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The most basic law of the universe is that of change. Even though we all entered the lecture hall only a short time ago, none of us are exactly the [...]

QUOTE: 'Modernism may be seen as an attempt to reconstruct the world in the absence of God.' --Appleyard, Bryan SUBJECT: Modern and [...]

God has made a comeback in big science. 'We shall know the mind of God,' wrote Stephen Hawking in 'A Brief History of Time,' when we arrive at the theory […]

Recent developments seem to be pushing the battle between science and religion, which has been fought for generations, to a climax. Anti-religious campaigners claim that science offers all the answers, so religion is therefore unnecessary. However, there are still strong pockets of religious belief, especially in the US. Christianity has formed a firm basis for society in the UK and other countries for over 1,000 years, and will not simply evaporate under pressure from recent scientific developments.

It has now become common in the UK for there to be extensive media coverage of the distress felt by people in very harrowing situations. Most recently, Kevin Loughlin and Lynette Thornton appeared on television to tell of their feelings about the drowning of their two young children. The people involved often have a genuine wish to ensure that others do not have to go through the same ordeal, and may feel that revealing their emotions will prevent further intrusion by the media. However, in-depth media coverage has now simply become expected, with mass audiences sharing private grief.

It is widely acknowledged that the traditionally rigid class structure of British society brought many disadvantages. However, class divisions still exist, as people still automatically think in terms of class distinctions, even though they criticise them. Even in modern society, class is still a matter of destiny, rather than circumstance. Social mobility does not eliminate the class system, and class can never really be overcome.

There has been a very strong increase over recent years in the number of cases of Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD), a condition which was unknown until the second half of the 20th century. People with this condition seem to be split into two or more different personalities, and each personality may not be aware of what the others are doing. The condition has been widely associated with child abuse, and this has led to an explosion in cases where 'buried' memories of abuse are recovered.

Douglas Hurd, who is soon to retire as foreign secretary and will step down as an MP at the next general election, is one of the last of the old-style politicians. He admits that he finds the atmosphere of the House of Commons less attractive than he used to, and sees himself as old-fashioned. He still believes that an MP should really be an amateur, rather than a hard-hitting party professional.

Public art has become a severe embarrassment in the UK, with much of it being distasteful and unattractive. It has no coherent audience, and lacks a commmunicable language. It becomes merely self-examination, and this is not the right basis for public art. Those who commission pieces of public art always seem to place a literal interpretation on it, failing to realise that public art has to be symbolic.

Views on children within modern society seem to be becoming increasingly extreme. On the one hand, people naturally demand very tough punishment of child abusers, while on the other hand, politicians cannot afford not to emphasise the central position of children in society. Politicians use apparent care for children to gain votes, but have no practical policies on areas which are most importance to children, such as education. Child abuse has almost certainly not got worse over recent generations, but has now become an issue which attracts morbid public interest.

Hollywood film-makers have tended over recent decades to portray aliens as unusual but ultimately forces of good. This is not the case with 'Independence Day,' which shows aliens as evil beings who must be eliminated. This perhaps reflects a growing longing in modern society for a common enemy. It is clear that evil will never be totally eliminated, but uniting against it brings some positive results for society.

The majority of people in the UK want ownership of handguns to be made illegal, yet the six Conservative members of the 11-man Home Affairs Select Committe have voted against a ban. It could be that the Conservatives are hoping that the people will forget and that there will be no need for legislation, are taking notice of the police suggestion that a ban is not practical, and that they do not want to upset those who shoot as a pastime.

Soap operas now dominate television programme schedules in the UK, with broadcasters competing fiercely to boost audience levels. There is particular concern at ITV, where ratings have fallen and the more commercial approach of the BBC is having a negative impact. Soap operas can certainly make effective television, but there is a trend at present for them to have increasingly extreme story lines, which could in fact deter viewers.

The current strong interest in the fortunes of the England football team has served to revive national sentiment in England in a way which has not been seen for many years. It is possible that this may mark the beginning of a permanent trend, with English people rebelling against the strong nationalist sentiment which has always existing in Scotland, Ireland and Wales and deciding that it is now time to stand up for England. The Euro 96 football championship has certainly prompted a rejection of meaningless globalism, reminding people of the positive aspects of being English.

