Exact replica of Noah's Ark is built in the Netherlands

A man from the Netherlands has been working hard on an identical replica of Noah’s ark, built to the exact measurements recorded in the Bible.

Johan Huibers is a construction company owner and has been working on the ark for the last few years but expects to be finished by July, according to a report in The New York Times.

This is the second time Huibers has built an ark, the last model being slightly smaller but it still managed to attract over 600,000 people to view it. Huibers told the newspaper that he desired to point people towards God through his construction and plans to use it as a live example of the story of Noah using real animals.

A small town in Netherlands by the name of Dordrecht is hoping to convince Huibers to bring the ark to the town in order to draw tourists. Dordrecht has been struggling with rising water levels causing damage to local farmlands and they desperately need funding to save the town. However, Huibers is hoping to take the ark to London for the Olympic Games next year.

Algerian Christian sentenced to five-years in prison for ‘blasphemy’

An Algerian court has handed down a five year sentence to a Christian for ‘blasphemy,’ according to a report from International Christian Concern.

Charges were laid against Siagh Krimo by his neighbour because Krimo shared his faith with him by giving him a Christian CD. The neighbour accused Krim of proselytising and making defamatory statements against the prophet Muhammad.

The court tried Krimo based solely on the complaint filed by his neighbor.

Krimo was charged under an article of the Algerian Penal Code that makes it a criminal offence to "insult the prophet" or "denigrate the creed and precepts of Islam". Krimo has ten days to appeal against the sentence.

Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, stated: "Algerian Christians have been under attack in recent weeks as laws have been increasingly enforced to discriminate against them.

"While Algeria professes that it upholds religious freedom, it also embraces a blasphemy law that, by its very nature, can be used to prosecute anyone who does not adhere to the religion of Islam.

"We urge Algeria to acquit Siagh of all charges and repeal Article 144 bis 2 of the Penal Code."

“He gave a CD to a neighbor, and for that he has to spend five years in prison,” said the president of the Protestant Church of Algeria (EPA), Mustapha Krim, trying to contain his disbelief. “The hearing went well, and the lawyer defended well, yet in the end the judge gave him the maximum punishment.”

Krim said that if the courts start interpreting the law as it did in Krimo’s case, then the future of Algeria’s Christians is bleak.

“If they start applying the law like that, it means there is no respect for Christianity,” Krim said, “and pretty soon all the Christians of Algeria will find themselves in prison. If the simple fact of giving a CD to your neighbor costs five years in prison, this is catastrophic.”

(Image depicts Algerian church).

The Archbishop of Orissa reflects on the daily persecution his flock endures

At his induction service, the new Archbishop of Orissa, John Barwa, said that three years after the massacre in Kandhamal, Orissa, the Christian faith is thriving despite ongoing safety threats.

The persecution of Christians in Orissa still exists, but the faith of people has been growing, and "even the number of faithful is increasing", said the new Archbishop.

Barwa's archdiocese includes the Kandhamal district, where over 60 Christians were murdered and thousands forced to flee and hide in the jungles after the death of a Hindu leader in August 2008.

"Persecution exists, we face many challenges, not without concerns. But we believe that persecution is part of our Christian vocation and Christian life. We are not afraid, but we live it as a blessing from God," the Archbishop told Fides last week in an interview.

"We know that where there is persecution, faith is strengthened, and today I am proud to say that faith in my people is strengthening.

"The blood shed for the faith in Christ is always the seed for new Christians: in Orissa the number of Christians is increasing."

According to a report compiled by the All India Christian Council, over 14 of the 30 districts in the state of Orissa were impacted by the violence and 6,000 houses were burnt in 400 villages, including 296 churches and smaller places of Christian worship.

Barwa stated there was still a "subtle form of oppression and intimidation" carried out and that some Christians who fled in terror have not yet been able to return to their homes.

"At the base there is hatred and hostility against Christians that result in discrimination on behalf of some sectors of society and also by the institutions."

The Archbishop said his confidence in justice, police and civil authorities had been rocked but that the results of ongoing trials would show whether people can really have faith in these systems.

"Today we do not feel sufficiently secure and protected. Furthermore, at least so far, we have not received justice for the violence suffered," he insisted.

"Orissa is a test for the respect and administration of justice in India."

Does social media make us care more?

A new study has found that people who follow social media carefully are more likely to care about others, according to thenextweb.com.

