The definitions of belief and disbelief are far from static; they are shaped by a multitude of factors, including personal experience, cultural context, and societal norms. The complexity of these concepts calls for a more compassionate and open-minded approach to discussions of faith and scepticism. By recognizing the fluidity of belief and the importance of context, we can cultivate a richer understanding of what it means to believe—or not believe—within a diverse and interconnected world. Embracing this complexity not only enriches our personal journeys but also fosters a more inclusive dialogue that honours the myriad ways in which individuals navigate their convictions in a rapidly changing landscape.
Faith and Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities
The Faith & Positive Change for Children, Families and Communities (FPCC) is a pioneering global Social and Behavioural Change Initiative launched in 2018 by UNICEF, the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI), and Religions for Peace (RfP). This initiative aims to transcend traditional single-sector, single-faith, small-scale, and sometimes instrumentalist approaches to faith engagement in development and humanitarian work.
UN World Day of Peace – Raising Peace with Faith Communities Event
In observance of World Day of Peace, Religions for Peace Australia and the Faith Communities Council of Victoria joined the Raising Peace Festival on Sunday 15 September along with United Religions Initiative in presenting an online event in observance of United Nations World Day of Peace. The theme of this event was Faith leaders sharing their personal practices to maintain equilibrium / inner peace when working in a fractured world for peace. This event was conducted as part of the Raising Peace Festival, 2024.
Rising Tide in Canberra: A Bishop Reflects
Australia is witnessing an ever-increasing response to the use of fossil fuels, exports of these fuels, and the granting of new mining licences to international organisations. This response – in part – is shown in demonstrations, protests, banning of protests by state government and a certain disregard of free speech and human rights. Bishop Philip Huggins – patron of Australian Religious Response to Climate Change and a member of the UN Interfaith Liaison Committee to the Climate Change Conferences gave an address to the Rising Tide event in Canberra.
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
2 December every year is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery. Latest estimates by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) show that forced labour and forced marriage have increased significantly in the last five years. 10 million more people were in modern slavery in 2021 compared to 2016 global estimates, bringing the total to 50 million worldwide. Women and children remain disproportionately vulnerable.
Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Australia
International Day for the Abolition of Slavery occurs annually on 2 December every year. What is presented in this post are selections from a report on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery in Australia during the year 2022, as compiled by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Vatican to examine Spiritual Abuse as a crime
The Vatican may make “spiritual abuse” a formalized crime in Church law, rather than merely an aggravating circumstance of other crimes. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is forming a working group with the Dicastery for Legislative Texts with “the task of analyzing this possibility and presenting concrete proposals” on the matter, according to a paper from the doctrine office dated Nov. 22 and posted online this week.
Why Australian attitudes on immigration and religion have hardened but social cohesion is stable
Australians have a more negative attitude towards major faith groups and immigration levels, but a new report says social cohesion has remained stable over the past 12 months, despite multiple areas of strain. Report author Dr James O’Donnell from the Australian National University said social cohesion had been declining up to 2023, particularly with the emergence of cost of living pressures. The report also signalled less positive attitudes towards religion, across all major faith groups. The proportion who felt at least ‘somewhat positive’ towards Christians, for example, fell from 42 per cent in 2023 to 37 per cent in 2024. One-third of Australians now report they have a somewhat or very negative attitude towards Muslims, up 7 points from 2023, and negative attitudes towards Jewish people have increased from 9 per cent to 13 per cent in the past year.
Passing of Cardinal Guixot
Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, who served as prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue since 2019, passed away November 25, after a long illness. He was 72. A former missionary in Egypt and Sudan, he was one of the Vatican’s prominent figures in fostering interreligious dialogue, particularly with Islam. This dialogue became a priority for the Holy See after Pope Francis’s election in 2013, especially in regions where Catholics are a minority.
Victoria’s anti-vilification laws
The Victorian government has unveiled long-awaited legislation to overhaul the state’s anti-vilification laws, the culmination of more than five years of work. The justice legislation amendment (anti-vilification and social cohesion) bill 2024 was introduced to parliament on Tuesday and will be debated in the new year.
NSW: Buddhist Studies Seminar
The Australian Association of Buddhist studies hosts Dr Flavio Geisshuesler (Asian Studies, University of Sydney) talk on meditation in Tibetan Buddhism at this year’s University of Sydney Alumni Festival at 3:45pm – 4:45pm (AEST) on Saturday 30 November.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25 November every year is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Violence against women and girls remains one of the most prevalent and pervasive human rights violations in the world. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.
For at least 51,100 women in 2023, the cycle of gender-based violence ended with one final and brutal act—their murder by partners and family members. That means a woman was killed every 10 minutes.
