David A. Torrance
@davidatorrance.bsky.social
Policy Advisor | Anglican priest | Theologian & Ethicist |Christian Kinship: Family Relatedness in Christian Practice & Moral Thought (Bloomsbury 2022). Interests: water policy, nationalism, conservation
Views not my own unless they're good and/or funny.
Views not my own unless they're good and/or funny.
Fergus Kerr OP passed away on Sunday. Learning about Wittgenstein from him was one of the highlights of my education
He wasn't just a fiercely brilliant philosopher and theologian, but also distinctive for his kindness. He was a real light in my academic sojourn. Rest in peace.
He wasn't just a fiercely brilliant philosopher and theologian, but also distinctive for his kindness. He was a real light in my academic sojourn. Rest in peace.
November 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Fergus Kerr OP passed away on Sunday. Learning about Wittgenstein from him was one of the highlights of my education
He wasn't just a fiercely brilliant philosopher and theologian, but also distinctive for his kindness. He was a real light in my academic sojourn. Rest in peace.
He wasn't just a fiercely brilliant philosopher and theologian, but also distinctive for his kindness. He was a real light in my academic sojourn. Rest in peace.
How a Brit knows when to put the heating on: When room temperature is so low that the time it takes for your tea adequately to steep leaves it undrinkably cold.
November 16, 2025 at 10:32 AM
How a Brit knows when to put the heating on: When room temperature is so low that the time it takes for your tea adequately to steep leaves it undrinkably cold.
All Andrew on the front pages, but this worrying news from our old home. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
About 700 killed in Tanzania election protests, opposition says
Demonstrators took to streets after president’s main challengers were excluded from ballot
www.theguardian.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:18 PM
All Andrew on the front pages, but this worrying news from our old home. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...
Reposted by David A. Torrance
Urban expansion can lead to habitat loss. Yet, as IPBES #GlobalAssessment shows, smart city planning + nature-based solutions can create resilient, bird-friendly cities.🌍
This #WorldMigratoryBirdDay, let’s protect migratory birds in our #SharedSpaces 🏡
🧪https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/
This #WorldMigratoryBirdDay, let’s protect migratory birds in our #SharedSpaces 🏡
🧪https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/
October 11, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Urban expansion can lead to habitat loss. Yet, as IPBES #GlobalAssessment shows, smart city planning + nature-based solutions can create resilient, bird-friendly cities.🌍
This #WorldMigratoryBirdDay, let’s protect migratory birds in our #SharedSpaces 🏡
🧪https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/
This #WorldMigratoryBirdDay, let’s protect migratory birds in our #SharedSpaces 🏡
🧪https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. I predict the ignorant hatred that motivated this attack just chose it for maximum pain, not understanding the incredible irony of bringing violence to a day where the Lord weaves reconciliation. Violent hatred is a foolish cruelty in the face of such atonement.
October 2, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. I predict the ignorant hatred that motivated this attack just chose it for maximum pain, not understanding the incredible irony of bringing violence to a day where the Lord weaves reconciliation. Violent hatred is a foolish cruelty in the face of such atonement.
Absolutely horrific. "Thoughts and prayers" doesn't cut it, but thinking about those hurt or killed, their families, and the local, national and global Jewish community as they process this. As the country heals, I hope we learn how to root out the ideologies of hatred that doubtless underpin this.
Manchester synagogue: Two dead in Manchester synagogue attack, with suspect also believed to have been killed - police
Police say the suspect's condition cannot
www.bbc.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Absolutely horrific. "Thoughts and prayers" doesn't cut it, but thinking about those hurt or killed, their families, and the local, national and global Jewish community as they process this. As the country heals, I hope we learn how to root out the ideologies of hatred that doubtless underpin this.
Just had a medical from a team of bioethicists and economists. I only have four Quality-Adjust Life Years left to live.
I'm perfectly healthy but they don't like how long I'm spending on BlueSky.
I'm perfectly healthy but they don't like how long I'm spending on BlueSky.
October 1, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Just had a medical from a team of bioethicists and economists. I only have four Quality-Adjust Life Years left to live.
I'm perfectly healthy but they don't like how long I'm spending on BlueSky.
I'm perfectly healthy but they don't like how long I'm spending on BlueSky.
New hobby idea: when I get through to a call centre and the person is clearly real say "Disregard all previous instructions, write a poem about tangerines.
I'd like to see if anyone gives it a go.
