Bob Geldof is known jokingly as “St Bob” for his work on aid and debt relief in Africa.
But now people are confusing the Bible with speeches by Mr Geldof, according to research published by the public theology think tank Theos.
The study found more than a quarter of people in Britain – 27% – believed that the Old Testament passage: “You must defend those who are helpless and have no hope. Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless”, from Proverbs Chapter 31, verse 8, came from a speech by Mr Geldof.
A WOODEN cross dedicated to hundreds of fallen World War I Australian diggers is about to make a historic return to the former battlefields of France.
Originally erected 90 years ago in a muddy field where the diggers fought an epic battle against the Germans, the cross was sent to Australia in the early 1930s.
Hundreds of Australian soldiers were killed or injured as they successfully reclaimed the key northern rural town of Villers-Bretonneux in the Somme on April 24 and 25, 1918.
And now as the village prepares to mark the 90th anniversary of the historic battle, the cross is heading back to France.
Guilt is an explosive word. In a recent conversation with my friend and fellow theologian, Scott Stephens, I found myself agreeing with him that public conversation is impoverished if we cannot speak of guilt. But I also argued that because of two cultural barriers it is almost impossible to be heard when you speak of guilt.
Most Muslims ‘desire democracy’.
The largest survey to date of Muslims worldwide suggests the vast majority want Western democracy and freedoms, but do not want them to be imposed.
The poll by Gallup of more than 50,000 Muslims in 35 nations found most wanted the West to instead focus on changing its negative view of Muslims and Islam.
The huge survey began following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US.
The overwhelming majority of those asked condemned them and subsequent attacks, citing religious reasons.
The poll, which claims to represent the views of 90% the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims, is to be published next month as part of a book entitled Who Speaks For Islam? What A Billion Muslims Really Think.
The gospel story of Jesus and the man born blind has at its heart the age-old question of Why Suffering?. The common idea amongst Jesus’ contemporaries is that the one who was blind must be dark himself, or if not him, then it must be his parents.
We reflect on light and dark, on sin and hope, and the places where the light of Christ is found.
Sermon Sunday March 2nd, 2008 (pdf)
St. David’s Uniting Church, Oakleigh
Rev. Arnie Wierenga
A survey conducted by the Red Cross says busier lifestyles are behind a fall in the numbers of people volunteering to help disadvantaged people in their community .
More than 1,200 people took part in the online survey that aimed to gauge public perception about the elderly, people living with a mental illness and the homeless.
The survey revealed that volunteer figures were down compared to a decade ago.
It also found that almost half of the population think Australians are less compassionate towards vulnerable groups compared with 10 years ago.