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By the time he came to write David Copperfield, Dickens was increasingly concerned to call upon his audience to respond to the sufferings of the poor, in’ terms of the gospel demand for charity and forgiveness. His religion was always oriented towards society and social action. By the time he was approaching the age of forty he seems to have desired most strongly the re-enactment of what had become for him the “crowning m iracle” of the New Testament: the bringing of the gospel to the poor.

He saw the gap between the material conditions of the poor and the spiritual message offered to them. He had already remarked the “monstrous task” of attempting to impress the children of the poor “even with the idea of God, when their own condition is so desolate”. In a public speech in 1851 he stressed his conviction that “even Education and Religion can do nothing where they are ‘most needed, until the way is paved for their m inistrations by Cleanliness and Decency.”

This sermon by the Rev Geoff Usher on Charles Dickens view of religion as shown in the novel “David Copperfield” can be read here.

by Ginna Hastings

As we gather today to worship in our own fashion I cannot help but think that other people of other religions might think that we are not worshipping. We are not bowing down before a cross or a Buddha or some other representative of a godhead. Though we do pray at times, we are not reciting ritualised prayer. Our readings are inspiring but not always traditionally recited words. We have no creed. We do have an order of service – most times we gather. But we do have our 7 principles, the foundation of our “faith” – the moral principles that guide us in our lives, choices, decisions and self expression. These are:
• The inherent worth and dignity of every person
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
• A free and responsible search for truth and meaning

• Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
• The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
• The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
• Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Inherent in all these principles is a moral outlook: a desire that we humans treat each other and our Earth with respect, allow one another to make our own spiritual and moral decisions, and seek peace and liberty for all humans. Inherent in these values is an outlook that all humans have an equal value, and it’s up to us to preserve this planet Earth.

Ginna’s considerations of how everyone’s right to worship is fostered by the separation of church and state can be read here.

Some Christians are suspicious of biblical criticism . They are especially suspicious of biblical criticism which suggests that they might have to give up their claim to having exclusive truth based on the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus. They do not like any suggestion of scholarship or criticism that might challenge their view of Jesus.
Theirs is a limited, blinkered view, relying on dogmatic assertions that do not always hold up to careful study and criticism .

This sermon by the Rev Geoff Usher analysing some of the developments in New Testament scholarship can be read by clicking here.

This is an article written by Rex A E Hunt and published in Fourth R Magazine, which is a magazine of the Westar Institute (Jesus Seminar), Vol 38. No. 2. (March – April 2025). “A Wild Mysticism?”.

An enchanting read of his article can be found here.

Rabindranath Tagore wrote:
I find life’s song in star-songs of the night,
in rise of curtains and new morning light, in
l i f e reborn in fresh surprise of love.
His name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, but he is usually known as Mahatma Gandhi. So common has that t i t l e become – so closely is i t linked with his
surname — that many children in Western countries in fact think that i t is his first name.
Mahatma means “Great Soul” or “Great Leader/Teacher”. I t is an honoured t i t l e , bestowed upon Gandhi by millions of Indians and recognised by people around
the world. Indeed, i t is likely that anyone who hears a reference to “The Mahatma” will think of Gandhi.
How has history assessed this gentle revolutionary?

To read the rest of this thought provoking address by the Rev Geoff Usher, please click here.