The step before replacing Jesus with Thor is to turn Jesus into Thor

Russell Moore on the convergence of Evangelicalism, nationalism, and neo-paganism in the US, from Losing our Religion, quoted in a review in The Observer, 13 August

The Bibby Stockholm barge is an accommodation option that saves the Government virtually no money. It does not even seem to be saving it face. It is as unlikely as it is ironic that one large boat can stop lots of small boats. Public confidence in the Government’s handling of immigration is sinking

Krish Kandiah, director of the Sanctuary Foundation, The Times, 12 August

I personally don’t think that the arc of history bends toward justice. I don’t think that there are right sides of history. But it’s important for our age because it’s a very moral age and it needs moral lessons that history be made to teach those lessons. I mean, I think that’s a fool’s errand myself, but I can see why people do it

Tom Holland, historian, interview in The Daily Telegraph, 14 August

We will never beat the people traffickers — who live to exploit the vulnerable and to get rich — until we develop safe and legal routes for migration. Western empires, money & arms built an unfair world. Until we commit to creating a fairer one, this is the price we will pay

Steve Chalke, founder, Oasis Trust, Twitter, 13 August

This little church is so unassuming, but I really don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that church kickstarted the church conservation movement in the 20th century

Rachel Morley, director of Friendless Churches, talking about St James’s, Llangua, in Monmouthshire, in The Times, 14 August

Newcastle need another miracle, Arsenal need Jesus

Alan Shearer, Match of the Day pundit, referring to Gabriel Jesus, BBC Sport website, 11 August

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