A gentler message

Walking home from Filmhouse, passed the fundraiser Christmas tree for St Columba's Hospice in Charlotte Sq.

I'd seen two films in a double bill at the Filmhouse: "Theeb", set during WWI in what was to become southern Jordan, and "Timbuktu", set in the early days if ISIS/Daesh control of that city.

Honour, courage, trust, loyalty, love (parental, sibling, romantic, companionly), compassion, beauty: all were there in both films.

But so too were ignorance, blind obedience, rigid social orders, mysogyny, fear, boredom, oppression, megalomania, ruthlessness, aggression, violence, cruelty, disdain.

Talking to my parents over a coffee afterwards, we reflected on other not-so-distant times and places where Christianity has followed and still follows similar paths.

Very difficult times, now and to come I fear.