Listening to Country: An Indigenous Theology and Spirituality series

Listening to Country

There is much wisdom, knowledge, and direction for living to be discovered in listening to country. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in these lands now called Australia know this and seek to live deeply connected to country and to share that knowing with others.

This 3-part series explores, breaks open some of that wisdom and knowing. It offers an invitation to walk with and learn from Aboriginal presenters who will share a variety of perspectives that come from their lived experience, their research and their integration of Christian theology with indigenous spirituality.

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What is the religious discrimination debate about?

Religious discrimination debate

The federal government is threatening to pull promised religious discrimination reforms to protect LGBT students and teachers.

The government wants assured bipartisanship, but the Opposition says it is hard to support legislation it hasn’t seen.

Liberal MPs have asked to be shown the bill so they can consider whether it is worth supporting.

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Vatican’s 2024 message for Ramadan encourages working together for world peace

Vatican FlagThe Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue releases its annual message for the Islamic month of Ramadan, urging all religious believers to extinguish “the fires of hatred, violence and war, and instead light the gentle candle of peace.”

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“The trials of life bring you closer to the faith again”

Ramadan Calendar
‘There are 5.6 million Muslims in this country (Germany) and around half of us fast, so it’d be nice not to have to explain ourselves again every year,’ says Inas Ali Zeidan (image: Robert Haas)

Finding your way back to yourself and to God, doing good, appreciating the community: four Muslims in Germany explain what the fasting month of Ramadan means to them and why they would rather not have to keep explaining themselves over and over again!

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From esotericism to embodied ritual: Care for Country as religious experience

Care for Country as religious experienceIn an academic paper, it is shared that Aboriginal spiritual psychology begins from an appreciation of intentional and practical connection with the living systems of Country and kin. They draw on cases from Dadirri and other stories to describe Aboriginal contemplative practices as being conscious of our mutual vulnerability with the living cosmos.

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The invitation of Divine love: How the spiritual aspirations of Ramadan can participate in the healing of the world

Minaret in the Sunset

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan holds a place of unrivalled significance in the lives of Muslims throughout the world. Beyond its rituals of fasting and prayer, Ramadan ideally serves as a transformative period for believers to draw closer to the Divine.

I believe that a fuller understanding of the concept of Divine love — particularly as understood in process-relational theology — can facilitate this goal of increased closeness or proximity (taqrib) to God.

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68th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women

Justice Coalition of Religious logoThe 68th Session on the Commission on the Status of Women – an event auspiced by the United Nations – will focus on accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective. This guide is provided by the Justice Coalition of Religious.

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Pacific voices on climate

Edmund Rice Centre logo
In Conversation with Pacific voices on climate: Registration is now open for the Edmund Rice Centre’s upcoming webinars in March-April 2024. H.E Anote Tong – Pacific climate advocacy – emerging priorities: Friday 15 March, 1:30 pm (AEST) … Reverend James Bhagwan – climate and faith in the Pacific: Tuesday 2 April, 6:30 pm (AEST)

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Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce

National Council of Churches in Australia logoThe Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) made a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on 21 February 2024, looking into the experiences of women in immigration detention facilities, and the subsequent issues women faced when they were in community detention.

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Quakers Australia – Integrity in Public Office – Canberra, 2024

Australian QuakersOn Thursday 28th February 2024, Quakers Australia held an action “Show integrity in Public Office” at Parliament House in Canberra. This was the fourth undertaking by Quakers Australia on this critical issue.

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