1978

Daily writing prompt

Share what you know about the year you were born.

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I was born in 1978. Here are three things I know about this year.

3 Popes

1978 is known as the year of the three popes. Paul VI died in August and the papacy of John Paul I lasted only a month. John Paul II took over in October to become the first Polish pope.

I have a few friends called John Paul, it was a common name for catholic boys in 1978 and maybe 1979. Any John Paul you meet will be be around 46-47 years old.

Liverpool – Back to Back European Cup Winners

Liverpool won the European Cup in 1978, defending the title they had won a year earlier. A goal from Kenny Dalglish was enough to beat Bruges at Wembley.

World Cup 1978

IIn 1978 the football World Cup was held in Argentina. There were some memorable matches, one in particular being Peru v Scotland. Peru won 3-1 with a goal from Cesar Cueto and two from from Teofilo Cubillas. Joe Jordan got a consolation goal for the Scots,

Argentina won the tournament beating Holland 3-1 in the final, but their 6-0 win against Peru was a little suspicious.

So that’s it for 1978.

Jesus of Nazareth

Daily writing prompt

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why?

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One person who 2000 years after his birth, has a profound effect on all our lives is Jesus of Nazareth. He is called Christ but I am not going to use that term as it is a title that means Messiah. I’m not saying that he is or is not the Messiah, rather, I’m avoiding the question.

Most historical scholars (Christian and secular alike) conclude that Jesus was a real historical person from Nazareth in Galilee.

I would like to have his thoughts on how his name has been used throughout the centuries. The Western imperial powers colonised most of the global south with the premise of bringing Christianity to the pagans. Spanish and Portuguese empires justified the conquest of the Americas by claiming to bring “the true faith” and British and French colonizers used “civilizing mission” language — that colonization would “uplift” natives through Christianity and European culture. Christian missions often accompanied colonization, sometimes saving lives and preserving languages, but also destroying indigenous religions and cultures.

In many countries, some christians have aligned themselves to far-right politics. Lack of tolerence of immigrants, the poor and the LGBT community are contrary to the teaching of Jesus as reported in the New Testiment. Some Christians, especially in the United States have rowed in behind a bloodthirsty apartheid regime, the state of Israel, again contrary to what Jesus is said to have believed in the New Testiment.

It would be an interesting conversation about religion, politics, colonialism, and a lot more besides so that is why I would like to meet Jesus of Nazareth.