The Pensive Pilgrim

I wasn't at-all surprised to hear that according to a 'Songs of Praise' ballot, Britain's favourite hymn is 'Jerusalem'. Although it's actually not a hymn at-all, but rather a poem set to music, 'Jerusalem' is frequently sung in Church, not least at weddings and funerals, and continues to be a firm favourite at 'The Last Night of The Proms'. In Brexit Britain, it is, I suppose, inevitable that its apparently patriotic sentiments resonate with a jingoistic nostalgia that longs for the halcyon days of the British Empire. As a so-called hymn, from a theological perspective, 'Jerusalem' is pure drivel. Rather than praising God or making a strong statement of faith, it actually poses a series of questions:- And did those feet in ancient times Walk upon England's mountains green? And was the Holy Lamb of God On England's pleasant pastures seen? And did the countenance divine Shine forth upon our clouded hills? And was Jer...

My world-view is changing; or maybe the world is changing. I always used to think that most people were generally good and occasionally did bad things and that there were a few thoroughly wicked people in the world who did terrible things. Now I'm not so sure. Every time I read the headlines or watch the news on TV, I begin to wonder whether in fact many people are generally bad and occasionally do good things, and that many more are thoroughly wicked and do terrible things. I hope I'm wrong! As a 'baby boomer' I grew up in a world that was still recovering from two World Wars and living with the tension of the so-called 'Cold War' and the threat of nuclear annihilation.  But a growing  determination to learn the gruesome lessons of the recent past led to a renewed sense of hope and a determination to build a better future.  In my twenties and early thirties I watched this hope burgeon as fear and suspicion in relations between east and west gave way to Glas...