Search results | Seen & Unseen

In the latest in our series on men and masculinity, psychologist Roger Bretherton reflects on what he learned about being a man from his own mid-life crisis.

24/10/2023

Column

Change

Masculinity

A person stand looking out a wide set of windows covered in rain.

The crying man and the content of sadness

Roger Bretherton

26/10/2023

How to face the space of death

Natalie Garrett

Losing family and friends across a life, leads Natalie Garrett to navigate the space of death we all face. Part of the How to Die Well series.

27/10/2023

The cost of selling spirituality

A $3.7 trillion industry ‘market’ for spiritual consciousness and wellness says something about today. Daniel Kim explores what’s driving this commodification and its market failure.

28/03/2023

Dealing with death – why the fuss?

“No fuss” cremations are getting more popular. Not giving a formal space or process to say goodbye feels like a seismic cultural shift to Jane Cacouris. Part of the How To Die Well series.

25/10/2023

How redemptive justice could be a way out of a long and costly war

Steven Firmin

Dynamics of shame, dis-honour and vengeance swirl around the decision makers in the Israel-Hamas war. Steven Firmin explores how redemptive justice could restore a relationship of peace.

23/10/2023

What it really means to take a stand

George Pitcher explores the challenge in applying moral principle to the savage international crisis that is the Israel-Hamas war.

22/10/2023

Why we watch dark drama

Reviewing The Reckoning, and the reviewing cycle, leads George Pitcher to change his mind on whether to watch such darker dramas and documentaries.

25/10/2023

New episode: Seen & Unseen Aloud

Listen to a curated selection of the editor's top picks: the horror of war, the fable phenomenon that is Disney and the tale of Travis and Taylor.

23/10/2023

Corinne Bailey Rae’s energised and anguished creative journey

Corinne Bailey Rae’s latest album, Black Rainbows, is an atlas of capacious faith. Jonathan Evens explores her inspirations in Detroit, Leeds and Ethiopia.

27/10/2023

The women driving African Christianity’s global reach

Harvey Kwiyani

African Christianity has exploded to reach all countries in the world. From villages to megacities, Harvey Kwiyani outlines the significant role women are playing.

30/10/2023

Re-enchanted: swimming with Charlie Mackesy

Fascinated by the astonishing success of the whimsical The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse, Belle Tindall probes at the deep wisdom of Charlie Mackesy’s enchanting, not to mention Oscar-winning, modern fable.

14/03/2023

The tale as old of time

Claire Williams

There is no fairy tale that resolves the suffering of women but there is another side to their stories of violence and anonymity, Claire Williams reflects.

06/11/2023

Essay

An AI summit’s prophecies need to be placed in the right philosophical register, argues Simon Cross. Because being human in an AI age still means the same thing it has for millennia.

Comment

An AI generated image of robot skulls with bulging eyes on a shelf receding diagonally to the left.

The summit of humanity: decoding AI's affectations

Simon Cross

30/10/2023

Strangers and identity in a global age of nationalism

Miroslav Volf

Exploring inclusive and exclusive nationalism, the challenge to dialogue with those who may see things differently.

04/11/2023

In search of Martin Luther King

Wanting to put flesh on the bones of a much-fabled tale, Ian Hamlin begins a journey in search of his hero.

4 min read

02/11/2023

Review

Ambition

Elon Musk, wearing a dark suit, stands on a stage to a white robotic looking surgical robot.

The awe and outrage of Musk's toxic ingenuity

Walter Isaacson’s Elon Musk, is a biographic rollercoaster reckons Krish Kandiah. One marked by magnificent moments and moral crossroads.

6 min read

03/11/2023

Explainer

In a world of intelligent humanlike machines, computer scientist Nigel Crook take a deep dive into the hard problem of defining consciousness, spirit, heart and will.

Comment

A Victorian medical bust showing the brain with labels in German.

Is an AI worthy of personhood?

Nigel Crook

02/11/2023

Charm in tunes on the eastern edge

Musician and priest Rev Simpkins discusses how music is an expression of humanity and his faith. An interview with Jonathan Evens.

10/11/2023

Re-enchanting... new atheism

Co-host Justin Brierley becomes the guest on this episode of Re-Enchanting. Regular co-host Belle Tindall is joined by Bishop Graham Tomlin, as they and Justin explore what happened to the new atheism movement.

27/10/2023

New episode: Seen & Unseen Aloud

Listen to a curated selection of recent Seen & Unseen articles. This episode: a fear of Dad-hood, following our noses, and exploring the space of death.

30/10/2023

Rediscovering 'ordinary dying'

Robert Wright

On the eve of her Theos annual lecture on 'Death for Beginners', Robert Wright speaks to former palliative care consultant Kathryn Mannix about the need for everyone to re-engage with the process of dying. Part of the Seen & Unseen How to Die Well series.

31/10/2023

When horror is horrifyingly bad

A classic horror film’s sequel deeply disappoints priest Yaroslav Walker, missing opportunities to address psychological and spiritual power.

31/10/2023

How Christianity transformed attitudes towards death

Once we buried bodies outside cities. Then we started burying loved ones inside them. This is why.

