‘Tolerance doesn’t mean apologising for Christianity’
British society must not shy away from its own beliefs or traditions such as saying ‘Happy Christmas’ instead of ‘Happy Holidays’, former Cabinet Minister Liam Fox has said. In an online video message, former Cabinet Minister Dr Fox said that Christmas is ‘a time of hope and renewal, a central part of our religious belief’. He explained that was why he wished everyone ‘a very happy and peaceful Christmas’, instead of ‘Happy Holidays’. He added, ‘because we tolerate and respect views different to our own, tradition, Christmas is a time of hope and renewal, a central part of our religious belief.’ Earlier this week a Christian Institute survey revealed that many of the UK’s local councils are abandoning the true meaning of Christmas in their Christmas cards.
USA: From riots to potential for revival in Ferguson
Chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are now deployed to bring hope and healing by fanning out and ministering in the city of Ferguson, Missouri USA - following riots that erupted after the recent Grand Jury decision not to indict a local police officer in the Michael Brown shooting case, according to Erik Ogren, writing for the Billy Graham website. ‘We've heard from several pastors, and they view this as raw spiritual warfare. That's what it is and it's very obvious,’ said Jeff Naber, one of the Rapid Response Team. ‘With that said, the potential for revival here is extreme. This is different from a tornado or flood,’ said Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplain Strib Boynton as he manoeuvred his truck through the streets of Ferguson. ‘This is changing the hearts of people, of a whole community.’
Faith schools top latest primary league tables
Close to two-thirds of the UK’s best performing primary schools have a religious ethos, according to the latest league table results. The tables showed that out of the 693 schools in which all pupils achieved the Government’s expected standards, 62 per cent (427 schools) had a religious ethos. That is despite faith schools making up just a third of all primary schools in England. The faith schools include 330 Church of England and 88 Roman Catholic primaries. Nigel Genders, the C of E’s Chief Education Officer, said: ‘I’m delighted that Church of England primary schools are leading some of the outstanding practice going on in schools across the country and congratulate the pupils, teachers, support staff, parents and communities who have worked together to secure success.’
India: The Christmas of Hindu radicals
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a radical paramilitary group, is planning to convert 4,000 Christian and 1,000 Muslim families to Hinduism by the next 25th of December in Uttar Pradesh. Militants call it the ‘returning home’ programme. Father Francis Arackal, a Dominican priest and head of the department of Communication at St Joseph's College Bangalore said, ‘The RSS claims to be upholding the culture of India and Hinduism. They are doing cheap conversions. The proposed reconversion drive is being planned as a conspiracy politics. The State Assembly elections are due in Uttar Pradesh in 2016. This is a 'diverting attention’ trick. The other intention is to hide all the wrong doings, criminalising politics and communal violence in India.’
