“There are different kinds of justice. Retributive justice is largely Western. The African understanding is far more restorative – not so much to punish as to redress or restore a balance that has been knocked askew.” -Desmond Tutu – Dante’s hell, as discussed in Part 1, fuelled the human imagination. Eternal flames, endless pain, torturous…Continue reading Haunted by Hell: Part 2 – Our Addiction to Retributive Justice
Category: History
Haunted by Hell: Part 1 – Dante’s Legacy
“The path to paradise begins in hell.” ― Dante Alighieri – There’s a room in my life where hell sleeps. Sleeps every so lightly. And over the last few years, it often awakens, moving swiftly through the corridors, to be part of the many conversations I have had with people whose life narrative has been…Continue reading Haunted by Hell: Part 1 – Dante’s Legacy
On Burning Bridges
The hardest thing in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which to burn. – David Russell – During the Roman Empire, it was common practice for military commanders who were concerned about their armies retreating during intense battle to burn the bridges they crossed in order to block any form of escape. It…Continue reading On Burning Bridges
Celebrating the Birth of the Homeless, Oppressed and Marginalised
“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.” -G.K. Chesterton – If we had to paint a picture of the Christ that many of us celebrate at Christmas, what would our portrait look like? If the sound bytes that accost us on…Continue reading Celebrating the Birth of the Homeless, Oppressed and Marginalised
Who were the Celts?
“Their aspect is terrifying … their hair is blond, but not naturally so: they bleach it, to this day, artificially, washing it in lime and combing it back from their foreheads. They look like wood-demons, their hair thick and shaggy like a horse’s mane. Some of them are cleanshaven, but others … shave their cheeks…Continue reading Who were the Celts?
Welcoming but not Affirming: Getting to the Slippery Truth
“As a survivor of the gay conversion movement, it feels amazing to know that our experiences are being heard nationally and that there is finally research that confirms the prevalence and damage of the gay conversion movement in Australia… The messaging of the movement that told me that I was “broken” has caused long-term damage…Continue reading Welcoming but not Affirming: Getting to the Slippery Truth
Voices from the Grave: Frederick Douglass
“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.” Frederick Douglas We know little of the woman Harriet Bailey. We just know she was the…Continue reading Voices from the Grave: Frederick Douglass
Ignore or Silence Dissent At Your Own Peril!
Today I am reposting a blog on dissent – may you stand tall, stay true and speak up. “Has there ever been a society which has died of dissent? Several have died of conformity in our lifetime.” Jacob Bronowski Dissenters are a real pest, especially in a nice, neat, and controlled environment. When the mantra…Continue reading Ignore or Silence Dissent At Your Own Peril!
Love is … Fierce!
“The passion of love bursting into flame is more powerful than death, stronger than the grave.” Song of Songs 8:6. Last Saturday we gathered on the pristine Barwon Heads foreshore in Victoria, Australia. The day was perfection. Sunny and 23 degrees – a gentle breeze blew the white silky banners that marked the aisle…Continue reading Love is … Fierce!
Disturbing the Ant Nest: Let’s Talk About Expectations!
“Expectations were like fine pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack.” Brandon Sanderson – The Way of Kings When I was a child, my parents and I would take walks in the forests that grew rich and lush around the little village we called home in Northern Germany. Ants…Continue reading Disturbing the Ant Nest: Let’s Talk About Expectations!