
Pope Francis dies at 88 after final appeal for Gaza ceasefire
Will the millions who will mourn his death these coming days respect this wish of his? Will they care for Gazans and Palestinians the way he did?
Recent articles in Religion

23 April 2025
Explainer | What happens after Pope Francis’ death?
Following Pope Francis’ death, key rituals commence, including sealing his flat, destroying the ring, and funeral arrangements.

17 April 2025
Faith and public policy
Easter is as good a time as any to be reminded that Christianity has a contribution in the formulation of public policy.

17 April 2025
Easter: More rising than falling
“I call upon heaven and earth this day to witness that I have put before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life! Choose life, so that you and your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy, 30:19)

16 April 2025
Easter, triumph of life over death
On 11 April, P&I published a wonderful Geoff Pryor cartoon showing “first semester exam results” for a self-satisfied Donald Trump lying back comfortably in a lounge chair.

16 April 2025
The Thereafter
A few years ago, approaching Christmas, I received a phone call from a gentleman named Mark Feary. He was the curator of the Silvershot Gallery in Flinders Lane at the back of St Paul’s Cathedral in central Melbourne.

16 April 2025
The Coalition commits to Christian Nationalism
The Republican Party thought it could ride the tiger of the Christian Right: instead, that movement swallowed the party whole.

15 April 2025
Building peace through contemplation, compassion and our common humanity
We acknowledge respectfully the Boonwurrung people and the elders and people of the Eastern Kulin nation who have traditional connections with, and responsibility for, the land on which we meet.

14 April 2025
Will the real God please stand up?
In a lovely, heartfelt post on this website on 10 February, responding to the ongoing crisis in Israel/Palestine, with the three great monotheistic religions — Judaism, Islam and Christianity — once again seemingly in collision, Eric Hunter gave voice to the question on everyone’s lips: why does God seem to sit back and do nothing to stop all the murder and mayhem?

8 April 2025
God doesn't save the day – oh, but yes, they do!
Hi. I’m responding, if I may be so bold, to Eric Hunter’s lovely, heartfelt post on February 10, “Why doesn’t God save the day?” I want to answer Eric’s question in a very direct and positive way, but also (shamelessly) put in a plug for my new book, The God who doesn’t Exist, out now through ATF Press (see the link below*).

4 April 2025
Appreciating being in Australia and resolving to make the best of our opportunities
That we live in one of the best contemporary democracies is to be appreciated.

19 March 2025
Does Jesus need a barber? The question is a trap
Western media usually tags Indonesia as having more Muslims than any other country. That’s statistically true – but lesser known is that 11% of the 284 million don’t follow Islam. The constitutionally secular republic has more Christians than Australia.

18 March 2025
Empathy, culpability and madness
Is Trump mad? If declining to share the joys and troubles of the whole human race, to decline a seat at humanity’s common table is a form of madness – then yes, Donald J Trump is mad.