Creed

The seasons, festivals, historians and emperors have all influenced the date of Christmas.

John Barclay unpacks the nature of gift-giving and finds Santa’s list is moralising in comparison to an older unconditional way.

Learning a new craft unfolds the layers of meaning Christmas is clothed in.

From Longfellow’s deep peals of the bells, to Dickens’ Scrooge, to the miracle of No Man’s Land becoming common ground, conversions begins with Christmas.

This Christmas, we might be closer than ever to the story’s origins. Terror. Surveillance. Poverty. Genocide. Perhaps it is time to add a dragon to tame creche scenes.

Imagine Tolkien being born as a hobbit in the Shire, or J.K. Rowling going to school at Hogwarts. Explore the notion of the author entering his or her own creation.

In a world of devastation, you can share honest feelings of hopelessness - yet not be overcome.

Ponder the poetic depths of Frank Skinner’s thoughts on the Incarnation.

Despite the daily distractions of digital life, we really need to pay attention to attentiveness, argues Mark Scarlata.

In TikTok’s algorithm Graham Tomlin saw something that got him thinking. Could it lead to moral health rather than harm?

The Feast of Christ the King prompts Jamie Mulvaney to ask what sort of strong leader we should seek.

Eighty years after her death, Simone Weil’s wisdom is a vital challenge to today’s attention economy. Justine Toh explores her life and thinking.