Scripture
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From ‘the salt of the earth’ to ‘the powers that be’: the impact of biblical language in culture
Introduction What is the impact of biblical language in culture today? And why and how does this matter to practical theologians? Twenty-five delegates met to delve into these questions in December 2025 at a symposium held at the historic Launde Abbey in Leicestershire, England. This article offers some reflections on the symposium by one of the convenors (Andrew) and three delegates who kindly agreed to put fingers to keyboard after the event.[i] The particular prompt for the symposium theme and for the meeting at this time was the 500th anniversary of William Tyndale’s 1525-26 translation of the New Testament into English – from the Greek and in printed form for…
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Can AI sin?
Can AI sin? The obvious answer would be no; it might be created in the image of humanity, but it is not a human being. In my previous article[1] I discussed whether an avatar can be created bad. The conclusion was that the avatar itself was not bad, but it could be seen as bad, depending on the actions of the person they represent. However, if Artificial Intelligence is an entity, should it be treated differently in relation to the question of sin? Depending on our religious, or non-religious, background, our interpretation of what sin is may differ. Most would accept that sin is primarily an action against God, whether…
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Authority Recognized and Challenged: Approaching the Bible as Practical Theologians
Introduction How might practical theologians engage with the Bible as practical theologians? In December 2022, eighteen of us met together for a symposium at the Woodbrooke Quaker Study Centre in Birmingham, England, to delve into this question. This article is a reflection on that symposium by the convenors and three delegates on different aspects of the event. Taking a step back for moment, the symposium was organised by the Bible and Practical Theology special interest group, part of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology (BIAPT). The special interest group (SIG) was founded in 2011 by Zoë Bennett and Andrew Rogers[1] due to the growing sense of unease about…
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Welcoming the Stranger: Aligning Hospitality, Justice and Charity with Righteousness
This article explores hospitality, the theme of BIAPT’s 2023 annual conference to be held on 11th to 13th July 2023. If you want to explore these sort of themes further, please consider joining us for the conference. For details visit the conference website here. In the Tanakh (the Bible) there are many instances where we are commanded to treat the stranger with charity, justice and righteousness. Why? Perhaps it is based on the idea of reciprocity, a payback for having been guests, presumably quite good guests: “Because you were strangers in a strange land” (Exodus 22:20) This seems reasonable; the good guest becomes, hopefully, the good host. After all, every…
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Wang Yi’s Prophetic Practice
In 2004 a human rights lawyer named Wang Yi made the list of 50 Most Influential Public Intellectuals of China. In 2005 he became a Christian and joined the persecuted church in China as an outspoken advocate not only for human rights, but for the cause of Christ. In 2006 he was invited to Washington D.C. to speak with President George W. Bush about the issue of religious freedom. And in 2008 this young, distinguished, legal scholar resigned his university position to pastor a church in Chengdu, China.[1] As a pastor, Wang Yi drew attention from government officials for allegedly distributing Christian content, leading a school and seminary that were…
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Health Crises, Medicine, and Religion
In 1862, a measles epidemic swept across Japan infecting more than 60% of people with a case fatality rate of almost 20% in some areas.[1] In response, people turned not only to the science of the day, but also to religion in their search for answers and remedies. Prints about measles known as hashika-e offered the general public advice on diet and lifestyle encouraging the afflicted to refrain from sexual intercourse and oily foods, for example. These documents simultaneously depicted deities such as Mugidono Daimyōjin (the god of wheat), whom people would attempt to ‘transfer the disease to…or…invoke…to lessen the severity of a case.’[2] In other words, religion and contemporary…
