Here’s why churches across Ireland will turn red next Wednesday
Rite & Reason: One in seven Christians in the world faces persecution or extreme discrimination because of their faith
Religion & Beliefs
I know how to behave in a church and I ticked the box for ‘Roman Catholic’ on the census. But I am not a Catholic
Rite & Reason: Going to church, attending Mass or engaging with the Catholic Church in any meaningful way has always felt, to me, like acting
Sexual violence kept secret by up to 80% of survivors but those who speak out offer them hope
Rite & Reason: Callers to Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s helpline often just want to verbalise their abuse once and will never call again. People like Kathleen Correia offer them great inspiration
Walking the Camino: ‘We spoke about the tension I felt when people spoke of God. I realised, as a gay man, I assume I’ll be judged’
The pilgrim walk is famous and cargoed with expectation. Ultimately it might help us find meaning within ourselves
In Good Time review: Methodist minister casts light on peacebuilding by church
The Rev Harold Good’s memoir illuminates the role of religious commitment in limiting conflict
God help us all, Russell Brand has found religion
Christianity has been around for some time and will weather this particular trend cycle, no matter Russell Brand’s risible public display. And these online Christian gurus will find a new cause celebre
Synod on Synodality aims at missionary outreach to the excluded and marginalised
Rite & Reason: This month, 368 delegates from around the world are gathering in Rome for the second session of the Catholic Church’s Synod on Synodality
Lower than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity review: Magisterial work on theologies around sex
Diarmaid MacCulloch’s ambitious book looks at celibacy, marriage, homosexuality and trans issues from the perspective that there is no single consistent view of these in the Bible, Patsy McGarry writes
A Life Among the Dead review: Compassionate reflection on the rites of death
David McGowan draws on his experience as a small-town funeral director to offer warm insight into the ceremonies around bereavement
Spiritual inspiration after a nasty review drove me to write one of my best songs
Rite & Reason: Melody and lyrics come to the musician in mysterious ways. And sometimes the humble pie of criticism can fuel great artistic triumph
Why is ‘news avoidance’ on the rise? The nocebo effect may be playing a part
Unthinkable: The ‘evil twin’ of the placebo effect could shed light on why people say consuming the news makes them feel worse
The idea of a permanent hell is tolerable only if God is seen as an autocratic and merciless ruler
Rite & Reason: If our personal potential is not realised on earth surely it doesn’t disappear at death but becomes realisable in our next level of existence
How Irish scientist John Tyndall supercharged the modern debate on consciousness in lecture 150 years ago
Tyndall contended there was no point in the history of the cosmos when ‘creative acts’ of a ‘deity’ were required
‘Cultural Christians’ Elon Musk and Richard Dawkins undermine Christianity’s very foundations
They claim to applaud the principles of Christianity while professing none of its faith
Rite and Reason: Sitting on the fence during conflict is a form of taking sides
Rather than abstain from a dispute or race to support one or other side, we can draw on wisdom that teaches us even fierce disagreements can be resolved if the element of community is introduced
Pentecost and the unveiling of God’s presence in the world
It is too easy to create our own image of God and feel at ease with that creation
Balance is a quality as precious as it is rare
There is a time to speak and a time to be silent, but both require the right measure
Thinking Anew: Let’s move towards God’s ‘community of compassion and communion of love’
The bible can teach us about making space for people the wider world considers outsiders, and about the complex matter of gender identity
Ireland may be the only place in the world that does not fully appreciate benefits of Catholic education
Throughout the world Catholic schooling is highly regarded, but in Ireland feelings are mixed
How to end the culture wars: Stop looking for people to blame
‘Because structural injustices are beyond our control it is wrong to blame ordinary people for them,’ argues political philosopher Maeve McKeown
The scourge of anti-Semitism was part of official Catholic teaching into the 20th century
In 1959 Pope John XXIII ordered the removal of the Latin word ‘perfidis’ from the prayer for the conversion of the Jews in the Good Friday liturgy
Science must salute the link between physics and the mystical
Despite the pursuit of hard fact, the nature of reality is illuminated by Eastern thought as much as it is by atomic theory
Catholic Church’s downsizing only the beginning as attendances and incomes decline
Church of Ireland has already merged many of the 26 dioceses established in 1111 AD at the Synod of Ráth Breasail
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