From time to time, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton invoke their respective Christian faiths as something that animates them and informs their world views. But unlike Republican and Democratic presidential candidates in the recent past, such as Jimmy Carter or George W. Bush, who were comfortable discussing their religious beliefs, the major party nominees in Read more
As a child, Memuna Barnes lived through two civil wars. The first was in her home country of Liberia, the second in Sierra Leone, during which she spent several years being held captive by rebel forces. She came to New Zealand with the dream of one day being reunited with her mother. We had just come Read more
She spent endless days and nights fleeing a warzone as a tiny child, first on foot through the darkness and then by boat after they shut the borders in her native Sierra Leone. But when Yarrie Bangurra saw the camp she was supposed to be staying in, she couldn’t understand what it was her family Read more
When Hillary Clinton takes the stage in Philadelphia this week, she has a unique opportunity to speak to a nation engaged in collective soul-searching. As the Christian right has evidently vacated all pretense of seeking a candidate who embodies Christian values, Clinton can step into the space that they have vacated. She can pledge to Read more
Have young French people reconciled with God? In any event, unlike their elders, they are at least no longer hostile to religion. The portrait of the 18-30 age group that emerges from the exclusive survey on youth and religion carried out by OpinionWay for La Croix reveals a generation that is discernibly more religious than Read more
Addiction, unhealthy relationships and rising levels of sexual abuse in youth is the reality of easy access to pornographic material. Auckland-based clinical psychologist Rebecca Daly-Peoples says the nature of the internet is restricting the opportunities to address the issue within a family context. “It’s completely influencing the entire way they’re seeing sex and intimacy,” she says. “It’s not just Read more
While the official opening of World Youth Day is still days away, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world are already heating up their engines to take part in this huge youth encounter often referred to as the “Catholic Woodstock.” During those seven days, it won’t really matter if they’re left, center or Read more
Within days of arriving on site in the 1st-century Jewish town of Magdala, located on the Sea of Galilee, I perceived its specialness. Last year more than 70,000 people visited the site, 30 per cent of them local Israelis and the remaining 70 per cent international Christian pilgrims. Day after day I watched people leave with smiles and joy-filled hearts. One Read more
Pokémon is a Nintendo franchise that launched in the 1990s. In its virtual world, “trainers” travel the world to catch varied monsters called Pokémon — rats, dragons, swordlike creatures, and more — and use these critters to fight each other. The trainer’s goal is to “catch ’em all,” and become a Pokémon master by defeating other trainers. What Read more
The six wealthiest countries in the world, which between them account for almost 60% of the global economy, host less than 9% of the world’s refugees, while poorer countries shoulder most of the burden, Oxfam has said. According to a report released by the charity on Monday, the US, China, Japan, Germany, France and the Read more