This Life: The “indescribable gift”
SAMANTHA ELLEY reflects on the one gift that she’s come to be thankful for every Christmas…
Essay: Who were the three “wise men” who visited Jesus?
ERIC VANDEN EYKEL, an associate professor of religious studies at Ferrum College, looks – in an article first published on The Conversation – at the identity of the three “magi” mentioned in Matthew’s Gospel…
Virgin birth
Once I worked with this bloke who had a bee in his bonnet over the virgin birth – the divine conception of Jesus. PICTURE: Ruth Gledhill/Unsplash He was going on and on about it as we worked in the stinking Aussie sun. “Christian must be stupid for believing in the virgin birth, because, don’t they […]
Sight-Seeing: Childless at Christmas
KAREN SWALLOW PRIOR, in an article published on Religion News Service, reflects on being childless at Christmas when celebrations are so often centred around children…
‘Mary Did You Know’ writer Mark Lowry good-natured over song’s controversy
RNS For Mark Lowry, almost every day is Christmas. Whenever the storyteller and singer takes the stage for a concert, he always closes the show with the same song – Mary Did You Know? – no matter what time of year it is. “When you have one hit, you better end with it,” Lowry said […]
Sight-Seeing: A child is coming to save us. Perhaps He’ll remind us to do better by the children we have.
PHYLLIS ZAGANO, adjunct professor of religion at Hofstra University and author of Women: Icons of Christ, on what the circumstances of Christ’s birth tell us – if we were listening…
Essay: Waiting for Christmas; working for #HometoBilo
MEREDITH WRIGHT, of Baptist World Aid Australia, reflects on Jesus’ experience of oppression and marginalisation – and how a similar story still continues in Australia today…
This Life: Developing bold hope during trying times
US columnist CAROL ROUND, in an article published on ASSIST News Service, writes about the “season of hope”…
Essay: A Christmas without family and community
US Catholic commentator THOMAS REESE, in an article first published on Religion News Service, reflects on what will be, for many, a Christmas “like no other in recent memory”…