Research done on 24,000 consumers living in the 16 biggest countries in the world has discovered that those who are on the cutting edge of the latest social media developments and who are closely connected to others through this technology are more ‘prosocial’ than average, meaning they are more likely to engage in volunteer work, offer their seats in crowded places, lend possessions out and give directions to others.

A Netherlands-based independent non-profit organisation called ‘Let’s Heal’ compiled the research as part of their goal to assist brands in becoming more prosocial - brands that assist others by doing good.

“It’s no secret that I’m especially interested in ‘Meaningful Prosocial Brands’ in particular, because rather than just helping others, they facilitate their consumers to help others and in doing this, they can mobilize a large force for good,” stated Let’s Heal founder Mark Woerde.

“‘Meaningful Prosocial Brands’ go beyond social responsibility. These brands use their marketing power and engage target groups to the max and facilitate them to help other people by tackling small or big societal issues.”

Woerde illustrated his point by citing the nappy company Pampers as an example of a prosocial brand, saying it has committed to ending the threat of tetanus by the year 2013. For every Pampers pack that is bought, one child is vaccinated against tetanus.

The study found that 72% of keen social media adherents prefer to purchase prosocial brands, compared to 61% of people who are less involved in social media networking. Similarly, 81% of keen social media adherents prefer to work for prosocial brands compared to 61% of those who are less involved.

Whether this is because socially orientated people who feel burdened by the concerns of others are likely to want to connect through social media anyway, or because social media actually does promote positive and healing interaction with others remains to be decided.

You can make up your own mind after reading the full study at LetsHeal.org.

Russian teenager killed herself ahead of predicted Rapture

A teenager from the Republic of Mari El in Central Russia committed suicide on the morning of May 21st, allegedly because she was deeply afraid of the end of the world, which had been predicted by preacher Harold Camping to occur later that day.

Camping’s prediction was all over the news, and the 14-year-old Nastya Zachinova believed it to be true, her family has said. After returning from school on the Saturday in which the rapture had been predicted to occur, she took her life.

Zachinova’s personal diary reveals her fears that she and her family would only suffer during the apocalypse.

"We are not righteous; only the righteous will go to heaven, and we'll stay on earth and face terrible suffering," she wrote.

Zachinova also sent a farewell text message saying she did not want to die with everyone else and so was taking her life in advance.

"She took this date too close to heart," Zachinova’s mother told the press.

Police suspect that there may be something more behind the story, however, and are currently gathering reports from the teenager’s friends. They believe someone may have been behind the terror the girl lived with in her last days.

After Camping’s prediction did not come true, the preacher said he misunderstood the date as a ‘spiritual rapture,’ and that the physical end of the world would now come on October 21.

(Image is not factual but stylistic).

British MP complains that Christians in the UK are being persecuted

A British MP has challenged the treatment of Christians in the United Kingdom in a debate in the House of Commons this week.

MP David Simpson told fellow ministers that if they wanted to see examples of Christian persecution they need do no more than “simply look to our own back door”.

“In the United Kingdom, the policy seems to be that people can do whatever they like against Christianity – criticise it or blaspheme the name of Christ – as long as they do not insult Islam,” he argued.

“It is sad because this country is based on civil and religious liberty for all. When Queen Victoria was on the throne, the secret behind England’s greatness was its open scriptures and open Bible.

“Today, that policy is being hammered into the ground, and that concerns me greatly for the years and months that lie ahead.”

The debate in Commons arose out of the case of a Christian driver ordered to remove a small cross from the dashboard of his company van over concerns it would cause offense to people of other faith. This despite the fact the same company allowed a Muslim employee to display a verse from the Koran in her company car.

Mr Simpson also raised his concern for the plight of Christians in other parts of the world such as Nigeria where he said there was “wave upon wave” of violent attacks against Christians in post-election violence, and Pakistan, where the controversial blasphemy law has been used to imprison minority faiths. He said Britain had a responsibility to use its influence to help establish democracy in places like Egypt and Tunisia.

“Although the current situation for Christians in many Middle East countries is difficult, it could become increasing dangerous in the coming months and years,” he warned saying Britain had a responsibility to assist in establishing democracy in these countries.

“We, as a Parliament and a nation, should not be like the priest and the Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan and simply pass by on the other side.”

Although many of these countries were important trading partners, Mr Simpson stressed the correct response by the British government to human rights violations is not “silence”.

“I urge the Government not simply to chase the financial bottom line in our dealings with neighbours and partners,” Simpson added.

