As Pope Francis concludes his 12-day tour of Southeast Asia, theologian and anthropologist Michel Chambon, based in Singapore, analysed the significance of this trip for the future of Sino-Vatican relations. How has China followed Pope Francis’ Asian tour, and what interests has it seen in it? Michel Chambon: Beijing has closely observed the entirety of Read more
An alluring young woman sporting a 1950s-style polka-dot halter dress leans toward the camera across the kitchen counter, the epitome of retro chic. In a soothing, gentle voice, she informs us that a relative is in town and has been craving bubble gum. Rather than doing what nine out of 10 people would do, which Read more
Savaged by fighting, atrocities, and famine, Sudan is descending into chaos, exacerbated by foreign interference, despite the Geneva negotiations. The deadlock has pushed Sudan into being a “forgotten” conflict. Sudan’s reality If this were a film, its script would be criticised for overusing every dramatic device. Looting, rape, executions, and bombings. The horrors of a Read more
Catholic Herald interviews John Cleese: How does it feel to give an interview to a Catholic publication? John Cleese (pictured): “The question slightly amuses me, but I see why I’m being asked that. “I do have a very mixed view of the Catholic Church, because I think what happens to most religions is that after Read more
Imagine a world where AI is omnipresent. It occupies your home, your car, your workplace, your pocket. Even your mind. Every aspect of your daily routine is seamlessly integrated with this sophisticated technology. It anticipates your needs, completes your thoughts, deciphers your emotions, plays your favorite songs, drafts your emails and even suggests your next Read more
Announcing the results of a new Global Flourishing Study, a consortium of scholars and pollsters led by Gallup said that they found links between religiosity and people’s satisfaction with their lives. Religious influences The study, a joint project of Harvard and Baylor universities, Gallup and the Center for Open Science, aims to uncover what influences Read more
When Josh Coates and Stephen Cranney wanted to learn more about members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), they had to strategise about the best ways to reach them. More and more people aren’t answering surveys, either by phone or online. Reaching a small minority population like Read more
I recently mentioned the shrinking number of believers in Australia and discussed the increased diversity in the remaining faith pool. I received a surprisingly large number of requests to dive deeper into the topic of religion, to discuss the societal role of religion in more detail. As your humble demographic servant, I couldn’t possibly turn Read more
Climate change is not a crisis, according to many US religious groups and individuals. A new Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey found beliefs on climate change severity haven’t changed much among religious groups over the past decade. The June 2023 “One Home One Future” survey is the latest multifaith effort aiming to engage congregations Read more
Last month, a group of University of Auckland researchers released a report on social cohesion in Aotearoa New Zealand. A media release accompanying the report stated that social cohesion is under threat in this country. “[The] challenge of social cohesion is becoming increasingly critical, and more research and policy development is needed to help sustain Read more