scholarly journals Justice and Demonstration of Christian Principles: Why churchgoers support Fair Trade

2019 ◽  
Vol 131 (8) ◽  
pp. 348-357
Author(s):  
Mark Dawson
Keyword(s):  
Fair Trade ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Face ◽  
Research Interviews ◽  
Church Support ◽  
Core Mission ◽  
The Church ◽  
Determined Manner

From the outset, church support for Fair Trade has been encouraged by what Cloke et al. have termed the Fair Trade ‘evangelists.’ 1 These church-based Fair Trade activists have promoted the concept to their congregations, and to the wider community, in a vocal and determined manner. This article examines the motivation of Fair Trade ‘evangelists’ and how they articulate the connection between Fair Trade and their Christian faith. In the face of criticism and indifference, why do these individuals persist? Drawing on my research interviews with nineteen church-based Fair Trade activists, I identify two clear findings. Firstly, that the activists view support for Fair Trade as an integral part of the work for justice, and secondly, that the action that they carry out for Fair Trade provides an opportunity to demonstrate the outworking of core Christian principles. The activists position support for Fair Trade as central to their faith and view it as contributing to the fulfilment of the core mission of the church.

scholarly journals Philip Neri and Charles Borromeo as Models of Catholic Reform

Perichoresis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 119-136
Author(s):  
Charles D. Fox
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Institutional Reform ◽  
Protestant Reformation ◽  
The Core ◽  
The People ◽  
Counter Reformation ◽  
The Face ◽  
Catholic Reform ◽  
The Church

AbstractIn the face of the external challenge of the Protestant Reformation, as well as the internal threat of spiritual, moral, and disciplinary corruption, two Catholic saints worked tirelessly to reform the Church in different but complementary ways. Philip Neri (1515–95) and Charles Borromeo (1538–84) led the Catholic Counter–Reformation during the middle–to–late sixteenth century, placing their distinctive gifts at the service of the Church. Philip Neri used his personal humility, intelligence, and charisma to attract the people of Rome to Christ, while Charles Borromeo employed his gifts for administration and his experience as a top aide to the pope to promote needed institutional reform. Both men achieved great personal holiness and moved others to holiness of life. It is their response to and sharing of the ‘universal call to holiness’, then, that constitutes the core of both of their approaches to ecclesial reform. Their focus on holiness, expressed in an emphasis on either the ‘charismatic’ or ‘hierarchical’ dimensions of the Church’s life, also provides a model for today’s Church, scarred as she is by scandal and in need of a new movement of reform.

scholarly journals Misericórdia: opção fundamental para o agir cristão na atualidade

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellton Luis Sbardella ◽  
Clélia Peretti
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Pope Francis ◽  
The People ◽  
The Face ◽  
Sacred Scripture ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Church

O presente artigo apresenta reflexões bíblicas e do magistério da Igrejasobre o tema da misericórdia. A misericórdia é o fundamento para os desafios que a fé cristã enfrenta diante das diferentes manifestações de violência na nossa sociedade. O tema da misericórdia está presente na Sagrada Escritura e no Catecismo da Igreja Católica (CIC), o qual nos mostra a concretização da ação misericordiosa de Deus em Jesus para todo ser humano. A Bula Misericordiae Vultus, do Papa Francisco, na  proclamação do Jubileu Extraordinárioda Misericórdia, apresenta com clareza o rosto da misericórdia de Deus, sua presença e ações manifestas no caminhar e na história do povo. O desafio do cristão hoje é uma prática evangélica da misericórdia, que ofereça respostas de libertação àquilo que fere a dignidade do homem e da mulher.Palavras-chave: Misericordiae Vultus. Deus é misericórdia. Violência e misericórdia.Abstract: The present article presents biblical reflections and the magisterium of the Church on the subject of mercy. Mercy is the foundation for the challenges that the Christian faith faces in the face of the different manifestations of violence in our society. The theme of mercy is present in Sacred Scripture and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) which shows us the concreteness of the merciful action of God in Jesus for every human being. The Bull Misericordiae Vultus of Pope Francis in the proclamation of the extraordinary jubilee of mercy clearly presents the face of the mercy of God, his presence and actions manifested in the way of the people and in his history. The challenge of the Christian today is an evangelical practice of mercy offering answers of deliverance to that which hurts the dignity of man and woman.Keywords: Misericordiae Vultus. God is mercy. Violence and mercy.

