Symon Hill is a bisexual,[1] left-wing, Christian activist and writer. He has worked as campaigns manager at the Peace Pledge Union since 2016.[2] He also teaches history for the Workers' Educational Association.[3] His most recent book is "The Upside-down Bible: What Jesus really said about money, sex and violence", published in 2015.[4]

Biography

He was one of a group of Christian pacifists, supported by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who were arrested at the DSEI arms fair in London in 2013.[5]

He was one of the organisers of the Christian "Ring of Prayer" at the eviction of Occupy London Stock Exchange in 2012.[6]

He was associate director of the left-wing Christian think tank Ekklesia until 2013[7] and continues as an Ekklesia associate.

In the summer of 2011, Hill went on a pilgrimage of repentance for homophobia, walking from Birmingham to London, attracting widespread media attention.[8][9] Hill read theology at Westminster College, Oxford.

Hill was formerly media spokesperson for the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). He represented CAAT in the media when they took the British Government to court in 2007–08 over the cancellation of a Serious Fraud Office investigation into BAE Systems arms deals with Saudi Arabia.[10] As a result, comedian Mark Thomas nominated him as a Hero of 2007 in The Independent on Sunday[11]

Hill writes mainly on the issues of disarmament, public activism, sexuality, and the role of religion in society. His comment pieces have appeared in newspapers as diverse as the Sunday Herald, the Morning Star and the Daily Mail. He contributes regularly to Guardian Comment is Free,[12] The Friend and Movement.

In addition to "The Upside-Down Bible", he has written two other books. The No-Nonsense Guide to Religion[13] was published by New Internationalist magazine in March 2010 as part of its No-Nonsense Guides series.[14] A book on on-line activism called Digital Revolutions: Activism in the age of the internet[15] published by New Internationalist in April 2013.

Hill garnered media attention when, in the wake of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, he was arrested in Oxford for making anti-monarchist remarks.

References

  1. ^ McManus, John (16 June 2011). "Bisexual Christian embarks on homophobic 'hurt' journey". BBC News. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  2. ^ "NEWS". archive.ppu.org.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Symon Hill | WEA Reading". weareadingadulteducation.org.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  4. ^ Todd, Darton, Longman &. "The Upside-down Bible". dltbooks.com. Retrieved 15 October 2018.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Campaigners join Rowan Williams in supporting Christian anti-arms protestors on trial – Press Releases – Media – Campaign Against Arms Trade". Campaign Against Arms Trade. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  6. ^ "'Ring of prayer' to fight St Paul's eviction". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Staff | Ekklesia". Ekklesia. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Repenting of homophobia". Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  9. ^ "My journey from homophobe to equality activist: This month I am walking 160 miles to repent for my former homophobia and to encourage the church to support equality" by Symon Hill; The Guardian, 27 June 2011
  10. ^ "BAE defeated in court by CAAT". Campaign Against Arms Trade. 26 February 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  11. ^ "Heroes of 2007: Our panel pick their inspirational people of the year". Independent on Sunday. London. 30 December 2007. Archived from the original on 22 April 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Symon Hill". The Guardian. London. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  13. ^ Hill, Symon (2010). The no-nonsense guide to religion. Oxford: New Internationalist. ISBN 978-1-906523-29-9.
  14. ^ "Religion -- New Internationalist". New Internationalist. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  15. ^ "Digital Revolutions Activism in the Internet Age". New Internationalist. Retrieved 31 January 2015.

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