Five for Friday: politics, physics, wisdom and pedantry

I used up all my recent photos earlier this week, so here's Hilary Benn instead:



Whatever view you take on air strikes in Syria, this is vision of what British democracy can be like: diligent representation, obscure place names, arguments made with words not force, the respectful acceptance of differing viewpoints and complex issues, and a foundational ethos that remains Christian (regardless of Benn's faith or otherwise, note the Good Samaritan reference). There may not be troops on the ground but there are heroic men and women looking to bless in that dark place, and you can support them through Open Doors.

How does an atheist astrophysicist become a Christian? Not be removing her brain but by using it, as Sarah Salviander did.

Church leaders don't lack for people telling them what to do, but an experienced voice like Thabiti Anyabwile is worth making time for, so they can use their time better.

A couple of articles for pedants...

Helena Horton reports on Steven Pinker's list of the most commonly misused words and phrases. You can take a test to see how correct you is.

As Jamie Vardy continues to score a goal every league game, football pedants continue to point out that football existed before the Premier League and its records began. Miguel Delany argues that there are good reasons for considering this era of the sport to be unique (if not historic).