In Context July 10, 2009
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By Ruth Robinson
As you will see, many of this edition’s posts include site addresses where the full articles can be found. This intentionally allows you to bookmark sources to which you might want to return in the coming weeks and months.
This will be the final posting of The Ambassador’s Briefing and In Context. At the end of this 10-year run, I encourage you to stay curious about the forces that shape Europe, searching for clues and litmus tests that will prepare us to live and work well as Christ’s disciples in this area of the world.
In Context: Editor’s Comment on May and June 2009 Articles June 11, 2009
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In Context
June 11, 2009
By Ruth Robinson
Who holds the moral authority in Europe’s nations today? If the Church does not speak out, or is not heard by country leadership, what moral compass will the decision makers follow?
These are confusing times (more…)
In Context: Editor’s Comment on April and May 2009 Articles May 14, 2009
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We’ve become familiar with the European trend of decline in church attendance in mainline churches, both Protestant and Catholic. More recent phenomena reveal a more proactive distancing from traditional church values: the purchasing of de-baptism certificates and the openly atheistic stance of a liberal Protestant Dutch pastor. Exacerbating the problem, say some observers, (more…)
In Context: Editor’s Comment on February and March 2009 Articles April 2, 2009
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April 2, 2009
By Ruth Robinson
Most media accounts in the past months have seen a great scramble of governments and the private sector to come to terms with the global fallout from greed and deception. At first we heard of millions lost, (more…)
In Context: Editor’s Comment on January 2009 Articles January 24, 2009
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January 24, 2009
By Ruth Robinson
With a “eurosceptic” president at the helm (president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus), and waves of riots hitting several of Eastern Europe’s capitals, the European Union is in a weak position (more…)
In Context: Editor’s Comment on November and December 2008 Articles December 17, 2008
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By Ruth Robinson
In the context of Europe’s multi-cultural, multi-religious society, tolerance is widely appreciated and applauded. In fact, a recent study (the Religion Monitor) has found that 90% of Europeans agree with the statement that “every religion is likely to contain a kernel of truth”. (more…)
In Context: Editor’s comment on EPA’s 2007 Creationism Resolution November 17, 2008
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The twenty items of the European Parliamentary Assembly’s 2007 resolution on “the dangers of creationism in education” highlight several striking points of view.
Authors and signatories of the resolution insist there is “the right to freedom of belief”, but that there is also a huge chasm between belief and science, and that “it is necessary to prevent belief from opposing science”. (more…)
In Context: Editor’s Comment on October 2008 Articles November 3, 2008
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Apropos to the consuming coverage of today’s US election is the first item in this month’s issue. Though America’s sea-change effect of how politics is conducted has come roaring through into this millennium, there is still a call by the major players to stand for what’s “right”, often linking this with some core value system.
In contrast, Europe’s process of losing it’s moral compass is more than a process of secularization – (more…)
In Context: Editor’s Comment on September 2008 Articles October 4, 2008
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It seems the whole world is talking about the credit crunch, the nationalization of banks, bailouts and responsibility for the crisis. Exiting the “Big Four” talks today, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown characterized the situation in Europe as “a crisis coming to us from America”, a snapshot of the European perspective on the financial roller coaster on which they are riding these treacherous days.
In Ireland, the papers say the Celtic Tiger’s “claws have been clipped”. (more…)
Addendum to October 4th “In Context” October 4, 2008
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…we know it’s not just talking to Europeans about Europe that will make a difference for eternity, it’s praying for Europe and talking to those around us about Christ’s hope for Europe (in spite of the challenges and crises and bad news all around), talking to them about the power of Jesus to transform personal lives.
