The recent shootings in Arizona, with six dead and 13 wounded, have been blamed on extremist political rhetoric designed to heighten tensions between different social and cultural groups, and to deepen a sense of fear and mistrust between people. Some of this, both here and in the U.S., is generated by politicians and media shock …
Age and emotional intelligence
I was fascinated to read in The Sydney Morning Herald the other day that psychologists at the University of California at Berkeley have published the results of two surveys indicating that people in their 60s have a higher level of emotional intelligence than younger people. One study found that older people were better able to …
Monarchy or republic?
With a royal wedding scheduled for April 29, all eyes are on Kate Middleton and Prince William – unless, of course, you’re one of those Australians who’d prefer to see this country become a republic. We have seen passionate debate between monarchists and republicans, with good arguments presented by both sides, and Australia won’t become …
Tony Abbott’s moral compass
As 2011 gets off to a good start, things are predictably quiet on the political front, so let me ask you: What do we know about federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s moral compass? We know a fair bit – perhaps too much – about Kevin Rudd’s religious perspective, and we know where Julia Gillard stands, …
The King James Bible turns 400
Well, here we are in 2011, and one of the most significant anniversaries this year is the 400th anniversary not of the works of William Shakespeare but of the first edition of the Authorised King James Version of the Bible. Deriving its name from the English monarch who authorised its translation, the King James Bible …
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