St Mary’s shines brightly for Christmas

The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney is set to transform the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt into the spectacular centre of Christmas celebrations in Sydney.

The uses and abuses of religion

Although the basic premise of religions is the same, throughout history politicians and military leaders have blatantly used it to gain control.

The culture war inside Australia’s biggest churches

The Federal Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill plays word games to address hurt feelings rather than providing sensible protections against religious discrimination.

The religious discrimination debate

Whatever the results of current legislative efforts to reduce religious discrimination, history suggests that competing religious groups tend to cause strife in any nation.

Freedom to discriminate?

Plans by the Federal government protect people against discrimination based on their religious belief may do more harm than good.

The devil is in the details

The Devil personifies the “evil” within all of us, and so always has new domains, new territories, and new borders in which he “walks about, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.

The opiate of the people

For better or worse, religion remains a pervasive influence on human society around the world, but a strict separation between religion and politics is in the best interest of believers and non-believers alike.

Plagues, pandemics, and religious ramifications

Religions are usually slow to adapt to new forms of technology or thinking but the coronavirus emergency is challenging the way Australians practice the religious observances which offer solace in times of distress and grief.

Gods, microbes and men

Iran’s disastrous initial response to the coronavirus outbreak could lead to thousands more deaths, and highlights the problems caused when religion has undue influence over politics.

How old ideas about tolerance can help us live more peacefully today

In the wake of the tragic attack in Christchurch, and the wider rise of anti-liberal forces, the answers to today’s urgent questions around tolerance may be found in the past.

Neighbourhood Church signs are getting political

Originally designed to display service times or bible quotations, church signs are becoming a site of political commentary, tackling everything from pill testing to refugee rights.

“Alle Shalle Be Wele”

Julian of Norwich was born in the 14th century, into a world ravaged by pestilence, poverty and war, but the lessons taught by the life and works of this medieval English recluse may still have some meaning for people today.