7 min read

01/11/2023

Review

Culture

A man in a red shirt slumps in his seat while a computer screen shows a dialogue screen

Lights! Camera! AI-action! - five AI films to watch

From an oddly-sweet, sweetly-odd film of oddness, to one of the best action films ever made, Yaroslav Walker’s hand-crafts his top five films about AI.

01/11/2023

The lost art of dying well and what we can learn from it today

Lydia Dugdale

Living well in order to die well doesn’t simply happen. It takes work. It takes preparation. For All Souls Day, Lydia Dugdale asks if we are prepared for death.

01/11/2023

Re-enchanting... racial justice

Author, public theologian and speaker Chine McDonald tells of her own experience as a black woman in Britain and the way in which both culture and the church still have a long way to go in addressing racism.

04/11/2023

“Sometime the killing just has to stop”

Simple calls for peace are often against the grain of power, observes George Pitcher. Many still yearn for it, even when faced with complexities and impossibilities.

02/11/2023

How much is a human life worth?

Ryan Gilfeather

Concerned by the conditional responses to deaths in the Israel-Hamas war, Ryan Gilfeather considers why we should value all human lives.

07/11/2023

Essay

Culture

An AI-created painting of a scene comprising a lap top user holding their face, with candles in the foreground

Dethroning creativity: why does AI art make us feel so icky inside?

Creative Artificial Intelligence generates a disquiet within. Daniel Kim explores why it confronts our humanity.

14/03/2023

What they don’t tell you about when someone you love dies

Yvonne Tulloch

Sharing her experience of her husband’s death, Yvonne Tulloch charts grief’s journey and shares signposts to help. Part of the How to Die Well series.

08/11/2023

Remembering well: journeying through America’s memorials

Ian Hamlin recalls the Civil Rights landmarks and memorials, as he continues his journey in the footsteps of his hero Martin Luther King.

08/11/2023

The unutterable preciousness of an ordinary day

A strangely named season of the Church calendar, Ordinary Time, is anything but that. Julie Canlis explores how it can point to wonder in the moments.

09/11/2023

The cold truth of Canadian lives not worth living

M. Ciftci

Canada’s implementation of medical assistance shows that a society considers some lives not worth living.

09/11/2023

When obsession shakes certainties and challenges beliefs

Paula Duncan

What happens when questions of belief are subject to obsessive behaviours? The impact of OCD on key life moments.

10/11/2023

New episode: Seen & Unseen Aloud

Listen to a curated selection of the editor's top picks: the art of dying, the end of killing and the search for Martin Luther King.

06/11/2023

A tents dispute about how to help the homeless

Jon Kuhrt

To house the homeless, argues Jon Kuhrt, silly soundbites and hasty policies need to be replaced with the right relationships and radical reform.

08/11/2023

There’s much more to ‘monk mode’ than productivity hacks

Lianne Howard-Dace

In the heart of London Lianne Howard-Dace spent a year trying to live a simpler, slower life with others.

13/11/2023

Behind the data: the social messages physician assisted suicide sends to the autistic

If intense suffering caused by society drives autistic people to seek assisted death, then society has failed.

14/11/2023

Giving voice to those on the edge

Simon Burton-Jones

A nervy, precarious read echoes the lives of outsiders across Europe. Simon Burton-Jones reviews Ben Judah’s This is Europe.

15/11/2023

Imagine a day in the life of a Beatle

Jamie Mulvaney

From an era before selfies, Paul McCartney’s cache of photos, even the out of focus ones, prompts Jamie Mulvaney to consider what perspective we need on ourselves.

16/11/2023

The unusual power of silently remembering together

Christie Gilfeather

The collective silence of remembrance acts is unusual. Listen to its powerful lesson.

11/11/2023

Re-enchanting... kindness, equality and progress

Author and speaker Glen Scrivener discusses ’The Air We Breathe’ - a guide to ‘how we all came to believe in freedom, kindness, progress and equality’.

10/11/2023

Seeing the world through different eyes

Alister McGrath

Can 'dull words' signpost to something beyond? Explore how creeds help imagine life.

14/03/2023

Your attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity

Justine Toh

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.

17/11/2023

The significance of legacy and what it can really stir

Concluding an American journey in the footsteps of his hero, Ian Hamlin ponders how legacy arises.

24/11/2023

The death of Chandler Bing

James Cary

The death of Friends star Matthew Perry still resonates even after the celebrity news cycle has moved on. Comedy writer James Cary contemplates how endings are written.

14/11/2023

New episode: Seen & Unseen Aloud

Listen to a curated selection of recent Seen & Unseen articles. This episode: the preciousness of an ordinary day, visiting the memorials of American history and human dignity and worth.

13/11/2023

When christenings happened in secret

Modern day christenings might appear fairly benign on the surface, says Julie Canlis, but they still bear vestiges of an older, more perilous, rite of baptism.

25/05/2023

Autism and belief: beyond the stereotypes

Reflect on living with the illogical beauty of feeling hemmed in by faith.

31/05/2023

Queen Charlotte’s determined love

Bex Chapman

Is the backstory better than the original? Bex Chapman reviews Queen Charlotte, Netflix’s blockbuster, and finds a determined love story with a lesson.

