I have previously written about the Catholic Church’s need to be realistic about its property needs — in terms of schools, churches and presbyteries. If a property is no longer needed or the revenue generated from its sale would be a better use of the asset, assuming it’s not going to be disproportionately detrimental to Read more
A Massey University study, Changing Patterns of Auckland Religion, has found that, with the exception of Catholicism, membership of all mainstream Christian denominations has fallen to historic lows. At the same time religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam are growing. Professor Peter Lineham, who led the study, said the survey showed the mainstream Christian churches Read more
An Anglican priest’s support of the Secular Education Network’s campaign to stop the Bible in Schools programme has prompted New Zealand’s two Anglican Archbishops to reaffirm their Church’s support of the Churches Education Commission’s Bible in Schools programme. In an interview on Television One, the Reverend Clay Nelson, an associate priest at St Matthews in the City in Auckland, said Read more
The New Zealand Christian Network says the Wanganui District Council is wrong to overturn an important tradition and stop opening meetings with a Christian prayer. “Some people seem to have a view that prayer and other aspects of religion need to be excluded from councils and other public forums for them to be truly public. Read more
Atheists’ arrogance is their Achilles’ heel, as a cringemaking radio performance has proved. Which of us hasn’t groaned when the Rev Giles Fraser, former canon of St Paul’s, pops up with his Thought for the Day on Radio 4? Dr Fraser is the archetypal 21st-century vicar, as predictably Lefty as he is drearily on-trend. That 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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The European Union (EU) is a secular organisation but the EU founders were Christian Democrats and at its core are values rooted in the very Christian notion of solidarity. Writing in the London Table Stephen Walls says “its members remain 27 independent countries but with a shared belief in peaceful coexistence, democracy, social justice and responsibility to Read more
Australian schools will be able to choose to employ chaplains or secular welfare officers in a programme announced recently by Education Minister Peter Garrett. According to the ABC, the $222 million program has been under fire since being announced in the budget, with the Greens concerned that chaplains had to be attached to religious organisations Read more
In the western experience modernisation and secularism come in a single package. “Real modernity must be democratic, runs the logic; and real democracy must be secular” says Lois Lee. However, outside of Europe, modernity is emerging without secularism. In modernised India for example the organisation of public space and the place of religion in it is quite different. The historian Dipesh Read more
Predicting the demise of religion is hardly a new phenomenon. Nero was the first one to have a go at stamping out Christianity in 64 A.D. He is dead. Christianity is still alive. The predictions often have more to do with the beliefs of those making them than with the facts “It is reported that the study, by academics Read more