Twenty Questions to a Fellow Blogger Part CLVI: Gillan Scott

What made you decide to start blogging?
I got the idea during the Occupy
demonstration outside St Paul’s last year. I was incredibly
frustrated by the way the cathedral handled the incident, so I went
online to see what other Christians were saying about it. I was
disappointed about how little I found and felt the need to do
something about it to get my voice out in public. I admire
Christians who are involved in politics, whichever party they belong
to, but I also know plenty of Christians who care deeply about
politics but don’t feel drawn towards one particular party. I have
this hope that my blogging might encourage at least a few to consider
how they can act in a way that engages with politics effectively no
matter what their political persuasion is.
What is your best blogging experience?
The kindness of strangers. I’ve been
amazed how supportive seasoned bloggers have been to me. I’ve had
plenty of help getting up the first few steps of the blogging ladder
since I started.
And your worst?
The niggling self doubt that makes me
wonder why anyone would be interested in what I write. That and
thinking I’ll run out of things to say sooner rather than later.
What do you regard as your best blog
entry?
I’ve just finished a series of
reviews of the Clearing the Ground report published by the All Party
Parliamentary Group, Christians in Parliament. It’s a major report
considering how Christianity is being marginalised in the UK and what
should be done about it. It’s received quite a bit of interest,
which is good to see.
Favourite blogs?
Archbishop Cranmer and Mars Hill are
two great blogs mixing Christian principles and politics effectively
from different ends of the political spectrum. I’m still looking
for a Christian Lib Dem blog. I closely follow eChurch and Gentle
Wisdom which are full of great thought provoking content. I don’t
have time to read as many as I’d like to.
What do you see as the major problems
for Christians within the current political climate?
I think Christians are currently going
through a crisis of confidence trying to match their beliefs with an
increasingly secular society. Often you get the impression through
the media that militant atheists and secularists are gaining control
and influence in government and the church is losing its relevance.
The danger is that Christians retreat into the safety of their
churches where they can express themselves freely. In fact the
opposite is needed. Christianity has contributed a great deal to
this country over the centuries giving us a great deal of freedom and
stability. Despite what some people think, we need the church to be
engaged if we are to function well as a society.
Are some of the former and current Church
leaders over-reacting over Gay marriage?
There is an ongoing demand on the
church at the moment to conform to a secular vision for it. On the
whole church leaders in our country have generally not made a big
noise against changes in attitudes in society and government. I
think the underlying unease in the church has continued to grow
though, and we are now seeing some of this being vented in public.
Marriage is an institution that the Church holds sacred and it is not
going to allow it to be tampered with without a big fight. Many
leaders in the church believe the government is going a step too far
over this matter. It does sadden me though when I see Christians
using incendiary language. This doesn’t do anything but stir up
further resentment and division
Should Christians be more concerned
about what is going on within the Media with regards to the
phone-hacking scandal and should they be more pro-active in taking a
stand?
I think Christians have been too quiet
on this matter so far especially those with public profiles. The
Church doesn’t always have a particularly easy relationship with
most of the press and media and I wonder if it feels uncomfortable
wading into the debate. I’m not sure how the press would react if
there was an overwhelming response from those in the Church to the
Leveson Inquiry calling for the police, politicians and journalists
to clean up their act, but I’d like it to happen. The press has
immense power to change public opinion and attitudes in a positive
way, but instead it often leeches out poison instead.
Is there anywhere abroad which you
haven't been to, that you would like to visit?
I’ve not made it to Italy yet even
though there’s so much I love about it.
Is there anywhere abroad you have
visited, that you would love to revisit?
I’ve been to Africa a few times now.
Most of it is incredibly beautiful and I’m keen to return again at
some point.
Do you have a favourite political
figure in history?
Nelson Mandela. He is a living example
of how forgiveness and reconciliation can transform a broken country.
Which Christian figure has been your
greatest inspiration?
There are plenty for me to choose from,
but I’m going to say Mike Pilavachi. Mike heads Soul Survivor,
which runs a massive festivals for young Christians in with thousands
attending each summer. Through him a whole generation of Christians
has grown up in this country confident in their faith and eager to
transform the world by fighting against injustice, serving the poor
and living with integrity. I’ve met him a few times and he is an
amazing guy, although his dress sense leaves a lot to be desired.
Favourite Bond movie?
Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale. It
brought the franchise back to life.
Favorite Doctor Who?
I grew up with Peter Davison, but Tom
Baker is my favourite. You always got the impression that he
actually believed he was Doctor Who.
Chocolate, vanilla, or mint?
Chocolate as long as it’s Green &
Blacks.
Which Band, past or present, would you
most like to see in concert?
I’d love to have been able to witness
the Jimi Hendrix Experience at Woodstock in 1969.
In terms of visiting for the weekend,
Oxford, Cambridge, or Barsby, Leics..?
I studied Architecture at university,
so I’d go with Cambridge as it has some fantastic buildings.
Favourite national newspaper?
The Times.
What would you say your hobbies were?
I’m in a couple of bands and try to
write songs occasionally. I love art and also have a rather large
LEGO collection.
And what would you say were your three
favourite songs and three favourite books (Bar the Bible and The
Complete Works of Shakespeare)?
Where the Streets Have No Name, by U2,
Viva La Vida by Coldplay and History Maker by Delirious? All best
heard live. Books in no particular order: Lord of the Rings, The
Complete Winnie the Pooh Collection and Homer’s Iliad.
Comments
Discovered your blog earlier thru Gillan's post on marriage, and well chuffed to have found you.
Got you in my reader now and following with interest.
I'll check if you're on Twitter.