Resurrecting Christianity-Rising to the Challenges of a Complex World (The Future of Western Civilization Series 1)

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali interviewed by Psychiatrist Dr Nicholas Beecroft. Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was the 106th Bishop of Rochester, for 15 years, until 2009. He is originally from Pakistan and was the first non-white Diocesan Bishop in the Church of England. He was appointed in 1994. Before that he was the General Secretary of CMS from 1989 to 1994 and prior to holding this position was Bishop of Raiwind in Pakistan. He holds both British and Pakistani citizenship and from 1999 was a member of the House of Lords where he was active in a number of areas of national and international concern. He has both a Christian and a Muslim family background and is now President of the Oxford Centre for Training, Research, Advocacy and Dialogue (OXTRAD).

In this interview, Bishop Michael addresses the State of Western Civilization; it’s strengths; what’s working really well; the challenges we face. He describes his positive vision for the future-his version of heaven on earth. He believes that we need a spiritual foundation for life and that we are living on past spiritual capital and that Christianity is essential to start regenerating that spiritual capital.

Bishop Michael says what he thinks of being spiritual but not religious-whether or not that is an evolutionary step towards a global post-Ethnic pure form of spirituality without cultural and historical baggage. Could it be that the C of E is the first post postmodern religion which provides a lead for the others in recognizing their common path and accommodating all-the first post-postmodern, Integral, Global religion? He sets out his conditions for that to be possible.

He says we need a shared story of who we are, what we believe, our values and history. He tells his version of that story and his own identity. He celebrates the strengths of Britain and talks about how he personally views the history of the British Empire and how we relate to that today. Clearly he sees Christianity as absolutely the central pillar of our history, identity, culture and values.

Bishop Michael comments upon the muted Western reaction to the persecution of Christians around the world. Why do the Western Elites turn a blind eye?

How do we defend our freedoms, democracy and way of life from those who want to force their authoritarian and absolutist way upon us at a time when the pseudo-liberal elite have made it at least taboo if not illegal to engage in debate and assert that Western or British values are better and in any case are our own right in our own country? What’s needed to sort out gang violence and social decay? How do we restore the healthy authority of a parent, teacher, policeman, doctor etc?

Bishop Michael really understands the state we are in the Civilizational challenges we face and has the courage to speak the truth in the face of strong social pressure to stick to the Politically Correct hymn sheet.

The Future of Western Civilization Series 1

Dr Nicholas Beecroft, a Military and Organizational Psychiatrist, has spent 25 years exploring the worlds of Medicine, Psychiatry, Business, International Relations and the Military. In the Future of Western Civilization Series, he interviews visionary leaders to discover their inspiring, positive and practical visions for the future and challenges them with incisive questions.