Latest news with #ChristChurch
India.com
5 days ago
- India.com
Whispers Of The Hills: 7 Dreamy Places To Visit In Kasauli This Season
You don't visit Kasauli. You drift into it. The moment your wheels turn off the highway and the pines lean in like old friends, you feel it. The stillness. The scent of rain on stone. The whisper of wind that sounds almost like an invitation. Himachal is full of touristy towns but Kasauli is different. It doesn't shout for your attention. It hums quietly in the background like an old melody. You just have to stop and crazy traffic jams. No café crowds on Instagram missions. Just winding trails, sleepy shops, and cloud-kissed mornings that slow time down to a pause. So where do you go once you're here? Where do you listen closest? 1. Gilbert Trail This isn't a hike. It's a 1.5 km long, the Gilbert Trail begins just past the Air Force station. But it doesn't take you somewhere. It brings you inward. Ferns grow like secrets along the edges. Birds sing without filters. The path narrows and the forest thickens and for a while you forget everything except the rhythm of your steps. Don't rush. Trails like this don't exist on Google Maps. They exist in memories. 2. Sunset Point Everyone loves a good sunset. But Kasauli's Sunset Point isn't just about colors. It's about at the end of Upper Mall Road, this is where the hills melt into the horizon and the sky sighs in amber. No vendors shouting. No music blaring. Just you and the wind and a sun that takes its time to leave. Bring a flask. Maybe a thought or two. Let them settle with the light. 3. Christ Church Built in 1853, this is Himachal's oldest church. But that's not why you'll remember it. It's the glass. The green-stained windows that turn sunlight into soft miracles. It's the clock tower. The cedar trees standing like guards. And the silence that wraps the whole place like a prayer you didn't know you needed. You don't have to believe in anything. Just stand there and breathe. 4. Monkey Point Kasauli's highest point doesn't make it easy. You'll climb. You'll cross checkposts. And at some point you'll wonder if it's worth it. The Hanuman temple up there is small. But the view is not. On a clear day you see Chandigarh spread out like a map. On a misty one you see clouds swirl at your feet. Either way you feel small. And somehow that feels right. 5. Mall Road Every hill town has a Mall Road. Shops, Snacks, Sweaters. But Kasauli's Mall Road feels more like a memory lane. Time slows between the two lanes – Upper and Lower. The bakeries still smell like childhood. The bookstores don't rush you. And somewhere between the momos and the jam bottles, you find a kind of joy you weren't looking for. Buy something small. Maybe not a thing. Maybe a moment. 6. Lover's Lane The name is dramatic. The experience is not. It's quiet path near Sunset Point is less travelled. And that's the point. No loud groups. No selfies. Just deodar trees, the crunch of gravel, and the feeling that if you listen closely enough, the trees might share a secret or two. Ideal for long walks. Or no destination at all. 7. Kasauli Brewery This one's different. Founded in 1820s by the British, it's one of the oldest distilleries in Asia still in operation. But don't go just for the liquor. Go for the smell of old wood and stories in the air. The colonial charm. The sense that you're sipping from a place that has seen generations pass through its gates. A guided tour will show you how things are made. But the magic? That's felt, not explained. So Why Visit Kasauli? What's the Catch? There isn't one. There are no grand waterfalls. No ski slopes. No viral reels being shot at every corner. And that's exactly why you go. Because in a world of filters and footfall counts, Kasauli doesn't compete. It just waits. For people who walk slow. Who notice the sound of rain on tin roofs. Who want chai, not frappes. Who collect clouds instead of followers. A Few Local Tips to Keep in Mind Walk More, Drive Less. The town is small and full of hidden paths that cars can't reach. Avoid Peak Seasons if you want to feel the real Kasauli. Try early monsoon or late autumn. Talk to Locals. They'll point you to corners not listed on maps. Like a short-cut to silence. Stay in Homestays. You'll get warm food, warmer stories, and views you'll never forget. Final Thought Kasauli isn't a destination. It's a gentle pause between life's full come. Let the clouds find your shoulders. Let the wind turn your pages. Let the old trees tell you something you forgot you needed to hear. And when you leave, don't just post about it. Write it down,Because places like Kasauli don't just exist in hills. They exist in hearts that remember.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Christ Church confirms death of Lord Blair
CHRIST Church in Oxford has confirmed the death of fellow Lord Ian Blair aged 72. Ian Blair, who ran the Met Police from 2005 to 2008, was an honorary student of the Oxford college. He started at Christ Church in 1971 to read English Language and Literature and graduated in 1974. A statement from the college said: 'The Christ Church community would like to extend its condolences to the family of Ian Blair, The Lord Blair of Boughton QPM, who has died at the age of 72.' READ MORE: It added: "Lord Blair received a number of official honours over the course of his career, including the Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service, awarded in 1999, and a knighthood for services to policing awarded in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours. "He maintained his relationship with Christ Church throughout his life, receiving an Honorary Studentship (fellowship) in 2005 and chairing the Fabric Advisory Committee of Christ Church Cathedral from its inception in 2011 until 2023. "He was appointed as a crossbench life peer in 2010, serving in the House of Lords until his death." The Oxford graduate had joined the Met in 1974 and started his policing career on the beat in Soho and, as a detective chief inspector, later played a key role in identifying victims of the 1987 Kings Cross Station fire.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's support
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – commonly called the CREC – drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, who they said was divinely appointed. As a scholar of the Christian right, I have studied the CREC. Hegseth's membership in a church that belongs to the CREC drew attention because prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality and the separation of church and state. The CREC is most easily understood through three main parts: churches, schools and media. The CREC church is a network of churches. It is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson grew up in the town, where his father was an evangelical minister. Wilson co-founded the CREC in 1993 and is the public figure most associated with the network of churches. Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow. Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curriculum, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university, all of which were founded by Wilson and associated with Christ Church. All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with – or at war with – secular society. While he is not Hegseth's pastor, Wilson is the most influential voice in the CREC, and the two men have spoken approvingly of one another. As Wilson steadily grew Christ Church in Moscow, he and its members sought to spread their message by making Moscow a conservative town and establishing churches beyond it. Of his hometown, Wilson plainly states, 'Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town.' The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology. On its website, the CREC says that it is 'committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.' CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, 'A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.' In a broader political sense, CREC theology includes the belief that the establishment clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. The most common reading of the establishment clause is that freedom of religion precludes the installation of a state religion or religious tests to hold state office. The CREC broadly asserts that the government and anyone serving in it should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians and only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States. Researcher Matthew Taylor explained in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, 'They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.' While the CREC may not have the name recognition of some large evangelical denominations or the visibility of some megachurches, it boasts churches across the United States and internationally. The CREC website claims to have over 130 churches and parishes spread across North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Like some other evangelical denominations, the CREC uses 'church planting' to grow its network. Plant churches do not require a centralized governing body to ordain their founding. Instead, those interested in starting a CREC congregation contact the CREC. The CREC then provides materials and literature for people to use in their church. The CREC's expansion also owes a debt to Wilson's entrepreneurship. As the church expanded, Wilson founded an associated K-12 school called 'Logos' in September 1981, which since then has grown into a network of many schools. In conjunction with its growth, Logos develops and sells 'classical Christian' curriculum to private schools and home-school families through Logos Press. Classical Christian Schools aim to develop what they consider a biblical worldview. In addition to religious studies, they focus on classic texts from Greece and Rome. They have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among conservatives. Logos' classical Christian curriculum is designed to help parents 'raise faithful, dangerous Christian kids who impact the world for Christ and leave craters in the world of secularism.' Logos press regularly asserts, 'education is warfare.' According to the website, Logos schools enroll more than 2,000 students across 16 countries. Logos also has its own press that supplies the curriculum to all of these schools. On the heels of Logos' success, Wilson founded the Association of Classical Christian Schools in 1993 as an accrediting body for like-minded schools. The ACCS now boast 500 schools and more than 50,000 students across the United States and around the world. Additionally, Wilson founded New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. New Saint Andrews is a Christian university that takes the classical Christian approach to education championed by Wilson into higher education. The New Saint Andrews College is consistent with other CREC institutions. It considers secularism a weakness of other universities and society more generally. Its website explains: 'New Saint Andrews has long held a principled and clear voice, championing the truth of God's word and ways, while so many other colleges veer into softness and secularism.' The school is governed by the elders of Christ Church and does not accept federal funding. In addition to the Logos Press, which produces the CREC school curriculum, Wilson founded Canon Press. Canon Press produces books, podcasts, a YouTube channel and assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. The YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers. Books published by Canon include children's picture books to manuals on masculinity. A number of books continue the theme of warfare. The politics page of the press contains many books on Christian nationalism. Christian political theorist Stephen Wolfe's book 'The Case for Christian Nationalism' is one of the most popular among books on Christian nationalism. The website has dozens of books on Christian nationalism and media dedicated to the construction of a Christian government. Author Joe Rigney, a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College and an associate pastor at Christ Church, warns of the 'Sin of Empathy.' Rigney claims that empathizing with others is sinful because it requires compromise and makes one vulnerable in the fight against evil. As the church network has grown, it has drawn attention and scrutiny. Wilson's 1996 publication of a book positively depicting slavery and claiming slavery cultivated 'affection among the races' drew national attention. Accusations of sexual abuse and the church's handling of it have also brought national news coverage. Vice's Sarah Stankorb interviewed many women who talked about a culture, especially in marriage, where sexual abuse and assault is common. The Vice reporting led to a podcast that details the accounts of survivors. In interviews, Wilson has denied any wrongdoing and said that claims of sexual abuse will be directed to the proper authorities. Hegseth's actions as secretary of defense concerning gender identity and banning trans people from serving in the military, in addition to stripping gay activist and politician Harvey Milk's name from a Navy ship, have brought more attention to the CREC. I believe that given Hegseth's role as secretary of defense, his affiliation with the CREC will likely remain a topic of conversation throughout the Trump presidency. