Posts Tagged ‘history’

Re-writing history by pretending it never happened

Friday, May 20th, 2016

The education system did me proud when I learned New Zealand history – briefly – at primary school. It never bothered again; British history was much more important; but there were always Weet-Bix cards to collect, and they told you all you’d ever need to know about the national story. We learned how lucky Maori Read more

Church likes to pretend it never changes, says historian

Tuesday, June 16th, 2015

The Church likes to pretend that its current state is as it has always been, and it does this by reading history backwards, an historian writes. Practising Catholic and Pulitzer Prize winner Garry Wills argues this in his latest book, titled: “The Future of the Church with Pope Francis”. “Since one begins from a certitude Read more

Radical historian likes Francis’s soft power

Friday, February 27th, 2015

An eminent American historian has written that Pope Francis is making change in the Church by yielding his power. In an interview with Macleans.ca, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills said Francis hasn’t asserted his power and to do so would be a “weakening” thing for him. “Instead, he’s yielding power constantly,” Mr Wills said. “He’s Read more

Te Rongopai 200 Years of the Gospel in New Zealand 1814-2014

Friday, April 4th, 2014

Historian Dr Stuart Lange has produced a five part series documenting the story of the Gospel in New Zealand from Samuel Marsden forwards – its impact, the complications, and the way Christianity has had a significant impact in shaping New Zealand society both then and now. The series can be purchased on the NZ Christian Read more

Where on Earth are you from?

Friday, March 28th, 2014

The first of my ancestors to arrive in New Zealand was Anders Haeckel, a young Finn who sailed to New Zealand with the British Merchant Navy. In 1892, he went gum digging in Northland, then tried his hand at gold mining on the West Coast. He settled in Hokitika, where he married and raised a Read more

A history of religion in 11 objects

Tuesday, March 18th, 2014

Humans are needy. We need things: keepsakes, stuff, tokens, tchotchkes, knickknacks, bits and pieces, junk and treasure. We carry special objects in our pockets and purses, or place them on shelves and desks in our homes and offices. As profane and ordinary as the objects may be, they can also be extraordinary. Some things even become Read more

Dead Sea Scrolls go digital

Friday, February 21st, 2014

The Dead Sea scrolls will now be accessible for public viewing, and you don’t even need to leave your home to see them. Orchestrated under the Israel Antiques Authority (IAA) with support from Google, the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library is a free, online archive comprised of thousands of high resolution fragments. History, now, is Read more