Podcasts religion Holy Smoke As we confront mortality, why do our bishops have so little to say?

As we confront mortality, why do our bishops have so little to say?

Published: March 17, 2020, 3:54 p.m.

Do you sense that something is missing in the churches' response to the coronavirus? In this week's Holy Smoke episode, Dr Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to the Queen, argues that the bishop's attitude of 'wash your hands and be nice' reflects the churches' polite surrender to secularisation \u2013 but suggests that ordinary believers now have the opportunity to show the public what Christianity really looks like. The coronavirus, dreadful though it is, could mark a turning point \u2013 one that leads to a religious revival in which the old breed of bishop-bureaucrat gives way to more inspiring leadership.
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\nPresented by Damian Thompson.