The Faith Column
Every week a different believer gives the inside track on their religion or philosophy.
After the truth
- 2 comments
- Posted by David Quinn
- 29 May 2009
The Ryan Commission has revealed decades of child abuse within institutions run by the Irish Catholic Church. An Irish journalist explores where Catholicism in Ireland goes from here
Justice Sean Ryan published his report into child abuse within the Irish Catholic Church in May 2009
There are about 150 religious orders based in Ireland. Many of them are very small. All are declining very fast.
Of the 150 or so orders, 18 ran the country’s system of industrial schools and reformatories from the late 19th century until the 1970s, when the last of these institutions was closed.
The system was established during the years of British rule in Ireland. Britain itself had imported [...]
Islam's young faithful
- 10 comments
- Posted by Zeshan Rasul
- 18 May 2009
The voices of young Muslims must be harnessed to combat Islamic extremistism in Britain, argues the Vice President of The Young Muslims UK
Turning 18 is a momentous occasion.
Most people mark the event partying, at a pub or with their mates. I, on the other hand, celebrated my eighteenth sitting in Homeland Security at Charlotte Douglas Airport in North Carolina.
I had been held with two other young Muslims on the way to a national leadership retreat being paid for by the Foreign Office - clearly documented on our travel [...]
The Pilgrim Pope
- 1 comments
- Posted by Mark Frazer
- 14 May 2009
Pope Benedict's visit to the Holy Land is a bold step towards healing past wounds and pushing inter-faith dialogue, says the Board of Deputies of British Jews
Pope Benedict's visit to Israel will help facilitate dialogue between Catholics and Jews
Israeli protocol has it that all visiting dignitaries to the Jewish state should take some time to visit Yad Vashem, the famous Holocaust Museum.
It’s a profoundly moving experience, and offers a valuable insight into the predominant Israeli (and Jewish) mindset: "We will never again allow the Jewish people to be at the mercy of others, without a homeland and without a refuge."
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has [...]
Technology, the Latter-day way
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- Posted by Malcolm Adcock
- 12 May 2009
The Mormon community can rightfully boast a long association with technological advancement, from the hearing-aid to the most visited genealogy website on earth
Followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints insist that technological progress and religious faith can often go hand-in-hand
Whether you’re a technophobe or a technophile, it’s hard to argue against the merits of technological advances; although our heads may well be spinning at their pace.
Designer and architect R Buckminster Fuller’s remark that “humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong reasons” may motivate some to want to slow down the ride. But humankind’s drive for knowledge is ultimately inspiration-driven, from a loving Creator [...]
The Age of the E-church
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- Posted by Nicola David
- 07 May 2009
While congregation numbers continue to slide, a Church of England social networking website aims redress the balance
Can a new generation of online church-goers reinvigorate interest in Christianity?
Church on the Net, a ‘Fresh Expression’ registered by the Church of England, opened its virtual doors in July 2007. Anyone, anywhere in the world, is welcome to explore Christianity there: the language is simple, and there are no assumptions about existing knowledge or beliefs.
For the non-believer or seeker, there may be a threshold barrier at the entrance to church buildings. It can be daunting to walk into [...]
Christianity and the Petri dish
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- Posted by Murdo Macdonald
- 06 May 2009
The Church of Scotland stance on stem cell research has proved religious conviction and scientific discovery needn't always be antagonists, argues Murdo Macdonald
Do faith and science have to be adversaries?
The progress of the recent update of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act through Parliament has, perhaps inevitably, generated much controversy, largely due to some of the areas covered by the Act, such as research on human embryos and “saviour siblings”.
One of the major areas of contention centres around stem cell technology. These special cells, characterised by their ability to self-regenerate and to be programmed to develop into [...]
Judaism and charity
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- Posted by Paul Anticoni
- 30 April 2009
In the third of our series on faith and charity, the chief executive of World Jewish Relief writes about the Jewish tradition of helping the needy
As the years pass and I see my children become increasingly independent, I often marvel at how different their world is compared to when I was a child; from the tsunami to twitter, iPhones to IVF and GM foods to global warming. It is comforting though that some things remain the same. My children attend Cheder – Sunday school for young Jews. There they learn of Jewish history, culture and [...]