Much modern art is extremely difficult to attribute to a particular artist, as it is deliberately impersonal, often using industrial techniques and materials. This means that reliable documentation of paintings is vital, as it gives them the authenticity which purchasers seek. The urge for authenticity is also related to the desire to give a painting value. For many people, a painting becomes totally valueless if it is found to not be by a particular artist.

It has now become very common for characters in television programmes to swear, with broadcaster believing that this is justified because it reflects the language used by ordinary people. To a certain extent, swearing can be therapeutic, allowing people express very deep feelings. However, swearing is still extremely offensive to some people, and care should therefore be taken with the context in which swearing takes place in television programmes. Furthermore, excessive swearing also debases the impact of swear words, reducing them to no more than everyday language.

A number of possible ways of improving the currently poor standard of football in the UK have been put forward, including uniting the teams of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales to form a single national team. The main obstacle to improved footballing performance seems to be the lack of commitment of the players themselves. They seem to have a detached attitude, and do not play to the best of their ability throughout an entire match. This seems to be the result of the sense of irony which is spreading throughout sport as a whole in the UK.

Advances in medical technology mean that many condition which are regarded as an abnormality, such as deafness, can now be cured. However, there is a danger that this can be taken to extremes. Already, prenatal screening allows many conditions to be detected before birth, and it is possible that eventually very few children will be born with a hereditary handicap. Striving to eliminate abnormalities in this way seems to devalue people who are handicapped, and almost seems to indicate that they should not be alive at all.

The opening of the inquiry into the Dunblane massacre has served to revive debate about the ownership of guns in the UK. At present, relatively few people own guns, and there is no legal right to bear arms. However, more criminals are gaining access to guns, and there are signs that a gun culture similar to that of the US may eventually emerge. It is now time to change attitudes to guns, ensuring that they are no longer seen as fascinating, powerful or desirable objects.

The recent controversy over plans by Russia to expel British diplomats for spying has reminded the general public that spying, which has come to be associated closely with the Cold War era, still takes place. It is now undertaken against a background of unspecific industrial and economic threats, rather than against the clear enemy of totalitarian regimes. There is no obvious target, but it seems to be generally accepted that it is still advisable to be aware of what is going on.

Young people who have come from a modest, Labour-supporting background and have later made money of their own have traditionally voted for the Conservative party, which they have regarded as offering the best prospects for further improvement of their situation. However, the Labour party believes that it is now attracting people of this kind. If this is the case, it represents a success for the party's attempts to promote itself as non-socialist and enterprise-friendly.

The strongly conservative tone taken by the Daily Mail seems strangely out of touch with modern society in the UK. However, the newspaper, which is currently celebrating its centenary, remains in a strong position and is confident about its future. It maintains strong links with its readers, assuming shared concerns with them, and manages to hold this stance despite the fact that society is becoming more diverse. It is very strictly edited, and its staff strive constantly to stick to the objectively right way of working.

A group named Porn Free Newsagents and Convenience Stores is putting pressure on WH Smith to put an end to its practice of automatically supply pornographic magazines to independent newsagents. The company has already responded by improving its system for allowing retailers to choose not to receive some titles. However, the campaigning group wants this action to be taken further, and is calling for a ban on the sale of pornographic magazines to people aged under 18 and for all such magazines to be sold in sealed plastic covers.

Many large companies in the UK are now turning to loyalty marketing. By issuing a loyalty card, for example, a supermarket can gain detailed information about what an individual buys, and this allows subsequent promotional work to be very carefully targeted. There will still be a place for traditional advertising, but loyalty marketing will hold the real selling power in the future.

There is a clear educational nihilism in the UK which could have serious social and economic consequences, according to Chris Woodhead, Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools. The present educational system has produced grave social divisions, but parents have hardly protest about this at all. Indeed, it is possible that the lack of action by parents is in itself part of a growing anti-education culture. It now seems that white boys in particular are falling victim to this anti-education culture.

The introduction of the National Lottery has had a dramatic impact on gambling activity in the UK. Until the lottery was introduced, legislation relating to gambling was based on meeting existing demand, rather than on creating any new demand. Now, great efforts are being made to stimulate demand by extensive advertising for the lottery. Some observers point out that the lottery is the most harmless form of gambling, but this is not a valid argument because all gambling, apart from the lottery, is still based on the principle of 'unstimulated demand.'