“As one of the great economies of the world and one of the beacons of democratic freedom, we have a duty to use all of our influence to help those who suffer injustice around the world.

“There is a rising tide of affliction that is swelling around Christians across the world.

“This nation and this Parliament should be more to the fore in the campaign against that and for civil and religious liberty. I urge the Government and all hon. Members to rise to that challenge.”

Bill Gates pleads the case of the poor before Capitol Hill

Bill Gates, the famed founder of Microsoft now spends his time as one of the world’s most active philanthropists in his capacity as co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This week Gates traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington to plead with the United States Congress to continue funding aid programs aimed at alleviating global poverty even during the present fiscal crisis that America is struggling with.

Gates challenged his listeners to take "courage" despite the enormous Federal debt and to continue investing in the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, saying it was the right thing to do.

"Yes, we have to watch the deficit," Gates admitted. "But a financial crisis should become a crisis of courage – and it should not force cuts in programs that pay huge returns."

The multi-billionaire also mentioned the importance of increasing aid to assist poor African farmers in becoming more productive. Farmers in these situations do not have access to the resources they need to make the most of their farms, and also struggle to afford to transport their produce to markets.

World Vision's international news manager, Geraldine Ryerson-Cruz, said that Gates was an extremely valuable ally in spreading a "very important message."

Israel's Netanyahu promises to support Palestinian state

The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke before a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, where he called for a fully demilitarized Palestinian state.

America as a nation and indeed many of the American Christian right have always been strong supporters of the Jewish state, while many other Christians from around the world, including South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have argued that sometimes the Palestinian point of view is overlooked because of this.

Netanyahu was interrupted by applause 56 times from the Congress, 26 of which were standing ovations. However, there was also some opposition with a woman interrupting Netanyahu’s speech twice to yell “equal rights for Palestine” and “the occupation of Palestine is indefensible.”

Netanyahu thanked America for their long-standing support for Israel but spoke against U.S. President Barack Obama’s comments last week suggesting the borders between Israel and Palestine revert back to the 1967 borders. Netanyahu called this suggestion “indefensible” during his speech to the support of many from the floor but gave no concrete ideas himself as to how the two sides could peacefully return to negotiations.

Netanyahu used the occasion to make a few barbed comments in the direction of Palestine.

“If the benefits to peace for the Arabs is so clear, then why has peace eluded us?” he said.

The issue before us “never has been about a Palestinian state, but the existence of a Jewish state,” Netanyahu added.

Netanyahu then challenged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to dialogue with him in terms mutually beneficial to both sides.

“I will accept a Palestinian state. It’s time for President Abbas to accept a Jewish state.”

The Israeli President concluded his speech by stressing the vital importance of the negotiation process. “Peace cannot be imposed. It must be negotiated,” he said.

Reports emanating from Palestine are that the Palestinian president will consult with leaders of the Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization in what could be a promising signal for further action.

Surprising findings in Barna study on family and technology

A recent study conducted by Barna Group has found that the digital age is shaping families in striking and unexpected ways. The study made five major findings, each of which challenges popular assumptions previously made.

1. Parents are just as dependent on technology as their 11-17 year olds.

Despite popular assumptions that teenagers drive the technology gap in families, it has been found that parents spend almost the same amount of time per day as their children using various digital technologies. This is true to an even greater degree among parents in their thirties or early forties.

2. Most family members believe that technology is a positive influence on their family.

Again the popular assumption that families are fed up with the effect of technology on their relationships has been found to be untrue. Most describe the influence of technology as neutral (51%), while only 18% of parents think it worsens family life compared to 32% who actually think it improves matters. That ratio greatly increases amongst teenagers with 47% seeing technology as positive while only 6% see it as negative.

3. Very few adults or youth take substantial breaks from technology.

The study found an apparent addiction to technology among both adults and youth with only 10% of parents and 6% of teenagers saying they take regular time off from their digital usage. Furthermore, such breaks tend to be driven by convenience rather than intentionality.

4. Families experience conflict about technology, but not in predictable ways.

Surprisingly, only one in four parents said they had “strong disagreements about the limits on media and technology” on a weekly basis, while the same proportion agree that technology causes tension between them and their children. For their part, 21% of teenagers felt their parents have a “double standard when it comes to technology,” while 17% think their parents “bring their work home with them too much,” a bad habit made worse by pervasive technology.



Interestingly enough, only 39% of parents and 27% of 11-17 year olds said technology caused frustration because it “makes it hard to have conversations.” The study found that technology only reinforced relational habits already in place; in other words, healthily communicating families find technology aids them, while families that struggle to communicate find technology exacerbates their problems.

5. Few families have experienced - or expect - churches to address technology.

Families have not experienced any form of coaching or assistance from community centres like churches to aid them in best using technology to enhance relationships. 42% of parents and 33% of children said they would be open to such teaching.

David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group, commented on the findings of the study by challenging churches to expand their concept of stewardship.

“Perhaps technology should be added to discussions about stewardship. Technology is as old as craftman’s tools. But today’s digital and emerging technologies are in a different class than hundreds of other hobbies or interests because they have come to significantly define the use of time, the development of talent, and the allocation of money,” he said.



“Technology is shaping family interactions in unprecedented ways, but we seem to lack a strategic commitment to the stewardship of technology. The Christian community needs a better, more holistic understanding of how to manage existing and coming technological advances. Parents, tweens and teens need more coaching and input in order to face the countless choices they make regarding how technology affects their attention, interests, talents and resources.”

The study is entitled “The Family and Technology Report” and was conducted in partnership with Orange, which is part of reThink Group. You can find a full copy of this article and the study itself on www.barna.org.

Camping refuses to take responsibility for failed Judgement Day predictions

An unrepentant and unapologetic Harold Camping has insisted that his failed end of the world May 21 prediction was only partially incorrect, but that the world would now definitely end on October 21.

Speaking before reporters at his Family Radio headquarters, Camping said that his predictions have been right, but that he did slightly err because his interpretation was more literal when it should have been spiritual.

Furthermore, Camping stressed that Judgment Day on May 21 did actually arise, but only in a spiritual sense and that the physical manifestation of this judgement would be known on October 21.

"On May 21, this last weekend, this is where the spiritual aspect of it really comes through. God again brought judgment on the world. We didn’t see any difference but God brought Judgment Day to bear upon the whole world. The whole world is under Judgment Day and it will continue right up until Oct. 21, 2011 and by that time the whole world will be destroyed," he argued.

Camping admitted that initially he thought his prediction had totally failed and he found that very hard, but after praying and reviewing the Bible he discovered he was looking at it more factually than spiritually.

"I can tell you very candidly that when May 21 came and went, it was a very difficult time for me, a very difficult time. I was wondering, 'What is going on?'

"The Bible is a very spiritual book. There are a lot of things that are very factual, very factual, of course, but there are a lot of things that are very spiritual. How to know whether to look at it with a spiritual understanding or a factual understanding is hard to know," said Camping.

"The fact is when we look at it more spiritually then we find that He did come."

Camping then insisted that Oct. 21, 2011, is still the date of the End of the World.

During the question and answer session with reporters that followed his statement, the 89-year-old also defended the accuracy of his previous Judgement Day predictions.

Camping broke down each of them down, arguing they were all fulfilled: May 21, 1988, judgment came upon the churches; Sept. 7, 1994, judgment continued on the churches; then on May 21, 2011, judgment came upon the entire world.

"We are not changing the dates at all. We are just looking at it a little more spiritually but it won't be spiritual on Oct. 21 because the Bible teaches the world will be destroyed altogether. But it will be very quick," confirmed Camping.

Camping refused to take responsibility for the chaos he has caused among those followers who had sold all their possessions and given away their life savings ahead of May 21.

"I don't have any responsibility. I don't have any responsibility of anybody's life. I'm only teaching the Bible. I'm simply saying, 'This is what the Bible says,'" he said.

"We at Family Radio never tell anyone what [to] do with their possessions. That's totally between them and God," he added.

When pressed by one reporter, Camping offered a half-hearted apology.

"If people want me to apologize then I can apologize, yes. I did not have all of that worked out as I wished I had it. But it doesn't bother me at all because I'm not a genius. When I make an error, I say, 'Yes, I was wrong.' I said that already," said the president of Family Radio.

Interestingly enough, Camping also offered his views on the type of person who would be raptured and ascend to heaven before Judgement Day. Camping is of the opinion that being a Christian plays no role in this.

"It has nothing to do with religion,” he emphasised, noting Hindus and those of other faiths can be raptured. “If God has saved them then they're going to be caught up."

Citing the biblical passage stating "the last shall be first and the first shall be last," Camping said salvation belongs to those whom God has chosen and those who ask mercy from God.

