The limits of individualism and the pursuit of happiness
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Like most children, I had a fair few career aspirations: a tennis player, a teacher, and a princess, to name three examples. Some were realistic, others a bit more far-fetched... Blessed with an excellent education, the opportunity to try my hand at creative and sporting pursuits galore, good food on the table every night, and parents who encouraged me to dream big, the world felt like my oyster. Perhaps naïvely, it never crossed my mind that I’d be excluded from a field of work or deemed unable to make decisions about my finances or health ...
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In the space of just a few weeks, I’ve witnessed two shoplifting dramas in my local Co-op. One time, a guy strolled in, less-than-subtly tucked an £11 bottle of red into his cardigan, then strolled out. The other was even more brazen. Three young women began filling bags with steak and fish, then proceeded to shout at the two staff members who had the audacity to ask them to stop. I’m only in this shop for about 17 of the 6,300 minutes it’s open each week. If I’ve seen two incidents in a few weeks… I’ll let you do the maths. And w...
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Following the attacks on Israel by Hamas on Saturday, Israel’s Defence Minister ordered a ‘complete siege’ of the Gaza strip and the cutting off of food, fuel, electricity and water supplies. Speaking to officials from Southern Israel on Monday, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said ‘what Hamas will experience will be difficult and terrible… this is only the beginning… we are all with you and we will defeat them with force, enormous force.’ The world today looks very different from the way it appeared thirty years a...
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The nation awoke on 28 September to the news that the iconic ‘Sycamore Gap’ tree on Hadrian’s Wall had been illegally felled. The news of its demise was met with an outpouring of righteous fury across news channels and social media platforms. This was a crime committed with no obvious motive, against a much beloved natural feature. This was cultural vandalism. And the strong reactions have revealed how much cultural vandalism stirs emotions. Flowers have been laid at the scene, thousands upon thousands of comments have been left condemnin...
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Content warning: This article includes discussion of sexual assault. Accusations of sexual assault have dominated our headlines again. I’m angry, but I’m not surprised, because the story hits the intersection of the two loudest narratives in our culture. We are a society who preach expressive individualism as gospel. ‘Be your authentic self,’ and ‘don’t let anyone tell you what to do’ – especially in the area of sexuality. We also care about power and its misuse. God’s heart for justice bubbles to the surface in our desire t...
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It’s hard to reconcile pictures of a smiling young woman, out with her friends, together with this week’s chilling headlines: ‘Britain’s most prolific child-killer’. After 10 months, Lucy Letby has been sentenced to spend the rest of her life in prison, for horrific crimes against the most vulnerable. Alongside headlines of the trial are the puzzled questions: how could she get away with it for so long? Why weren’t warnings heeded earlier? How could she? Why? A harrowing interview with one of the consultants reports the day when...
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Whether you met your spouse on SALT, have a Hinge horror story, or would be terrified to even try Tinder, dating apps have undoubtedly shaped the way we pursue and perceive love. Tinder says, ‘if you’re looking for love, you’ve come to the right place.’ Recently, the popular dating app confirmed plans to launch a new ‘high end’ membership, Tinder Vault. This pricy package promises an ‘even more fun experience’ with limitless swipes, prioritised likes, and profile boosts. Don’t get me wrong, as a single 20-something, I totally ...
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