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        <title>Christian Today | Culture</title>
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                                                        <item>
                <title><![CDATA[Mel Gibson warned Passion screenwriter 'Satan's going to come after you']]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/mel-gibson-warned-passion-screenwriter-satan-s-going-to-come-after-you</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/mel-gibson-warned-passion-screenwriter-satan-s-going-to-come-after-you</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Samantha Kamman]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/74/97491.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Mel Gibson]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: YouTube/Joe Rogan Experience) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience released on Jan. 9, 2025. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:05:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Randall Wallace said a conversation he had with Mel Gibson about making a sequel to "The Passion of the Christ" came with an unexpected warning.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Randall Wallace said a conversation he had with Mel Gibson about making a sequel to "The Passion of the Christ" came with an unexpected warning: "Satan's going to come after you."
Wallace, 76, shared the story during an appearance on Raymond Arroyo’s Arroyo Grande podcast in an episode released on July 15. 
Wallace, Gibson and Gibson’s brother, Donal Gibson, teamed up to write “The Resurrection of the Christ,” the sequel to Gibson’s 2004 biblical drama “The Passion of the Christ,” which chronicles the final hours of Jesus and His crucifixion.
The screenwriter said he approached Gibson about developing a film on the Resurrection while the two were promoting 2016's "Hacksaw Ridge."
“Having studied the Resurrection and being so consumed by it, I thought about it many times,” Wallace recalled. “I didn’t have anything to do with ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ When we were promoting ‘Hacksaw Ridge,’ we were sitting there talking about our lives, and I said, ‘Look, you know, the story that you really need to tell is the Resurrection,’” the screenwriter added. 
Wallace said there was a long pause before Gibson responded with something "profoundly beautiful."
"He said, 'If we do this, it can't be for the money, and it can't be to get back at people that have hated us or wronged us or been unhappy with us.' And I said, 'Amen to that,'" Wallace recalled.
“Then [Gibson] said, ‘You know, Satan’s going to come after you,’” he continued. 
Wallace recalled jokingly replying, "Well, you know, Satan doesn't really care about Baptists. It's really good when Satan can get a Catholic. We're a dime a dozen."
The screenwriter acknowledged that he was being facetious at the time, though he admitted the thought stuck with him.
When Arroyo asked, "What if he's right?" Wallace replied, "Well, yeah," adding that the exchange led to "a beautiful conversation about grace."
Arroyo then suggested Wallace might've also been wondering whether Gibson’s warning might prove true.
That conversation, Wallace said, marked the start of their collaboration on the script. “I knew he had written ‘The Passion,’ was very much deeply involved in the writing of it,” Wallace said. “And I said, ‘Look, let’s partner up. I’ll write a draft, give it to you, then we’ll start tearing it up, go through it. You do your thing, I’ll do mine. We’ll work together, we’ll work apart.’ So we started that way.”
The project is not the first time that Wallace and Gibson have worked together. The pair previously collaborated on the Oscar-winning 1995 epic historical drama “Braveheart,” the 2002 Vietnam War movie “We Were Soldiers” and the 2016 World War II film “Hacksaw Ridge.”
The sequel has undergone scheduling changes since it was first announced. 
“The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One” had originally been scheduled for release in March 2026, but its theatrical debut has been pushed to May 6, 2027, according to Variety. The second installment is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 25, 2028.
The sequel to Gibson’s 2004 biblical drama revisits the story of Jesus Christ following the crucifixion, focusing on the events surrounding the Resurrection.
Actor Jaakko Ohtonen plays Jesus in the sequel, replacing Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ.” The ensemble also includes Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene, Pier Luigi Pasino as Peter, Kasia Smutniak as Mary, Riccardo Scamarcio as Pontius Pilate and Rupert Everett in a supporting role.
“It made sense to recast the whole film,” a source close to the production previously told Variety. “They would have had to do all this CGI stuff - de-aging and all that - that would have been very costly.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Worship leader Brian Doerksen dies from stage 4 cancer]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/worship-leader-brian-doerksen-dies-from-stage-4-cancer</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/worship-leader-brian-doerksen-dies-from-stage-4-cancer</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leonardo Blair]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/0/88/8804.jpg">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Brian Doerksens Its Time]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Brian Doerksen's It's Time ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:55:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The man behind worship hits like “Come Now Is The Time To Worship" has passed away at the age of 60.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christian Canadian worship leader, singer and songwriter Brian Doerksen, known for songs such as “Refiner's Fire,” “Faithful One” and “Come Now Is The Time To Worship,” has died following a brief battle with stage 4 cancer. He was 60.
He died “peacefully in his sleep” at home on Tuesday morning “surrounded by those who loved him most,” according to a statement shared on his social media.
“Till the very end, Brian continued to love those around him, encouraging them in who they are, and shared incredible gratitude to those in the medical field who tried their best to help him. He was a beacon of light even in his final moments to his close family and friends, and loved well right to the end,” the statement said. “May we all be like him, to love freely, be kind, and grateful even in the midst of the hardest of times.”
Doerksen, who was part of the Vineyard Churches and Vineyard Music Group, was hospitalized after he began experiencing severe pain from “undiagnosed medical issues for months,” which began in February, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched to help pay for his healthcare.
The campaign stated that he and his wife, Joyce, are the parents of six adult children with Fragile X syndrome, one of the most common inherited causes of intellectual disability and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two of those children require full-time care.
“His heart and purpose has been to sing love over people, inspire hope, comfort the grieving, and bring peace amongst the chaos in a hurting world,” the campaign organizers said.
In a statement honoring Doerksen’s life Wednesday, Vineyard Worship thanked God for his “extraordinary life and ministry, and for the lasting gift he has given to the Church.”
“It is with deep sadness, and with profound gratitude to God, that we honor the life of Brian Doerksen. Brian was one of the fathers of Vineyard Worship. Through his songs, leadership and friendship, he helped shape worship in the Vineyard and, far beyond that, the worship of the global Church,” the group said.
“Generations of us have encountered God through songs like 'Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,' 'Refiner’s Fire,' 'Faithful One,' 'Your Love Is Amazing,' and so many more. These songs have been sung in countless churches, at weddings and funerals, in conferences and living rooms, in moments of celebration and seasons of suffering. They have given language to our hearts and pointed us, time and again, to intimacy with Jesus,” the statement added.
Beyond his music, however, Vineyard Worship also remembered Doerksen for his character.
“Those who knew him speak of a man marked by humility, kindness, generosity and deep faith. He was a worshipper before he was a songwriter, and his life reflected the One he so faithfully sang about,” the group stated. “Even in the midst of suffering, he continued to encourage others, overflowing with gratitude and hope.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Erling Haaland buys historic Christian manuscript, donates it to local library]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/erling-haaland-buys-historic-christian-manuscript-donates-it-to-local-library</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/erling-haaland-buys-historic-christian-manuscript-donates-it-to-local-library</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/90/99031.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Erling Haaland]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Haaland bought the manuscript together with his father, who was also a professional footballer in his day. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Professional footballers may be known for their lavish lifestyles - fast cars and big houses - but one footballing superstar decided to use his fortune to give a historic Christian manuscript to his local library.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and his father decided to fork out $134,000 for the Heimskringla, a collection of Viking sagas that dates back to the late 16th century, EWTN reports.
The sagas document the lives of all sections of Norse society in the middle ages and detail the spread of Christianity in Norway.
Haaland himself is widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of the present day, scoring more goals than any other player in the 2025/26 Premier League season. At the recent World Cup he had the fourth highest personal goal tally.
His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was also a professional footballer in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The Heimskringla is believed to have been created in 1594, however it is also believed to be a copy of a much earlier document produced by an Icelandic scholar in the 13th century.
The original was in Old Norse and tells the story of King Olaf Haraldsson, who converted to Christianity and was later recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church. Over the centuries he has become a symbol of both Norwegian national pride and identity, and its spiritual formation as a Christian country.
The Haalands have donated the manuscript to the public library in their hometown of Bryne.
Erling Haaland told Norwegian media, “I want the book always to lie open so that people can read about those who came from where I come from, from Bryne and Jæren."