The number of themed restaurants and theme parks in the UK is expanding rapidly, reflecting the strange British ability to welcome all the negative aspects of the modern world and reject all that is good. Themed restaurants are probably so popular because people feel that the UK has little food culture of its own. A single themed unit is not necessarily a bad thing, but a chain of themed restaurants or leisure attractions can have a negative impact on traditional local culture.

The Russian Communist Party is enjoying growing public support, and its leader, Gennady Zyuganov, now looks set to succeed Boris Yeltsin as president after elections in Jun 1996. The revival of Communism in Russia is causing considerable concern among western observers, even though Zyuganov is trying hard to convey a positive, open image. He emphasises that he is just one candidate among many, and that the Communists can be voted out of power if ordinary people wish. However, many observers feel that he is not to be trusted.

It is widely accepted that it is usually best to protect a child from publicity, as excessive media attention can alter the course of the child's life for ever. However, there have been a number of cases in which one or both parents have disagreed with a court's decision that their child should remain anonymous. The parents have felt that, in their child's particular circumstances, publicity would be beneficial. This has led to a conflict of interests between protecting a child and boosting support for a worthwhile cause, such as medical treatment.

The Prince of Wales was right to comment negatively on the plans of the Millennium Commission. This body is receiving large amounts of money from the National Lottery, and seems to be in danger of misusing it. No steps have been taken to establish visionary schemes, and the emphasis is being placed instead on projects which are of little long-term cultural value, such as theme parks. The Prince of Wales believes that the Millennium Commission should look instead to schemes which encourage spiritual renewal.

The French government believes that forcing radio stations to ensure that 40% of their pop music output is French will play a role in defending French culture and the country's economic viability. This is a difficult position to adopt, given that there is an Anglo-American monopoly on pop music. The Beatles were the first group to give pop music a global dimension, and France will never really be able to fight against this.

The UK's National Lottery is bringing in vast sums of money to be used on large public works. However, this money is not being appropriately managed. Great secrecy surrounds plans for a year-long Millennium Exhibition, for example, with ordinary people having been given no opportunity to express their wishes. It is perhaps time to look at the example of Prince Albert, who was the driving force behind the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park in 1851. He managed this event in such as way that almost 1 million pounds sterling a year still flows from its proceeds.

The recent actions of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have both used the media to put across their own point of view, show that it is no longer possible to argue that constitutional issues have an impact on developments within the royal family. It is clear that precedent and tradition offer no guidelines, and that the key issue now is public support. Without this, the royal family is simply another family facing conflict.

The world is now moving towards a single, information-driven economy, according to highly influential Japanese management consultant Kenichi Ohmae. This abolishes all current borders and most of what is already known. Economic information which comes from a single state source is incorrect, and regions of economic interest will gradually replace nation states.

Edward O. Wilson has become one of the most influential scientists of the late 20th century. He always observes nature directly, rather than in the laboratory, and writes in an intense, poetic style. According to his view of the world, biology must begin with the complete system of plant, animal and environment. This has placed him at the forefront of developments in areas such as biodiversity.

The scandal surrounding Chris Brain, who has recently resigned as a vicar following revelations that his Nine O'Clock Service involved sexual relations with young women, will have a significant impact on the Church of England. It cannot be dismissed as simply another case of a vicar committing sexual sins, as it raises key questions about what the Church of England really believes. Brain was highly respected as a very creative religious force, but this was really only because he prompted many people to join the church at a time when numbers have been falling dramatically. The case reflects the general chaos which is now affecting the non-Catholic Church in the West.

The world is now experiencing multiple ideological confrontations, according to Samuel P. Huntington, director of the John M. Olin Institute for Strategic Studies at the Center for International Affairs, Harvard University. These are based on culture, bringing civilisations rather than different political or economic systems into conflict. He sees civilisation as the new driving force in world affairs, and identifies eight main civilisations.