"The last are those who know the least about the Bible. If God has decided to save them ... they don't have to know all about the Bible ... They just have to know God has spoken."

Archbishop challenges Hawking’s views on Heaven

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has responded to Professor Stephen Hawking’s recent claim that Heaven is a ‘fairy story’ made up by people who are afraid of dying.

“Heaven is not just some kind of place for retired Christians where they’re going to be enjoying their retirement,” the Bishop told BBC’s Toby Foster during an interview. “Heaven is where God’s will is being done. In fact, the Lord’s Prayer talks about ‘your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’. So God is very much on earth as He is in Heaven.”

When the Anglican leader was asked directly about Hawking’s declaration that “there is no Heaven or afterlife” and that it is all “a fairy story for people afraid of the dark,” he responded by making it clear, “I’m not afraid of dying. Bring it on any day.”

Sentamu then continued, “[Hawking] shouldn’t paint a picture of some kind of sky stuff up there because the faith of God is not that kind of faith. The coming of Jesus in human flesh on earth was actually trying to say, ‘when I look at you ... you should be telling me more about what God is and about what it is to be human'.”

The second most senior cleric in the Anglican church then smiled as he observed that he would inform “that wonderful professor” not to picture another image which most people do not have at all.

Sentamu was then asked what he believed the challenge was for Christian believers in a world filled with differing points of view.

“The challenge really seems to me is not to try and think that we’re in the marketplace where we’re all looking for an easy bargain,” the Bishop stated.

“Where we are is that, God becoming human in Christ was trying to say if you want to know the authentic human life it is lived in a man called Jesus and if you want to know God, it’s not some kind of imaginary power out there.

“[God] actually takes upon our own nature so that we would become more loving, more caring and in the end, God for me is Christ-like.”

“If we do the will of loving and caring, of supporting, of rejoicing in the fact that human beings are made in God’s image and likeness, I think that’s a great thing to be done,” he added.

“So living with people with other faiths, I’m not so much pushing my idea to them, I’m more called to be loving, to be caring.

"It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t tell them about God by the way [but] I should be caring that in what I’m saying, I myself completely believe in the reality of the God that I’ve seen in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Harold Camping to explain his Rapture errors

After creating a storm of media headlines through his May 21 end of the world predictions, preacher Harold Camping lay low on Sunday when his predictions failed to materialise. The media continued to ask questions, however, with many wondering at the fate of his many followers who had sold their possessions and given away life savings.

On Sunday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after Camping’s predicted time for the start of Judgement day and rapture had come and gone, he finally spoke to The San Francisco Chronicle.

“I’m looking for answers,” the 89-year-old said, before admitting he was “flabbergasted.”

The International Business Times has subsequently reported that Camping will make a statement in a "public forum" sometime on Monday to explain why he had chosen May 21, 2011, as Judgment Day and why it had failed.

The newspaper had been informed by representatives from Camping’s ministry, Family Radio, that he needed time to "think and recover" but will "explain everything."

What is less clear is the fate of Camping’s many followers, many of whom are now severely out of pocket. Some followers have already shared that they feel their faith has been deeply shaken as well.

One commenter identified only as TL wrote a blog on the website Patheos entitled, “A Letter to Harold Camping and Those Who Expected Judgment Day,” in which he said that his mother had believed in Camping’s teachings for some 20 years, including his previously failed 1994 prediction.

“The faith she gave me as a young child (and my sisters) became the subject of much ridicule,” wrote TL. “This has been so hurtful on so many levels. Today, on May 22, I am strengthened by your words and pray for compassion.”

Another commenter called “Lara” wrote on the same website: “As the daughter of a man who completely bought into Harold Camping’s false teachings this is the most comforting thing that I’ve read so far. Our lives have been wrecked for the past 2-3 years. My father apologized to our family today. We are thanking Jesus for the miracle. We have hope that God will use evil for good.”

T.D. Jakes tells Franklin Graham to apologise to Obama

Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham and the CEO of the Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse, has been criticised by the megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes for his recent comments regarding U.S. President Barack Obama’s Muslim roots.

Graham told media of his conviction that Obama was born a Muslim and that those religious roots affect his governance today. Franklin insisted that although Obama claimed to be a Christian, the “seed of Islam” is in him and “the Islamic world sees the president as one of theirs.”

In an interview with columnist and Obama biographer Roland S. Martin, Jakes said Graham’s comments deeply concerned him.