He added, “I’ve been lucky enough to live out my dream through football, and I know not everyone gets that chance. Books give so many more people the chance to dream big, see new possibilities and find their own path.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Why integrity matters: Lessons from William Wilberforce ]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/why-integrity-matters-lessons-from-william-wilberforce</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/why-integrity-matters-lessons-from-william-wilberforce</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anita Laryea]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[William Wilberforce]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Wilberforce House, Hull Museum, Hull City Council) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ William Wilberforce by John Rising ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 07:22:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Christian Today spoke with Holy Trinity Clapham Rector, Rev Jago Wynne, to hear his thoughts on what integrity looks like from a biblical perspective and why he looks to William Wilberforce for inspiration.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
In his new book, The Integrity Fix, author and Holy Trinity Clapham Rector Jago Wynne reflects on the life of William Wilberforce and his example of living with integrity across all aspects of his life. The book explores the meaning of integrity and some of the reasons for its decline in both society and the Church, while also thinking about how individuals can rediscover a more authentic and integrated way of living. 
Christian Today spoke with Rev Wynne to hear his thoughts on what integrity looks like from a biblical perspective, how churches can build healthier cultures of accountability and authenticity, and why he looks to William Wilberforce for inspiration.
What inspired you to write The Integrity Fix?
First of all, my inspiration comes from the very nature of the work I’ve been doing for the past 14 years, serving at Holy Trinity Clapham, where I am the Rector - the church is known for its historic significance as the place where William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect worshipped. 
A second source of inspiration came from two recent events. One was the storming of the Capitol building in the United States. On that day, a friend of mine, a former speechwriter for George W Bush and contributor to the 2007 Amazing Grace film, sent me a message saying it was a “broken time” for his nation. Shortly after, he sent another message asking a simple but profound question: “Can Wilberforce be a model for the church to lead us out of this mess?”
That question stayed with me. It led me to reflect on how Wilberforce’s life might speak into both societal brokenness and our own personal struggles.
Around this time, I was also connected to an academic, Michael McMullen, Professor of Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in Kansas City, who had been studying Wilberforce’s prayer journals. These journals had originally been written in shorthand and required significant effort to decode. When I had the opportunity to read them, I gained a remarkable insight, not just into Wilberforce the public figure, but into his private life behind the public achievements. And as I explored Wilberforce’s life, I became increasingly aware of his integrity. 
How would you define integrity from a biblical perspective?
At its core, integrity means being whole or undivided. Applied to our lives, integrity is about coherence, when every part of who we are aligns. The opposite of integrity is hypocrisy, something the Bible frequently warns against - appearing one way outwardly while being different inwardly.
In Isaiah 6, when Isaiah encounters God’s holiness, he says, “Woe to me … I am ruined.” The word ‘ruined’ literally means “disintegrated”, falling apart under the weight of sin. Integrity is the opposite: a life made whole and all the parts integrated together.
John Stott, the former Rector of All Souls, Langham Place, one of my heroes, described integrity as having no division between public and private life, between profession and practice, or between word and deed. That is a powerful and practical definition.
Why do we seem to be facing a crisis of integrity in society and the Church?
In one sense, this is nothing new. Since humanity’s fall, there has always been a tendency towards hypocrisy. However, something has shifted in our culture. Increasingly, people are turning inward to find authority, rather than looking to God or Scripture. There is a strong current of individualism, the idea that we each define our own truth and live as we please.
We also see examples of compromised integrity in public life. For instance, during the pandemic in the UK, there were well-publicised cases of leaders failing to follow the rules they imposed on others. This highlighted a gap between public messaging and private behaviour.
Sadly, this issue is not limited to politics. Within the Church, we have also seen leaders fall because of a mismatch between who they appeared to be and who they truly were. This challenge affects all of us, not just leaders, as we wrestle with aligning our public and private lives.
What are some subtle ways Christians can compromise integrity without realising it?
In the book, I describe different “circles” of integrity, including life, discipleship, mission, and vision. One common issue is a disconnect between what others see and what happens “off-screen” in hidden areas of life. Wilberforce is a striking contrast here. While he is famous for leading the abolition of the slave trade, his private prayer life reveals the same depth of integrity.
For example, as a single man, he carefully prayed about relationships. In his journals, he writes about a woman he refers to as “Miss H”. Although he was deeply interested in her, he ultimately chose not to pursue the relationship because she did not share his passion for Christ.
As a husband and father, he also lived counter-culturally. At a time when men of his status often distanced themselves from family life, he was intentionally present, spending time with his children, eating meals together, and engaging in their lives.
Whether it was relationships, family life, finances, or prayer, Wilberforce demonstrated consistency across all areas. 
How can churches and leaders foster healthier cultures of accountability and authenticity?
A biographer, John Pollock, once wrote: “William Wilberforce is proof that man can change his time, though he cannot do it alone.” 
Wilberforce was part of a close-knit group known as the Clapham Sect. They met regularly, studied scripture, prayed together, and spoke honestly about both personal struggles and public issues. They held one another accountable.
This model is still highly relevant today. Leaders should not operate in isolation but should be part of trusted communities where they can be supported, challenged, and encouraged in honesty and humility.
The book title includes the word “fix”. What does restoration look like when integrity has been lost?
The word fix is interesting. It can describe both being in difficulty (“in a fix”) and the act of restoration. We chose the word because it echoes a phrase used about Wilberforce, that through his Christian faith, he “fixed the character of his time.” He had a positive and lasting influence on the world around him.
While most of us will not replicate his specific achievements, each of us can live with integrity in our own sphere of influence. Whether in family, work, or community, living faithfully can bring healing and restoration to broken situations.
What conversations do you hope will come from the book?
Many people admire Wilberforce for his role in abolishing the slave trade, and rightly so. However, I hope this book broadens that perspective.
Wilberforce’s influence was rooted in his faith in Jesus, which shaped every aspect of his life. I sometimes sum it up like this: he had deep roots in Jesus, which produced real fruit in life.
I hope readers will reflect on what “real Christianity” looks like for them - not just a Sunday faith, but a faith that transforms everyday life. My prayer is that people will be inspired to live with integrity, allowing their lives to make a meaningful difference wherever they are.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Imprisoned executive who inspired Matt Damon movie credits God with turning his life around]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/imprisoned-executive-who-inspired-matt-damon-movie-credits-god-with-turning-his-life-around</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/imprisoned-executive-who-inspired-matt-damon-movie-credits-god-with-turning-his-life-around</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Mark Whitacre]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Mark Whitacre ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:51:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Mark Whitacre, who was portrayed by Matt Damon in a movie about his life, said, "God took my life from ashes to beauty".]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A former senior corporate executive whose dramatic rise and fall inspired a Hollywood film has shared how becoming a Christian while serving a prison sentence transformed both his personal life and his approach to business.
Speaking at an event hosted by Christian Business Leaders (LEC) in Madrid, Mark Whitacre reflected on his journey from multimillion-dollar executive to federal inmate, describing how his faith reshaped his priorities after losing his career, wealth and reputation.
In an interview with Evangelical Focus, Whitacre, now Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated, said his life had been driven by ambition and material success during his time at agricultural giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), where he became one of the company’s most senior executives in his early thirties.
By the age of 32, Whitacre had completed a PhD in biochemistry from Cornell University, was ADM’s fourth-highest-ranking executive, and was making around $10m a year in today’s money. He owned a mansion, several cars and had the use of a corporate jet.
Despite enjoying significant wealth and status, he said: “From everything the world has to offer, I had it all. But my inner self kept saying: there has to be more to life than this.”
He told the newspaper that no amount of possessions could satisfy the emptiness he felt within.
During this period, his wife, Ginger, embraced the Christian faith after spending 10 months caring for her mother in hospital, where she said she witnessed a series of miracles.
Whitacre initially dismissed her newfound faith. He recalled Ginger telling him: “Mark, God exists. Jesus is the Son of God. Your parents have been praying for you their whole life, and now I’m praying for you too. Because you’re wrong. Absolutely wrong.”
