Facebook, cancer, autism and other ills
Thanks to my commenter Becky on my earlier post, who pointed out this piece by the marvellous Ben Goldacre.
And here is Goldacre calmly defending his position on newsnight:
-
author musician theologian
Maggi has kept a blog since September 2003, writing about theology and faith, the arts and literature, and a little about life and random nonsense...
In an increasingly secularised society few people have a good working knowledge of the Bible. Yet a great deal of our culture is built on stories or ideas that come from the Bible. Literature, art, music, language and even the fabric of our society - such as our justice system - are built on Christian concepts and biblical references. The Writing on the Wall provides a fascinating introduction to the Bible's best-known, and most influential, stories. Each chapter gives some background to the text of the Bible, and shows how the stories have become enmeshed in Western culture. Adam and Eve, the ten plagues of Egypt, The Prodigal Son and Mary Magdalene all feature - along with how the Bible has influenced everyone from Shakespeare to Monty Python, and Caravaggio to Banksy.
Giving It Up explores the Lenten idea of 'giving up', taking it beyond the traditional idea of simply abstaining from something, and suggesting instead that what we need to give up is our existing ideas about God. With a daily readings for each day of Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, it follows the heroes of the Bible who had to give up their own too-small ideas about God.
This is Maggi’s bestselling book of daily readings for each day of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Advent is the beginning of the Church year, and marks the anticipation of the coming Messiah. These readings explore how beginnings and endings in our own lives are illuminated by the different Gospel narratives of Christ's coming.
-
Search
Pages
Recent Tweets
- @mum_wife_rev yes. Remember Robinson Sunday mornings! :) love your pic! [#]
- RT @Dolly_Parton: Always be true to yourself, what you believe, and where you came from...you'll need those roots sooner or later. :) [#]
- @ramtopsrac thanks. [#]
- Son now stopped puking. But I have caught the bug. Oh dear. This does not bode well for Commencement festivities [#]
- RT @shipoffoolscom: Holy popsicles conceal a hidden Jesus http://t.co/lI7ZY1eM ... thanks be unto @maggidawn [#]
Archives

I think this is one of the best shots of a door I have come across – I love Jen’s work – I fnd her posts so honest, so inviting, so raw – her words are so well crafted and seem to dovetail so well with her images – even when they’re juxtoposed (if that makes sense)
thanks for thinking of me…
Yes, beautiful doors.
Beginning to open. Take heart.
Maggi…
…exceptional post
…needed post, as I deal with some crazy-making in a spiritual organization
…where would I need to go, or from whom would I need to get permission to use that magnificent picture?
…blessings to you, my friend, and comrade in Kingdom causes!
The timing is truly inspirational.Thank you so much for posting this just now.
shut in or shut out?
Amazing how God intervenes, when I felt shut in and alone I finally come onto this wonderful site and am touched by an amazing image that speaks volumes. Now I know that I am finding my feet on the right path again.