27/05/2023

The dying decision: choice, coercion and community

Sian Brookes

A Japanese drama about medical assistance in dying, Plan 75, reveals a lot about our relationlessness.

28/05/2023

My conversation with... Marilynne Robinson

Re-Enchanting the human story. Belle Tindall reflects on the nature of her conversation with Pulitzer Prize winning author Marilynne Robinson for Seen and Unseen’s ‘Re-Enchanting’ podcast.

26/05/2023

I believe in breadboards: cutting through the meaning of belief

Andrew Steane

A turn of phrase leads Andrew Steane to consider what we say and what we really mean when we say we believe in something.

29/05/2023

Life lessons from the pup

Natalie Garrett

A new arrival reminds Natalie Garrett how to learn much about a life of simplicity and joy.

30/05/2023

Coping in the chaos: Pentonville’s neurodiverse unit is changing prison life

A radical and caring prison experiment has changed both prisoners and wardens. Nick Jones visited London's oldest prison.

01/06/2023

The month of May(hem) in Manipur

On the 27th May, Archbishop Justin Welby tweeted about the violence unfolding in Manipur. Belle Tindall re-winds the clock to May 3rd and tracks the events that led to his tweet.

02/06/2023

My conversation with... Paul Kingsnorth

Re-enchanting... Nature. Belle TIndall reflects on an infectious conversation with Paul Kingsnorth, the celebrated author, poet and environmentalist. Finding him a particularly enjoyable guide through the daunting landscapes of belief, environmentalism and AI.

03/06/2023

Riding from darkness to light

Graeme Holdsworth

Long-distance cycle rides give Graeme Holdsworth time to contemplate traveling from light to darkness and back again. And, to grapple with the wordless way our bodies do what they were created to do.

05/06/2023

Social prescribing for whole person care

Esther Platt

Responding to an anxiety epidemic, there’s a growth in social prescribing with a spiritual wellbeing element. Esther Platt explores how it's working out locally.

06/06/2023

A child’s lesson on how to grow up

Looking beyond the bravado-fuelled adolescent friendships, Lauren Windle reviews Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. She finds vulnerability, audacity and intention.

07/06/2023

Eden in the East End

Belle Tindall writes of her afternoon in an East End kind of Eden, and tells the stories of how, through All Hallow’s Church, Christianity is being lived out in Bow.

08/06/2023

Sweating the soul

Alianore Smith

A mantra-laden spin class generated more than sweat for Alianore Smith, it raised philosophical questions too.

09/06/2023

My conversation with... Katharine Birbalsingh

A stubborn hopefulness drives Katharine Birbalsingh. Belle Tindall reflects on her conversation with the controversial headteacher for the Re-Enchanting podcast.

10/06/2023

Listen to their stories: five good reads by refugee writers

The very least we owe refugees is the courtesy of listening to their stories. As World Refugee Day approaches, Krish Kandiah calls us to go beyond the headlines and recommends five good reads.

12/06/2023

The fortunate death of tabloid talk shows

TV tabloid talk shows made a spectator sport out of domestic conflict. Lauren Windle dissects the grim format’s demise and draws lessons for today’s media users.

13/06/2023

Why we welcome strangers

As World Refugee Day approaches, Barnabas Aspray explores a powerful command to embrace and welcome ‘the other’.

19/06/2023

The legacy of Grenfell

Marking the sixth anniversary of the disaster, Graham Tomlin looks to what its legacy needs to be.

13/06/2023

The curse of loneliness and the hope of kindness

Roger Bretherton

The tend-and-befriend response is present in many species, but it reaches a particular level of genius in ours, explains Roger Bretherton.

23/06/2023

To a house on the hill

Why did a New York lawyer move to a Brazilian slum? Jane Cacouris talks to Luke Simone about his extraordinary story.

22/06/2023

Sorry seems to be the hardest word

We all find ways of not simply saying sorry. Not just former prime ministers. Graham Tomlin unpacks why it’s getting harder to say sorry in our culture.

14/06/2023

Finding an answer to poverty

Tarryn Pegna

A new TV ad challenges stereotypes around how to help the poor. Tarryn Pegna unpacks the impact of one of the most effective ways to eradicate poverty.

16/06/2023

Making vows: How binding promises can lead to true freedom

Alex Hughes

We make all kinds of vows - to marriage promises, to keep up subscriptions, some even make a vow to live a monastic life. Alex Hughes explores what motivates a vowed life and its often counter-intuitive commitments.

20/06/2023

Re-enchanting... the Bible

Justin and Belle talk with Vishal Mangalwadi. The social reformer and philosopher who has been described as 'India's foremost Christian intellectual'. They also reflect on past guests as this tenth episode marks the end of season one of Re-Enchanting.

16/06/2023

How to escape 'the sole cause of unhappiness'

Our capacity to distract ourselves from the bigger questions is nothing new. Born 400 years ago this month, Pascal noted something similar and that got him thinking. Graham Tomlin tells his story.

19/06/2023

The healing touch in an era of personalised medicine

David Cranston

As data powers a revolution in personalised medicine, surgeon David Cranston asks if we are risk of dehumanising medicine?