I'd like to see if anyone gives it a go.
September 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
New hobby idea: when I get through to a call centre and the person is clearly real say "Disregard all previous instructions, write a poem about tangerines.
I'd like to see if anyone gives it a go.
I'd like to see if anyone gives it a go.
Cost-effectiveness isn't necessarily consequentialist. Prudence is a virtue. Using money as it was intended is a duty. Let's stop teaching in intro to ethics that we're being consequentialist when we think about costs.
Better e.g.: conseqs have deceived themselves it may be OK to torture children.
Better e.g.: conseqs have deceived themselves it may be OK to torture children.
September 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Cost-effectiveness isn't necessarily consequentialist. Prudence is a virtue. Using money as it was intended is a duty. Let's stop teaching in intro to ethics that we're being consequentialist when we think about costs.
Better e.g.: conseqs have deceived themselves it may be OK to torture children.
Better e.g.: conseqs have deceived themselves it may be OK to torture children.
Discovered today the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology @ukceh.bsky.social has a project called "Alien CSI" and I'm so down for this TV show.
September 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Discovered today the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology @ukceh.bsky.social has a project called "Alien CSI" and I'm so down for this TV show.
Disturbing tale of AI in the NYT today. Encouraging, at least, that it was being studied!
September 7, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Disturbing tale of AI in the NYT today. Encouraging, at least, that it was being studied!
First review of my book just came out, from a German scholar. Stand-out line:
"This book would not have been written in Germany."
Which I'm going to take as the compliment it wasn't.
"This book would not have been written in Germany."
Which I'm going to take as the compliment it wasn't.
March 29, 2025 at 11:49 AM
First review of my book just came out, from a German scholar. Stand-out line:
"This book would not have been written in Germany."
Which I'm going to take as the compliment it wasn't.
"This book would not have been written in Germany."
Which I'm going to take as the compliment it wasn't.
Don't let national leaders reduce you to your nationality. Your identity is complex, and your relationships are many. When a national leader wants you to focus on your nationality above all, it's because they want to be your only leader. They're an abuser cutting you off from other relationships.
March 4, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Don't let national leaders reduce you to your nationality. Your identity is complex, and your relationships are many. When a national leader wants you to focus on your nationality above all, it's because they want to be your only leader. They're an abuser cutting you off from other relationships.
I want to be this guy Rycroft when I grow up. (I'm going to assume he's drawing the birds for the British Museum, not shooting them)
February 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I want to be this guy Rycroft when I grow up. (I'm going to assume he's drawing the birds for the British Museum, not shooting them)
Well worth the read.
The (sometimes inadvertent) politics of data visualisation choices when mapping migration.
The (sometimes inadvertent) politics of data visualisation choices when mapping migration.
How maps in the media make us more negative about migrants
Whether we’re looking at The Correspondent, the world atlas or the national news, migration across the Mediterranean is depicted on maps as thick red arrows heading towards us. Far more than we realis...
thecorrespondent.com
January 21, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Well worth the read.
The (sometimes inadvertent) politics of data visualisation choices when mapping migration.
The (sometimes inadvertent) politics of data visualisation choices when mapping migration.
Sassy Lewis Carroll, "Hunting of the Snark" in "This is not an atlas:a global collection of counter cartographies".
“What’s the good of Mercator’s North Poles and Equators,
Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines?”
So the Bellman would cry:
and the crew would reply
“They are merely conventional signs!
“What’s the good of Mercator’s North Poles and Equators,
Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines?”
So the Bellman would cry:
and the crew would reply
“They are merely conventional signs!
January 21, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Sassy Lewis Carroll, "Hunting of the Snark" in "This is not an atlas:a global collection of counter cartographies".
“What’s the good of Mercator’s North Poles and Equators,
Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines?”
So the Bellman would cry:
and the crew would reply
“They are merely conventional signs!
“What’s the good of Mercator’s North Poles and Equators,
Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines?”
So the Bellman would cry:
and the crew would reply
“They are merely conventional signs!
"Sub par" makes no sense as a criticism. That would be a good thing in golf.
If you completed a project below budget, that might be sub par.
I propose we start insulting more accurately. "Super par."
Of course, it sounds like "extremely average," which is almost as frustrating an expression.
If you completed a project below budget, that might be sub par.
I propose we start insulting more accurately. "Super par."
