Paige Patterson is president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Fort Worth school whose website says it is one of the largest seminaries in the world. About 15 million people are part of Southern Baptist churches, the largest Protestant group in the United States. Patterson is slated to deliver the primary sermon — a …
Continue reading ‘American evangelicals: why are there so many of them?’ »
The secularist drive to rid France of any hint of its Christian past is becoming “insane”, says Gilles-William Goldnadel. A court has just ruled that a cross atop a statue of Pope John Paul II in the town of Ploërmel in Brittany – sculpted by Russian artist Zurab Tsereteli – must be removed. Apparently it …
The Guardian of March 30, 2018 carried an article by Peter Ormerod that suggested that “In the light of widespread rejection among Europe’s young people“, Christianity as a default, as a norm, is gone, and is probably gone for good.” He suggested that this might, long term, actually be good news for Christianity, which started …
Continue reading ‘Will Christianity decline but be re- born?’ »
Stephen Hawking, who has unfortunately just died, famously declared that there was no need for a creator. He was an atheist who stated that science offered a more convincing explanation of life and the universe than god or gods. He believed that the universe is governed by the laws of science. In his 2010 book, …
The number of confirmed exoplanets stands at 3,500, of which, scientists believe, at least some are potential Earths, with very similar characteristics. This poses a theological and philosophical conundrum for many religions, especially Christianity, which focuses on mankind and teaches that God created man in his own image, exclusively on our one small planet. So …
Continue reading ‘Religion and the possible discovery of people on other planets’ »
I am British. Some while ago I visited the American South Western states, including Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona, and was amazed at the lack of general knowledge among the people we met and with whom we had lovely conversations . May I suggest that the basic reason for the USA evangelicals’ take on life is …
It once had a claim to be the fastest-growing religious sect in American history, but the prospects don’t look so rosy for the Mormon Church these days. The sense of confidence and momentum is absent in the current Church, which is registering only 1.59% annual growth – its “slowest pace since 1937”. That’s still a …
(This message was sent to my sister in England. She and her family met the writer during a visit to Israel) “Christians in the middle east are both worried and upset by the American declaration that Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel. They are particularly concerned about the uncritical support given by American Evangelical …
Continue reading ‘A message from Rev. Dr. Jack Sara, Palestinian pastor and evangelical Christian’ »
Posted by rhanrott on 10 January 2018, The following is an email sent me years ago from Australia when this blog was first launched. It is very touching: From. joan.garvan@anu.edu.au I am writing today because I was an unwanted child. I am now 55 years old and my mum just passed away a week or …
The so-called prosperity gospel is a set of beliefs that says that God will reward faith , and very generous giving, with financial blessings. Although proponents call themselves christian, there is nothing christian about this idea. The most prominent American prosperity gospeller is currently Paula White, white, married three times and accused of taking advantage …
No one knows whether the Romans really believed in their gods. I doubt they believed that their Emperors were really transformed into gods on death. In a book by Daniel J. Gargola called “The shape of the Roman order: the Republic and its spaces”, the author points out that they believed deeply in the rites …
Hypocrisy is alive and well in the American evangelical community. It was collectively adamant that President Clinton should be punished for the Monica Lewinski affair, but now, faced with accusations of pedophilia against Senate candidate Roy Moore, the latter is an “upright man” who should be forgiven for his sins. Moore’s election win would apparently …
Historically, American evangelicals were poor and on the margins of society. Evangelicalism in the 19th Century stood for public education, prison reform and the abolition of slavery. They advocated equal rights, including voting rights, for women, and the right of workers to join a union. They also fiercely defended the separation of church and state. …
The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland are the three European countries that permit assisted suicide for non-terminal illnesses that cause unbearable suffering, taken to include mental suffering. A 2007 independent survey found that 80 per cent of people supported assisted dying for the terminally ill, but only 43 per cent did for those who are not …
Here are some thoughts, called “The Decent Life” from the philosopher Emperor. Honour and revere the gods*, treat human beings as they deserve, be tolerant with others and strict with yourself. Remember, nothing belongs to you but your flesh and blood – nothing else is under your control. 5.33 Make sure you remain straightforward, upright, …
