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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 1d

Blasphemy is in the news today after Hamit Coskun's conviction for burning the Qur'an was quashed.

I've written an article on what people get wrong about the old blasphemy law and why things have changed less than you might think:

pagesfromahistoriansnotebook.substack.com/p/the-old-an...

The old and new blasphemy law

It was never about God

pagesfromahistoriansnotebook.substack.com

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 1d

Blasphemy is in the news today after Hamit Coskun's conviction for burning the Qur'an was quashed.

I've written an article on what people get wrong about the old blasphemy law and why things have changed less than you might think:

pagesfromahistoriansnotebook.substack.com/p/the-old-an...

The old and new blasphemy law

It was never about God

pagesfromahistoriansnotebook.substack.com

3 6

Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Caroline Dodds Pennock @carolinepennock.bsky.social · 3d

God bless The Church Times for their ongoing insistence on responding moderately but forcefully to the Reverend Canon Nigel Biggar’s nonsense. www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...

Even given all that Biggar writes about the universality of slavery and the complicity of Africans, three things might be said. First, Britain played a key part and, however others may want to respond to their own history, it is morally responsible to face up to our own heritage. Second, as a Tory, he might have made more of Burke’s view that society is a partnership not just between the living, but between the living, the dead, and those still to be born. Third, guilt is not the only spur to action. There are the obligations that we owe one another irrespective of any personal responsibility for atrocities in the past.

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

James Vaughan @equusonthebuses.bsky.social · 3d

Occasional reminder that the "distracted boyfriend" meme has its origins in a pre-WW1 Punch cartoon about Anglo-German relations...

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 3d

Rudolf Heß lived long enough to hear Frankie Goes to Hollywood on SFB Radio

BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 3d

Tolkien could have listened to the first five Black Sabbath albums.

rax ‘levon honkers’ king @raxkingisdead.bsky.social · 4d

you ever think about those real weird overlaps. like tennessee williams might have listened to the ramones

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Silvio Vannini @silviovannini.bsky.social · 3d

...wondering why Martin Luther would be writing in English, and only at the third reading of the post I got aware of the 'King'...😱🤓

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 3d

kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/...

kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/...

"The Influence of the Mystery Religions on Christianity"

kinginstitute.stanford.edu

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 3d

It's not widely known that Martin Luther King, while a student, wrote papers entitled "The Influence of the Mystery Religions on Christianity" and "A Study of Mithraism".

Links in next post.

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Alex G @alexiterick.bsky.social · 4d

Every state-funded religious school in the country must accept all religions, though they can prioritize their own.

There is a Jewish state primary school in Birmingham with a majority Muslim student body who learn Hebrew and celebrate Jewish holidays (including IIRC Israeli Independence Day).

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 5d

The royal family should share their theological speculations with us more often.

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 7d

LESSONS ON MYSTICISM FROM A FORGOTTEN MASTER

Charles Seymour was one of the great figures of 20th century esotericism. Very few people have heard of him.

For the first time, I have made the writings that he produced for students available online. I've also written an introduction to his ideas.

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 7d

"we are living in an age of renewed political violence.... The condemnation of this is not as absolute as it needs to be.... No anger, no matter how righteous we might consider its supposed source, justifies the murder of innocents. None."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

In a time of hate and rancour, two Jews sought to pray – and were killed. Let Manchester be a turning point | Jonathan Freedland

This was a horror but with so much intolerance and antisemitism, no one can say it was a surprise. There are lessons to learn, and that must start now, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 7d

Read more about the man and his writings - and read the writings themselves - here:

robindouglas.org/the-seymour-...

/End

The Seymour Papers

Colonel Charles Richard Foster Seymour (1880-1943) was one of the most important esotericists of the twentieth century. He is almost unknown today. I am making available on this site a series of hi…

robindouglas.org

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 7d

Seymour is an enigmatic and gifted character.

He was writing within the classical Western esoteric tradition, with particular influences from Neoplatonism and Kabbalah. But the value of his writings lies not in his ideas - he was not original - but in the guidance that he provides for students.

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 7d

LESSONS ON MYSTICISM FROM A FORGOTTEN MASTER

Charles Seymour was one of the great figures of 20th century esotericism. Very few people have heard of him.

For the first time, I have made the writings that he produced for students available online. I've also written an introduction to his ideas.

/1

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 8d

Congratulations to Dame Sarah Mullally DBE on her historic appointment as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

As Bishop of London for the past seven years, she has shown remarkable leadership and dedication to our city - I know she’ll continue this vital work in her new role.

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Felicity Hannah @felicityhannah.bsky.social · 8d

This article manages to name her husband before it names… her.

Article reads:
Woman named as Archbishop of Canterbury in historic first

The 63-year-old archbishop-designate is married to Eamonn Mullally, with whom she has two children. Originally from Woking in Surrey, she was the UK's chief nursing officer from 1999 to 2004.

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Adanedhel🌹 @danielwaweru.bsky.social · 8d

Glorious

Sarah Mullally is named as first female archbishop of Canterbury

No 10 announces decision although role will not legally be taken on until January, before an enthronement service

www.theguardian.com

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 8d

Thank you - I appreciate the additional information.

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 8d

This is uncharted territory.

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 8d

Antisemitic violence in Britain is sadly not unusual, but outright murder is a line which has rarely been crossed until now.

The last example may have been an elderly lady who was given a heart attack by the 1947 riots.

Before that, according to Jonathan Spyer, you have to go back to the 1650s.

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 9d

On Yom Kippur many Jewish people in Britain have their phones off to mark the holy day.

As it ends at 723pm, some will hear the tragic Manchester news for the first time.

At that time, please join many of us to send a message of solidarity to British Jews.Thanks Together coalition for proposing.

To everyone in Britain's Jewish Community: you are not alone.

We will not let hate or those who spread it win.

We stand with you.

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 9d

The authoritarian collectivist religion that you have chosen to join really *has* preserved authoritarian and collectivist features which sit uncomfortably with libertarian capitalism or whatever it is that you think you're fighting for.

David M. Perry @lollardfish.bsky.social · 9d

amazing watching tradcath converts discover they are protestants.

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Reposted by Dr Robin Douglas

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 9d

One reflection talking to other Jews today is how unshocking this is.

Numbing, upsetting, scary but not shocking. We all knew it was coming. Given the enormous rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years, it's a surprise it hasn't happened more often.

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Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 9d

edition.cnn.com/world/africa...

Video game lets you return African artifacts from Western museums | CNN

In “Relooted,” players plan a heist to reclaim real-life African artifacts held in Western institutions.

edition.cnn.com

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