Features

While interest rates continue to rise, University of Western Sydney economist Steve Keen believes Australia’s growing household debt burden is a much more serous problem than inflation. Speaking to the ABC’s World Today program in February, Keen warned it’s now only a matter of time before the widespread mortgage defaults seen in the United States are reflected in Australia. “That ...

Like many Australians, I watched the carefully staged media drama unfold. From the unprecedented “welcome to country” that marked the commencement of Parliament on Tuesday, to Rudd’s delivery of the “historic” apology, and his subsequent interaction with a number of invited guests – the whole ordeal reeked of kitsch, empty ceremony and pretence. Quite frankly, I thought it was an ...

IN RECENT years in Australia we have heard the word ‘patriotism’ thrown around in the press with a degree of spite. In the wake of the 2005 Cronulla riots the front pages of newspapers all over the world brandished images of adrenalin fuelled young men wrapped in the Australian flag and calling for violence, and the words ‘Aussie Pride’ drawn ...

There was a time when it was popular to own one of those Bibles where the words that Jesus actually “said” were printed in red while all the other text was printed in black. Even if not directly stated, this implied that there was something special about the words of Jesus that set them apart from the other words contained ...

Little has changed in the eighty years since Bertrand Russell demonstrated just how adept the church had become at functioning as though Jesus had never existed. His point is as valid now as it was then. For instance, consider the fact that few of Jesus’ sayings fit within our truncated, sanitised version of Christianity. There is something profoundly unsettling still ...

The Bishop of Liverpool is being sued for religious discrimination by a leading Evangelical theologian – on the grounds she was treated as the "wrong kind of Christian". The case is being brought by Elaine Storkey, known particularly for her work in the area of feminist theology, a popular speaker at the Greenbelt Arts Festival and a regular contributor to ...

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu has arrived in Kenya to assist in a church-backed bid aimed at stemming the violent reaction to the country’s presidential election results and reaching a peaceful outcome to the political crisis. "I appeal to both leaders to meet and talk about points of disagreement," said Tutu on his arrival in Nairobi from South Africa ...

Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Saviour was born for you.  He is Christ the Lord.  (Luke 2:10-11 Contemporary English Version) The team at Journey and the Uniting Church Queensland Synod wish you all the blessings of God’s great generosity shown to us in ...

WE HEAR them every year seeping through shopping centre muzak, but Christmas carols are more than just joyful tunes for the season. It is thought the word ‘carol’ comes from the French word ‘caroller’, which means a circular dance. Carols were originally sung by groups of musicians in the streets, and were not permitted inside churches. The singing of carols ...

WHEN MOST people are sitting down to lunch with family or friends this Christmas, hundreds of volunteers around the state will be serving others at Christmas lunches for those without a home or family to celebrate with. Wesley Mission Brisbane holds an annual Christmas lunch for the homeless, this year to be held in the Brisbane City Hall. Wesley Mission ...