“We didn’t question the Christianity of President Bush when he said he accepted Christ, and I’m disappointed in Rev. Franklin Graham in that regard,” Jakes told Martin.

”…And I would hope that he would see the rationale in apologizing for such statements — because if the president’s faith is suspect, then all of our faiths are suspect, because the Bible is quite clear about what it takes to be saved and the president has been quite open about his accepting Christ and him openly confessing it before men. And if it’s good enough for the Bible it ought to be good enough for the rest of us.”

“I wish he had the diplomacy of his father, who brought the gospel to people without being nuanced by politics because when you do those things you offend people that you are actually called to save and to serve,” added Jakes.

(Image shows Obama with T.D. Jakes at the recent White House Easter Prayer Breakfast).

Brad Pitt has ‘issues’ with his Christian uprbringing

Brad Pitt's latest movie - “Tree of Life” - shows him searching for meaning in life as a confused and lost 1950s Texas man. Pitt himself, however, is not a fan of traditional religion.

“I got brought up being told things were God's way, and when things didn't work out, it was called God's plan," Pitt informed reporters at the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

"I've got my issues with it. Don't get me started. I found it very stifling."

Pitt grew up in a conservative Southern Baptist home, and his younger brother Doug is still very involved in a large church outside of Springfield, MO.

Pitt has questioned his Christian upbringing for many years, telling Parade magazine in an interview a few years ago:
"I always had a lot of questions about the world, even in kindergarten. A big question to me was fairness. If I'd grown up in some other religion, would I get the same shot at heaven as a Christian has?"

Pitt insisted that abandoning the religious beliefs he grew up with was an experience of release for him.

"When I got untethered from the comfort of religion, it wasn't a loss of faith for me, it was a discovery of self,” he insisted. “I had faith that I'm capable enough to handle any situation. There's peace in understanding that I have only one life, here and now, and I'm responsible."

The film "Tree of Life” opened at Cannes to a mixed reception, with many of the audience booing at its conclusion.

Opinion: An Idiot’s Guide to the End Times

A lot of fuss has been made recently by the predictions of a pastor named Harold Camping. Camping is claiming that based upon his years of extensive Biblical study, the world will end on May 21. Or more correctly, the rapture will occur on May 21 and then God will destroy the earth on October 21. Camping's comments are excruciatingly embarrassing to many Christians, who are tired of the crazy-eyed minority gaining headlines for all the wrong reasons (like our friend, Fred Phelps, the Koran burner). Frighteningly enough, some people have taken Camping seriously enough to cash in their life savings and spend it, figuring they won't need the money anymore after May 21.

Robert Fitzpatrick, for example, a 60-year-old, retired transit worker from Staten Island has invested his entire life savings of $140,000 into a bus advertisement campaign warning people about the end of the world.

“I’m trying to warn people about what’s coming,” Fitzpatrick told the New York Daily News. “People who have an understanding [of end times] have an obligation to warn everyone.”

Camping's predictions come in a year where there already has been a lot of fuss about the end of the world. The Mayan doom prophecies for 2012 have been pulled out and dusted off, especially in the light of the numerous natural disasters parts of our globe have suffered through. The fact that the Mayans did not actually predict the world would end in 2012, but just ended their calendar there obviously doesn’t sell as many papers, so that point is rarely added to the mix.

The only prediction I feel safe in making is that over the next year or so, we will see an increase in crazy-eyed people who claim to have inside knowledge of the exact date and time. They will receive their headlines and 15 minutes of fame and then quietly slink away when their predicted date comes and goes, and inconveniently no apocalypse has arrived. What really annoys about this is that one day, one of these intense ‘prophets’ will be right (law of averages and all that). If heaven is to hold any joy for me, there will be no one allowed to walk around saying, “See! I told you so!”

I don’t mean to belittle the whole End Times thing - the Bible clearly addresses it (although the bit about “no one knows the time our hour” seems to skip so many by). Christians have been proclaiming Christ’s imminent return ever since there have been Christians - we see evidence of this in the New Testament itself. However, we also see evidence in the New Testament of a growing realisation that there is a difference between “imminent” and “immediate.” Striving to live every day as if Christ is imminent makes complete sense to me.

Yet the fringe lunatics of our faith family still persist in casting predictions of the exact time and hour, and coming out with all sorts of theories based on a very narrow and limited reading of Scripture. I know I might ruffle a few feathers here because of its popularity, but I would include the “Left Behind” book series in this lunatic fringe. Writing for the Huffington Post, the Associate Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary, Dr. Matthew Skinner, argues this point far better than I could.