21/06/2023

"Nobody is neutral": Kate Forbes on her Christian faith and political future

Robert Wright

Politician Kate Forbes knows how it feels when public life misunderstands a faith-led life. Robert Wright interviews her as she reflects on that experience and what next.

22/06/2023

Understanding authority from Rome to Beijing

K.K. Yeo

As geo-political tensions between China and the West rise, K.K. Yeo explores authority and religion in China, finding complex questions and nuanced answers.

27/06/2023

Away from home, cut off from home

As Refugee Week concludes, Belle Tindall moves beyond the headlines and learns the story of Azer and the thousands of churches who are providing a sense of home for those who have fled theirs.

23/06/2023

The right to believe – or not: how's the UK doing?

Philip Mounstephen

As the UN passes its first ever resolution on freedom of religion, Philip Mounstephen, author of the UK Government review, appraises progress on the issue.

26/06/2023

Local Hero’s 40-year-old lesson about relationships

As social media divides us and generates simulated experiences and friendships, it's a gorgeous and glorious antidote.

28/06/2023

Bed rotting and an old art of rest

Lianne Howard-Dace

In a culture where “exhaustion is seen as a status symbol,” bed-rotting is an emerging trend. Lianne Howard-Dace reflects on self-care and how to rest and refresh.

30/06/2023

Bach’s boundless abundance: the making of a musical genius

Jeremy Begbie

Jeremy Begbie explores the significance of faith to Bach's musical vision

01/07/2023

Equiano: How an ex-captive became the voice of abolition

Luke Bretherton

How did a formerly enslaved person think about their faith, freedom, and vocation? Luke Bretherton explores the politics and theology of Olaudah Equiano, whose story was central to the abolitionist movement and continues to resonate today.

03/07/2023

Elephants on mountain tops: thinking better about religious pluralism

In the first of a short series on pluralism, philosopher Barnabas Aspray explores the key questions about different beliefs.

29/06/2023

The impact of making unique claims

In the second of a short series on pluralism, Philosopher Barnabas Aspray asks If Christianity is right, are all other religions wrong?

11/07/2023

A Sky Full of Stars: lessons on awe from Coldplay's concert

Unexpectedly finding herself among a sea of 90,000 people at a recent Coldplay concert, Belle Tindall reflects on what the experience taught her about the nature of awe and wonder.

29/06/2023

Kelsey Grammer is back in the building

As vintage comedy Frasier reboots, Kelsey Grammer talks with Krish Kandiah about his comeback and the significance of another recent role in Jesus Revolution.

30/06/2023

The language of politics can’t domesticate religion

Political life’s Left-Right structure fails when it tries to co-opt religious perspectives. Graham Tomlin outlines why it misses so much of what makes them interesting.

04/07/2023

The toy blocks building trust, love and understanding

There’s a beautiful kind of hospitality, and this is it.

05/07/2023

Letter from a digital nomad

Lianne Howard-Dace

The real gift of the digital tools we now have access to is to make the world both bigger and smaller at the same time, writes Lianne Howard-Dace.

06/07/2023

When to stand up in an increasingly insecure world

Ziya Meral

When war is ‘othering’ by other means, the brutal realities of our world can be overwhelming. Ziya Meral contemplates what it means to take a stand.

06/07/2023

Thoughts and prayers: why such words can really count

Cop-out phrase or the key to articulating something more powerful, Henna Cundill dissects the neurological power of a platitude.

07/07/2023

The art of being inconvenienced

Elizabeth Wainwright

In our fast-paced attention-deficient society, Elizabeth Wainwright reflects on the value of inconvenience as a safeguard against the commodification of life.

13/07/2023

The day the Ashes caught fire

After the upset following Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord's, Graham Tomlin reflects on the so-called 'Spirit of Cricket' and what it tells us about our innate sense of justice and morality.

03/07/2023

The healing power of forgiveness

From Parliamentary Prayer Breakfasts to post-apartheid South Africa and fourth-century desert monks, Julie Canlis explores the benefits of relentlessly pursuing forgiveness.

05/07/2023

Sin: explained

From rottweilers to North African bishops, Graham Tomlin kicks off the Seven Deadly Sins series with an introduction to the unpopular idea of ‘sin’.

10/07/2023

Confessions of an atheist philosopher Part 5: leaping for truth

Stefani Ruper

In the fifth of a series, philosopher Stefani Ruper recalls the night she decided to do something, to get data about God.

15/09/2023

Taylor’s truth: how superstar authenticity appeals

Nathan Betts

As Taylor Swift fans took over his town, Nathan Betts contemplates the truth at the heart of the superstar’s appeal.

14/09/2023

Should you be ashamed of yourself?

Shame powers cancel culture, yet its historic role is guarding community boundaries. Henna Cundill takes an in depth look at shame - and empathy.

18/09/2023

Why religious liberty? Love, actually

Nathan S. Chapman

Claims for religious freedom can be controversial. Nathan Chapman weighs up approaches to accommodating them, not just legally but in the light of love.

20/09/2023

Translating heart-languages

For two Iranian women, home and danger are often synonymous. Belle Tindall shares why they translate a defiant message.

16/09/2023

Why are sportspeople so superstitious?

