I enjoy books that help me see the world through different eyes. Here’s an opening paragraph from Goldman’s (aka Spengler) new book that did just that. Population decline is the elephant in the world’s living room. As a matter of arithmetic, we know that the social life of most developed countries will break down within [...]
Tag Archives: Trends
Britain, no match for a rising Brazil
27 December, 2011 – 10:23 AM
Brazil, home to 200 million people, just passed Britain as the world’s sixth largest economy. China passed Britain in 2006. Russia is closing, and is set to become the world’s fourth largest economy by 2020. The centre of the world is irresistibly shifting from the West to the Rest. Better make sure our mission strategies [...]
This Christmas, spare a thought, and a prayer, for the persecuted Christians of the Middle East.
25 December, 2011 – 3:51 AM
We are accustomed to thinking of Christianity as a European religion. Yet until the Islamic conquests of north Africa, the Middle East, Iraq and Iran, Christianity was at least as strong in these regions. There are Christian communities in Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon and Syria that go back two thousand years. Just as there have been [...]
Will the National Church LIfe Survey help us confront the brutal facts?
17 December, 2011 – 9:08 PM
Jim Collins said, the difference between Good and Great is how you confront the brutal facts. You can’t confront them if you don’t know them. Every five years the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) conducts a survey into church life and mission in Australia. Previously they have done some great work tracking the effectiveness of [...]
World without limits
11 December, 2011 – 3:20 AM
It’s only a matter of time before Australia embraces same sex marriage, with the support and advocacy of progressive Australian clergy. So what’s next? We all know it won’t stop at same-sex unions. So who’s up for group marriage? For weeks, Sydneysiders and Melburnians who believe menages-a-trois and other polyamorous relationships can be just as [...]
51% empty or 49% full?
9 December, 2011 – 9:15 PM
Researchers asked 1094 Australians who do not regard themselves as Christians: How open are you to changing your religious worldview? A majority of 51% are not open at all. So you can agonize over how to change the 51% who are resistant, or you can change your perspective and ask, How do we connect with [...]
The faith and unbelief of Australians
9 December, 2011 – 10:21 AM
A clip from the launch of the report into what Australians think about Christianity. Peter Jensen has some good insights: “The situation now is not as bad as it was in the first century!” “I’m very much a believer in the strength of the gospel, the transforming power of the gospel and the God who [...]
Here’s hoping they don’t make it compulsory
4 December, 2011 – 4:59 AM
A bill to legalise gay marriage will be rushed into Parliament early next year after the governing Australia Labor Party conference voted overwhelmingly yesterday to adopt marriage equality as its official policy – but granted a conscience vote to its MPs to avoid a damaging split. Outside over 5,000 gay rights advocates called for same-sex [...]
What (1,094) Australians think about Christianity
1 December, 2011 – 12:54 AM
Olive Tree Media have released a report on what Australians really think of Christian faith, Christians and the Church. No surprises. 1in 2 Australians do not identify with a religion 40% Consider themselves as Christian, identifying as Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant or Evangelical 31% Do not identify with any religion or spiritual belief 19% Spiritual, not religious
Operation World: 7th edition
22 November, 2011 – 11:50 PM
There is a new edition of Operation World, the definitive prayer guide for every nation and people group on earth. Here’s a few interesting facts from the first twenty five pages. The world’s population nearly doubled between 1970 and 2010. 63.2% of the worlds Christians are in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. About 10% of [...]
