In the aftermath of the shocking Hamas attacks on Israelis, Rvd Dr Ian Stackhouse emphasizes the setback to the peace process and the absence of a viable peace initiative. He advocates for the church's role in challenging Christian Zionism theologically, denouncing extremism, and promoting forgiveness and reconciliation at local levels. The article highlights grassroots efforts for peace, such as Musalaha, and stresses the potential impact of sincere and continuous prayer in the midst of the conflict.
This article explores the delicate balance between freedom of speech and its limitations, emphasizing the critical role it plays in maintaining a free society. It addresses recent cases where speech rights collided with societal norms, raising questions about the evolving attitudes towards free expression. The author discusses the threat to free speech from those advocating for justice and explores the influence of both governmental and corporate control on speech. The article also touches on demographic changes and the challenges posed by religious speech, urging a nuanced approach to protect individual liberties while avoiding harm or intimidation.
The world faces a population crisis, but it's not the overpopulation feared for decades. Instead, many countries are experiencing a dangerous demographic decline, with birth rates plummeting below replacement levels. This aging population has profound economic and social implications, including strained resources, public debt, and increased loneliness. Conservative and progressive approaches to boost birth rates have had limited success, as cultural factors also play a significant role. Cultivating pro-family cultures and supportive communities may hold the key to reversing this decline, as seen in Israel's success. It's a challenge that requires a bottom-up approach and a shift in cultural values.
The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's lacklustre 2024 Budget highlighted the drought of ideas from the UK's political class, hemmed in by high debt and stagnant growth. This blog outlines a radical relational alternative that promotes marriage, wealth dispersal, and poverty alleviation. Proposals include incentivising marriage and elderly care within the family, spreading legacies, and curbing debt reliance.
Recent archaeological and natural discoveries often align with biblical teachings. Lately, medical research highlights health benefits of Christian practices like kindness and generosity, improving mood, reducing pain, and enhancing immunity. Over 23 years, generous individuals exhibited longer life expectancy. This complements Jesus' teaching, affirming that giving brings blessings, even in physical health.
In a recent Cambridge Paper, Paul Mills delves into the transformative landscape of monetary affairs marked by the resurgence of inflation and rapid interest rate hikes in 2022. As traditional banks faced historic failures, digital payment systems evolved, prompting a global push for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). The paper explores these shifts, emphasizing the need for Christians to engage in the debate, drawing on biblical wisdom to navigate the future of money, privacy, and state influence. The author critiques the inflationary nature of the current debt-based bank-money system and advocates for alternatives like non-inflationary cryptocurrencies or commodity-backed stablecoins, aligning with biblical principles of decentralization.
Our vision is to teach Christians the Relational worldview based on its biblical foundations, and its implications for private and public life, so that Christians can more effectively bring about transformation of their societies and demonstrate both the credibility and the heart of the gospel.