An amendment in the Lords, SCM Canada in Egypt and biblical spin

The big event this week which has many in the UK Christian community talking this week is an amendment to the Civil Partnerships act which allows same sex partnerships to be allowed on religious premises. The amendment is explained fully by Thinking Anglicans.

Simon Beard gives his response to the ammendment
"Last night's debate on same sex partnerships in the house of Lords was conducted against a backdrop of debates about religious liberty. Nothing was mentioned so often or with such conviction. Yet it appears that the concept of religious liberty itself was not able to decide the issue."

Simon Hill looks at how other groups have responded to the amendment
"Today, Ekklesia, the Quakers, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, Stonewall and Peter Tatchell all issued press releases welcoming the result. But Christian Concern For Our Nation (CCFON) issued a release describing the decision as “outrageous”."

Dave Walker at the Church times suggests what the Bishops were doing at the time of the vote.

A senior Friend from SCM Canada is interviewed about the Gaza Freedom March in Egypt
"Over New Years 2009/10, activists from around the world – 1,400 of them – assembled in Egypt to break the blockade of Gaza and bring relief supplies and support to thousands of Palestinians trapped there. The blockade, however, is maintained not only by Israel, but also by Egypt, with the support the the U.S. military. The activists were prevented from marching, and detained by police for eight days in Cairo. SCM Senior Friend Jean Lee was among them."

Mark Bilby looks at Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' through Jewish theology
"The guiltiest and most pleasurable jokes are insider affairs. Such is Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-nominated film 'Inglourious Basterds', a most guilty pleasure and fantastical joke. But what is the joke? "

Jonathan Bartley shows that even God uses spin
"If the Bible's accounts are to be believed, God had spin doctors too. In the Hebrew scriptures, it was the prophets who were charged with delivering the messages of the Almighty. Often resorting to visual displays and stunts, their interventions were also highly political."