I’ve been a church elder for 13 years, a staff elder (assistant and then lead) for 12 years. In that time there have been all sorts of criticisms. Some very specific feedback on particular aspects of how things are done or what I have. Some generalised to “Christianity” or “Evangelicalism”? There have been lots of … Continue reading Dealing with critical feedback of church and Christianity →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Dunbar notes that here is a strong finding that friendship with non-family members falls away sharply when people move to live more than 30 minutes away. What distance this is depends on what form of transport you are using. If … Continue reading Distance and friendship →

One of the big books I read over the Sabbatical was Iain McGilChrist’s “The Master and his emissary”, along with an interdisciplinary academic discussion of his work and its implications for religion Religion, Brain & Behavior: Vol 9, No 4 (tandfonline.com) The subtitle of the book is “The Divided Brain and the Making of the … Continue reading Introduction to The Master and his Emissary →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Our age is one that proclaims the value of diversity, and yet people often end up with friends who share a lot in common with them. This is a general and well established human tendency. You become friends with people … Continue reading The importance of friends having something in common →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Robin Dunbar's definition of friendship is primarily focused on usefulness- the people who would help each other without immediate reciprocation. https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/24/the-definition-and-value-of-friendship/ C.S.Lewis in “The Four Loves” speaks of friendship that arises from a shared interest or vision of the world. … Continue reading Friendship- Dunbar vs Lewis →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Because of the fallenness of all humanity, there is an ongoing risk of people misusing their power and mistreating others. Whether it is physical or sexual abuse, financial exploitation, or emotional manipulation, everyone is potentially vulnerable to mistreatment, including by … Continue reading Friendships and protection from abuse →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) Robin Dunbar’s early work was on monkeys, who literally spend time grooming each other to build and sustain friendship. But this form of bonding limits the size of the group that can be connected. Humans have ways of connecting which … Continue reading How we “bond” each other without touching →

(Continuing a series based on Dunbar’s book, “Friends”. You can find the basic thesis here: https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/09/18/introduction-to-friends-by-robin-dunbar/ ) If Dunbar is correct that the average person can only sustain about 150 friendships, then the quality of those relationships and the type of people you are friends with has a massive impact on your life. 150 relationships that are … Continue reading Friendship groups and class/ power →

Section 3 of the book shows how the principles of section 2 work out in a variety of case studies. The case studies helpfully show the diversity of mental illness impacts and the sorts of help and support that is needed. “two things that are said that evening stick in his memory. One is that … Continue reading Other thoughts on Mental Health and Your Church →

(Follows on from the previous notes on section one, "Understanding Mental Illness": https://jotsandscribbles.blog/2023/10/12/mental-health-and-your-church-drugs-and-talking-therapies/) What can we do? Reading this section I was struck by the helpful realism of this book. Doing nothing is not an option but doing everything isn't an option either. They focus on some key actions, but recognise that often slow progress … Continue reading Notes from “Mental Health and Your Church”: What can we do? →