Whitacre became widely known after assisting the FBI for three years in an investigation to uncover a global price-fixing scheme involving ADM and other major companies. 
He said that, as a young executive, he simply followed senior leaders.
“I felt that if I was going to move up the corporate ladder, I had to follow them,” he said, adding that he had become deeply “attached to the salary, bonuses, the jet, that lifestyle”.
Reflecting on the influence of those around him, he said: “Show me your mentor, and I’ll show you your future. I had the wrong mentors.”
His story was later adapted into the 2009 film ‘The Informant!’, starring Matt Damon.
However, Whitacre was also convicted of defrauding ADM, resulting in an eight-year prison sentence after rejecting an earlier plea agreement that would have significantly reduced his term.
Before entering prison, Whitacre attempted to take his own life, believing that his family, career and future had been lost.
“I had no God in my life,” he said. “I thought life was over. I learned it was just beginning.”
Whitacre told Evangelical Focus that the turning point came when he was visited in prison by Chuck Colson, the former White House Counsel who became a Christian after serving time for his role in the Watergate scandal.
Whitacre said Colson challenged many of his assumptions about Christianity, introducing him to Christian scientists and writers whose work addressed the relationship between faith and science. 
After months of discussion and discipleship, Whitacre said he committed his life to Christ.
Reflecting on that period, he said prison ultimately became the place where he found lasting purpose, despite entering it believing his life was effectively over.
During his sentence, Whitacre’s wife, Ginger, moved closer to the prison and regularly visited him with their children, while he spent time helping fellow inmates pursue educational qualifications. 
He remarked: “Our marriage didn’t just survive. It thrived.”
Following his release, Whitacre returned to the corporate world and eventually joined Coca-Cola Consolidated, the leading Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. 
Looking back on his own journey, Whitacre attributed the restoration of his life to God's grace.
“Only God can do something like that,” he remarked. “God took my life from ashes to beauty. I didn’t do that.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Slight rise in religious programmes on TV last year]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/slight-rise-in-religious-programmes-on-tv-last-year</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/slight-rise-in-religious-programmes-on-tv-last-year</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[TV]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Getty/iStock) ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 07:11:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The BBC is behind nearly all the religious programmes available on British TV.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
An Ofcom report has shown a slight increase in public service TV broadcasts about religion and ethics last year.
Last year there were 171 hours of religion and ethics programmes from public service broadcasters, nearly all of which came from the BBC.
ITV and Channel 4 each had one hour of religious programmes during the whole year, while Channel 5 had none.
In the previous year there was a total of 168 hours of religious programming.
The 2025 figures, while a slight increase are still around a third lower than the peak of religious programming in 2013, when there were 254 hours of religious TV programmes.
Daisy Scalchi, BBC Head of Religion and Ethics for TV, said: “The BBC’s commitment to religion and ethics content is demonstrably strong.
"Audience habits have changed dramatically over the last 15 years, and we need to meet audiences where they are today – this includes programming in both peak and daytime TV but also programming that can gain a strong audience over time, and at their convenience, as viewers come to our content on iPlayer and other BBC platforms.
“The BBC provides almost 99 per cent of the UK’s broadcast religion programming across a wide variety of content, featuring documentaries, factual entertainment, worship, events and live debate, as well as titles in Children’s, Nations, BBC Bitesize and Education and a dedicated Religion Editor in News.
“Nor is religious representation limited solely to religion-specific programmes, as there are religious characters and storylines across entertainment and drama. There is no other UK media organisation consistently reflecting faith and belief across such a breadth of content and formats”.
The BBC has previously faced criticism for an apparent lack of religious understanding, with former BBC journalist Roger Bolton lamenting the corporation’s “relative illiteracy about religion, both what it is and the way it’s practised”.
His views echo those of Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, who said earlier this year, “My concern is much more about the place of religion across the whole output of the BBC, rather than simply seeing it as religious broadcasting in that rather more narrow definition. So I note with sadness and some distress the sometimes appalling lack of religious literacy in so much of the BBC."
In comment at the at the Religion Media Festival last month, the Archbishop lamented what he sees as widespread religious illiteracy in the media while also welcoming examples of religious programming that encourage wider understanding, including the BBC’s recent series on pilgrimage.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Archbishop of York calls for better representation of faith in the media amid concerns over religious illiteracy]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/archbishop-of-york-calls-for-better-representation-of-faith-in-the-media-amid-concerns-over-religious-illiteracy</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/archbishop-of-york-calls-for-better-representation-of-faith-in-the-media-amid-concerns-over-religious-illiteracy</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
                                                                                                                            <media:content  url="https://www.christiantoday.com/media/original/img/9/89/98977.png">
                            <media:title><![CDATA[Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, addressing the Religion Media Festival held at Methodist Central Hall Westminster. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:04:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The Archbishop of York has warned that widespread religious illiteracy is leaving Britain less able to understand global events, its own history and the communities that make up modern society, calling for faith to be represented more accurately across the media.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The Archbishop of York has warned that widespread religious illiteracy is leaving Britain less able to understand global events, its own history and the communities that make up modern society, calling for faith to be represented more accurately across the media.
Delivering the keynote address at the Religion Media Festival on Monday, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell argued that religion should not be treated as a niche subject but recognised as an essential part of public life.
Focusing on the theme ‘Protecting the place of religion in the media in a digital age’, he said better religious literacy would help combat stereotypes, improve community cohesion and rebuild trust in public institutions.
“Representation in the media matters because faith matters, because values matter, but also to demystify and familiarise those who have no religious affiliation, so that everyone, of whatever faith or none, can see themselves represented and that faith can be understood, represented and explained,” he said. 
The Archbishop said an understanding of religion was indispensable for interpreting the modern world, from Britain’s culture, literature and legal traditions to contemporary international conflicts.
He argued that religious literacy enables people to engage with one another from “places of knowledge rather than assumption or prejudice,” helping to strengthen relationships across increasingly diverse communities.
Archbishop Cottrell expressed concern that specialist religious journalism has steadily declined, with dedicated religion correspondents disappearing from many news organisations and religious coverage increasingly reduced to worship content or narrowly defined faith programming.
As a result, he said, the public is often left without the knowledge needed to understand the religious dimensions of major world events.
He cited the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine as examples of issues that cannot be fully understood without recognising their religious and historical contexts.
According to the Archbishop, inadequate coverage contributes to stereotyping and misunderstanding, which can fuel hostility towards religious communities and reinforce false narratives circulating online.
Alongside concerns about religion reporting, Archbishop Cottrell highlighted a broader crisis of public trust, noting that confidence in news media has fallen sharply over the past decade.
He argued that rebuilding trust requires people to feel represented and included, adding that this was particularly important in an increasingly digital media environment where misinformation, unregulated social media content and algorithm-driven echo chambers can distort public understanding.
The Archbishop defended the continuing importance of public service broadcasting, saying that its role extends beyond entertainment to informing and educating the public about the beliefs, values and traditions that shape society.
He argued that the values many people desire for society - including honesty, truthfulness, kindness and love of neighbour – are rooted in faith traditions and should remain part of public life.
“The values are not an ‘add on’ or a ‘take away’ but arise from and are held by the narratives, beliefs and practices which make up the Christian life,” he said.
Archbishop Cottrell suggested broadcasters should give greater attention to reflecting Britain’s diverse religious communities and explaining the role faith plays across national life rather than limiting coverage to explicitly religious programming.
Drawing on his recent Lord’s Prayer tour across northern England, which has included visits to schools and cathedrals, he said there was a need to explain the Christian faith more publicly so that people could better understand how it has shaped Britain’s history, culture and laws.
He said explaining faith publicly was not only important for believers but also for anyone seeking to understand the country’s shared heritage.
The Archbishop welcomed examples of religious programming that encourage wider understanding, including the BBC’s recent series on pilgrimage, which brought together people from different faith backgrounds to explore both spiritual practice and religious diversity.
He pointed to national occasions such as Remembrance services, royal funerals and coronations, arguing that these events contain significant religious elements that increasingly require explanation for modern audiences.
