Francis Hoyland, The Life of Christ 71: Christ foretells the destruction of the Temple The case for ecumenical collaboration and engagement By Rod Benson Public theology has a future wherever Christians take responsibility for the public consequences of their faith. Its task is to bring theological convictions into critical conversation with the institutions, practices and …
Christian faith and the common good
Algernon Talmage RA, "The Founding of Australia. By Capt. Arthur Phillip R.N. Sydney Cove, Jan. 26th 1788," State Library, New South Wales. By Rod Benson If “Judeo-Christian values” inadequately describes a single religious tradition, it is more problematic as a definition of Australian national identity. Australia has unquestionably been shaped by Christianity, which carries an …
Why Christians don’t need proof texts for climate action
On reading one of my recent articles on reading Scripture in a climate emergency (Part 1), a friend raised a point many secular bystanders may well be asking: “I would have thought we were way past the point of needing to rely on biblical or ecological hermeneutics to help us understand the dimensions of the …
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Faith, cultural diversity and the common good
Australia has never been a monoculture. Long before European settlement, the continent was home to many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and languages. At the time of colonisation, about 250 distinct Indigenous languages were spoken, many with multiple dialects. Since 1788, successive migrations have added further layers of ethnic, cultural and religious diversity. …
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Theologies of happiness
When you hear the phrase, “theologies of happiness,” what comes to mind? We seek happiness in many different ways, and the various approaches can be grouped into three broader categories: Having: pursuit of pleasure, wealth, security, success. Doing: pursuit of achievement, growth, creativity, service. Being: pursuit of virtue, spirituality, wisdom, loving relationships. However, the world's …
