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Keywords: Churches

  • INTERNATIONAL

    Friendship in freefall: Unpacking a crisis of civic disconnection

    • David Halliday
    • 13 December 2024

    In 2024, a fifth of Americans reported having no close friends, and the number is growing, especially among those without college degrees. So what are the societal structures behind this crisis in loneliness, and how we can rebuild meaningful connections?

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    Evangelicals, exiles, and other tall tales

    • Ken Haley
    • 12 December 2024

      Lech Blaine’s Australian Gospel is a quintessentially Australian tale of faith, family, and identity. Blaine explores the fractures of belief and belonging in an effervescent and vivid work of creative nonfiction. But where does the ‘non-’ stop and the ‘fiction’ begin?

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    Russell Brand: Messiah or very naughty boy?

    • Cherie Gilmour
    • 06 December 2024

    Russell Brand's conversion to Christianity has sparked fascination and skepticism. Dismissing his newfound faith as a cynical PR move, critics cite his controversial past. Yet, his public embrace of grace and redemption speaks to a restless spiritual hunger. Is this a genuine transformation or another reinvention of Brand’s ever-shifting persona?

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  • RELIGION

    All religion is local

    • John Warhurst
    • 03 December 2024
    2 Comments

    The Synod of Bishops may mark a turning point for the Catholic Church, but the real work now begins — locally. From diocesan councils to parish communities, the challenge lies in translating synodality into action. In Australia, divergent episcopal views and a patchy history of reform raise critical questions about the Church’s future.

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  • RELIGION

    Why don't we hear about violence against Christians?

    • Michael McVeigh
    • 18 November 2024
    7 Comments

    Religious persecution often fades from public view unless it fits a political agenda. Yet Christians worldwide continue to face existential threats, from systemic repression in China to deadly violence in Nigeria. It’s worth reflecting on the cost of indifference and what it means to advocate for justice beyond our culture wars.

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  • RELIGION

    Pope Francis' challenge to become a synodal Church

    • Bruce Duncan
    • 14 November 2024
    14 Comments

    The Synod is possibly the most important event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council. And despite its focus on internal Church reform and participation, can it effectively address broader social and moral issues in the world while still promoting a more inclusive and accountable Church?

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Sweet dreams and haunted histories

    • Danielle Terceiro
    • 30 October 2024
    6 Comments

    As Halloween starts to become a staple in Australian neighbourhoods, for most people its ghosts mean little more than costumes and candy. But from haunted churches to eerie local legends, Halloween says something about us and the way we carry snatches of unresolved history.

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  • RELIGION

    Our man in Rome

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 14 October 2024
    25 Comments

    The recent appointment of Mikola Bychok as Cardinal caught many Australians off guard. Few are familiar with the Ukrainian Catholic Bishop from Melbourne, and his elevation challenges conventional notions of national identity, prompting reflection on who we consider 'one of us' and highlighting the Ukrainian community in Australia.

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  • RELIGION

    I am pilgrim

    • Ann Rennie
    • 13 September 2024
    2 Comments

    People visit graves and castles, libraries and mansions, battlefields and places of historical significance to feel a little of the lives of others, to pay homage, to make that human connection. We make secular pilgrimages to places that we have dreamt about or read in books or seen on screen. Wherever we go, these are ultimately visits to places within.  

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  • RELIGION

    When the Pope drops by

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 28 August 2024
    5 Comments

    As Pope Francis embarks on a demanding tour, skipping Australia to visit smaller marginalised Catholic communities in Indonesia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, he is demonstrating the priority of the Church in reaching out to those on the margins.   

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  • ARTS AND CULTURE

    Disney's lost kingdom

    • Cherie Gilmour
    • 16 August 2024

    The Lion King roared onto screens 30 years ago, capturing hearts unlike any Disney film since. But as the entertainment giant stumbles, it's worth considering the enduring magic of Simba's story and why modern Disney has struggled to recapture that spark. 

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  • RELIGION

    Women deacons: Is it time?

    • Elizabeth Young
    • 15 August 2024
    12 Comments

      Copious research has demonstrated the historical existence of women deacons, including St Phoebe, the only person in scripture with the descriptor Deacon. So how far off is Australia from ordaining women deacons? 

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