Jonny Reid

Routine and rhythm help performance, but sporting superstition begs a question, writes Jonny Reid. Who do we really think is in control?

16/09/2023

Well, what about men? Caitlin Moran’s love letter to masculinity

Gender writing that’s gracious and full of hope. Krish Kandiah reviews Caitlin Moran’s What about Men? Part of the Problem with Men series.

19/09/2023

Authenticity and the problem with men

James Ray

The problem with men rarely leaves the headlines. James Ray looks beyond, seeking one potential solution - authenticity. Part of the Problem with Men series.

20/09/2023

Cynical twists that make wars unjust

The dodgy deals and human shields of a past war still disgust George Pitcher, who questions if just war criteria remain fit for today.

21/09/2023

How to shape peace today

Christine Schliesser

On International Day of Peace, Christine Schliesser counts today’s conflicts, deliberately imagines peace, and recalls an old song.

21/09/2023

From the barber’s chair: what makes a whole community

Adrian Urquidez and Neal Presa

Cutting hair during COVID taught Californian barber Adrian and long-time client Neal some lessons about relationships. A new column.

22/09/2023

Russell Brand and the bystanders: how to say enough is enough

Tiffany Bluhm

When calling out misogyny, low standards are expected of men. Tiffany Bluhm assesses the ‘Say Maaate’ campaign and explores bystander intervention. Part of the Problem with Men series.

22/09/2023

The challenge of filling your blank page or keeping it empty

The start of a sabbatical sets Ian Hamlin thinking through the tension between contemplation and action.

25/09/2023

To the abyss and back. The art of Peter Howson

Alastair Gordon

Painter Peter Howson captures personal conflict, toxic masculinity and horrific wars. Alastair Gordon reviews his work. Part of the Problem with Men series.

26/09/2023

Parliament’s floor tiles that empowered a queen

From Palace of Westminster floor tiles fit for a Queen to feminist theology, Belle Tindall takes a thought journey.

27/09/2023

Imagining our heart’s fragile condition

The songs and sketches of Paul Simon and Charlie Mackesy invites us to seek out sacred answers. Belle Tindall reviews their Sevens Psalms collaboration.

23/09/2023

The harsh reminder of our common humanity

Iran’s latest sanctions on protestors are a harsh reminder of the importance of diversity, solidarity and our common humanity, writes Krish Kandiah.

27/09/2023

Confessions of an atheist philosopher. Part 6: making the leap

Stefani Ruper

In her series’ final article, philosopher Stefani Ruper offers a new vision we all need.

29/09/2023

The thin place family-making creates

Fixing a broken adoption system leads to a 'thin place' – one where family-making transcend traumas. Belle Tindall meets Tarn Bright of Home For Good.

09/10/2023

The real hearts of oak

The power of the lens, food and hospitality drive the hope in Ken Loach’s last film. Krish Kandiah reviews The Old Oak.

29/09/2023

The tragic heart of British politics

As political party conferences commence, Belle TIndall is riveted and repulsed by the scandals, toxicity and true tragedy at the heart of Rory Stewart’s memoir.

01/10/2023

The trouble with identity politics

Identity politics reflected two great longings, a desire for uniqueness, and a need to belong. It’s time to ditch it.

02/10/2023

Cost of living crisis: faith and food banks combine to tackle destitution and its causes

Robert Wright

The Trussell Trust wants food banks in its network to reduce the need for their services. Robert Wright finds out why the trust regrets they still distribute so much food.

02/10/2023

Two terrible travelogues in search of their storylines

Yaroslav Walker would rather get to a monastery than recommend these threequels.

03/10/2023

Disney: 100 years of waiting for Prince Charming

Reflecting on the Disney centenary, Lauren Windle finds herself dis-enchanted with Prince Charming and reflecting on what might be a better kind of attraction.

05/10/2023

From family to flourishing community, why relationships count so much

Rob Wickham

Little local acts of listening and kindness shed light on an age-old question, writes Rob Wickham - am I my brother’s keeper?

06/10/2023

Re-Enchanting season two is live

Find out who's sharing with Belle and Justin this season.

04/10/2023

Why radical humility challenges personality politics

Amid the political party conferences, George Pitcher searches for the flickers of radical humility.

05/10/2023

Shining light on the census

Jonathan Moules

Exploring census maps on religious affiliation, Jonathan Moules finds out why it is a flawed measure of a country’s faith

14/03/2023

My conversation with... Frank Skinner

Re-Enchanting... Comedy. Frank Skinner is only interested in the weird. In the un-graspable. In the outrageous. Belle Tindall gets a lesson in "super poetry" from Frank.

07/10/2023

Outsourcing our identities: the corrosive effect of political tribalism

Andy Flannagan

Political identities need to connect with core identities, Andy Flannagan reflects on how political disagreement can distort the lives of participants.

10/10/2023

The rough sleeper: an icon of injustice

Jon Kuhrt

Each rough sleeper is a raw illustration of injustice. On an awareness day for both homelessness and mental health, Jon Kuhrt reflects on the root causes and yet sees hope.

10/10/2023

The felled tree: decoding the destruction

Theodore Brun

The deliberate felling of an iconic tree is a story that author Theodore Brun had heard somewhere before, prompting him to explore the reactions to it further.

11/10/2023

Life Is more important than art

Recent art exhibitions tackle life’s big questions. Jonathan Evens reviews their themes and the roles creators take.

13/10/2023

Tackling homelessness needs much more than promises and policies

While homelessness generates statistics and strategies around the world, Jane Cacouris asks what really is home.

11/10/2023

Re-enchanting... conversion & US evangelicalism

Journalist and professor Molly Worthen talks to Belle and Justin about what led her to embrace faith, after researching the good, the bad and the ugly of Christian history.

09/10/2023

The 4th century social justice warrior

Ryan Gilfeather

He was the first to condemn slavery, over 1,500 years ago. Gregory of Nyssa critically examined society, looking at the relationships and structures everyone takes for granted.

01/02/2023

Why do films portray Christians as crazy?

Roger Bretherton

Exploring why films often portray the god-fearing as ‘always so god-damn weird’, psychologist Roger Bretherton recalls a first divine experience.

7 min read

12/10/2023

Article

Creed

A close up of a blue sun dial on a church clock tower, with an abbey's windows behind it.

Building a stronger society lecture for Westminster Abbey Institute

Centre for Cultural Witness Founder Graham Tomlin kicks off the Dignity and Public Service lecture series on Monday 30th October.

15/10/2023

My conversation with... Molly Worthen

Belle TIndall is fascinated by the intellectual fascination that drove Molly Worthen’s inquiry into faith.

14/10/2023

How Travis Kelce upped his game courting Taylor Swift

Tory Baucum

Certified romantic Tory Baucum is swept off his feet by how the celebrity romance unfolded.

13/10/2023

Israel-Hamas war: the courageous leadership that might solve this most intractable of problems

Amidst the horror of the Israel-Hamas war Graham Tomlin recalls the revolutionary leaders who were prepared to take the bold path away from violence and bloodshed.

18/10/2023

Letter from South Sudan

Samuel Enosa Peni

The people of South Sudan face more conflict and uncertainty as elections are postponed. Samuel Enosa Peni records how Christian faith is changing lives amid difficult times.

16/10/2023

Re-defining marriage: how India slowly changed its mind

Rahil Patel

As India sought independence a long struggle to re-define marriage was culminating. Rahil Patel tells the story of the Hindu Marriage Act and its Christian influences.

17/10/2023

Disney at 100: The Magic Kingdom's simulation of modern life

Jared Stacy

Disney is more than a mouse and entertainment. Theologian Jared Stacy dissects how the Liturgy of Disney reflects modern America in all its contradictions.

16/10/2023

A digital today needs an old calendar

What’s the relevance of an ancient church calendar to life today? Julie Canlis explores its origins and why it is still applicable in today’s digital world.

16/03/2023

What wine teaches us about the big things in life

Mark Scarlata

Wine connects us to the soil and each other, writes Mark Scarlata, as he unpacks what oenology – the study of wine, can teach us about ontology – the study of being.

20/10/2023

New episode: Seen & Unseen Aloud

Listen to a curated selection of the editor's top picks from the last week: crazies, comedy and the cut down tree.

16/10/2023

Re-enchanting... Disney at 100

100-year-old Disney is in the ‘enchantment’ business. Esmé Partridge and Yaroslav Walker join Belle and Justin to discuss its cultural impact. Listen or watch now.

18/10/2023

Why smell jumps the queue when it comes to memories

Smells hardwire deep into the brain, writes Henna Cundill, as she explores why they jump-start such vivid memories.

23/10/2023

Forgotten wisdom

In all the shifting sands of time and culture, Graham Tomlin draws attention to a source of wisdom that served our ancestors in the past and might do again in the future.

17/04/2023

How to encourage a second nature of virtue

Cultivating virtue could make you cheerful. Andrew Davison explore the benefits. The first in a five part series for Lent.

14/03/2023

Where the good, the true, the human, and the real meet

In the second of his series on virtue, Andrew Davison explores the underrated virtue of prudence as the ability to live aligned with the grain of the universe.

17/03/2023

Justice: a premium virtue

In the third of his series on virtue, Andrew Davison weighs what justice says today, particularly on impartiality.

03/03/2023

The means of courage: sober and swashbuckling

The ‘bracing and realistic virtue’ of courage is explored by Andrew Davison in the fourth of his series on virtue.

29/03/2023

Temperance: for the lovers of life

Restraint forms the river banks that allow a human life to flow deep and true. Andrew Davison concludes his series on virtue.

08/04/2023

Moscow letter: why Russia critiques the West

Malcolm Rogers

Beyond condemning the invasion of Ukraine, there is also a need to understand why Russia thinks what it does, explains Malcolm Rogers, the Anglican chaplain in Moscow.

14/03/2023

A story of home

Miroslav Volf

Why was the world created? By examining the nature of home, and identifying the monsters we let invade it, Miroslav Volf seeks answers to one of life’s big questions.

11 min read

23/03/2023

Explainer

Creed

On virtues

Brining together a series of articles on virtue, this page will be updated during Lent 2023, as Andrew's articles are published.

20/03/2023

Thank you for being born

A thermonuclear ethical debate swaddled in a family road-trip comedy. Daniel Kim reviews Broker.