Observing the Christian Year as a Means of Facilitating Spiritual Growth

2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-233
Author(s):  
C. Edward Shepard
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Growth ◽  
Faith Formation ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Church

Observing the Christian year in the life and worship of the church facilitates spiritual growth and faith formation in the lives of the participants. This article initially speaks briefly about the Christian year and how it provides a framework for recounting the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—the Gospel story. The Christian year provides an opportunity for presenting the core doctrinal beliefs of the Christian faith. Secondly, drawing from the scriptures, spiritual growth is defined as becoming like Christ—“to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom 8:29). Finally, the author presents ways that observing the Christian calendar has provided a means of spiritual growth for the congregation in which the author serves.

scholarly journals Puebla: The Start of a Path Towards a More Audacious and Prophetic Theology in Latin America

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Martínez Morales, S. J.
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
American People ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
The Face ◽  
American Method ◽  
The Church

40 years ago, the Latin American bishops convened in Puebla to reflect upon and point towards new pastoral horizons and theological construction. This article conveys the dynamism, strength, and vigor of the message emanating from that meeting. Puebla gave clues of a new theology that, adhering to the Latin American method, can respond to the problems that question us with unprecedented vigor and invite us to envision new routes, fields of new approaches, and ways yet unpaved. The message arising from Puebla continues to be current. It opens up hope of new theological construction seeking to give a new dimension to its task, understand God’s action in history differently, as well as the human condition and its relation to nature. We live in a plural context, broad and open to the construction of theologies able to offer new interpretations of God’s revelation and action, a propitious moment to rethink theological efforts, regarding the challenges presented by Puebla. In this horizon, theological work should be understood from the experience of faith and fundamental openness of the being to God’s creative and salvific action, in the gratuity of filiation in the Son and not as a mere intellective obligation of the Christian faith. Puebla presents, not only for the Latin American people, but for the church in general, a reflection in which we are constantly reminded that human beings can transform situations of injustice into opportunities for liberation, forgiveness and mercy. It is up to every Christian to undertake a path of trustful commitment, marked by a spirit of solidarity and responsibility towards his or her neighbour. In this way one can make known the face of God of whom Puebla speaks and who cries out for justice.

scholarly journals Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God: Kenosis of leadership

2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hlulani Mdingi
Keyword(s):  
Imago Dei ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
The Real ◽  
The Core ◽  
The World ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Service To Others ◽  
The Church

Leadership is at the core of Christianity; it operates from the paradigm of God’s revelation to humanity through creation. The creation of the world and the creation of Imago Dei are markers of the service that God has maintained from creation to the fulfilment of soteriology (Gn 1:26, 3 and I Cor 15:42). The early church’s worship of Christ, at least in the Didache, stemmed from the fact that this Hebrew prophet was a servant of God and was YHWH in the flesh. The early teachings of the church were service to the world. This article contends that Christianity faces a crisis because of neglect of the nuclei of Christian theology and faith oriented around the real or physical person of Christ and service to others. The emphasis of this article focuses on kenosis as a prerogative of true Christian faith and leadership. A kenotic model of leadership is service to humanity and the world. The article seeks reflection on the theological importance of kenosis, which interacts with creation and creature. This approach will highlight underlying theology for leadership as it relates to the person of Christ.

