Brett Gray
@bcgray.bsky.social
Chaplain and theologian with a large misfiring heart and aftermarket parts. Bemused to be a Yankee in Cambridge. Doesn’t like Fascism.
Well, William Nye going a bit 'German Christian' in his choice of books of the year in the Church Times is a thing.
November 28, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Well, William Nye going a bit 'German Christian' in his choice of books of the year in the Church Times is a thing.
My general rule of thumb is that anyone who uses 'woke' as an easy insult or derisive term goes on probation. It is possible they are ignorant, but it is likely they are an asshat.
November 23, 2025 at 8:17 AM
My general rule of thumb is that anyone who uses 'woke' as an easy insult or derisive term goes on probation. It is possible they are ignorant, but it is likely they are an asshat.
‘Smart Casual’ is a tool the upper middle classes use to confuse and frustrate middle and working class folk. It’s class warfare as dress code.
November 20, 2025 at 5:13 PM
‘Smart Casual’ is a tool the upper middle classes use to confuse and frustrate middle and working class folk. It’s class warfare as dress code.
I good rule of thumb is that numbers never speak for themselves, and when someone tells you they do it's time to become suspicious.
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I good rule of thumb is that numbers never speak for themselves, and when someone tells you they do it's time to become suspicious.
Things I've actually said out loud to myself while reading some Barth today: 'Great f**king line Karl!'
November 17, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Things I've actually said out loud to myself while reading some Barth today: 'Great f**king line Karl!'
I am going into a meeting for which I have written a pre-circulated report. I will not 'speak to' this report. I will assume people have read it and ask if there are any questions and queries. Think how much of human life could be reclaimed if more people did this simple thing.
November 14, 2025 at 7:09 AM
I am going into a meeting for which I have written a pre-circulated report. I will not 'speak to' this report. I will assume people have read it and ask if there are any questions and queries. Think how much of human life could be reclaimed if more people did this simple thing.
I wish some Democrat lawmakers would wake up, smell the coffee, and recognise that this is existential for democracy. Playing by the normal rules won't work when the guy you're playing against doesn't do rules. Or morality.
November 11, 2025 at 2:39 PM
I wish some Democrat lawmakers would wake up, smell the coffee, and recognise that this is existential for democracy. Playing by the normal rules won't work when the guy you're playing against doesn't do rules. Or morality.
A concentrated attempt by the funded and organised right to undermine the BBC is not beyond the realms of possibility.
November 10, 2025 at 9:36 AM
A concentrated attempt by the funded and organised right to undermine the BBC is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Reposted by Brett Gray
I think we need to stop calling it empathy and go back to calling it decency. It isn't a favour you're doing someone else, it's you proving that you aren't a fucking ghoul
November 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
I think we need to stop calling it empathy and go back to calling it decency. It isn't a favour you're doing someone else, it's you proving that you aren't a fucking ghoul
Reposted by Brett Gray
Here to tell you that making progress in therapy isn't always as much fun as it sounds.
November 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Here to tell you that making progress in therapy isn't always as much fun as it sounds.
The temptation to just invent words and throw them into conversations with fellow academics to see what happens is stronger than it should be.
November 2, 2025 at 8:13 AM
The temptation to just invent words and throw them into conversations with fellow academics to see what happens is stronger than it should be.
The new Florence and the Machine album may really be that good.
November 1, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The new Florence and the Machine album may really be that good.
Happy Reformation Day to my Anglican friends in total denial of their Protestantism. All the scares today.
October 31, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Happy Reformation Day to my Anglican friends in total denial of their Protestantism. All the scares today.
Reposted by Brett Gray
I’m really starting to suspect that most of the tech bros haven’t actually read Tolkien, as they certainly don’t understand it.
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
Elon Musk: "It is time for the English to ally with the hard men, like Tommy Robinson, and fight for their survival or they shall surely all die" 29th October 2025. 2 million views in its first hour.
October 29, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I’m really starting to suspect that most of the tech bros haven’t actually read Tolkien, as they certainly don’t understand it.
