Although there seems to be plenty of evidence for secularization all around us – emptying churches, decline in ‘traditional’ beliefs about god, heaven and hell, and a lack of deference to religious institutions – most scholars of religion now admit … Read more...
Category: Secularisation
The Deconstructed Church–Understanding Emerging Christianity: What’s it all About?
Those of you who follow me on Twitter may have noticed my very relieved tweet on Saturday, sharing that Gerardo Marti and I have submitted the manuscript of our forthcoming book, The Deconstructed Church – Understanding Emerging Christianity, to … Read more...
Michael Moynagh’s Church for Every Context–Book Review: Explaining and Justifying the Emerging Church?
For those doubting the significance and viability of the Emerging Church Movement (ECM), the publication of a 500-page book explaining its development, providing theologies to justify it, and offering practical advice on how to nurture ‘new contextual churches’ offers plenty … Read more...
Cathy Higgins’ Churches in Exile – What Can Churches in Ireland Learn from the Emerging Church Movement? (Book Review, Part 3)
The last paragraph of the final substantive chapter of Cathy Higgins’ new book Churches in Exile: Alternative Models of Church for Ireland in the 21st Century, reads (p. 185):
… Read more...‘Unless the churches in Ireland are prepared to shake up
Getting to Know the Association of Catholics in Ireland–Q & A with Martin Murray, Part 2
Today we continue with Part 2 of our Question and Answer series with Martin Murray of the Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI), which began last week with this post.
In the first post, he dealt with the questions … Read more...
Getting to Know the Association of Catholics in Ireland – Q&A with Martin Murray, Part I
Last week, I wrote about the launch of the Association of Catholics in Ireland, a new lay-led organisation that has adopted the motto, “Following Christ, Changing Church.” (You can view its objectives on its website). The event … Read more...
Cathy Higgins’ Churches in Exile – Challenges for the Churches in Ireland (Book Review, Part 2)
In a previous review of Cathy Higgins’ Churches in Exile: Alternative Models of Church for Ireland in the 21st Century, I promised to note some of her most compelling challenges for the churches in Ireland.
Higgins’ challenges are present … Read more...
Association of Catholics in Ireland Launches Tomorrow, 1 June, in Dublin
The new “Association of Catholics in Ireland” (ACI) launches tomorrow in Dublin.
ACI is lay-led and has adopted the motto, “Following Christ, Changing Church.” It lists the following “objectives” on its website (click the link to see a more … Read more...
Fr Martin Magill’s Ecumenical Tithing: Faith on Trial with Lagan College Chaplains at Fitzroy Presbyterian
This week Fr Martin Magill’s ecumenical tithing takes him back to Fitzroy Presbyterian, where he attended a “Faith on Trial” event featuring Lagan College Chaplains Helen Killough and Gerard Souney. In this post, Fr Magill shares what he learned about … Read more...
Johnston McMaster on Cathy Higgins’ Churches in Exile: Remarks from the Book Launch
Cathy Higgins’ new book, Churches in Exile: Alternative Models of Church for Ireland in the 21st Century, was launched on 22 May at Skainos in East Belfast. One of the launch speakers was Rev Dr Johnston McMaster, who worked with … Read more...
Alicia Turner: What’s the Point of Studying Religions? – Keynote at ISASR Conference
What’s the point of studying religions? This is an apt question to be asking on the island of Ireland. Here, the academic study of religions is at an early stage in its development, particularly from social science or humanities perspectives, … Read more...