Peter Lynas
Peter oversees the advocacy team and the work of the Alliance across the four UK nations. He is passionate about faith in the public square and leads the Being Human project with Jo Frost. He previously worked as a barrister in Belfast before studying theology at Regent College in Vancouver, where he serves on the board. Peter is a regular media commentator, is married to Rose, has two daughters, and loves running.
Is death the ultimate human choice?
25 October 2024We live in a culture that has all too often reduced human life to functionality and usefulness. But what happens when you can no longer contribute to society? Do you still have purpose? We live in a society that is particularly focused on the individual. One campaign group has called itself ‘My death, my decision’ – as if our individual choices don’t affect others. But what about the medical staff who swore an oath to do no harm? What about family and friends who have to live with the loss?…
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Issue Briefing on Assisted Dying
22 October 2024The Evangelical Alliance is opposed to moves to legalise assisted suicide for biblical, social, policy and evidential reasons. These proposals undermine the sanctity and value of every life and will lead to pressure on some of the most vulnerable in our society to end their lives prematurely. International evidence shows that initial safeguards and restrictions are progressively weakened. Instead of facilitating death, the focus should be on improving palliative care, offering dignity in dying.…
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Cultural brain rot, Gen Z and discipleship
20 September 2024A young Australian senator delivered a Gen Z slang-ridden speech which has been declared brain rot. Brain rot is a slang term used to describe internet content of low quality or value, or the negative effects caused by it. Basically, as we spend excessive amounts of time online, it suggests that this is leading to a deterioration in our cognitive functions and attention span. Brain rot is sometimes used as a joke and sometimes as a jibe, but Gen Zers seems more self aware about the implications…
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Why should Christians care about the Cass Review?
10 April 2024The report concludes that “gender medicine for children and young people is built on shaky foundations” and is “remarkably weak” evidence on medical interventions. Dr Cass found the "toxicity" of the debate around gender meant professionals were "afraid" to openly discuss their views even as the evidence of harm mounted. The Cass Review was commissioned by NHS England in 2020, after a sharp rise in the number of patients referred to the NHS who were questioning their gender. In 2011-12 there…
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JK Rowling: the enigma
5 April 2024The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act came into effect on April Fool’s Day, but it is no joke. It consolidates existing hate crime legislation and creates a new offence of, “stirring up hatred” against those with certain protected characteristics. However, women have not been given protection under the law and many have been critical about the potential impact on free speech. Rowling has promised to stand with any woman calling a man a man, saying she will repeat the words so she will…
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Elon Musk, Mars and AI: I’m intrigued by humanity’s search for a future framework
8 March 2024The future of connection Musk has helped launch a range of significant businesses, each of which really has changed the world. Twitter, now X, is a more recent acquisition by Musk which has brought him into the media spotlight. He launched a successful take over in 2022 – via a tweet of course. I appreciate Musk’s commitment to free speech, but in my own experience Twitter has become a more toxic space since he took over. The contested and chaotic nature of public debate is a real issue that…
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Welcome to the chaos of 2024!
10 January 2024Elections: dividing lines over identity politics and wars Elections here and in the US will cast their shadow over the year. In America, a number of states have already attempted to ban Donald Trump from the ballot paper making a Supreme Court hearing highly likely. While the former president seems to thrive on court cases and the ensuing free publicity, the Democrats must decide if they can or want to run an alternative to the ageing sitting president. No matter what we might wish, American…
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Synod and same-sex blessings
23 November 2023Peter: John, thank you for joining us. Can you help us understand what happened at the most recent Church of England synod in November? John: There was a nine-hour debate, a lot of amendments, but at the end of the day a tiny majority voted in a way that will be taken by the bishops as a green light to continue with the next step of the Living in Love and Faith project. Peter: So, to clarify, the bishops have been heading in the direction of trying to bless same-sex relationships for some time,…
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What does it mean to be human? The question of our time
29 August 2023Whether on issues of gender identity or AI, climate change or racial injustice, our cultural conversations keep coming back to the question – what does it mean to be human? At the same time, our culture is in a continual state of crisis and chaos and is struggling to provide coherent answers. The Being Human project is an initiative of the Evangelical Alliance helping everyday Christians live out and share the biblical vision of what it means to be human. The project engages with the…
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What is it to be brave in God’s eyes?
11 April 2022Instead, I want to start with one of my personal heroes – Daniel. Daniel was a young man plucked from his home and carried off to a foreign country. There he was subjected to some pretty serious cultural indoctrination to make him walk, talk and think like a Babylonian. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself. A long walk in the same direction Now, I haven’t been carried off to a foreign land, but the world around us is changing rapidly and so it can feel like we are in exile. Theologian…
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The not-so-gay cake
11 January 2022The case dates back to 2014 when Mr Lee, a gay rights activist, asked Ashers bakery to make a cake with the slogan ‘Support Gay Marriage’ on it. The McArthur family, who own Ashers bakery, run a successful Christian family business. The name was derived from Genesis 49:20: “Bread from Asher shall be rich and he shall yield royal dainties”. The McArthurs were happy to sell Mr Lee a cake, but not to promote a view contrary to their firmly held religious beliefs. When they ultimately declined his…
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