While recognising that digital platforms allow faith communities to communicate directly with the public, Archbishop Cottrell warned that they also amplify misinformation, anonymous abuse and increasingly polarised debate.
He called for stronger regulation of the digital space and said the rapid development of artificial intelligence made ethical oversight more important than ever.
Faith, he argued, has an important role to play in ensuring new technologies continue to respect human dignity and moral responsibility rather than replacing human judgement, echoing concerns raised by Pope Leo and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally.
Concluding his address, Archbishop Cottrell said: “Therefore, in supporting the continuation of the public service broadcasting sector I don't so much want to ask the questions whether, for instance, is the licence fee is value for money, but whether public service broadcasting in all its different forms, gives us ‘values for money’ - and that the promotion of those values includes and understands the value of faith and the values that come from faith, helping us to understand the world; to understand each other; to understand ourselves and building a kinder and more coherent society.”]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[BBC announces major four-part series exploring Jesus’s life and world ]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bbc-announces-major-four-part-series-exploring-jesuss-life-and-world</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/bbc-announces-major-four-part-series-exploring-jesuss-life-and-world</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[BBC]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2026 08:36:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The BBC has commissioned a new four-part television series exploring the life of Jesus Christ, bringing together historical research, archaeological evidence and expert perspectives.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The BBC has commissioned a new four-part television series exploring the life of Jesus Christ, bringing together historical research, archaeological evidence and expert perspectives.
Airing on BBC Television and BBC iPlayer in 2027, the landmark production will explore the historical world in which Jesus lived, drawing on the Gospel accounts alongside the latest archaeological discoveries, academic research and technological advances.
The series has been authorised by the BBC’s Head of Specialist Factual, Jack Bootle, together with the BBC’s Head of Religion and Ethics for Television, Daisy Scalchi, and is being produced by Wonderhood Studios.
Scalchi said: “This series is testament to the BBC's commitment to religious programming that deepens our understanding of each other and the world around us.” 
Describing Jesus as “one of the most recognised and influential figures in human history,” Ms Scalchi said the series would revisit the historical evidence surrounding his life using recent scholarship and new insights.
It will combine cinematic storytelling with historical analysis to examine the political, social, cultural and religious world in which Jesus lived and the origins of the Christian movement.
Alongside contributions from leading historians, the programmes will also feature perspectives from Christian scholars as well as Jewish and Muslim faith leaders, exploring the enduring significance of Jesus’ life and legacy.
The series will be executive produced by Rory Wheeler, Samantha Anstiss and Tom Garton, with Annabel Hobley serving as showrunner and Owen Gower directing the series.
Garton, creative director at Wonderhood Studios, said the production would seek to place Jesus within the historical setting that shaped both his ministry and the emergence of Christianity.
He said the series would help viewers better understand the people, conflicts, places and beliefs of the first century while offering “ambitious” cinematic storytelling on a subject that continues to shape the modern world.
“Few lives have shaped the world as profoundly as that of Jesus Christ and, for Christians, he is far more than a figure of history: he is the Son of God,” he said.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[TV’s ‘Pilgrimage’ series wins special award]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/tvs-pilgrimage-series-wins-special-award</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/tvs-pilgrimage-series-wins-special-award</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Crumpler]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Pilgrimage]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Ashley Banjo, Hermione Norris, Hasan Al-Habib, Tasha Ghouri, Jayne Middlemiss, Ashley Blaker and Patsy Kensit all feature in Pilgrimage series 8. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 11:40:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[‘Pilgrimage,’ the TV series that brings together a group of celebrities and invites them to walk together to a religious site, has won a Special Award for its contribution to encouraging understanding between different faiths and outlooks.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
‘Pilgrimage,’ the TV series that brings together a group of celebrities and invites them to walk together to a religious site, has won a Special Award for its contribution to encouraging understanding between different faiths and outlooks.
The series, made by production company CTVC for the BBC and shown around the world, was awarded the prestigious honour by the Sandford St Martin Trust, a charity that advocates for and encourages excellence in the broadcast coverage of religion and beliefs.
Announcing the award this week in a ceremony at Lambeth Palace – the London home of the Archbishop of Canterbury – Tony Stoller, chair of the Trust, said: “In our increasingly fragmented and fractious times, ‘Pilgrimage’ has consistently shown how, through thoughtful and respectful conversation, strangers from different faith perspectives and with very different world views can still find common ground and friendship.”
The series that has brought together Christians, Muslims and Jewish people, as well as followers of other faiths, atheists and agnostics, has so far broadcast eight series. 
Those taking part have left behind their phones, picked up their sleeping bags and walked pilgrimages to sites including Santiago de Compostela in Spain, Istanbul, Portugal and North Wales. In a series that finished in Rome, the pilgrims had a private audience with the then Pope Francis.
Daisy Scalchi, BBC's Head of Religion and Ethics, said of the series, “What better way to embrace different perspectives and outlooks than walking with people who can open our hearts and minds to new ways of seeing the world. Pilgrimage is like no other show on TV.”
In the citation for the award, the Sandford St Martin Trust said, “’Pilgrimage’ offers something increasingly rare in a media age that thrives on clicks and controversy: space for genuine, reflective conversation.”
The presentation was made at the culmination of an awards ceremony that honoured programmes under four categories: journalism, TV/video, young audience and radio/audio.
Topics covered by the short-listed entries included faith on the Ukraine-Russia frontline, the rise of Christian nationalism, how Ramadan is celebrated and the debate around assisted suicide. 
The winners ranged from a programme examining the Christian Brothers in Ireland, and how they handled their assets following a series of abuse claims, to the story behind a takeover of China’s state airwaves by followers of the Falun Gong movement.  
An award given by Radio Times magazine through a public vote was made to ‘Long Lost Family Special: the Mother and Baby Home Scandal’ (ITV). This focussed on the period between 1949 and 1976, when unmarried pregnant women in Britain were often sent to mother and baby homes, where societal pressure and institutional practices led to the forced adoption of their children.
Speaking at the event, Krish Kandiah, a Christian social entrepreneur, author, and broadcaster, praised the awards and productions for showing how dialogue and understanding can grow, in contrast to the current divisive tone of much political and social debate taking place in the UK.
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK and a former communications director with the CofE.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Five Christian footballers using football’s biggest stage to point people to Christ]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/five-christian-footballers-using-footballs-biggest-stage-to-point-people-to-christ</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/five-christian-footballers-using-footballs-biggest-stage-to-point-people-to-christ</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Obianuju Mbah]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Marc Guéhi]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Amid the goals, trophies and celebrations, some players are using football’s biggest stage to point beyond themselves and give glory to God. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The World Cup is underway, capturing the attention of millions of fans across the globe. Every four years, the tournament sparks passion, drama and national pride, creating unforgettable moments. Yet amid the goals, trophies and celebrations, some players are using football’s biggest stage to point beyond themselves and give glory to God. 
For these footballers, faith is not simply a private belief reserved for Sundays. It shapes how they handle success, respond to setbacks and use their platform. Here are five Christian players to watch at this summer’s World Cup.
Marc Guéhi (England)
England defender Marc Guéhi has become one of the most respected defenders in world football. Born in the Ivory Coast before moving to the UK as a child, Guéhi was spotted by a Chelsea scout at the age of six and developed through the club’s academy system.
After a successful spell at Crystal Palace, where he captained the club to FA Cup success in 2025, Guéhi moved to Manchester City and is a key figure for England's national team at the 2026 World Cup.
His Christian faith has been central to his life from an early age. His father, John Guéhi, pastors a church in South London, and Marc has often spoken about the influence of his upbringing. He regularly has Bible verses inscribed on his boots, including Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon forged against you will prevail.”
Guéhi made international headlines when he wrote “Jesus loves U” on a Rainbow Pride captain's armband during a Premier League fixture. While the gesture resulted in a reprimand from the Football Association, it also sparked widespread discussion about faith, freedom of expression, and Christian witness in professional football.
