Monthly Archives: January 2012

Preliminary Reflections of a Reluctant Pilgrim


In an earlier blog I questioned whether it is possible to hold together a journey though the historical landscape of Jesus and its 21st Century reality? Since arriving in Tel Aviv on Friday, this reluctant pilgrim has visited a number … Continue reading

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The Reluctant Pilgrim – What does one pack when doing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land?


What do you pack when undertaking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land? Hair shirt or tin hat? As I prepare for a week-long pilgrimage to the Holy Land this question is becoming ever more pressing. As a result I’m feeling … Continue reading

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Europe and the Primacy of Domestic Politics


Faced with the growing fragmentation of Europe and the prospect of failed and failing states within its borders, Europe’s politicians appear incapable of providing the necessary political leadership to navigate the EU through its current economic ills. Mainstream political commentators might lament … Continue reading

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Negotiating with the Taleban


The video of four Marines urinating on Taleban corpses has rightly been condemned by relevant US authorities. Indecent and inappropriate acts like this inevitably and rightly shock public sensitivities. Perhaps the most surprising element in this story, however, has been … Continue reading

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Afghanistan: To 2015 and Beyond


Rather than face the inevitable tsunami of emails that arises from being holiday, I decided to escape the office today for the relative sanctuary of the IISS where resident scholars were launching the results of their research project on the … Continue reading

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