There have been no extreme reactions to the conviction of Rosemary West on 0 counts of murder. In the case of the murder of Jamie Bulger, for example, there was a lot of talk about a culture in decay, but this has not happened in the West case. This is perhaps because the Wests lived in a ordinary house, led apparently ordinary lives and indulged in sexual practices which are not particularly unusual. By the end of the trial, the proceedings had taken on an atmosphere of being routine and familiar.

Francis Fukuyama has become one of the most influential modern thinkers since the publication of his short essay 'The End of History' in 1989, and his views on world political and economic conditions are widely respected. He revived the Hegelian view that there is a direction to history, and argued that there is a constant move towards greater technological capability. He believes that this has led to capitalism and liberal democracy.

The knowledge of biologists about the vast numbers of species which exist on the Earth is extremely limited. This means that species are probably been destroyed about which nothing has ever been known. Industralisation is severely endangering biodiversity, and this in turn is placing the continued existence of humankind at risk. Some observers now believe that the world is entering another period of mass extinction.

Peter Singer has become one of the most prominent figures in the animal liberation movement. His philosophy is firmly grounded in the global conscience, with his views providing the intellectual basis for the views of ordinary people on issues such as abortion and environmental protection. He criticises the self-centred culture of the 1980s and presents a way of dealing with the large volumes of information which are now being produced by the electronically linked world.

The teen culture portrayed in the American film 'Clueless' is much more upmarket than that shown in the new British soap opera 'Hollyoaks,' but both productions give an interesting insight into latest trends in teen culture. This culture has changed dramatically over recent years, and now seems to have become at peace with itself, rather than constantly rebelling against the adult world. The teenage years have been promoted to the most important phase of a person's life, and the teen world has become disconnected from any other.

The views of Louis Farrakhan, who recently led 400,000 black men in a march in Washington, have close links with those of Francis Fukuyama, who in his new book 'Trust: the Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity' talks about 'social capital.' Both emphasise the importance of social cohesion and express respect for the success of the Korean, the Japanese and the Chinese in the US. Farrakhan blames the problems experienced by black men on genocidal white racism, while Fukuyama points to the deracinating effects of slavery.

Politics can never replace real life, according to political thinker Andrew Sullivan in his new book 'Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality.' This deals with the politics of homosexuality, looking in particular at the way in which the homosexual condition has been politicised. He puts forward some radical views on how people's attitudes towards homosexuality should be changed. He also looks at the possibility of seeing politics as inferior to life.

Italian writer Umberto Eco first came to fame with 'The Name of the Rose,' published in 1980. He has recently published his third novel, 'The Island of the Day Before,' which took six years to write. He still works as Professor of Semiotics at Bologna University, and uses this background to play sophisticated games with the novel form. He has become a Post-Modernist figure, and seems to accept this role willingly.

Extensive media coverage turned the main participants in the trial of O.J. Simpson into familiar household figures. As O.J. Simpson was already a very well known public figure, his trial could really never be anything but a show trial. Those involved were playing to the cameras, and at times seemed to be acting in a film. It is now clear that trials can never be undertaken successfully if they are televised.

It has been traditionally accepted that art and science are two very different cultures. Scientists regard art as too vague, while artists resent scientists for having an impact on the development of the world. According to John Carey, Merton Professor of English at Oxford University, it is now time to amend this view. He believes that well-known modern scientists have created a distinct scientific literary genre which differs considerably from the old literary forms.

Novelist and politician Jeffrey Archer has managed through patronage to reach a position in which he is highly respected by many people. This is a reflection of the poor state of national consciousness in the UK, as in fact he is unworthy of such a position. His novels are badly written and in poor taste, but he has still managed to gain a prominent place in the popular imagination.

Many leading companies deliberately use advertising which borders on the outrageous, creating a sharp contrast with a generally rather dull product. In this way, they attract considerable attention, particularly if the advertising is widely criticised for being immoral. Even negative publicity about advertising seems to work to the company's advantage, fuelling even more public image.

Microsoft has been able to establish a dominant market position with its Windows operating system through extremely aggressive marketing. It is now building on this success with the launch of Windows 95, an upgraded version. However, founder Bill Gates is aware that the company's strength could quite easily evaporate, as it operates in an unpredictable market. If Windows 95 fails, or if a completely new operating system is devised by another company, the Microsoft could be eliminated very quickly.