Bukayo Saka (England)
Few players have captured the hearts of England supporters quite like Bukayo Saka. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Saka came through Arsenal’s academy and has become one of the club's brightest stars, helping them secure the Premier League title during the 2025-26 season.
Internationally, Saka has been a crucial player for England, featuring in the Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 finals and scoring three goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Despite his rapid rise, Saka consistently places his faith above football. In an interview during the 2022 World Cup, he said: “It's really important to obviously have the presence of God in me all the time, and it gives me more confidence that God’s plan is perfect so I can go on the pitch and know that God has my back.”
Saka has repeatedly spoken about the importance of his Christian faith and the role it plays in every area of his life. At Arsenal, he has been part of a group of Christian players affectionately known as the “Bible brothers,” alongside Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke. Teammates have often noted how his faith influences his attitude, humility and character both on and off the pitch.
Christian Pulisic (United States)
Nicknamed “Captain America,” Christian Pulisic has become the face of American soccer.
Raised in Pennsylvania, Pulisic moved to Germany as a teenager and developed at Borussia Dortmund, where he emerged as one of the Bundesliga's most exciting young talents. A transfer to Chelsea followed in 2019, and since joining AC Milan in 2023 he has become one of Serie A’s standout attacking players.
For the United States men's national team, Pulisic has already established himself among the country’s greatest players, becoming one of its leading goalscorers and helping guide the team into the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup with a decisive goal against Iran.
Throughout his career, he has frequently spoken about his dependence on God. After a Champions League match in 2021, Pulisic said: “I've had to continue to prove myself over and over again. But, as always, I reach out to God and He gives me strength. With that behind me, nothing can stop me, really.”
His comments reflect a recurring theme among many Christian athletes: confidence rooted not in personal ability alone, but in trust in God's presence and purpose.
Alisson Becker (Brazil)
Brazil has produced some of football's greatest players, and goalkeeper Alisson Becker is widely regarded as one of the best in his position.
Alisson began his career with Internacional in Brazil, winning the Campeonato Gaúcho in 2014 and 2015 before moving to Roma in Italy in 2016. His performances earned him a transfer to Liverpool in 2018 for what was then a world-record fee for a goalkeeper. Since arriving at Anfield, the team has won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup, while also receiving the Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award.
Now Brazil's first-choice goalkeeper for a third consecutive World Cup, Alisson remains outspoken about his faith. Writing about his Christian journey, he explained: “Real faith came to me later in life. Faith is not something that can be seen, or even put into words. It is a force that is more powerful than just a feeling of emotion, or a slogan. It is the complete trust in the Son of God, Jesus Christ.”
His faith is evident beyond public statements. In 2020, Alisson baptised Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino in the swimming pool at his home. He has also spoken about the difference between religion and a personal relationship with Christ, saying: “I'm not religious. I'm a follower of Christ. Religion is often tied to traditions that have clouded the true message of Christianity. Jesus is far greater than religion.”
Noah Sadiki (DR Congo)
At just 21 years old, Noah Sadiki represents one of the rising stars of this World Cup.
Born in Brussels, Sadiki progressed through Anderlecht's academy before spells with Union Saint-Gilloise and Sunderland. Since joining Sunderland in 2025, he has quickly adapted to Premier League football and earned praise for his energy, athleticism and technical ability.
Although he represented Belgium at youth level, Sadiki chose to play internationally for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The 2026 tournament marks a historic moment for the nation, which is making its first World Cup appearance since 1974, when it competed as Zaire.
Sadiki is also unapologetic about his Christian faith. “I feel well talking about my faith because it's giving me peace and I thank every day my Lord and Savior to give me another day to enjoy the sport I did since I was young,” he said.
Following his first Africa Cup of Nations appearance, journalists asked him about the secret behind his strong performances. Rather than giving a lengthy answer, Sadiki simply held up his Bible.
Final thoughts
The World Cup is often a showcase of extraordinary talent, national pride and sporting drama. Yet for these players, the tournament is also an opportunity to bear witness to something greater than football.
Whether through Bible verses on boots, public testimonies, baptisms, post-match interviews or simple acts of gratitude, these players remind fans that faith and sport do not have to exist in separate worlds.
As millions tune in to watch the action unfold, they will be hoping to lift football’s most coveted trophy. But they are also among a growing number of players seeking to use the world's biggest sporting stage to point people towards Christ.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[There’s a revolution taking place in local journalism – but churches could be missing out]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/theres-a-revolution-taking-place-in-local-journalism-but-churches-could-be-missing-out</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/theres-a-revolution-taking-place-in-local-journalism-but-churches-could-be-missing-out</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Crumpler]]></dc:creator>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:25:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[If we want to get out the good news about what we’re doing, local newspapers are a good place to start.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Scores of new independent local media titles are opening up across the UK, the US and other countries, as enterprising journalists seek to bridge the gap left by the decline of traditional newspapers.
In the UK, an estimated four million people live in ‘news deserts’ without a dedicated news outlet, as the move of advertising to ‘Big Tech’ social media platforms and readers seeking their news online – and for free – have led to many local newspapers closing down.
Former British Conservative Party leader Lord (William) Hague has described the outlook for local media as “a scene of utter devastation, with most titles dead or dying”.
In contrast, this week has seen the celebration of ‘Indie News Week’ as the Public Interest News Foundation holds “a national celebration of independent news.” It is promoting the new media outlets’ role in “strengthening democracy, holding power to account, creating pride in place and fostering civic partnership.”
The PINF, an umbrella group for many of the new independents, declares its mission as “connecting communities with their news providers, generating all-important funds and raising awareness of the essential work that journalists do across the country.”
I’ve been a strong advocate of churches working with their local media for decades. We have so much in common. Churches are rooted in their local communities, are often involved in a range of projects benefiting their patch, and have a long-term commitment to the areas they serve.
Also, churches have people within them who are active in local community groups and members who have numerous positive stories to tell – including many that share the good news of how the Christian gospel can transform people’s lives. 
So the church and the local media should be a match made in heaven … but it doesn’t always work out that way. 
Journalist Phil Creighton launched independent titles for Wokingham, Berkshire, in 2015, and for Reading six years later. He told me that he had responses from churches ranging “from bafflement and indifference to helpful and encouraging.”
He recalled, “Often my encouragement to keep the relationship going was ignored. Some churches really didn’t understand why we wanted to send a photographer along to an event they were holding, while others went out of their way to be helpful.”
It’s especially encouraging when the editor makes it known that he is open to hear from the churches. In my area, experienced journalist Matt Adams launched the independent St Albans Times in 2023 to serve our thriving Hertfordshire city, north of London. 
He explained, “Churches and other faith groups are active community organisations with roots deep into our local area. We see building links with them as a key part of our news gathering.”
To that end, the Times has developed a strong relationship with local churches, including St Albans Cathedral, and features news and opinion from church leaders, as well as a round-up of local church services at Easter and Christmas.
The online publication has also, rightly, covered controversial church stories, including issues impacting Soul Survivor, based in nearby Watford.
Other initiatives across the country include Mill Media. Founded in Manchester in 2020, it now has journalists operating in Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham, Glasgow and London, producing long reads and investigations. 
Mill Media describes its mission as “giving readers a sense of insight and connection that has been lost in the era of clickbait and mass-produced online media.” Currently, more than 10,000 ‘paying members’ support the Mill’s journalism.
In England’s west country, ‘The Bristol Cable’ is an independent media outlet available both online and in print. It is 100 per cent member-owned, and its journalism has, it says, “prompted accountability and change to local government policies, sparked criminal and human-rights court cases, and been cited in Parliament several times”.
To celebrate Indie News Week, PINF members have organised events across the country, from film festivals to ‘meet the editor’ days. “Despite being busier than ever, journalists are throwing open the newsroom doors to let in local communities,” says the PINF.
The doors to these new media outlets are open to churches as they are to numerous other community organisations. Often, churches are among the most active voluntary groups in their areas. 
