INSIGHT ARTICLE: Opposition to British Christianity
The Shard, a developing skyscraper that will transform London's landscape, is a potent symbol of the growing significance of Islamic finance, according to the Financial Times. Dwarfing all other tower blocks at 1,016ft (310 metres), the new landmark near London Bridge, will become the highest building anywhere in the European Union. The project has been financed by sharia-compliant investment with a consortium of Qatari investors who have paid £150m to secure an 80% stake in the project. The Financial Times states that the Shard 'has typified the role played by Islamic finance in not only supporting, but defining a new era in the UK construction and property industry'. It also claims that there are certain conditions on the types of businesses that are allowed to occupy the completed building. The Shard is currently 280 metres high and is scheduled to be completed by May 2012 where it will form a stunning backdrop for the Olympic Games. Read article: For further INSIGHTS into subtle corrosion to our Christian heritage in the UK click the info buton below. Pray: that the Church will be made aware of those undermining our faith and beliefs. (2Ch.20:20b) Info: http://www.prayer-alert.net/info/oppositiontobritishchristianity1.pdf
If you want big society, you need big religion
Faith communities may encourage their members to contribute to society – but can politicians harness their benefits? Robert Putnam, Harvard professor of public policy, has been in London, channelling the wisdom of social capital at No 10, as well as talking at St Martins-in-the-Fields on Monday evening. That venue is the big clue to his latest findings. It could be summarised thus: 'if you want big society, you need big religion. In the US, over half of all social capital is religious. Religious people just do all citizenish things better than secular people, from giving, to voting, to volunteering. Moreover, they offer their money and time to everyone, regardless of whether they belong to their religious group. It could be, of course, that the religious already have the virtues of citizenship. The evidence is that strong faith communities make for both strong interfaith and wider social links'.
Pray: for governments both national and local to recognise the importance of encouraging and working with faith groups. (2Co.9:2)
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/23/big-society-needs-big-religion
Archbishop calls for action on UK poverty
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has called for action to be taken to address UK poverty levels. He spoke out as churches up and down the country prepare to hold services marking ‘Poverty Sunday’ on Sunday 26 June. Writing for the Guardian newspaper the Archbishop said rising poverty was not necessarily linked to unemployment levels, stating there was a ‘significant problem in our country where even those who work hard are not able to put food on the table for their families’. The Archbishop said ‘I’d like to challenge people to call for justice for those living in poverty. Be generous not only with your wallet, but with your time, your words, your actions. We need to remember that poverty isolates people, reducing their ability to engage in social and community life.’ Pray: for a positive response this Sunday especially during the current economically difficult times. (1Sa.2:8) More: http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/2093/archbishop-calls-for-action-on-uk-poverty
RE is being 'killed off' in schools - report
The future of religious education in schools looks ‘bleak’ unless the Government takes remedial action, a new report has warned. The report by the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE) says that RE was already being marginalised as a result of Education Secretary Michael Gove's decision to leave it out of the English Baccalaureate (EBac). RE has been a core subject for all pupils since 1870, but NATRE warned that it is ‘set to disappear’ from the curriculum of many secondary schools. Its survey of nearly 2,000 state maintained secondary schools found that a quarter are not providing statutory RE for 14 to 16-year-olds, a statistic that is expected to rise during the 2011/2012 academic year. The report stated that entries to GCSE level RE have dropped by more than a third in academies and community schools in the last year. In schools where entry levels fell, more than half attributed the drop to RE being excluded from the EBac. (See Prayer Alert 11-2011)
Pray: that this report will lead the Government to take action to encourage the return of RE as a core subject. (Dt.4:9)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/re.is.being.killed.off.in.schools.report/28218.htm