“Witness the Left Behind franchise, which has made millions promulgating a theology based on the notion of a "Rapture," in which living Christians are snatched away to an otherworldly existence while the rest of earth slides fearfully into political and moral chaos. This theology comes from a very idiosyncratic view of the Bible that is popular in fundamentalist circles but has also infiltrated wider Christian discourse. Yet it represents a way of thinking about God and history that possesses, at best, dubious biblical support. Its retribution fantasies hardly align with notions of divine love and justice found in many other parts of the Bible.”

Since there are so many New Testament passages which describe the dawn of a new era, begun in Jesus’ first coming, but to be fulfilled in his second “appearing,” it would be silly to ignore the whole topic. We need more sensible, thoughtful opinion otherwise the fringe theorists will inevitably fill the void. This is why Skinner gives advice (see below) as to how we can read these many texts in a way that will not distort them to fit into our own conspiracy theories. Skinner’s advice on reading the Bible is long, but well worth working your way through.

“First, we have to note how context matters. Future hopes are given greatest attention in the New Testament usually when two other things are in view: the corrosive effects of religious hypocrisy and early Christians' experience of persecution. Biblical passages about Jesus' return therefore reiterate that God's commitment to the world is not warmly embraced by the world's business-as-usual religious, social, and political routines.

Next, "symbolic language" does not mean "not to be taken seriously." These texts are important in their ability to communicate that we don't live in the best of all possible worlds. They point toward the promise of a better future. New Testament scholar Dale Allison likens the Bible's visions of the end to its visions of the beginning:

"Genesis is no historical record of the primordial past, and the New Testament offers no precognitive history of the eschatological future ... We must interpret them not literally but as religious poetry, which means with our theologically-informed imaginations." (page 97).

Therefore, these passages prompt us to let the dimensions of our "longed-for future" be creatively informed by our "present religious experience and faith and theological reflection" (page 98). What Christians say, then, is the state of affairs Jesus promised the world has yet to come to full fruition. New Testament talks about the future issues vivid reminders that God still has work to do among us. The specifics about the future remain wholly mysterious. Still, the dominant emphasis is on promoting hope, not inciting fear.

All this could leave Christianity vulnerable to charges of escapism, but only if it leads people to ethical and social passivity. Or to paint motor homes like this.

A fourth observation pushes against passivity, however. Biblical images about Jesus' return evoke the sights and sounds of Roman propaganda. For example, caution expressed in 1 Thessalonians 5:3 concerning seductive reassurances spoken about "peace and security" in the world refers to an imperial slogan. Also, as one might expect given Christians' occasional status as a marginalized group in the first century, these images sometimes also imitate Roman propaganda. The description of Jesus' return in 1 Thessalonians 4 depicts him with language recalling Roman dignitaries' official visits to cities.

These passages' subtle connections to imperial rhetoric allow them to subvert it, too. They thus can commit Christians to an unwillingness to rest content with the status quo of human political existence. They portray the future that God will inaugurate as showing up our inferior ideals -- exposing all that humankind settles for (and gets oppressed by) as false substitutes for true peace and true security. They speak about a world that is sick, about people who abuse power. At the same time, they call people of faith not to shun or denigrate human society but to work for the world's redemption.”

Stephen Hawking: 'Heaven is a fairy story’

The world famous scientist and cosmologist, Professor Stephen Hawking, has dismissed heaven as a “fairy story for people afraid of the dark”.

The 69 year-old author of a ‘Brief History of Time,’ was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21, and has far outlived the life expectancy given him by doctors shortly after the diagnosis.

Hawking insisted his incurable illness has helped him enjoy life more and that he is “not afraid of death”.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Prof Hawking not only rejected the idea of life beyond death, but also emphasised the need to fulfil our potential on Earth by making good use of our lives.

"I have lived with the prospect of an early death for the last 49 years,” Hawking informed The Guardian.

“I'm not afraid of death, but I'm in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first.

"I regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail.

“There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.”

When Hawking was asked how we should live he replied: "We should seek the greatest value of our action."

Hawking has previously argued that if there was a God, it certainly could not be a ‘personal’ God.

When interviewed by Channel 4 last year, Hawking made clear his position.

"The question is: is the way the universe began chosen by God for reasons we can't understand, or was it determined by a law of science? I believe the second.

“If you like, you can call the laws of science 'God', but it wouldn't be a personal God that you could meet, and ask questions."

