Thinking Faith
The online journal of the British Jesuits
Updated: 38 min 13 sec ago
Ignatius of Loyola: Theology as a way of living
‘What Ignatius gives us is not a scholastic or academic theology; it is not a theory, but a theology that is lived and experienced. In this sense, too, our theology becomes a daily action, shaping and making our lives.’ To celebrate the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, on 31 July, James Hanvey SJ exposes the theological vision manifested in the Spiritual Exercises and in Ignatius’s life.
AIDS, Africa and the Value of Abstinence
A recent call from leading scientists for a month-long sexual abstinence in Southern Africa to help prevent the spread of HIV might seem to have echoes of what the Church has said about tackling AIDS; but the Church and the scientific establishment aren’t quite on the same page, argues Peter Knox SJ. Why has the ‘ABC’ campaign employed by various governments to reduce new infections had limited success, and how can the Church help to promote a different, value-based strategy?
Film Review: Inception
It’s hard to know what to say about Inception without a) underselling it; b) giving away too much of the plot; or c) confusing you. The hugely exciting experience of this film does not come for free – your patience and concentration are required but will be rewarded, even if just with a distorted perception of what is real, or with something to think about for a week or so.
Film Review: Toy Story 3
It wouldn’t be a Toy Story if it wasn’t laced with the skill and humour that have defined the brand since 1995: it’s the density of jokes, tics and one-liners that the original Toy Story made the norm that once again succeeds. We watched the film in 3D, which felt slightly pointless here: Toy Story 3 doesn’t need any adornment to make it better, and if this is the last of the franchise then it’s a fine end.
Film Review: Shrek Forever After
From the start let’s make one thing clear. This film is great. If you want a good family film that will have something for everyone, then this is it. The fact that it is in 3D adds to but does not enhance the experience. You just get the feeling it was the latest attempt to add one extra ingredient that its predecessors lacked.
Film Review: Bluebeard
For those people who prefer their narrative complete, and without ambiguity, then Catherine Breillat’s Bluebeard is a film to avoid. The surface level inconsistencies, as well as some of the criticism that has been thrown at this film, could be explained by Breillat’s choice of child narrators.
Book Review: Time to Change
Making a 30-day retreat may seem like a daunting prospect at the best of times; doing so whilst continuing to live your everyday life seems impossible. Where do you start? When and how do you pray? What do you pray about? Having
Film Review: Le Concert
Even if Le Concert has a plot borrowed from The Blues Brothers, and frequently entangles the themes of political drama and broad comedy, it is a winning expression of the redemption within classical music. The strength of the film is in the music itself; the comedy is less successful: generic and bordering on stereotypical, it hampers the thrust of the film’s compassion and eulogy for creativity.
Bastille Day – Georgetown, 1979
On 14 July 1979, Jesuit priest, Fr Bernard Darke was killed as he photographed what ought to have been a peaceful demonstration in Georgetown, Guyana. Malcolm Rodrigues SJ describes the political unrest leading up to and following the granting of independence to British Guyana, which provided the circumstances for Fr Darke’s death. In a time of rigged elections and ‘constitutional dictatorship’, how did the Church promote peace and denounce injustice, particularly through the
iWitness: Ke nako... It is time to come down from the mountain!
For the last four weeks, the world’s attention has been focused on South Africa as it played host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but that month in the spotlight was preceded by years of preparation and will now have a lasting impact on the lives of the people of South Africa. Rampe Hlobo SJ suggests that South Africans have been the real winners of the World Cup – how has the tournament been a turning point for the country, and in fact the whole of Africa?
Book Review: Falling Off The Edge
The Africa Chief for
In God We Trust
Is there a unified Catholic voice in the American public square, and if so, what is it saying at the moment? As the United States celebrates Independence Day on 4
Film Review: Tetro
Tetro spreads its arms wide: its topics are familial tension, artistic ambition and life-long guilt – but for all the big emotions there is neither enough control nor enough creativity to pull off an enjoyable film. This is a big disappointment, considering that if anyone had anything to say about the interaction between art and family tensions, it should be someone from the Coppola family.
