you’re a monster – reflecting on ‘Jihadi John’ and Jimmy Savile
There’s been a lot of talk about monsters recently on news and comment channels. So Jimmy Savile, abusing his celebrity status to prey sexually on vulnerable children, was a monster. Mohammed Emwazi aka “Jihadi John”, beheading innocent civilians and aid … Continue reading
Posted in Controversies, Evil, Sin, World events
Tagged George Bush, Jihadi John, jihadism, Jimmy Savile, media, mercy, Mohammed Emwazi, monster, paedophile, personal responsibility, terrorism, Tony Blair
23 Comments
Jesus is Charlie?
The ‘Je suis Charlie’ slogan and hashtag can hardly have escaped many people’s notice this last week. It arose in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo killings, as a sign of support and solidarity – of personal identification with … Continue reading
Posted in Heresy/blasphemy, Incarnation, World events
Tagged Charlie Hebdo, Christ, incarnation, Je suis Charlie, jihadists
2 Comments
2014 – review of the year
So, a slightly belated Happy New Year to you all. Before we move on to new things, how was 2014 for you? For me it was a fairly challenging year that I’m not entirely sorry to bid farewell to. Continuing … Continue reading