The Four Discoursemen

Strangers to Solemnity

The Second Discourseman

On the day after the death of Prince Philip, I was quietly watching coverage of the 41-gun salute taking place around the country, when my friend entered with a look of concern. “You alright?” Yes, I was fine. A short while later: “Are you sure you’re okay?” I was somewhat bemused; I knew that as a staunch monarchist I was an anomaly in my student house, but it hadn’t crossed my mind that a little sombre reflection would come across as unusual, considering the previous day’s news. The enquiry was kind, yet in a way misplaced. This was not my personal grief, but rather a small act of sharing in the mourning of a nation, for a man who had served it well.

The Unnatural Environmentalism of XR

The Second Discourseman

Some time ago a friend told me of his fright when he was walking through Cambridge and turned to see gathered behind him a dozen deathly white faces, swathed in scarlet robes, chanting in the evening light. By now, such an appearance of Extinction Rebellion protestors is unlikely to elicit too much shock, commonplace as they have become. Nevertheless, I continue to be impressed by the sheer, unnatural ugliness of their demonstrations.

Conspiracy Theory or Common Sense?

The First Discourseman

I will probably take the vaccine, but it’s strange to me how few people have any qualms whatsoever with vaccines or vaccine passports. I’d thought I was being fairly sensible when, upon the rollout of the vaccine, I thought I’d better take my chances with COVID, but I’ve discovered that puts me in the same camp as conspiracy theorists who believe Bill Gates seeks to control us all with microchips. So here is my reasoning behind a certain vaccine scepticism:

The Handmaid’s Tale: A Review

The First Discourseman

I read The Handmaid’s Tale hoping to be challenged, tentatively expecting to have my patriarchal worldview shattered. At the very least I expected a fast-paced, strange dystopia, of an America simultaneously terrifying and familiar. Alas, I experienced none of these things, and for most of the book I found myself struggling to pay attention to any given sequence of words in front of me. Yet it was a very good book.

Green Conservatism, Green Christianity

The First Discourseman

Conservatives, Christians, and most of all conservative Christians are unenthusiastic about the environment. Largely it’s an issue that goes unmentioned; few would say it doesn’t matter, but the more radical calls for environmental justice or stewardship are met with indifference at best.