Kester Brewin

Running around like crazy trying to get things sorted for a new academic year (I’m teaching full time now, by the way, so writing going to be even more stretched) – but wanted to flag up a piece in Prospect that caught my eye. It’s a review of From Christ to Coke: How Image Becomes [...]

Baying crowds, a bloody execution by an occupying power, the speedy disposal of a body, conspiracy theories already abounding… All sounds pretty familiar doesn’t it? As a ‘Christian’ nation, the US will understand more than anyone that killing your nemesis is only the beginning of another version of their lives – and that new version [...]

Absolutely fascinating programme on BBC Radio 4, looking at the cases of Sidney Bradford and Mike May, both of whom lost their sight very early in life, and were then lucky enough to be able to have it restored years later. What is it like to grow up blind, and then be able to see [...]

Extraordinary story on the BBC site today. An armed robber who raided a mobile phone shop in Florida was talked down from his robbery by a shop assistant who ‘spoke to him about Jesus.’ The man said he was a Christian and was “embarrassed” to be doing what he was doing but that he needed [...]

Emerging/Retreating [1] | Emerging/Retreating [2] I’m glad Jonny has posted some of his thoughts and responses to these posts on his site, and Andrew Jones has some great thoughts too, backed up by a range of pieces he’s written around the issues here too. As I set out in a long comment on Jonny’s blog, [...]

Violence of Heaven [ 1 ] |  Violence of Heaven [ 2 ] | Violence of Heaven [ 3 ] According to Revelation – the apocalypic birth narrative of our future utopia – “when heaven is established, it will be a bloody business.” I have been trying to argue that any attempt to establish utopia [...]

A really nice series of images from David LaChapelle for iD magazine (ht Barry Taylor) What I like about them, as Barry says, is that the new lens with which these images have been shot forces us to reappraise scenes from the gospels that have become over-familiar and domesticated. The story of the woman washing [...]

I’ve just finished reading Philip Pullman’s new book The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. As Barry Taylor notes, it’s likely to ruffle a few feathers. But I hope any feathers are from good birds who have actually read it. Seriously – don’t judge this book without reading it. The back of the book [...]

Born into occupation. Killed by a corrupt state. Growing in poverty Troubling to the rich Teller of wise tales Lover of good meals Accused of insurrection Disregarded by the courts Awkward for the powerful Bain of the religious Beaten by soliders Denied justice Tortured Forsaken Left for dead But never to be underestimated: Jewish, not [...]

Once again, Our Lord has been sighted. This time in a cheesy flavour starch snack. Having appeared to his disciples and prepared fish for them on a beach in Galilee, it seems he now prefers to turn up to encourage the faithful in vegetables and snack foods. Come again? This isn’t a uniquely Christian phenomenon [...]