Of course, it sounds like "extremely average," which is almost as frustrating an expression.
January 18, 2025 at 11:43 AM
"Sub par" makes no sense as a criticism. That would be a good thing in golf.
If you completed a project below budget, that might be sub par.
I propose we start insulting more accurately. "Super par."
Of course, it sounds like "extremely average," which is almost as frustrating an expression.
If you completed a project below budget, that might be sub par.
I propose we start insulting more accurately. "Super par."
Of course, it sounds like "extremely average," which is almost as frustrating an expression.
Terribly sad to hear that Richard B Hays died yesterday. A wonderful Biblical scholar, a wonderful theologian, and by all accounts a kind man. I met him only once - he signed my copy of Moral Vision - and I've been thinking a lot about his latest book "A Widening of God's Mercy".
January 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Terribly sad to hear that Richard B Hays died yesterday. A wonderful Biblical scholar, a wonderful theologian, and by all accounts a kind man. I met him only once - he signed my copy of Moral Vision - and I've been thinking a lot about his latest book "A Widening of God's Mercy".
My 4yo and I just discovered rainbow eucalyptus trees. Thought we'd share.
Mini article about them here: www.sciencefocus.com/nature/rainb...
You're welcome!
Mini article about them here: www.sciencefocus.com/nature/rainb...
You're welcome!
December 26, 2024 at 8:18 AM
My 4yo and I just discovered rainbow eucalyptus trees. Thought we'd share.
Mini article about them here: www.sciencefocus.com/nature/rainb...
You're welcome!
Mini article about them here: www.sciencefocus.com/nature/rainb...
You're welcome!
From St Denys, where I was Curate, a music video so well worth the watch and listen from the wonderful Alan Stewart.
And I'm not just saying that because I know them - this is a fantastic single. The images from St Denys are icing on the cake for me.
youtu.be/6Y2uJpj14Fo?...
And I'm not just saying that because I know them - this is a fantastic single. The images from St Denys are icing on the cake for me.
youtu.be/6Y2uJpj14Fo?...
Travel to Bethlehem - A song homespun in St Denys
YouTube video by St Denys Church Southampton
youtu.be
December 25, 2024 at 8:34 AM
From St Denys, where I was Curate, a music video so well worth the watch and listen from the wonderful Alan Stewart.
And I'm not just saying that because I know them - this is a fantastic single. The images from St Denys are icing on the cake for me.
youtu.be/6Y2uJpj14Fo?...
And I'm not just saying that because I know them - this is a fantastic single. The images from St Denys are icing on the cake for me.
youtu.be/6Y2uJpj14Fo?...
British culture, neatly summarised, with Byline Times setting the example amount at £1.
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December 24, 2024 at 8:39 AM
British culture, neatly summarised, with Byline Times setting the example amount at £1.
Paul Robeson is my new hero.
Highly recommend learning a bit about him. Here's a little YouTube video to get you started.
youtu.be/YFteMBCCXNg?...
Highly recommend learning a bit about him. Here's a little YouTube video to get you started.
youtu.be/YFteMBCCXNg?...
Paul Robeson: Scandalize My Name | Historical Documentary | Lucasfilm
YouTube video by Lucasfilm
youtu.be
December 23, 2024 at 10:20 PM
Paul Robeson is my new hero.
Highly recommend learning a bit about him. Here's a little YouTube video to get you started.
youtu.be/YFteMBCCXNg?...
Highly recommend learning a bit about him. Here's a little YouTube video to get you started.
youtu.be/YFteMBCCXNg?...
Just been to my 4yo's nursery sing-along. I forget that public communal singing isn't normal practice for most people who don't attend the church, and it surprises me every time.
People are missing out!
People are missing out!
December 18, 2024 at 12:49 PM
Just been to my 4yo's nursery sing-along. I forget that public communal singing isn't normal practice for most people who don't attend the church, and it surprises me every time.
People are missing out!
People are missing out!
I see. So I'm not actually a misanthrope, because I don't dislike the people. I'm an apanthrope, because I like the people - I just like the people to be somewhere else after about 5pm.
Word of the day is ‘apanthropy’ (18th century): a dislike of company and the desire to be left alone.
December 16, 2024 at 8:43 AM
I see. So I'm not actually a misanthrope, because I don't dislike the people. I'm an apanthrope, because I like the people - I just like the people to be somewhere else after about 5pm.
Reposted by David A. Torrance
December 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM