Weekly Thoughts

Being hounded by the press and social media must be a terrifying experience. Yet that is what befell the Cambridge professor, Jason Arday. The youngest black

professor at Cambridge university was dead at 41 having been found “unresponsive” at his home in Battersea. The basic job of newspapers is to sell newspapers. That

means telling the public what they want to hear. In this case they wanted to hear that a brilliant young academic was a fraud and a fantasist, so, aided and abetted by

a maverick academic, that is what the media told them. Undoubtedly there are some aspects of Jason’s story, particularly about his early development, sporting prowess and charitable work which do need looking into. As to his academic work, getting a PhD entails researching and writing a considerable book, a thesis, on an original topic and defending it in an oral examination. In a limited field the range of topics may not be large and finding something original to research and write at length about may be very difficult. Almost inevitably there will be an overlap with other work which

has to be fully acknowledged otherwise accusations plagiarism will arise. The university which awarded Jason his PhD looked into the charge of plagiarism and decided he was innocent.

But clearly there are some people for whom it is unacceptable, indeed offensive, that a young black person should be elevated to such a position academic prominence and they were determined to bring him down. But Jason was a human being, made in the image of God, and as such entitled to the same respect and a fair hearing as anyone else. He should never have subjected to the hounding by the press and social media as has occurred. As a white man living in Europe I know that I am in a very privileged position. I enjoy a standard of living and security which most people in the world can only dream about. More than that we are a minority. That may not be at all apparent in a place like Selsdon but globally we are the minority, there are very many more of them than there are of us. Jason was if anything a trailblazer, the shape if things to come. Does that offend or alarm you? There is plenty of evidence that people of other races are just as capable and competent as we are and given the same opportunities could do as well. And they will do because time is on their side.

Black lives matter and white lives matter too, and so do brown and yellow lives. The kingdom of God is a place where all live together in harmony and mutual support.

We each have our part to play in building that kingdom both here in Selsdon and throughout the world.

READINGS AND PRAYERS

23 AUGUST – TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY – John 6.56-69 – who ever eats me will live of me – thanksgiving for Holy Communion

24 AUGUST – BARTHOLOMEW THE APOSTLE – Luke 22.24-30 – you have stood by me in my trials – the appointment of a new Bishop of Southwark

25 AUGUST – Tuesday – Matthew 23.23-26 – woe to you … hypocrites – for sincerity in the practice of our Faith

26 AUGUST – Ninian, Bishop of Galloway, Apostle of the Picts, 432 – Acts 13.46-49 – I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles – the evangelistic work of the Church

27 AUGUST – Monica, Mother of Augustine of Hippo, 387 – Ecclesiasticus 26.1- 3,13-16 -the blessing of a good wife – The Mothers’ Union

28 AUGUST – Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, Teacher of the Faith, 430 – Ecclesiasticus 39.1-10 – he sets his heart… to seek the Lord who made him – all theologians

29 AUGUST – The Beheading of St John the Baptist – Matthew 14.1-12 – the death of John – all who suffer for the faith today