If we want to get out the good news about what we’re doing, and maybe clear the way for encounters with the gospel, then it could be that there’s a new independent news outlet on your doorstep, waiting to hear from you …
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, and a former communications director with the CofE. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Praying for the World Cup]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/praying-for-the-world-cup</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/praying-for-the-world-cup</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Peter Crumpler]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[World Cup]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 08:01:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Let's pray that in a world of conflict and division the World Cup may bring joy to many this summer. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
“God has prepared me for this moment and, if he allows me, we will bring the sixth World Cup title to Brazil” – these are the words of Brazilian striker Igor Thiago, preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that kicks off on Thursday.
Millions of soccer fans across the globe will be watching as 48 national teams play 104 matches in Canada, Mexico and the United States, culminating in the final in New Jersey on Sunday July 19. 
Teams from the host countries will compete with opponents from across the world, ranging from Iran and Iraq, to New Zealand, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium and Uzbekistan.
Igor Thiago, who plays in the English Premier League for west London-based Brentford FC, is one of an increasing number of footballers being vocal about their Christian faith.
As a Brentford supporter, I’ve been impressed by his openness about his faith, both in interviews and by pointing to heaven when he scores. I’ll be supporting England in the World Cup – that England has not won since 1966 – but also looking out for Christian players across the teams.
The ‘Ballers in God’ social media channel has more than 388,000 followers on Facebook alone, and features many high-profile players proclaiming their faith. The World Cup is likely to see many more of these acts of witness.
As the tournament kicks off, I have written this prayer for all those who will be involved in the global event. I pray that in a world of conflict and division it may bring joy to many. 
A prayer for the World Cup
Loving God, we give you thanks for the gift of football and its enthusiastic following across the globe.
We rejoice in the excitement and joy the World Cup brings to millions of people watching in person, on TV or online.
We pray for all the teams taking part, for their stamina, their skill and their safety.
We give you thanks for the amazing abilities of the players representing their countries, and the commitment that has taken them to the pinnacle of their sport. 
We pray for us, as spectators, that we may know joy in the results and satisfaction with the performances…and a sense of perspective if our team goes home early.
We pray that the World Cup will be a wonderful spectacle, encouraging national pride and international co-operation, and that it will provide a platform where your gospel may be declared.
We ask that it would inspire people around the world to strive for the best in all they seek to do. May it bring new generations to love sport, and especially football, as a way of bringing people together.
Amen.
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK, an enthusiastic football supporter and a former communications director with the CofE. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Biblical models and the creation of King Arthur]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/biblical-models-and-the-creation-of-king-arthur</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/biblical-models-and-the-creation-of-king-arthur</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Martyn Whittock]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[King Arthur]]></media:title>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 08:08:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[It is a frequent feature of Christian history that believers seek to understand their contemporary world by drawing parallels with biblical history. This can lead to some very ‘creative’ (and selective) interactions with the Bible; usually with Old Testament events. One remarkable example led to the creation of the figure of (King) Arthur. ]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds Christians that they are surrounded by a great “cloud of witnesses.” (NRSV) That “cloud” has continued to grow in size since then. In this monthly column we will be thinking about some of the people and events, over the past 2000 years, that have helped make up this “cloud.” People and events that have helped build the community of the Christian Church as it exists today. 
It is a frequent feature of Christian history that believers seek to understand their contemporary world by drawing parallels with biblical history. This can lead to some very ‘creative’ (and selective) interactions with the Bible; usually with Old Testament events. One remarkable example led to the creation of the figure of (King) Arthur. 
In the centuries following the collapse of Roman rule in Britain, in the early 5th century, native British writers struggled to explain the catastrophe. They faced some difficult questions. Why had once-Roman Britain fragmented? Why had pagan Germanic-speaking peoples (Anglo-Saxons or Early English) come to dominate much of the (once-Christian) eastern and southern parts of the island? And what did this mean for the native Britons, who were the ancestors of the medieval Welsh? Early medieval authors answered these questions as much through theology as through military and social reflection. Arguably more so.  History, they believed, revealed the will of God and they sought to interpret events by comparison with a biblical framework.
Biblical models used as weapons in Early Medieval Britain 
Three major stages can be traced in this developing interpretation of the turbulent events in Early Medieval Britain. 
Firstly, a 6th-century British writer, named Gildas, argued that God had sent the Anglo-Saxons (he called them ‘Saxons’) to punish the Britons for their sins in the same way that biblical Israel had suffered exile and conquest. 
Secondly, the 8th-century English (Anglo-Saxon) historian Bede adopted and expanded this argument, turning it into a providential justification for English conquest and settlement. That the original argument came from a British writer – condemning what he saw as British sins – gave Bede a very useful tool to deploy on behalf of the English conquerors. 
Finally, later British writers (in societies that we should describe as Early Welsh) reacted against this English interpretation. In the 9th-century Historia Brittonum and the 10th-century Annales Cambriae, they reshaped the shadowy legendary (almost mythical) figure of a 5th/6th-century hero named Arthur into a divinely favoured war leader – a British Joshua resisting pagan invaders (ie the Early English). In doing so, they asserted that the Britons (now, more properly, the Welsh) remained under God’s protection and this offered encouragement for contemporary Welsh resistance to aggressive English power.
Sin, judgement and defeat. Phase 1: Gildas and denunciation of the British
Gildas - who wrote in the early 6th century - produced one of the most influential works in British history. This was titled De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae (On the Ruin and Conquest of Britain). His work was not intended as a sober chronicle. Rather, it was a sermon of moral denunciation that was modelled on Old Testament patterns. In it Gildas sought to explain the disasters that had overtaken Christian Britain after Rome’s withdrawal, and he did so in explicitly biblical terms. Gildas argued that, like the Israelites of the Old Testament, the Britons had sinned grievously and therefore suffered divine punishment.     
He portrayed Britain as prosperous but morally corrupt and politically divided. British kings, he argued, were tyrannical, the clergy were negligent, and society consumed by greed and violence. He claimed that “Britain has kings, but they are tyrants; she has judges, but unrighteous ones.” The language deliberately echoed prophetic denunciations from the Old Testament. For Gildas, British political collapse was fundamentally caused by a spiritual collapse.     
According to his account, the Britons invited English mercenaries (who he called “Saxons”) into Britain to defend against northern enemies such as the Picts, and the Scots from Ireland. But these mercenaries soon rebelled and devastated the land. Gildas presented this catastrophe as divine judgement. He wrote that “the fire of vengeance, justly kindled by former crimes, spread from sea to sea.” The Old Testament parallel was explicitly made: 
     “In these assaults, therefore, not unlike that of the Assyrian upon Judea, was fulfilled 
     in our case what the prophet describes in words of lamentation.” 
The destruction of Britain resembled the punishments inflicted by God on sinful peoples in the Old Testament. The key theological point was underscored by Gildas’ insistence that the conflicts occurred because of God’s actions. He wrote: 
     “Sometimes our countrymen, sometimes the enemy, won the field, to the end that 
     our Lord might in this land try after his accustomed manner these his Israelites, 
     whether they loved him or not.”  
The English (Saxons) functioned in this narrative as instruments of divine wrath, much like the Assyrians or Babylonians in the Old Testament. To Gildas, the destruction caused by English violence demonstrated God’s judgement against the British.
Despite this bleak outlook, Gildas’ interpretation also contained hope. Divine punishment could be averted by a return to righteousness. After a period of suffering, Gildas described how the Britons rallied under a leader named Ambrosius Aurelianus and eventually won a great victory at the Battle of Mount Badon (location much contested today). This was evidence that repentance would restore divine favour. Consequently, his outlook moved from punishment to possible redemption.
Sin, judgement and defeat. Phase 2: Bede and the victory of the English
Two centuries later, the English Northumbrian monk, Bede, adopted Gildas’ framework but transformed its implications as it was a ‘stick’ that could be used to further ‘beat’ the British enemy. Writing in 731, Bede composed the Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People), which became one of the foundational works of English national identity. Bede relied heavily on Gildas for information about post-Roman Britain. However, whereas Gildas lamented the disasters afflicting the Britons, Bede enthusiastically interpreted them as part of God’s providential plan for English domination.
