Rainbows are a universal sign of hope, although they only exist in the eyes of the people who see them and sometimes in their photographs. How intriguing then that biblical storytellers saw this trick of light as the sign of God’s promise. Talking about the God that was nowhere to be seen before science discovered the unsettling Read more
Embarrassed by the Republicans, the US Democrats have amended their convention platform to add back mention of God and declare that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. The move was made to try and defuse Republican attacks but may have backfired as it infuriated many delegates. The motion only passed after a third attempt. “In Read more
Know your enemy, ran the headline in a recent editorial of New Scientist: “To rule out God, first get to know him.” God, New Scientist seems surprised to find, is still everywhere. Try as we might to reduce the Almighty to the small “god” promoted by secularists, we can’t seem to rid ourselves of Him. Read more
Thomas Aquinas would have agreed with a comment on this website that he was as vulnerable to error as anyone else and should never be taken as “the truth”. He has read widely and deeply: Aristotle’s influence is evident throughout the Summa Theologica, as is that of St Augustine. Other philosophical influences include the pagan (Plato and Read more
The Guide Association will consider dropping the religious element of the ‘Promise’ made by its 600,000 members, following criticism from a small number of parents.
Since the Guides were launched more than 100 years ago by Robert Baden-Powell, recruits have made a pledge to God.
The current wording states: “I promise that I will do my best, to love my God, to serve the Queen and my country, to help other people and to keep the Guide Law.”
Whilst the Promise is optional, only girls who have taken it can be awarded the movement’s highest badges.
The review will consider whether to remove the reference to God, or to introduce separate religious and non-religious versions.
The move emerged after two families objected to the current wording. Caroline Mason said her daughter had felt unable to take part in her Brownies enrolment in north Somerset due to the religious content of the Promise.
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As the lead guitarist of the world’s biggest rock band and a prolific song writer, the Beatles’ George Harrison has secured his place in pop culture history. But his greatest legacy may be the way his decades-long spiritual quest shaped the ways the West looks at God, gurus and life. Read Steve Rabey’s column in Read more
Justin Bieber may have girls in a wailing frenzy, but his first love is God and his family, and according to MTV UK, Pattie Mallette, his mother, claims her son will ‘stay pure’ until he meets the right girl. “He’s expressed his desire to stay pure, and honour women, and treat women with respect. So Read more
He still believes in God, but Fr Peter Kennedy does not believe in Jesus, rather considering him to be a fable. Kennedy, dismissed from his Queensland parish for unorthodoxy such as allowing women to preach and blessing same-sex marriages, hasn’t entirely given up on God, although he does not believe He intervenes in the lives Read more
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
Is the use of the word the phrase, “I am spiritual but not religious” an attempt to get “the warm cozy feeling” of religious life without making the intellectual commitment to what is the central question: Does God exist?” Adam Frank suggests the those who struggle to integrate their science with their theology reformulate the question. Not Read more