21/03/2023

Go medieval: game play as history lecture

Lukas Herren

While Pentiment’s game-play makes it a playful, enjoyable, and in-depth history lecture, it also raises deeper questions, says Lukas Herren.

21/03/2023

Trusting her experience

Jane Williams

Daring and passionate thought is not the province of modern writers alone. Jane William introduces Julian of Norwich, Britain’s first female author.

23/03/2023

It’s complicated: dissecting dating shows

From evening entertainment to essentially influential, TV dating shows define how many relate to each other. As a new series of Love is Blind drops, Lauren Windle explores their attraction and how to survive them.

23/03/2023

For love there is no charge

Sian Brookes

Out of mind old people are at the centre of Allelujah! Sian Brookes reviews the film adaptation of Alan Bennett’s play.

27/03/2023

Family dramas

It’s family ties that bind together a superhero story, a horror tale and a rom-com. Yaroslav Walker’s review sheds light on what these ties unexpectedly reflect, as he reviews Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania, Knock at the Cabin, and What’s Love Got to Do With It?

24/03/2023

After the anniversary

Peter Robertson

Ukrainian musician Lyuba Reznichenko reflects on the war’s anniversary and on the aid given in so many ways. Interview by Peter Robertson.

30/03/2023

CajMaj’s search for the unseen

A coffee shop queue encounter inspires Daniel Kim to consider the small moments of magic in the trivia of life.

24/03/2023

An irresponsible gamble

Sam Tomlin

Out-of-date law and human nature mean sports betting is more than harmless fun – it ruins lives, argues Sam Tomlin.

30/03/2023

Beyond cold certainties

Alister McGrath

The Creeds set out a vision of reality – a vision that cannot be proved to be true, but which was found to be true by a community of people.

30/03/2023

What does the word ‘God’ mean anyway?

After asking why belief matters, Barnabas Aspray turns to transcendence as a way of defining God. The second in a series exploring the Nicene Creed.

30/03/2023

Meditating on violence

Violence is inherent to life - and a lot of movies. Yaroslav Walker asks if it has to be accepted, as he reviews Creed III, Scream VI and John Wick 4.

30/03/2023

Letter from Odesa

Peter Robertson

It’s fatiguing living close to the front line. Peter Robertson reports on how aid is supporting those suffering in Ukraine.

30/03/2023

Cinematic Passions

Gibson, Darbont, Pasolini, Eastwood and Scorsese all feature in priest Yaroslav Walker’s top five Good Friday movies.

30/03/2023

Real time

Oliver Wright

One Sunday time warped. Oliver Wright explores the conception of real time.

07/04/2023

Risky generosity

Mark Wreford

In Nottingham, Mark Wreford recalls a moment at a church door and contemplates the challenge of it.

23/03/2023

Life before death

Embracing death, parading it down streets, and even downplaying their egos, Julie Canlis contemplates why Christians do death.

05/04/2023

How a nation opened its arms to refugees

Tory Baucum

Fascinated by Polish hospitality extended to Ukrainian refugees, Tory Baucum delves into its nature.

06/04/2023

Faith, chaos and carnage

Remembered rituals comforted many who mourn. As Easter comes around again, Graham Tomlin examines the underlying hope found when all is carnage and chaos.

06/04/2023

When creation and justice converge

N.T. Wright

In a world of climate catastrophe, what does the message of Easter have to offer? N.T. Wright contemplates the hope of a new heaven and a new earth.

09/04/2023

A place on Earth

Elizabeth Wainwright

Pondering the power of a place, Elizabeth Wainwright believes it roots us and asks us to play our part here and beyond.

11/04/2023

Dreaming a world

Ryan McAnnally-Linz, Matthew Croasmun, and Miroslav Volf

When we dream a life, we dream a world. One of love, peace and joy. Such flourishing is a life led well, going well and feeling as it should.

07/04/2023

Reviving post-liberal society

There’s a crisis of trust, anxiety, and relationship in post-liberal society. Graham Tomlin looks into what might revive it.

10/04/2023

Who’s by your side?

It’s tough to watch A Good Person. Its laser focus and tenderness prompts Lauren Windle to recall her experience of addiction and recovery.

11/04/2023

The falcon’s call

Anthony Baker

Awed by an encounter with a bird of prey high above a Texas river, Anthony Baker ponders both the place and his place.

12/04/2023

A prophet in springtime

Andrew Rumsey

A visit to a spring, surrounded by marks of belonging, prompts Andrew Rumsey to consider the purpose of property.

14/04/2023

A place of cleansing

Natalie Garrett

A trip to the dump leads Natalie Garrett to consider the quality of confession.

15/04/2023

Christianity, suffering and the morality of the victim

Graham Tomlin explores the real reason why Christianity seems fixated on suffering.

12/04/2023

Essay

What impacts has artificial intelligence had on society, past, present and future? Simon Cross explores just where have our machines got us.

Culture

A complex of linear and metal parts in a machine-like sculpture.

Machines and their ghosts

Simon Cross

16/03/2023

The rude guests

Hannah Eves

The Earth Transformed chronicles what happens when civilisation comes up against environmental change. Hannah Eves reviews Peter Frankopan’s analysis.