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
The gentle hobbits save the “hard men” of Gondor, largely through compassion and selflessness. Not the other way around. The Christian parable is barely hidden!
If you are clergy or a congregant in the CofE, you could sign this. www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
LLF Open Letter – Inclusive Church
www.inclusive-church.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:29 PM
If you are clergy or a congregant in the CofE, you could sign this. www.inclusive-church.org/llf-open-let...
I watched House of Dynamite last night. Perhaps they should warn people with cardiac conditions before viewing.
October 28, 2025 at 9:50 AM
I watched House of Dynamite last night. Perhaps they should warn people with cardiac conditions before viewing.
I know it's more likely cockup than conspiracy, but if I wanted to enflame racial tension and embarrass the government in service of the hard right, I'd 'mistakenly' let a high profile asylum seeker convicted of a sex offence go free.
I hope that's in the possibility set they are investigating.
I hope that's in the possibility set they are investigating.
October 26, 2025 at 12:13 PM
I know it's more likely cockup than conspiracy, but if I wanted to enflame racial tension and embarrass the government in service of the hard right, I'd 'mistakenly' let a high profile asylum seeker convicted of a sex offence go free.
I hope that's in the possibility set they are investigating.
I hope that's in the possibility set they are investigating.
The look of betrayal you get from a cat you've just treated for fleas is something else. I expect that our usual evening bonhomie (where we all sit on the sofa together) might take a day or two to come back.
October 26, 2025 at 10:02 AM
The look of betrayal you get from a cat you've just treated for fleas is something else. I expect that our usual evening bonhomie (where we all sit on the sofa together) might take a day or two to come back.
The scenes out of Chicago and New York of people just not putting up with meal team six ICE agents on their streets is a thing of beauty.
October 26, 2025 at 7:18 AM
The scenes out of Chicago and New York of people just not putting up with meal team six ICE agents on their streets is a thing of beauty.
Well, at least the cute nationalists won and not the scary ones.
October 24, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Well, at least the cute nationalists won and not the scary ones.
It’s that time of the year when I feel a compulsion to wear a watchcap and listen to the The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I have no explanation for this. 
October 24, 2025 at 6:10 AM
It’s that time of the year when I feel a compulsion to wear a watchcap and listen to the The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. I have no explanation for this. 
Reposted by Brett Gray
The Established Church needs to find a voice on this kind of dehumanising depiction of men, women and children who have come to our country, being spilled all over the place to say the only thing that has human value is a salary above £38k and thst any foreigner who ever earns less must get out
October 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The Established Church needs to find a voice on this kind of dehumanising depiction of men, women and children who have come to our country, being spilled all over the place to say the only thing that has human value is a salary above £38k and thst any foreigner who ever earns less must get out
Reposted by Brett Gray
Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note:
Tory deportation plan would upend Britain
Proposing such a radical bill with little public support is a gift to Nigel Farage
www.ft.com
October 23, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Hadn’t, in truth, really absorbed the scale of what the Conservatives are proposing on ILR and immigration more broadly until this week’s Sunday Times interviews. Some thoughts on that in today’s note:
Reposted by Brett Gray
You came to the UK as a kid from a country that doesn't allow dual citizenship. You're married with British kids and grandkids. You've worked your whole life here paying taxes, but you kept your original nationality and have ILR. You claim the pension your taxes paid for.
Deported.
It's lunacy.
Deported.
It's lunacy.
Tory policy is to revoke permanent residence (ILR) for everybody who does not earn £38k - deporting most nurses who have ILR
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
This is put in the video as "who is unlikely to contribute more than they cost"
NB: video does not say EU settled status is exempt
No govt since Idi Amin has done this
October 22, 2025 at 10:05 AM
You came to the UK as a kid from a country that doesn't allow dual citizenship. You're married with British kids and grandkids. You've worked your whole life here paying taxes, but you kept your original nationality and have ILR. You claim the pension your taxes paid for.
Deported.
It's lunacy.
Deported.
It's lunacy.