Idol worship?

Check out this article - 'Ten slaps gag on Idol worship' - in the herald today. Most of you would be familiar with the 'Today/Tonight' segments exposing the so-called AOG church affiliations of the Australia idol finalists.
I quote from the article;

"After television reports suggested some finalists were being supported by a huge Christian voting audience, the makers of the show have tried to distance themselves from the issue.
Although no wrongdoing has been proved (most Idol contestants have huge communities supporting them, whether it be a country town or a church community) television chiefs are concerned about the effect of the stories on the "street cred" of the show."

Is it just me, or is this so typical of our secular-materialist society. Vocal community support of individuals in sport, music, the arts is widely praised unless it comes from a religious organisation. Then it is weird, subversive, conspiratorial. People have been taught to be paranoid about organised spirituality. Thoughts?

Oil - security - war?

It is reported in the herald that the government is open about the fact that oil supply is a factor in Australia's involvement in Iraq.

What concerns me is the connection drawn between economic security and the role of the defence force. Particularly in the context of a pre-emtive action like that taken by the 'coalition of the willing' in Iraq.

National Emergency

Peter Hartcher comments on the child sexual abuse 'epidemic' in the Northern Territory.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/the-guts-to-confront-a-brutal-truth/2007/06/21/1182019279684.html

Is the welfare and wellbeing of the indigenous population not the greatest challenge facing Australia today? Not terrorism, not global warming, not water shortages...

Are these not the kind of people that the gospel of Jesus Christ is to be spoken to and lived out towards (the poor, the oppressed the enslaved/addicted, the weak and vulnerable)?

Is this not to be at the heart of the vocation of Australian christians?

Robin hood bureaucracy

Check out this article by the great Ross Gittens.

Just who is picking up the tax tab?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/just-who-is-picking-up-the-tax-tab/2007/06/19/1182019112156.html

Sometimes it is worth being reminded that we have an ultimately benevolent tax and welfare system in Australia. Something to be thankful for.



Again, apologies for the link... blogger doesn't like me.

Stem cells

Check out the response of Catholic Archbishop Pell to the vote in the NSW parliament to give the go-ahead to embryonic stem-cell research.

It's all about human life: the real message in the stem cell debate
(http://www.smh.com.au/news/science/its-all-about-human-life/2007/06/07/1181089240429.html).

Also, check out a response to the Catholic view.

It's Stacks On Catholics Day
(http://blogs.smh.com.au/radar/archives/2007/06/world_stoush_wi.html).


Sorry about the links... had some trouble with blogger.

The root of all evil?

The herald reports on the short documentary called 'the root of all evil?' by famed atheist Richard Dawkins.

Is radical scientific materialism a remnant of the modern era uttering its final dying screams?
Does Dawkins represent a serious challenge to faith and religion, one we should be concerned about?

An interesting start to the discussion, again in the herald, by Rachel Kohn, 'despite what the scholars say god isnt dead yet'.

Responses to abortion

2 articles in the Sydney Morning Herald today again emphasised how devisive and complicated is the issue of abortion.

See:
whats down the hatch? and pope ignites abortion row as he visits brazil.