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In my recent reading I have been exploring the dichotomy that developed during the early years of the church that gave value to 'sacred' work over 'secular' work. That dichotomy is very evident in churches today - we are awed or revere someone who is in 'fulltime' ministry, someone who works in...

I am presently working on a book for Christian parents talking to their kids about careers and work. One thing I am coming across in some Christian writing is the notion that 'work' is a means to an ends ie to 'witness'. This is a flawed view of work that also buys into a false dichotomy - that...

What an interesting and thought provoking question. I think mine might be: Jesus in the courtyard during his trial The cave when Jesus was born The baptism of Jesus listening in to Noah talking to God about building the ark Working alongside Ruth (of the OT)

Churchill is quoted as saying about democracy "it's not perfect but it's the best option out of what is currently in operation in the world". Let's think about what our amazing country might look like if it was something other than the form of democracy we currently live with. Think about the...

On Sunday evening was a program on SBS that was a documentary following a third grade class in a Chinese school experiencing democracy as 3 of their classmates ran for class monitor. It was an interesting watch - did anyone else see it? One of the things that stood out for me was the...

hi Tomasz As people living in a democracry it is important we use the rights we have including the right to protest. re the legality of a protest, that is something you would need to check out with the police department - here in Australia approval from police is needed for public protest...

hi Dondi My response to your query would be, we are 'missionaries' where we live. Since we are called to relationship with God and with each other ie 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself' we live our daughter/son...

I appreciate this detailed and explanatory note. Thanks.

Some interesting thoughts have been shared through these threads. I must say that our, my husband of 30 years and my, growth towards our forth coming shift to a nearby Asian country (we are Australian) has been over many, many years. And funnily enough neither of us see it as being...

Amen. Today's news told us of deaths now in Burma - monks and a journalist to this point. Let's uphold the people of the country and those leading in the struggle for democracy in our prayers and where we can petition our own country's leaders to speak into the situation with strong clear...

hi Zilam, Tell me some of your actions towards social justice? We can be encouraged and stimulated to action and thought by the stories of others. This morning I was part of small group of people who stood outside our elected federal member of parliament (this is the Australian political...

Other links you may find useful is the Evangelical Alliance and TEAR - both Christian organisations with clear focus on socila justice.

Another book that has left some powerful ideas with me is one by Alan De Botton called 'Status Anxiety'. Whilst not a Christian - he is very clear about that - his analysis of the 'human condition' (as Christian -speak might call it) is very insightful. He describes the effect on the individul...

I've just completed reading the new book by MacKay 'Advance Australia ..Where?' His book raised some important questions that require our consideration. For example, with the levels of consumption so high, with individual debt so high and with depression rampant, especially but not only amongst...

hi, I'm excited that you are wanting to learn about issues of social justice. There are several places, both Christian and non-Christian that are useful sources of information - Amnesty International have a useful website for information on a wide range of matters. If you are based in the USA...

hi everybody, I have read a book by Parker Palmer called 'The Courage to Teach'. It has some incredibly valuable words on being a teacher, of teaching from 'who we are' , teaching with integrity. As a Christian involved in education it has been an invaluable resource for me as I have thought...

hi Neenie So how are you shaping your child's view of the world, of their place in the world and of God's place for them in the world? As a parent of a young child what messages do you think they have already picked up from you and any other significant others about the place of work in the...

A new word to me 'personalism'. It sounds, from the brief description available here much like a dominant current philosophical approach to 'knowing' called constructivism ie individuals 'construct' their own reality. There is no one reality according to this view, rather the billions of...

Thanks for the diverse range of responses. Let me expand a little on my thinking. What is a Christian view of work? Is there a Christian view of work? How does our faith intersect with what we do - whether paid work, work in the home, voluntary work etc. Surely for something that we give a...

hi folk I am a Christian Aussie teacher and writer interested in developing a resource to assist Christian parents exploring with their kids what it means to be Christian and have a career. I am keen to hear from parents -of littlies as well as adolescents about the type of issues or topics that...