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Life will be better when…

For several decades, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was banned from libraries because of its candid discussion of boys, bras, puberty, periods, sexual discovery, and sanitary towels.

‘Whoa! I didn’t sign up for a sex ed lesson.’

Don’t worry, I’m not going to give you hush-hush guidance on the birds and the bees.

Believe it or not, I found this film – filled with oh-so-relatable moments from my own teenage years – spoke to my 20-something self. Throughout the story, Margaret and her friends long to transition into adulthood. In a similar way, we convince ourselves life will be better when we reach the next stage – when we get married, secure a promotion, have a baby, or pay off our mortgage.

This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) (Issues and Trends) from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.

Tomorrow, King Charles III will be crowned at Westminster Abbey.

This is an historic moment in the life of the nation and Commonwealth. Charles will be the 40th monarch to be crowned at the Abbey since the Coronation of William the Conqueror, on Christmas Day in 1066.

The Coronation service is explicitly Christian, a powerful reminder of the way in which the Christian story has profoundly shaped our culture. The essential elements date back to the crowning of King Edgar at Bath Abbey in 973, when he became the first King of All England. In that service, as with tomorrow’s, there was a procession, oaths, anointing, and investiture, followed by Communion.

This article is one in a series (Connecting with Culture) from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity.