Delorean Philosophy

What if the purpose of marriage is to make us better? What if personal relational choice is a bit of a lie?For many, a committed marriage may seem “old school”. What many people expect from relationships is satisfaction and freedom.So it’s paradoxical then, that once again young people seem to be partnering younger and getting married younger.Commitment, and casual interest: both are alive and well today.There’s something about long-term love stories that capture our imaginations - regardless of what culture (and apps) lead us to believe.Now there are two tribes: one who wants a life companion, the other stoically going forward alone. Sadly, the truth is, that rates of marriage are now dropping … sharply.Traditional communities still exist though - they marry younger, in greater numbers, and have more children.A minority are holding to older ways.Will everyone return to this? Will everyone turn to marriage again? Of course not!But it might mean that a correction - however small - might not be far ahead.

In a special Christmas episode, Steve takes some time to reflect on how Christmas - an ancient celebration -  is changing as fast as the culture itself.The commercialism and pageantry of Christmas has sucked meaning from this important celebration.The earliest Christmas memories of ordinary people can be lost in this meaningless procession.But are we at risk of losing something even more significant? Are we in short supply of joy at Christmas?It certainly seems to be in short supply at the moment - so what does that mean for Christmas in the years to come?

In the run up to Christmas, Steve McAlpine looks dubiously at the West's repeated calls for 'peace on earth'. Could peace - at least as far as the West is concerned - remain beyond reach because of the direction our culture wars have taken?If calls for tolerance are now viewed suspiciously as a fig leaves for oppressive powers, so much so that we must behave in a violently intolerant way, then what room is there for peace?Instead, we may find ourselves in a society that is perpetually at war with itself because we haven't learnt the ability to forgive our enemies without requiring their total subjugation.

What word do you associate with "masculinity"?Guesses are, 'toxic' is high on the list.With so many "damaged men" portrayed in our literature - especially in schools - what hope can young boys in the global west have of finding a good role model?Perhaps it's time we broadened what the typical "man" looked like.Only when we do that will sayings like "boys will be boys" be a thing of the past.