Christmas time invites profound questions
Christmas raises great theological questions. Who is God and what is God like? How does God make things right in a dark world? Where is Jesus and what he is doing?
Faith and reason
Religious evolution examined over 16 years and 331 newspaper columns
Religious evolution examined over 16 years and 331 newspaper columns
Ian Harris looks back on 16 years of columns in the Otago Daily Times and commends the role of faith, properly understood, in our secular world.
The modern age has thrown up issues we have not tackled
The modern age has thrown up issues we have not tackled
It is a curious, and somewhat alarming, observation that our "metamodern" age is one characterised by anger, conflict, and retribution. Indeed, much is being written about things like "rage culture...
Teamwork and positivity inspiring in South Africa
Teamwork and positivity inspiring in South Africa
The Springbok rugby team has shown we can achieve anything if we work together, writes David Tombs.
Spirituality to be found through connection to natural world
Spirituality to be found through connection to natural world
Ian Harris tells how the brain, the ocean and protesting young fused in a moment of serendipity.
Tragedy hard to bear, but can bring out best in us
Tragedy hard to bear, but can bring out best in us
In trauma and in tragedy, we can also experience the very best of humanity, writes Lynne Taylor.
Bid to fulfil 'the most important mission'
Bid to fulfil 'the most important mission'
The power of forgiveness converted the bitterest of religious enemies in Nigeria into champions of peace and tolerance. Ian Harris reports.
Visit to Poland highlights differences but a challenge is shared
Visit to Poland highlights differences but a challenge is shared
What does it mean to be a priest — or to be a baptised Christian — in the modern world?, asks James Harding.
Something greater than our national icons
Something greater than our national icons
Rugby is often called "the New Zealand religion". Ian Harris asks: How well does it stack up?
Religions often tarred with the same brush
Religions often tarred with the same brush
Does religion really poison everything, Adam Dodds asks.
Notions of achieving justice tested
Notions of achieving justice tested
Murray Rae asks if justice has been served at Ihumatao.
Welcome shades of grey between black and white
Welcome shades of grey between black and white
Outrage and a rush to judgement dominate the space opened by Israel Folau's tweet about homosexuals and hell. Ian Harris asks: What does that tell us about ourselves?
Letting people in, rewards
Letting people in, rewards
You can live with contradictions and setbacks, and life can still sparkle, writes Jenny Beck.
Bible study can still surprise in 2019
Bible study can still surprise in 2019
Katie Mercer reflects on new semesters, new perspectives and ancient texts.
Case for 'real love' as a decider
Case for 'real love' as a decider
Abolishing abortion is a worthy moral goal, says Ian Harris. The question is how to get there.
Words: taking Jesus' lead
Words: taking Jesus' lead
What is hate speech, asks Richard Dawson.
Pentecost teaches universality
Pentecost teaches universality
Languages and all our cultures have equal value and can be used to praise God, writes Paul Treblico.
Rekindling Islam's golden era would enrich the world
Rekindling Islam's golden era would enrich the world
Today the House of Islam occupies a space somewhere between the old world and the new, say a current and a former muslim, and choices must be made. Ian Harris reports.
Truth not always palatable
Truth not always palatable
It is time we listen to God, writes Ivan Grindlay.
We must resist intolerance of all kinds
We must resist intolerance of all kinds
New Zealanders must resist the divisions created by intolerance of diversity, writes Don Moffat.