Bede repeated Gildas’ claim that the Britons’ sins caused their downfall and divine punishment. Yet Bede pushed the argument further by portraying the English settlement as both legitimate and spiritually meaningful. The conquest was not merely punishment, it was replacement. This left little room for accommodation with the British, who had been framed (in the narrative of Bede) as similar to the Amalekites of the Old Testament. 
For Bede, this was clear in that the English, once pagan marauders, became (in his view) God’s chosen people in Britain (a type of new Israel) after accepting Christianity. The Britons, by contrast, Bede criticised for failing to evangelise the hated invaders as he claimed that they “never preached the faith to the Saxons or Angles who inhabited Britain with them.” 
Gildas’ narrative of ‘Britons-as-sinful-Israel’ had given way to Bede’s ‘English as a new Israel, a chosen people.’ Both were on overdrive to apply biblical models. Through conversion, the English (according to Bede) become integrated into sacred history. The older British Christian tradition survived, in Bede’s narrative, largely as a failed and flawed predecessor, rejected by God. Bede’s historiography created a moral justification for English domination of the island. Victory and territorial possession reflected divine approval. This outlook would run and run! It also had a rather unexpected by-product …
Sin, judgement and defeat. Phase 3: Arthur reinvented as a Joshua-figure
Welsh writers in the 9th century responded to this interpretation (that had been promulgated by both Gildas and Bede) by reclaiming the British past and redefining the meaning of resistance. The most important example of this is found in the Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons), traditionally associated with a writer named Nennius, but clearly compiled by several authors c.830. This work directly countered English historical triumphalism.
The Historia Brittonum preserves traditions about a much earlier – and heroic – war leader named Arthur, who had appeared only fleetingly in earlier Welsh poetry. Modern historians disagree over whether this earlier figure was: (a) a real resistance leader of the 5th/6th centuries, (b) a composite figure formed from different real warriors, (c) a mythological figure, (d) an amalgamation of these. What is clear is that traditions about him survived in scattered fragments, often presenting him as a larger-than-life figure. The Historia Brittonum famously declares: 
     “Arthur, with all the kings and military force of Britain, fought against the Saxons. 
     And though there were many more noble than himself, yet he was twelve times          
     chosen their commander [dux bellorum], and was as often conqueror.”
The latter point was probably made because he failed to appear in early Welsh royal genealogies. In this construct the British preacher (St Patrick) appeared as a Moses-figure, and Arthur as a Joshua-figure drawn from the biblical account of the conquest of Canaan. The text lists twelve battles fought by Arthur. At one battle the compiler(s) claimed:  
     “Arthur bore the image of the Holy Virgin, mother of God, upon his shoulders, and    
     through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the holy Mary, put the Saxons to 
     flight.”
And at the final battle, the Battle of Badon, it was asserted that: 
     “Nine hundred and forty fell by his hand alone, no one but the Lord affording him 
     assistance. In all these engagements the Britons were successful. For no strength
     can avail against the will of the Almighty.”
Suddenly it is the British who appear as the ‘True Israel.’ Consequently, the Historia Brittonum reverses the theological assumptions integral to both Gildas and Bede. The Britons are no longer portrayed primarily as sinners abandoned by God. Instead, they appear as defenders of Christian Britain against pagan aggression. The later conversion of the English is side-stepped!
This Arthurian reinterpretation had immediate political importance. By the 9th century, Welsh kingdoms faced renewed pressure from powerful English kingdoms: first from Mercia and later from Wessex. The memory of Arthur offered ideological encouragement. If God had once supported British resistance – as demonstrated by the victories of Arthur – he might do so again.
The reimagining culminated in the 10th-century Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals). One of the annals states: 
     “The Battle of Badon, in which Arthur carried the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ for 
     three days and three nights on his shoulders [probably shield] and the Britons 
     were the victors.” 
Arthur is presented as a holy warrior bearing Christ’s symbol into battle. The emphasis on three days and nights evokes scriptural numerical ideas regarding holiness and, particularly, Christ’s resurrection ‘on the third day.’
However, later failures had to be explained and the Annales Cambriae record Arthur’s death at the Battle of Camlann – a tragic civil war. 
Together, the Historia Brittonum and the Annales Cambriae answered Bede’s English providential narrative (and Gildas’ complaints) with a narrative of their own. And Arthur was the product.
Using (abusing?) biblical models 
The contrast between Gildas, Bede, and the Welsh chroniclers reveals how deeply Early Medieval history writing was shaped by theology and politics. All sought biblical models but – struggling to find New Testament justifications for military conquest and violent resistance – they seized on Old Testament accounts and adapted and deployed them as ways to frame their contemporary experiences and justify their position and outlook.
Gildas interpreted English invasions as divine punishment for British sin; Bede adopted this and developed it into a providential justification for English dominance; Welsh writers later responded by reinventing Arthur as a champion whose victories embodied divine support for British resistance.
The result was to so supercharge scattered legendary traditions about Arthur that they provided the foundation for another surge of interest in him from the 12th century onwards. That later period would leave us with Camelot, the Holy Grail, Merlin, Guinevere, and a ‘once and future king’ that were the result of creative fusions of many traditions (including medieval chivalric ideas about courtly love) that would produce a medieval best seller. But it was one that bore little resemblance to the earlier compositions. The emerging figure of ‘Emperor’ Arthur would even be used in the later 12th and 13th centuries as justification for English domination of the British Isles. That was certainly not what the earlier Welsh compilers had in mind! 
For the public-domain online translations quoted in this piece, see:
Gildas: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Six_Old_English_Chronicles/The_Works_of_Gildas
Bede: https://archive.org/stream/x-bede-s-ecclesiastical-history/x%20BEDE%E2%80%99S%20ECCLESIASTICAL%20HISTORY_djvu.txt
Historia Brittonum (History of the Britons): https://avalon.law.yale.edu/medieval/nenius.asp
Annales Cambriae (Welsh Annals): https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/boyer-battle-of-mt-badon-overview.html
Martyn Whittock is a historian and a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church of England. The author, or co-author, of fifty-eight books, his work covers a wide range of historical and theological themes. In addition, as a commentator and columnist, he has written for several print and online news platforms and is frequently interviewed on TV and radio news and discussion programmes exploring the interaction of faith and politics. He is particularly interested in the ‘deep stories,’ that modern nations use to define themselves. His recent books exploring this are: Trump and the Puritans (2020), American Vikings (2023) and Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin, the Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (2025). He has also written, and co-written, books exploring Early English (ie Anglo-Saxon) history.]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ sequel gets release date]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/mel-gibson-s-passion-of-the-christ-sequel-gets-release-date</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/mel-gibson-s-passion-of-the-christ-sequel-gets-release-date</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Leah MarieAnn Klett]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[The Resurrection of The Christ, Passion of Christ, Mel Gibson]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Elise Lockwood for Lionsgate) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus in "The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One". ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 08:50:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[The biblical epic will arrive in theatres in two parts beginning in 2027, Lionsgate has confirmed.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Lionsgate has announced the release dates and unveiled first-look images for “The Resurrection of the Christ,” the long-awaited follow-up to “The Passion of the Christ,” and confirmed that the biblical epic will arrive in theatres in two parts beginning in 2027.
In a statement sent to The Christian Post, the studio said principal photography on the film, directed by Mel Gibson, wrapped ahead of schedule after 134 days of filming across Italy, including locations in Rome, Matera, Bari, Ginosa, Craco and Brindisi.
“The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One” will be released May 6, 2027, coinciding with Ascension Day, which commemorates the day Christ physically ascended into Heaven on the 40th day after His resurrection, while “Part Two” is slated for May 25, 2028, during Memorial Day weekend and Ascension Day. 
The studio previously announced the sequel would be released on March 26, 2027, followed by “Part Two” on May 6, 2027, on Good Friday and Ascension Day, respectively. 
The cast for the sequel includes Jaakko Ohtonen (replacing Jim Caviezel as Jesus), Mariela Garriga, Pier Luigi Pasino, Kasia Smutniak, Riccardo Scamarcio and Rupert Everett.
