Articles written by Al Shaw

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About me - Al Shaw

An Anglo-American currently living in the UK, I enjoy writing for an international audience on a range of topics. These include history, politics, theology and ethics.

I have several blogs on the go, which, along with Helium, are my main vehicles for writing

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Politics, News & Issues > US Leaders Predicting what country George Bush will invade next: 1 of 12

An understanding of past events can help us see what might happen in the future, if only because history reveals something of the timeless psychology of individuals, nations and governments. When America's Vietnam campaign was becoming bogged down under the pressure of a geurilla army, US policy developed in two ways. First,...
Arts & Humanities > Ancient & Biblical Languages Languages at the time of Jesus: 1 of 4

Discovering who who spoke which language in first century Palestine is not as simple as it may seem, not least because of the reality of multi-lingualism. Many Jews, especially in Galilee, used Aramaic as their household language. The use of the prefix bar ("son") instead of the Hebrew ben is evidence of this usage (e.g. Bar...
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture How can I be sure of my salvation?: 14 of 53

Knowing whether you are truly saved is an important foundation in the Christian life. The Bible provides three bases for us to gain a personal assurance of our salvation. First, there are the plain promises of the Bible concerning those who believe in Jesus Christ. Some of the key promises include: "For God so loved the worl...
Politics, News & Issues > International News Assessing the legitimacy of British Airways' dress code and ban of religious symbols: 1 of 3

What are we to make of the suspension of a British Airways employee for wearing a cross outside of her BA uniform in contravention of the company's dress code? As often happens with such issues, the story has developed from company suspension to defense of its position to the inevitable company review to see whether its poli...
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Doctrine & Issues Christianity and the environment: Toward an ethic of stewardship: 5 of 10

They seem mutually exclusive because of a faulty theological system embraced by many Christians. This system of belief emphasizes certain Biblical truths at the expense of others. In particular, many Christians have an inadequate understanding of the Biblical doctrine of Creation. Sadly, this vital body of truth is often mis...
Computers & Technology > Internet Troubleshooting Assessing Google's policy towards China: 1 of 2

In the brave new world of the Chinese economic boom, western governments and multi-nationals appear nervous to take an ethical stand on issues such as human rights and religious freedoms with such a large (and profitable) trading partner. The argument given is that by encouraging the spread of free market forces to and withi...
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Doctrine & Issues Gay rights and the Christian church: 42 of 71

We might not all agree on the answers, but let's at least clarify the key questions in this controversial topic: Is a gay lifestyle compatible with an authentic Christian faith? How are local churches to respond to those from a gay background? What is a Christian view of gay rights in the wider society? What is our source of...
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture The evolution of the charismatic movement in Christianity: 2 of 3

For a movement that has at least three distinct strands within its history, we should not be surprised to see the charismatic movement developing and evolving today in a variety of different directions. The movement that broke upon the Christian church in the west during the 1970s represented on the one hand a broadening in ...
Education > College Search How do I choose a good British university?: 2 of 3

With over 100 British universities to choose from, how to I know which ones to select and apply for? Here are the suggestions my father made a university professor, former head of department and former head of admissions at a leading British university. First, make a list of the kind of subject areas you might be interested ...
Arts & Humanities > 20th & 21st Century US History Identifying American presidents of the 20th century: 4 of 5

You've read the list. Now learn the trivia! Woodrow Wilson suffered from Dyslexia as a child which hindered his performance at school. William Taft weighed over 300 lbs and was 6 ft 2 in tall. He had an extra large bath tub installed in the White House. "We're very proud to have Sugar Ray and Mrs. Ray here," announced Ronald...