Charity in Islam
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- Posted by Samia Ahmed
- 29 April 2009
In the second of our series on faith and charity, the Senior Development Education Coordinator of Islamic Relief explains the purpose of charity in Islam
Charity is so often a hallmark of faith, just as justice is so often the very spirit of religion. Islam is a complete way of life and within this there is a duty to serve those who are less privileged than ourselves.
As a Muslim, I have a sense of responsibility to share my wealth with others. This is not hard to do since Muslims know that their wealth does [...]
Christianity and charity
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- Posted by Linda Jones
- 27 April 2009
In the first of our series on faith and charity, Linda Jones writes that the Christian understanding of charity is far more radical and demanding than simply giving from what we have ‘left over’
What is charity? A guilty handful of coins rattled into a box on a street corner? The nudge of conscience at Christmas?
A common understanding of charity is what many people of faith would call ‘almsgiving’ - a strong tradition in both Christianity and Islam - as well as Buddhism and other faiths. During Lent, for example, Christians are urged to pray, to fast and to give alms (money [...]
Islam and feminism
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- Posted by Asma Barlas
- 22 April 2009
In the third of our series on faith and feminism, Asma Barlas writes about the message of sexual equality in the Qur'an
I have been asked to write about how feminism informs my understanding of faith and if and how faith influences my feminist views. I’ve discussed the intersection between Islam and feminism many times before and every time I have clarified that I do not like to call myself a feminist; yet, the label continues to stick!
The truth is that long before I learned about feminism, I had begun to [...]
Faith and feminism
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- Posted by Zohra Moosa
- 21 April 2009
In the second of our series on faith and feminism, Zohra Moosa writes about the complementary nature of the two.
I am often probed about how I reconcile my faith with my feminism. Sometimes it comes as an explicit question, as happened when I was interviewed earlier this year for a book on Islam and feminism. I was asked directly whether I found it difficult to reconcile the two, whether there were inherent tensions I had to navigate and how did I square my religion and my belief (the two [...]
Judaism and feminism
- 1 comments
- Posted by Gitl Wallerstein-Braun
- 20 April 2009
In the first of our series on faith and feminism, the ultra orthodox Jewish artist shares her experience of finding her own spiritual anchor
For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)
It was some twenty years ago, when I was summoned to meet the principal of the local ultra [...]
Christianity and homosexuality
- 5 comments
- Posted by Sharon Ferguson
- 09 April 2009
In the third of our series on faith and homosexuality, we take a look at how Christians continue to be divided in the their response and Christ's teachings of love and acceptance
It is never a simple thing to write about faith and homosexuality from a Christian perspective because there is no one Christian perspective. The acceptance or otherwise of homosexuality as a valid expression of human sexuality differs according to the view of the different denominations and even within those denominations, groups and individuals may hold opposing beliefs. Even when people share a belief on homosexuality, how individuals should be treated [...]
Vaishnavism and homosexuality
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- Posted by Amara Das Wilhelm
- 08 April 2009
In the second of our series on faith and homosexuality, we take a look at the all-inclusiveness and compassion preached by Vaishnavism
Approximately two-thirds of all Hindus are Vaishnavas and, like other world religions, Vaishnava sects have recently been called upon to address traditional positions on homosexuality and gender differences. For readers who are unfamiliar with Vaishnavism, the faith is essentially monotheistic; adherents worship a supreme, transcendent God with unlimited names such as Vishnu, Krishna, Rama, Narayana, etc. They follow scriptural texts known as the Vedas and are typically vegetarian. Recent expressions [...]
Faith and homosexuality
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- Posted by Danny Rich
- 07 April 2009
In the first of our series on the perceptions of homosexuality, the Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism, explains his organisation's stance
Liberal Judaism’s attitude to homosexuality is rooted in its core principles: ethical monotheism, right conduct as it applies to human relations, care for the quality of community and society, and the idea that traditional texts require continual evaluation in the light of either ethical insights or factual knowledge of our own time.
Liberal Judaism – in common with traditional Judaism – affirms the idea of God as both the [...]