“Mel is a true visionary with an artist’s eye for scale and a storyteller’s instinct for emotional truth,” said Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, in a statement announcing the completion of filming. “Every image we’ve seen from set feels like a masterwork painting brought to life.”
Fogelson added that Gibson created “a film of extraordinary ambition that audiences worldwide have been waiting to experience for over 20 years.”
In a statement, Gibson described the project as “powerful” and said the film had consumed much of his creative life over the past two decades.
“I’m deeply grateful to my incredibly talented cast and crew for pouring their hearts into this production,” Gibson said. “This film represents a major part of my life’s work, and it has demanded everything of me as a filmmaker and as an artist.
“This is far more than a film to me. It’s a mission I’ve carried for over twenty years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history,” he added.
The director also said reuniting with collaborators from “The Passion of the Christ” helped bring the new story to the screen “exactly as I envisioned it.”
Released in 2004, "The Passion of the Christ" became a cultural phenomenon and remains one of the highest-grossing R-rated films of all time. Made on a reported $30 million budget, the film earned more than $610 million worldwide, including $370 million domestically.
Gibson, who co-wrote the screenplay with “Braveheart” writer Randall Wallace, has previously described the sequel as exploring tough theological themes, including Hell, Sheol, the fall of angels and the origin of Satan. He characterized the script as “an acid trip,” signaling a departure from a straightforward retelling of the Gospel narrative.
In a 2022 interview with CP, Gibson revealed he’s drawn to stories that highlight redemption and the need for a Saviour.
“I've been taught from a young age that we're flawed, and you’re going to make mistakes,” he reflected. “We're broken, and we need help. Usually, the best way to get help is to ask for it. And well, who do we ask? We're asking something better than us. And the minute you acknowledge that there is something better than you, you might get something that resembles humility, which is really the key to the whole thing.”
Gibson encouraged the next generation to “stick” to their “convictions” even though it’s “hard” in an increasingly polarized society. 
“Sometimes you're presented with choices or put in places that are very difficult, and some of those choices are hard,” he said. “You just have to examine your own conscience and take the right road, I think. … There's no right way; there are a million wrong ways, and you just have to eliminate those or just use your best discernment to get through it."
“But it’s hard, man,” he added. “Life's hard. But we're all going. We’ve all got a boulder we’re dragging.”
© The Christian Post]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[John Lennox fears AI is making us lazy]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/john-lennox-fears-ai-is-making-us-lazy</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/john-lennox-fears-ai-is-making-us-lazy</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anita Laryea]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[John Lennox]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ John Lennox addressing the Revive conference hosted by Justin Brierley. ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 10:45:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Christian media leaders heard calls for courage, authenticity and discernment at the recent Revive 2026 conference.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
Christian broadcasters, journalists and digital communicators gathered in London earlier this month for ‘Revive 2026’, a conference hosted by the Christian Broadcasting Council (CBC) at Premier Christian Radio’s new headquarters. 
The event marked the 40th anniversary of the CBC, who represent Christian media in Parliament, and brought together media professionals from across various media outlets to discuss the future of Christian communication in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, misinformation and cultural division.
Oxford Professor John Lennox was in discussion with broadcaster and keynote speaker, Justin Brierley, about the rise of artificial intelligence.
Lennox acknowledged the benefits of AI, particularly in medicine, logistics and Bible translation, but warned that overreliance on technology could increase deception.
“Artificial intelligence has two sides,” he said. “It is a great help in many areas, including Christian mission. But there are huge dangers because it is going to make people lazy, and it is already doing so.”
Referencing recent academic studies, Lennox suggested that even limited daily AI use may negatively affect critical thinking skills. He also warned of the spread of misinformation and deepfakes, arguing that Christian communicators must become increasingly vigilant.
“The greatest danger is deception,” he said. “Deepfakes are going to become increasingly realistic, and putting those fires out will become difficult.”
Lennox encouraged Christian media professionals not to retreat from public discourse but to engage thoughtfully.
“Do not simply think about what you want to say,” he advised. “Think about how your message could be misunderstood.”
Another keynote speaker, Gareth Russell, chief executive of communications agency Jersey Road, presented findings from the organisation’s ‘Christianity in the News Media Report 2025', which examined a year of mainstream coverage of Christianity in the UK.
Russell argued that reporting on Christianity often remains narrow and stereotypical, focusing heavily on institutional churches while overlooking the diversity and growth of modern Christian communities.
“The narrative around Christianity has often been misrepresentative of our faith,” he said. “We wanted to change that through better stories.”
Russell said younger generations were increasingly reconnecting with faith, but that media narratives often failed to reflect those realities.
He pointed to the visibility of Christian footballers and public figures as examples of positive influence. “Young men are seeing sports personalities and public figures confidently talking about their faith,” he said.
Russell encouraged churches to engage more proactively with local and national media, particularly by sharing personal stories and examples of community impact.
“People don’t necessarily care that you are Christian,” he said. “They care that you are doing good in the community.”
Lani Charlwood, executive director of Langham Arts and chair of Christians in Media, called for unity among Christians working in journalism and broadcasting despite differences of opinion.
“We are not called to uniformity of opinion,” she said. “We are called to unity of purpose.”
Charlwood described Christian media as a voice not of outrage or division but of “purpose, integrity, hope, challenge and justice”.
Premier CEO Kevin Bennett reflected on the history and influence of Christian broadcasting in the UK since Premier became a licensed broadcaster in 1995.
“The media tells us what is on the agenda and what is important, it then sets the agenda. It then tells us how to understand the issues with how it frames them,” he said.
He continued: “The media has huge influence. You only have to ask yourself: what does a dictator do first? They crack down on the media. Media has power.”
Quoting poet William Blake, Bennett concluded: “We become what we behold. We have to choose what we behold each day, whether that’s in the media or real life”. ]]></content:encoded>
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                <title><![CDATA[Christian bookshop named 'champion' by industry association]]></title>
                <link>https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-bookshop-named-champion-by-industry-association</link>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.christiantoday.com/news/christian-bookshop-named-champion-by-industry-association</guid>
                                                            <dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff writer]]></dc:creator>
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                            <media:title><![CDATA[Green Pastures]]></media:title>
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                                    <![CDATA[ (Photo: Booksellers Association) ]]>
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                                    <![CDATA[ Green Pastures Christian Bookshop ]]>
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                                                                            <pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 08:41:00 +0100</pubDate>
                <description><![CDATA[Green Pastures is believed to be the only Christian bookshop in Norfolk and Suffolk.]]></description>
                <content:encoded><![CDATA[
A Christian bookshop in Dereham has been declared one of 20 “Bookshop Champions” by the Booksellers Association as part of this year’s Independent Bookshop Week.
Green Pastures is believed to be the only specialist Christian bookseller in Norfolk and Suffolk. The shop also has the distinction of winning last year’s national “Best Christian Bookshop” award.
The Booksellers Association said that an open submission process among its members had taken place to select its 20 champions. The champions are intended to showcase the breadth and depth of independent bookshops and the “shared values and strengths that underpin the sector”.
This year’s Independent Bookshop Week is due to take place from 13-20 June and will be the 20th anniversary of the celebration. To mark the event a poem will be composed by author Matt Goodfellow.
Helen Cockburn of Green Pastures said, "Our bookshop in Dereham is a place of joy for our community. It has become rather like a bookish living room for some of our customers. People drop in and relax. A welcome smile awaits with the offer of a free coffee/tea and a friendly chat. We want people to come in, browse books, and even listen to a story at our listening station in a comfy corner of the shop.
“Please support us during Indie Bookshop Week. We want more people to enjoy reading good books, so give us a shout of encouragement on our socials and drop in. It makes all the difference. "
Emma Bradshaw, Head of Marketing and Communications at the Booksellers Association, commented, “We’re honoured to announce Green Pastures as one of our Bookshop Champions, following an open submission process across our membership. The quality of entries made the selection incredibly challenging, and the final selection beautifully reflects the variety, creativity and value independent bookshop bring to readers of all ages.
“We cannot wait to see the fantastic work they do be an integral part of our celebrations.”]]></content:encoded>
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