Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

Born again Christians becoming complacent

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Complacency has hit America’s born again Christians; a study by the Barna Group warns about a lack of faith commitment. The study examined faith behaviour of born again Christians over a ten year period and identified a drop in church attendance, decline in reading the  Bible, lack of faith priority in things such as volunteering The study also found Read more

Fragments of belief

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Robert Consedine asks himself why he is still a catholic when many of his Catholic contemporaries have left the church. “Because,” he says, “this precious gift called faith has to be constantly nurtured, maintained, developed and connected to the life of Jesus!” Robert’s piece appeared in Tui Motu. It is not available online:  Read below Read more

Keeping the Faith – Was it ever lost?

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Church reform will not bring back those who left the Catholic Church, says Bob Stewart. He believes so-called “lapsed” Catholics, “continue to be people of faith and have never abandoned their faith; they are simply no longer practicing Catholics.” “As for bringing these folks back to the Catholic Church, I believe what is required is much more Read more

Religiously illiterate people cannot lead in the 21st century

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

According to the Blair Faith Foundation, “though many Enlightenment thinkers assumed that religion and faith were on the wane, to be inevitably replaced by rational, scientific insight, this theory looks increasingly implausible today. Rather than Europe leading the way, it is now clearly the exception to the rule. The world is becoming more religious.” How do Read more

Belief, doubt, hypocracy

Friday, May 27th, 2011

Christopher Lane considers the case of a man who has lost his faith, but continues to practice his religion. ‘I continue to believe that religion brings the potential for a great many good things” says the man.   “I could probably continue going through the motions, except that I believe in morality and honesty, and I Read more

Russia converted: Childhood prayers answered

Friday, May 13th, 2011

A recent poll shows 82 percent of Russians classify themselves as religious believers. This figure is greater than any other European country. Fewer, however, subscribe to organised religion. The survey carried out in April shows just 50 percent of Russians say they are Orthodox, while 27 percent didn’t associate themselves with any particular organised faith. Among Read more

Vatican Report Shines Light on Climate Change Divisions Within the U.S. Faith Community

Friday, May 13th, 2011

When the Vatican released a report last week calling man-made climate change “serious and potentially irreversible” and advocating aggressive action to curb emissions, it stirred up old divisions within the U.S. faith community over whether human activity can affect creation and what should be done about it. It is a question that divides people of Read more

Kate chooses confirmation

Friday, April 15th, 2011

Kate Middleton has been confirmed as a member of the Church of England. Clarence House announced that Miss Middleton was confirmed on March 10 in a private ceremony. The sacrament of confirmation was celebrated by the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres in a private ceremony. Bishop Chartres will give the address at the April 29 Read more

Special church services for Pike River miners

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Special church services have been held in the town of 13,000 people, where coal is a mainstay of the local economy. School children have also put small yellow ribbons on lamp posts, and some of the shops have large messages of support in their windows. Frustrations are running high as those trying to rescue the Read more