Bridging the EU’s generational divide

Caroline Spelman looks at the reasons underpinning the generational divide underpinning the EU referendum debate. She urges those of later years to think about their children and their grandchildren when casting their vote on June 23rd. None of us should cast our vote just in our own interest but think about those we bind to our decision.

06, 13, 2016
9 Comments.

By ReimaginingEurope

Belonging, Nigel Biggar

The nation state and the case for remaining in the EU

Nigel Biggar reasons there may well be good reasons for Britain to remain in the E.U. But if that is so, the unchristian nature, or the obsolescence, of the nation-state is not one of them. Nation-states are not in fact passé, and the Bible doesn’t tell us that they should be. To argue for Britain to remain in the European Union on the ground that the age of the nation-state is over is nonsensical because, of course, a federal E.U. would be nothing other than a larger state, serving the newly self-conscious nation of Europeans, and able to hold its own against the United States on the one hand, and Russia and China on the other.

03, 31, 2016
7 Comments.

By ReimaginingEurope

Barry Morgan, EU Referendum

Should we stay or should we go?

Dr Barry Morgan, the Archbishop of Wales, reflects on the implications for Wales of the forthcoming EU referendum. He laments that most of the public arguments so far have focussed on economics – and on pretty shameless self-interest. He makes the case that belonging to the EU is not just about doing the sums. It is about belonging to a union of distinct nations, whose ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversities are protected by EU laws, who agree to work together for the common good, to pursue peace, and to help members who are less fortunate than others.

02, 16, 2016
3 Comments.

By ReimaginingEurope

Innes, Unity and Diversity

A matter of hearts as well as minds

In his latest contribution from Brussels, Bishop Robert Innes - the Bishop in Europe - makes the case that we need to vote with both our hearts and our minds when it comes to the EU referendum. Nobody suggests that the EU’s structures are perfect, but the EU is a matter of give and take, and there is much which Britain can both give and receive from close relationships with its European neighbours

01, 27, 2016
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By ReimaginingEurope

Jonathan Boardman, Postcard from...

Postcard from Rome

In this postcard from Rome, Jonathan Boardman, the Anglican Chaplain at All Saints’ Rome, looks at Italian attitudes to the EU which appear to encourage in and out tendencies at the same time. How do these contradictory tendencies shape Italian views towards Brexit?

01, 05, 2016
10 Comments.

By ReimaginingEurope

Adrian Hilton, Belonging, Identity, Values

Caricaturing the values of the anti-EU Christian

Political theologian Adrian Hilton explores why the caricature of anti-EU Christians as narrow minded xenophobes is indicative of a wider elite strategy aimed at closing down democratic debate.

12, 10, 2015
1 Comment.

By ReimaginingEurope

Forgiveness, Francis Campbell, Peace, Reconciliation

The fragility of European unity

The achievement of a lasting peace between former enemies has undoubtedly been the great success of the European project, but as Sir Francis Campbell explores in this blog this strength has masked a deeper fagility that is slowly being exposed by a series of political and economic crises.