David Griffin responds to Jim Reiher’s and Joanna Cruikshank’s responses to his article on cancel culture and puritanism.

Inclusion and diversity is an admirable goal, but often results in conflicting claims, competing rights and unintended consequences. Replacing sex with gender identity in language risks overriding individual needs and vulnerabilities. How can we as Christians navigate this issue in our wider community and at the polls?

The recent inclusion in Engage.Mail of David Griffin’s article on ‘Cancel Culture and the new Puritans’ produced some strong but helpful reaction, which requires both some explanation and apology on our part.

It is important to be aware of the danger of perfectionism and intolerance, but to characterise the largely peaceful BLM protests as ‘riotous destruction and iconoclasm’, motivated by 'resentment and envy', is to minimise the realities of systemic racism and misrepresent the protests.

As voices swirl around us in this election season calling for our allegiance, claiming the path to life, how do we discern the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow him in the midst of so much noise and distraction?

Does the attempt by both sides of politics to galvanise Christian support in the name of culture wars truly reflect the nature of God, or are there broader humanitarian concerns that should guide how we vote?

The desire to purify the state and culture from symbols that are considered idolatrous, blasphemous or evil is as old as history itself. But it is far harder to purify our own life, to cancel our own sin and to tear down the idols in our own heart.

Is it ever right to judge? The resignation of Hillsong founder, Brian Houston, reminds us of the need to 'judge with right judgement’ and to be guided by love, humility, grace, truth and the desire for restoration.

Our news cycle is littered with images of destruction. This Friday students will again strike for the climate, followed by Earth Hour on Saturday. Lent is a time to bravely turn our attention to our pressing ecological crisis, as we cross the invisible threshold of Earth Overshoot Day.

Jesus’ parables come alive in the garden. I often tell people that I read about the life, death and resurrection of Christ in the Bible, but in the garden I experience it.