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Samuel Perry, Baylor University Read more: The term 'lone gunman' ignores the structures that enable violence How Christian nationalism played a role in incorporating the phrase 'so help me God' in the presidential oath of office Talk of 'Christian nationalism' is getting a lot louder – but what does the term really mean? Samuel Perry does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is CREC? The Christian nationalist group has a vision for America − and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's support
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches – commonly called the CREC – drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, who they said was divinely appointed. As a scholar of the Christian right, I have studied the CREC. Hegseth's membership in a church that belongs to the CREC drew attention because prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality and the separation of church and state. The CREC is most easily understood through three main parts: churches, schools and media. The CREC church is a network of churches. It is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson grew up in the town, where his father was an evangelical minister. Wilson co-founded the CREC in 1993 and is the public figure most associated with the network of churches. Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow. Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curriculum, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university, all of which were founded by Wilson and associated with Christ Church. All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with – or at war with – secular society. While he is not Hegseth's pastor, Wilson is the most influential voice in the CREC, and the two men have spoken approvingly of one another. As Wilson steadily grew Christ Church in Moscow, he and its members sought to spread their message by making Moscow a conservative town and establishing churches beyond it. Of his hometown, Wilson plainly states, 'Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town.' The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology. On its website, the CREC says that it is 'committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.' CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, 'A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.' In a broader political sense, CREC theology includes the belief that the establishment clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. The most common reading of the establishment clause is that freedom of religion precludes the installation of a state religion or religious tests to hold state office. The CREC broadly asserts that the government and anyone serving in it should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians and only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States. Researcher Matthew Taylor explained in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, 'They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.' While the CREC may not have the name recognition of some large evangelical denominations or the visibility of some megachurches, it boasts churches across the United States and internationally. The CREC website claims to have over 130 churches and parishes spread across North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Like some other evangelical denominations, the CREC uses 'church planting' to grow its network. Plant churches do not require a centralized governing body to ordain their founding. Instead, those interested in starting a CREC congregation contact the CREC. The CREC then provides materials and literature for people to use in their church. The CREC's expansion also owes a debt to Wilson's entrepreneurship. As the church expanded, Wilson founded an associated K-12 school called 'Logos' in September 1981, which since then has grown into a network of many schools. In conjunction with its growth, Logos develops and sells 'classical Christian' curriculum to private schools and home-school families through Logos Press. Classical Christian Schools aim to develop what they consider a biblical worldview. In addition to religious studies, they focus on classic texts from Greece and Rome. They have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among conservatives. Logos' classical Christian curriculum is designed to help parents 'raise faithful, dangerous Christian kids who impact the world for Christ and leave craters in the world of secularism.' Logos press regularly asserts, 'education is warfare.' According to the website, Logos schools enroll more than 2,000 students across 16 countries. Logos also has its own press that supplies the curriculum to all of these schools. On the heels of Logos' success, Wilson founded the Association of Classical Christian Schools in 1993 as an accrediting body for like-minded schools. The ACCS now boast 500 schools and more than 50,000 students across the United States and around the world. Additionally, Wilson founded New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. New Saint Andrews is a Christian university that takes the classical Christian approach to education championed by Wilson into higher education. The New Saint Andrews College is consistent with other CREC institutions. It considers secularism a weakness of other