Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy has been a modern publishing phenomenon. Not only have the books been international best sellers but they have won plaudits and prizes at every turn and proved to be a huge commercial success.

Pullman's trilogy has caused consternation among some Christian groups who believe the books undermine the Church and attack God. The Association of Christian Teachers has called for them to be banned in primary schools. Its spokesman declared them to be full of "heresy and blasphemy"...

"Yes madam can I help you?

Yes, you'd like a 'rock star'; why I think we have some just in.

What type were you wanting? 'Elegantly wasted' or a complete mess?

Well we have two just in - a Mr Doherty and a Miss Winehouse.

'What type are they?' It depends on your point of view..."

There has been a campaign started by groups of the Women's Institute in Hampshire to legalise brothels.

The resolution was supported at county level and the ladies are hoping it will be adopted at national level and will then be put forward to the government.

Jean Johnson, a Hampshire WI advisor, said "We really felt the local authorities should license premises so that they were safe working space providers".

If the Church's mission is to make disciples are we making the Gospel as accessible to people in general as we might?

The idea of "Church" to non-believers seems to exist in two main ways. Firstly there is the concept of a worldwide organisation called "The Church", which has little relevance to what goes on in the real world but is of interest to people who like that sort of thing. Secondly there is the building down the road which again has little relevance to what is actually happening in the community.

An article in The Times on 8th October described the very difficult decisions to be taken by the carers of Katie, a severely disabled 15-year-old.

Katie has cerebral palsy, she cannot walk or talk and is believed to understand little of what is said to her. Katie's mother has requested that Katie have a hysterectomy to avoid the "pain, discomfort and indignity" of menstruation.

Clerical collars are very much part of the uniform of an ordained person. They are usually accepted and respected by most people.

It came as a shock to hear on the radio news recently that a British church safety group have advised ordained persons against wearing clerical collars while off-duty to avoid being verbally or physically abused.

When I was a teenager I played guitar like a teenager; when I became a man l put away teenage things... I stopped playing heavy metal.

The sad thing is that some pensioners just never learn the lesson - or perhaps their hearing is so wrecked they have to keep the volume cranked up so they know what they are doing.

There will clearly be a legion of fans thrilled by the prospect of Led Zeppelin's "Stairlift to Heaven" tour but frankly isn't it time someone told them the truth?

Many Protestant Christians understand the second commandment recorded in Exodus 20:4-6 as a prohibition against the use of images and icons in Christian worship.

This interpretation of the second word of the Decalogue is found in many of the writings of the Reformers and enshrined in the Catechisms of the Reformation.

But if this interpretation is sound, then Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians must be guilty of transgressing the second commandment.

Would Jesus Discriminate? That was the legend emblazoned on a T-shirt given to me by Journey MCC at this year's Greenbelt Festival in Cheltenham. In this context it was asking whether or not Jesus would discriminate on the grounds of gender or sexual orientation, but I want to ask if Jesus would discriminate at all.

Recently, two churches in Taunton made the decision not to allow a toddler yoga group to rent their premises.

This decision was based on the idea that Yoga is based on Hindu principles which are contrary to the ethos of a Christian place of worship. Yoga does originate in non-Christian religion, and does use non-Christian worship gestures and language. Some yoga groups do include meditation and chanting...

It goes without saying that Christians want their political leaders to be Christians. Their faith should inspire them, give them a vision of what could be achieved for God's kingdom and give them access to wisdom and spiritual power.

But is being a Christian enough on its own to make a political leader successful...?