Ethical chocolate update
16 May 2012 2 Comments
in Serving Tags: behaviour, Change the world, Chocolate, christianity, ethics, mission, Protest, western society
I have previously reported on the ethical dilemmas posed by eating chocolate, due to the trafficking and exploitation of children in growing cocoa in West Africa (see My pleasure, their misery? and Easter eggs and slavery), and on the responses to my letters to chocolate manufacturers (see Fair Trade chocolate – report 1).
I have received some more replies, and have researched some more information, all of which is very revealing.
Atheists who once were christians
14 Apr 2012 17 Comments
in Culture Tags: Atheism, behaviour, christianity, christians, churches, reason, religion, western society
We can read the statistics which show that, in most western countries, church attendance has fallen in the last century. In some cases it is still falling, though in others it has levelled out. The ‘leavers’ are not necessarily giving up all belief in God – many list themselves as ‘not committed’ – but some are choosing to be atheists.
But this is all statistics. There is also a human face to these changes.
Does God prefer belief or obedience?
06 Apr 2012 1 Comment
in Culture Tags: apologetics, Atheism, behaviour, christians, ethics, God, mission
“God Prefers Kind Atheists Over Hateful Christians” said the article and the photo, and it caught my attention as it caught many others’ (as it was aimed at doing).
Is it true?
Making disciples is a new game these days
12 Jan 2012 3 Comments
in Making disciples Tags: apologetics, behaviour, Belief, christians, God, Jesus, making disciples, reason
Jesus told his followers to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), and for two millennia they did just that, and now about a third of the world follows Jesus, nominally at least. But it’s getting much harder to make disciples in western societies these days, and it is becoming more common for apparently strong disciples to turn away from following Jesus.
I think this is a crucial matter, and I want to devote a number of posts to it. Today, I just want to scope the problem.
Fair Trade chocolate – report 2
22 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: behaviour, Change the world, Chocolate, christians, ethics, Protest, western society
Back in November I reported on exploitation in the world cocoa trade in My pleasure, their misery?. At that time I wrote about this to two prominent chocolate manufacturers.
I subsequently reported (Fair Trade chocolate – report 2) that I had received a reply from Cadbury indicating their ongoing support for Fair Trade products. I think they could do more, but it is encouraging that they have come this far.
Now, more than a month after I wrote to Darrell Lea, I still have not received a reply. Of course, Christmas is probably their busiest period, so I may hear from them in January. We shall see.
Anyone want to join in writing to Darrell Lea, and also to Nestle, Lindt or others?
Photo courtesy of World Vision.
Christians and Twitter
18 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in Behaviour Tags: behaviour, christians, mission, western society
I’ve never used Twitter. I’m not really interested, and I doubt anyone would want to read my tweets anyway. But many christians use it, especially well-known ones – writers, leaders, entertainers and bloggers.
But I’m beginning to wonder whether a lot of this christian tweeting is counter-productive.
Fair Trade chocolate – report 1
09 Dec 2011 2 Comments
in Serving Tags: behaviour, Change the world, Chocolate, ethics, Protest, world
A couple of weeks ago, I outlined some facts about exploitation in the growing of cocoa for chocolate (see My pleasure, their misery?) and at the same time wrote to two prominent chocolate manufacturers expressing my concerns and asking them to make more concerted moves to only source cocoa from growers who were paid a fair wage and were not exploiting children.
I have had one answer back.
Barriers to belief: church abuse
22 Nov 2011 1 Comment
in Apologetics, Behaviour Tags: apologetics, behaviour, christianity, churches, ethics, mission
In Barriers to belief I reported that the biggest barrier to non-believers was the many much-publicised cases of sexual abuse within the church. How should christians respond to this?
My pleasure, their misery
21 Nov 2011 10 Comments
in Behaviour Tags: behaviour, Change the world, Chocolate, christianity, ethics, world
A short time ago, I posted on poverty and the growing world population (Christians and world poverty), and about the challenge of deciding how to respond (How much to save the world’s poor?).
Let’s start with something small which most of us can do this week, or this year.
How much to save the world’s poor?
05 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: behaviour, Change the world, christianity, ethics, mission, western society, world
Last post I raised concerns about world poverty in the light of the world’s population reaching 7 billion people. But how big is the need, and how much would it take to bring some relief for those who most desperately need it?
Christians and world poverty
30 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Serving Tags: behaviour, Change the world, christianity, christians, ethics, mission, western society, world
Those of us who are christians in the western world are currently facing one of the biggest ethical challenges we have ever faced. Consider the following population graph – the world’s 7 billionth person is about to be born.
Dawkins vs Craig
23 Oct 2011 7 Comments
in Apologetics Tags: apologetics, Atheism, behaviour, christians, mission, reason
I have blogged before on the atheist vs christian wars, most recently in Atheist vs christian internet wars. The latest instalment is the verbal slanging match between US christian philosopher William Lane Craig and UK atheist biologist Richard Dawkins.
I think there are some things we can learn from this unedifying exchange.
Atheist vs christian internet wars
18 Oct 2011 2 Comments
in Behaviour Tags: apologetics, Atheism, behaviour, christians
The past six years, I’ve spent a lot of time on the internet, making comments on blogs and discussing on forums. The two most common subjects I’ve discussed have been web design and God. The people I’ve met discussing web design have almost always been friendly and helpful. I wish I could say the same about discussing God, religion and christianity!
I’ve made a lot of friends over that time, but I’ve also seen some ugly personal attacks, a mass of derogatory put-downs and a lot of polarisation. Modern day atheism can be a lot more militant and outspoken than it once was, no doubt partly in reaction to provocation, and I have sometimes been on the receiving end even though I try not to be provoking.
But the sad thing is, I see just as much bad behaviour from the christians.
Christians in society
28 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
in Behaviour Tags: behaviour, christianity, mission, religion, western society
A recent survey of American religion reveals some interesting facts
Robert Putnam (Harvard) and David Campbell (Notre Dame) undertook extensive research of religious attitudes in the US, and late last year published the results of their research in American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. I haven’t read the book, but I’ve seen an outline of their findings and an interview with David Campbell.
Does New Testament freedom lead to permissiveness?
13 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Doctrine Tags: behaviour, christianity, ethics, religion
Earlier today, in God without religion?, I referenced a book which warns us that religion can lead to us getting “caught up in obeying Old Testament laws instead of experiencing New Testament freedom.”
In a comment, Julie suggested otherwise:
“The biggest problem with religion is that Christians can get caught up in experiencing New Testament freedom and fall into the heresy of antinomianism and ethical permissiveness.”
It’s a valid concern. But is she right?
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