universities and society more generally. Its website explains: 'New Saint Andrews has long held a principled and clear voice, championing the truth of God's word and ways, while so many other colleges veer into softness and secularism.' The school is governed by the elders of Christ Church and does not accept federal funding. In addition to the Logos Press, which produces the CREC school curriculum, Wilson founded Canon Press. Canon Press produces books, podcasts, a YouTube channel and assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. The YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers. Books published by Canon include children's picture books to manuals on masculinity. A number of books continue the theme of warfare. The politics page of the press contains many books on Christian nationalism. Christian political theorist Stephen Wolfe's book 'The Case for Christian Nationalism' is one of the most popular among books on Christian nationalism. The website has dozens of books on Christian nationalism and media dedicated to the construction of a Christian government. Author Joe Rigney, a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College and an associate pastor at Christ Church, warns of the 'Sin of Empathy.' Rigney claims that empathizing with others is sinful because it requires compromise and makes one vulnerable in the fight against evil. As the church network has grown, it has drawn attention and scrutiny. Wilson's 1996 publication of a book positively depicting slavery and claiming slavery cultivated 'affection among the races' drew national attention. Accusations of sexual abuse and the church's handling of it have also brought national news coverage. Vice's Sarah Stankorb interviewed many women who talked about a culture, especially in marriage, where sexual abuse and assault is common. The Vice reporting led to a podcast that details the accounts of survivors. In interviews, Wilson has denied any wrongdoing and said that claims of sexual abuse will be directed to the proper authorities. Hegseth's actions as secretary of defense concerning gender identity and banning trans people from serving in the military, in addition to stripping gay activist and politician Harvey Milk's name from a Navy ship, have brought more attention to the CREC. I believe that given Hegseth's role as secretary of defense, his affiliation with the CREC will likely remain a topic of conversation throughout the Trump presidency. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Samuel Perry, Baylor University Read more: The term 'lone gunman' ignores the structures that enable violence How Christian nationalism played a role in incorporating the phrase 'so help me God' in the presidential oath of office Talk of 'Christian nationalism' is getting a lot louder – but what does the term really mean? Samuel Perry does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Anglican church in Istanbul bars MPs from entry over abortion vote
An Anglican church in Istanbul barred British MPs from entry after they voted to decriminalise abortion up to birth in England. Christ Church in Turkey's largest city was slapped down by the Church of England for putting up a sign on its doors telling MPs not to cross its threshold. A sign affixed to the front door said that British MPs should 'refrain' from entering after the 'shameful vote' to decriminalise abortion last month. Parliament voted to change the law so that women will no longer be prosecuted for aborting their pregnancies at any point up until birth. Anyone who assists a woman, including medical professionals, in getting an abortion outside the current legal framework will still be prosecuted. The sign said: 'Would British Members of Parliament please refrain from entering this church? Check with the Chaplain first that you specifically are not anathematised as of 22 June 2025 for your shameful vote in enabling late abortion! 'If you are under anathema but wish to make amends, you are invited to speak with our priest. Thank you on behalf of English Chaplaincy Istanbul.' Christ Church, known also as the Crimean Memorial Church, in Turkey is affiliated with the Church of England and is the largest Protestant church in the city of Istanbul. A Diocese in Europe spokesman confirmed that the chaplain had been ordered to take down the sign, and that it had not been cleared with the Bishop before it was put up. In the aftermath of the historic change made to British abortion laws, the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Sarah Mullally, said that women facing unwanted pregnancy require 'compassion and care'. She said: 'They should not be prosecuted. However, decriminalising abortion can at the same time inadvertently undermine the value of unborn life. 'The amendment passed to the Crime and Policing Bill may not change the 24-week abortion limit, but it undoubtedly risks eroding the safeguards and enforcement of those legal limits.' It comes after a Liberal Democrat MP, who is Catholic, was denied communion by his local priest after he voted in favour of legalising assisted dying last month. Chris Coghlan, who represents Dorking and Horley, said attendees of a mass at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Dorking were told that he would be refused communion. Mr Coghlan told BBC Radio Surrey that he and his family were not in the church in person to hear the priest, but that people who were there had contacted him to say they were 'pretty appalled'. 'It is one thing to take a view on an MPs vote on a conscience vote in Parliament, it is quite another to go out and publicly name and shame them, as a Catholic priest, to hundreds of their constituents.' Christ Church in Galata, Istanbul, was built during the Crimean War when servicemen expressed a wish for an Anglican church to minister to British sailors in the region. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were among those who donated money to the memorial fund that helped to found the church. A spokesman for the Diocese in Europe said: 'The chaplain had not been in touch with the Bishop to ask for any direction on this matter, as would be required by Canon law. 'If he had, the Bishop would not have approved the action. The chaplain has been told to remove the sign.'
