Joseph Hartropp

Fighting Black Friday: A Christian alternative to consumerism?
Fighting Black Friday: A Christian alternative to consumerism?

If Lent is the season of ascetic refrain from self-indulgence and our consumerist desires, then Black Friday week must be its secular opposite.

Happy Thanksgiving? Three reasons to be grateful in the time of Trump
Happy Thanksgiving? Three reasons to be grateful in the time of Trump

Today marks the rich, hearty, frequently food-coma-inducing American tradition of Thanksgiving. It's an important time to be thankful, but the age of Brexit and Trump seems to have made us more divided and cynical than ever.

Loving CS Lewis: Why the author of Narnia still unites the Church – and inspires the world
Loving CS Lewis: Why the author of Narnia still unites the Church – and inspires the world

On this day in 1963, the artist, theologian and towering Christian intellectual CS Lewis died. His death was dramatically overshadowed by another's, but the profound legacy of Lewis lives on today.

London's first purpose built CofE church in 40 years celebrates opening
London's first purpose built CofE church in 40 years celebrates opening

The first purpose built Anglican church in London in 40 years has been opened in Tottenham, London. The 'state of the art' St Francis at the Engine Room opened yesterday to the celebration of community locals.

'Nones' are now the biggest religious group in the US - with families torn on priorities
'Nones' are now the biggest religious group in the US - with families torn on priorities

A new survey has found that 'nones' – the religiously unaffiliated, including atheists – are now the largest religious group in the US.

Judging Jericho: What should Christians do with the Bible's God-ordained violence?
Judging Jericho: What should Christians do with the Bible's God-ordained violence?

The violent tale of Joshua and Israel's destruction of Joshua can be a deeply troubling one. What should Christians make of it today?

For God and country: What do the US military think of Christians, the Bible and America's 'moral decline'?
For God and country: What do the US military think of Christians, the Bible and America's 'moral decline'?

A new survey has polled the views of American military members on Christian faith and the Bible. Most military members have a 'very positive' view of believers, and say that American morality is in decline, while nearly half believe Bible doesn't have enough influence on society.

Pope Francis condemns 'perverse' climate change deniers
Pope Francis condemns 'perverse' climate change deniers

Pope Francis condemned the 'perverse attitudes' of climate change deniers and sceptics in an address to world leaders yesterday, in what may be taken as an implicit attack on the leadership of Donald Trump.

Pro-ISIS group vows 'Christmas blood' inciting Vatican terror attack
Pro-ISIS group vows 'Christmas blood' inciting Vatican terror attack

Online propaganda from a pro-ISIS channel has threatened a Christmas terrorist attack against the Vatican, with a poster inciting 'Christmas blood'.

Leonardo da Vinci's controversial painting of Christ sold for record figure of $450m
Leonardo da Vinci's controversial painting of Christ sold for record figure of $450m

A painting of Christ by Leonardo da Vinci has sold for a record-breaking figure of $450 million (£341 million) in New York.

'Pearl of Scotland': The nation-shaping Christian leadership of Saint Margaret
'Pearl of Scotland': The nation-shaping Christian leadership of Saint Margaret

Today is the feast day of a Hungarian princess-turned Queen of Scotland – Saint Margaret – who became not only a national treasure to Scots but a spiritual inspiration to Christians across the world.

Twitter's World Cup of Cathedrals: Titanic church clash sees dramatic finale
Twitter's World Cup of Cathedrals: Titanic church clash sees dramatic finale

Last month marked a momentous anniversary – 500 years since the beginning (ish) of the Protestant Reformation, the decisive split that forever changed the Church. But this week, another climactic Christian clash awaits, albeit a little more light-hearted but no less energetic: the final of Twitter's World Cup of Cathedrals.

John Lewis' #MozTheMonster: Why is it so meaningless?
John Lewis' #MozTheMonster: Why is it so meaningless?

The Christmas ads are back – with John Lewis unveiling their latest stab at vacuous sentimentalism today. It's 'the most wonderful time of the year' if you love generic, cynical corporate marketing – but for others it might be the nail in the coffin of 2017.

God in monochrome: Is Christianity a black and white faith?
God in monochrome: Is Christianity a black and white faith?

A brand-new exhibition at London's National Gallery titled Monochrome: Painting in Black and White showcases 700 years of human art completed in the monochrome – using black and white, or a gradient of just one colour. The already-acclaimed exhibit includes deeply religious works and prompts a question for contemporary believers: is Christianity a black-and-white faith?

Supernatural wonder in a secular age: What Christians can learn from 'Stranger Things'
Supernatural wonder in a secular age: What Christians can learn from 'Stranger Things'

The spooky, nostalgic and thoroughly charming 'Stranger Things' returned to audiences last week, with season two of Netflix's surprise hit airing in time for the Hallowe'en season. Some Christians might be suspicious of horror and drama that delves too far into darkness, but they should be rest assured that this show is nothing to fear. 'Stranger Things' isn't just quality entertainment, but a provocative and spiritually wise fable for a secular age.

The name-game dividing the Church: What makes a Christian 'evangelical'?
The name-game dividing the Church: What makes a Christian 'evangelical'?

'Evangelical' is a divisive label in the Church today. Others are desperate to claim it, others to reject it. But can there be any consensus on hat it really means?