Charismatic Movements, State Relations and Public Governance in Sierra Leone

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 237-256
Author(s):  
Joseph Bosco Bangura
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Church Development ◽  
Public Governance ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
State Relations ◽  
New Church Development ◽  
The Church

Sierra Leone has seen the rise of Charismatic movements that are bringing about greater levels of co-operation with the state. This new church development aims at renewing the Christian faith and projecting a more proactive role towards public governance. This ecclesial development shows that African Pentecostal/Charismatic theology appears to be moving away from the perceived isolationist theology that once separated the church from involvement with the rest of society. By reapplying the movement's eschatological beliefs, Charismatics are presenting themselves as moral crusaders who regard it as their responsibility to transform public governance. The article probes this relationship so that the Charismatic understanding of poverty, prosperity, good governance and socio-economic development in Sierra Leone can be more clearly established.

The Church as a Sacrament in a Time of Pandemic: The Philippine Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-280
Author(s):  
Rhoderick John Suarez Abellanosa
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Social Instability ◽  
Presence Of God ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

The declaration of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in various provinces and cities in the Philippines did not impede the Catholic Church from celebrating its sacraments and popular devotions. Mired with poverty and various forms of economic and social limitations, the presence of God for Filipinos is an essential element in moving forward and surviving in a time of pandemic. Predominantly Roman Catholic in religious affiliation, seeking the face of God has been part of Filipinos' lives whenever a serious disaster would strike. This essay presents how the clergy, religious and lay communities in the Philippines have innovatively and creatively sustained treasured religious celebrations as a sign of communion and an expression of faith. In addition to online Eucharistic celebrations that are more of a privilege for some, culturally contextualised efforts were made during the Lenten Season and even on Sundays after Easter. This endeavour ends with a reflection on the Church as the sacrament of God in a time of pandemic. Pushed back to their homes, deprived of life's basic necessities and facing threats of social instability, unemployment and hunger, Filipinos through their innovative celebrations find in their communion with their Church the very presence of God acting significantly in their lives.

The Prophetic Voice of the Church in a Democratic South Africa – A Theological Reflection

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lufuluvhi Maria Mudimeli
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
The State ◽  
Black Liberation ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Black Liberation Theology ◽  
Prophetic Voice ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Church

This article is a reflection on the role and contribution of the church in a democratic South Africa. The involvement of the church in the struggle against apartheid is revisited briefly. The church has played a pivotal and prominent role in bringing about democracy by being a prophetic voice that could not be silenced even in the face of death. It is in this time of democracy when real transformation is needed to take its course in a realistic way, where the presence of the church has probably been latent and where it has assumed an observer status. A look is taken at the dilemmas facing the church. The church should not be bound and taken captive by any form of loyalty to any political organisation at the expense of the poor and the voiceless. A need for cooperation and partnership between the church and the state is crucial at this time. This paper strives to address the role of the church as a prophetic voice in a democratic South Africa. Radical economic transformation, inequality, corruption, and moral decadence—all these challenges hold the potential to thwart our young democracy and its ideals. Black liberation theology concepts are employed to explore how the church can become prophetically relevant in democracy. Suggestions are made about how the church and the state can best form partnerships. In avoiding taking only a critical stance, the church could fulfil its mandate “in season and out of season” and continue to be a prophetic voice on behalf of ordinary South Africans.

All His Father’s Sins

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Christian Faith ◽  
Christian Identity ◽  
Jeremy Bentham ◽  
Church Of Scotland ◽  
Parting Ways ◽  
The Church ◽  
Critique Of Religion

This chapter explores the life and thought of John Stuart Mill’s father, James Mill. It seeks to unravel his journey from pursuing the calling of an ordained Christian minister in the Church of Scotland to parting ways with the Christian faith altogether. It will also seek to understand James Mill’s mature critique of religion, as well as that of his friend the Utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham, the author of several works critical of traditional Christianity. The unhappy marriage of John Stuart Mill’s parents is presented as a vital background for understanding his future choices and convictions. The Christian identity of his mother and siblings are also presented.

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