13/04/2023

After the first war, before the next

Lika Zakaryan

Once more border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan are occurring. Lika Zakaryan reflects on what happened since the last war ended.

14/04/2023

Re-enchanting podcast launches

The Re-enchanting is Seen & Unseen's new podcast series. It explores how Christianity can re-enchant culture, politics, the arts, the sciences, history, and so much more.

19/04/2023

Carving joy and suffering – what Donatello’s sculpture captures

Sara Schumacher

The pioneering sculpture of Donatello presents emotional urgency. Sara Schumacher reflects on his art.

19/04/2023

How Shakespeare seasoned justice with mercy

Anthony Baker

As Shakespeare’s birthday approaches, Anthony Baker explores how the playwright let two ancient enemies fight it out on stage – justice and mercy.

20/04/2023

Fanfare for the familial: what the coronation really showcases

John Milbank

The culmination of family saga or a snapshot of the universal family? John Milbank analyses the wider meaning of the coronation.

21/04/2023

Face to face with the danger of faith

In the face of compassion fatigue, connecting with the humanity of a cause requires the artistic, not just the imperative. Belle Tindall reviews Clay and Canvas.

22/04/2023

What a monarch’s meeting teaches about politics and permanence

A monarch meeting a prime minister is a symbol of a deeper truth in a fleeting world.

24/04/2023

Re-enchanting... reading and writing

"We are culture making creatures", says Francis Spufford, on the latest episode of Re-enchanting - Seen & Unseen's new podcast series.

24/04/2023

Seen & Unseen Aloud: first new episode of the new year

Listen to curated to narrated articles. This week: the psychology of self-belief, the premier of One Life, and an answer to a particular question about assisted dying.

15/01/2024

Rory Stewart: re-enchanting politics and public service

On the Re-enchanting podcast, Rory Stewart talks with Jonathan Aitken about politics, prison reform, and how Stewart's own faith informs his vocation to public life and service.

17/01/2024

Discover the kindness of a Blue Monday snowfall

Waking to a new world, Henna Cundill considers the transformation of more than just the view.

16/01/2024

After the fall: the Post Office scandal and the search for justice

Falls from grace, like that of the Post Office’s CEO, prompt Graham Tomlin to dissect the problems of justice and mercy.

19/01/2024

I’ll be there for you

James Cary

Friends is about being friends. Not family. But also family. Sitcom writer James Cary unpicks what makes the show tick.

14/03/2023

Wonder walls: will Manchester’s creativity save the city?

Matthew Porter

Manchester newcomer, and new bishop, Matthew Porter is bowled over by the city’s enrichening creativity.

20/01/2024

How I came to love my new neighbours

Sam Tomlin

Moving to Liverpool, home to the team he hated, challenges football supporter Sam Tomlin’s sense of belonging.

22/01/2024

Why hold on to Veganuary anymore?

Trystan Owain Hughes

As commercial promotion of plant-based diets falter Trystan Owain Hughes digs for the real roots around a ‘reverence for life’.

23/01/2024

How the incomer’s eye sees identity

A re-invigorated art gallery highlights synergies between ancient texts and current issues.

26/01/2024

Seen & Unseen Aloud: new episode

Listen to curated to narrated articles. This week: the Post Office, political reform, and medical promises.

22/01/2024

Our human tribe

A famed photographer's exhibition about Amazonia prompts Jane Cacouris to consider the wider issues.

14/03/2023

Witnessing the unseen: why cave art captivates us

Iwan Russell-Jones

Iwan Russell-Jones recounts the discovery of stone age art that still connects 30,000 years after its creation.

24/01/2024

Helen Lewis: re-enchanting feminism and the culture wars

On the Re-enchanting podcast Helen Lewis talks with Belle and Justin about the religious instincts that seems to underlie secular activism, and whether she sees any way forward in re-enchanting feminism and the culture wars.

24/01/2024

There’s a blindingly obvious way to teach religious tolerance

George Pitcher disagrees with the media’s approval of a school ban on religious observance.

25/01/2024

The Post Office scandal: why truth matters

Alex Stewart

Lawyer Alex Stewart analyses the Post Office scandal for the lessons it teaches on our missing morals.

27/01/2024

Freedom of belief: The harsh scars of lived experience in Iran

Belle Tindal meets Dabrina, an Iranian contemporary, and compares their experience of living – from cars to believing.

29/01/2024

To boldly hope: how Star Trek dares us to be better

Paula Duncan

Amid dystopian dramas, Paula Duncan analyses the attraction of the Star Trek franchise.

30/01/2024

Faith, hope and FOMO

Mica Gray

Missing out on seeing her favourite band's first live gig provides Mica Gray a lesson in doubt and faith.

07/02/2024

Prince William's doubt is normal - it's impossible to be certain whether there is a God

Our limited human understanding means we will never fully understand God in this life, writes Graham Tomlin.

05/02/2024

Can Bazball teach us something about freedom?

Cameron Wiltshire-Plant

In the wake of England's remarkable victory over India in Hyderabad, Cameron Wiltshire-Plant explores the unlikely links between Bazball and the spiritual life.

28/01/2024

Seen & Unseen Aloud: new episode