Various religious leaders have challenged Hawking’s theories with Reason To Believe research scholar Dr. Jeffrey Zweerink saying:

“A fundamental flaw in this Hawking idea is that God is no longer personal, and yet we human beings are personal. We have a mind, we have a spirit, and you’re attributing the development of the human mind, the human spirit, the minds for that matter we see in the higher animals, the personalities that we see in all of us from completely impersonal soul-less and spirit-less laws of physics. How can the lesser produce the greater?”

YouVersion Bible App goes viral

The YouVersion Bible app has completed exceeded all expectations as it cruised past the 20 million downloads mark earlier this month.

The free Bible app has jumped by 5 million since February alone, with around one new person downloading the app every 1.1 seconds in April alone.

The creators of YouVersion, the team at Lifechurch.tv in Edmond, Okla., have been thrilled with the results.

"People are sharing it with each other on Facebook and Twitter. It's really created a viral effect," said Bobby Gruenewald, who heads the team behind YouVersion at Lifechurch.tv.

"The pace has been increasing and picking up. We are really excited because we see more people engaging in the Bible."

In an interview with The Christian Post, Gruenewald affirmed his belief that the YouVersion Bible app is sparking a "Bible-engagement revolution."

"For the last several decades, there has been a problem with scripture engagement. People say they want to read the Bible but fewer and fewer people actually do read it once a month or never at all," he explained.

“But today, people have technology with them almost at all times. Since people have mobile devices with them from morning until evening, the YouVersion Bible app is also with them throughout the day and gives them more chances to read the Bible, said Gruenewald.

"We actually begin reading the Bible more than ever before and the main variable is that it's always with us at all times," said the Innovation Leader at LifeChurch.tv.

YouVersion is compatible with most mobile phone devices, and has 113 translation versions and 41 languages available. Bible translations include the updated NIV, Kings James Version, and English Standard Version.

Gruenewald added that 25 percent of new users come with phones set to languages other than English. Downloads for Chinese, Korean, Spanish versions are among the fastest growing languages.

"One of our biggest focuses right now is broadening the geographic reach of the Bible app. The way we are doing that is we are adding modern Bible translations," said Gruenwald.

Gruenewald also testified that the success of the Bible app had strengthened his personal faith.

"Our faith as to what's possible has really increased as we've seen what's God done so far."

"If you asked me three years ago when we were getting started if it's possible to get 20 million people to install this on their phones, we would have probably thought, possible maybe but not probable."

"What we're seeing today: God has really used it," he added. "We're asking the question and believing it's possible. We can see 100 million, 500 million people using their phones to engage in God's word each day."

A majority of Americans believe it's Biblically wrong to celebrate Bin Laden’s death

In a study undertaken by the Public Religion Research Institute/Religion News Service, it has been found that six out of ten Americans believe that based upon Scripture, people should not celebrate the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

Furthermore, 62 percent of Americans completely or mostly agree with the statement that it is “immoral to celebrate the death of another human being, no matter how bad that person was.”

The survey was conducted in the week after a team of Navy SEALs had assassinated Bin Laden at the orders of U.S. President Barack Obama. After the announcement of Bin Laden’s death, a number of Americans took to the streets in celebration over the passing of the man who was behind the devastating 9-11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York.

The survey revealed that that 66 percent of white evangelical Protestants – a higher proportion than Catholics (59 percent) and white mainline Protestants (53 percent) felt that the rejoicing was wrong.

The study further found that a large majority of Americans (82 percent) believe that Bin Laden distorted the teachings of Islam, while nearly two-thirds (65 percent) think that he will be eternally punished in hell for his sins.

Fifty day campaign for 50,000 Twitter users to tweet Lord's Prayer

GDOP London are attempting to recruit 50,000 followers on Twitter to tweet the Lord’s Prayer as part of their 50 day campaign leading up to the Global Day of Prayer on June 12.

"We want to get people of all ages and backgrounds praying the Lord 's Prayer wherever they are at 12 o'clock every day or anytime of the day," said GDOP London convener Jonathan Oloyede.

"We want to be praying 'Lord let your kingdom come and thy will be done over this whole nation'. So join the campaign as we countdown 50 days from Easter weekend to Pentecost weekend,” he added.

"Email, text, phone your friends the link #GDOPLondon via our twitter viral initiative and let's every one of us reach the goal if we can of 50,000 people on the Twitter campaign praying the Lord's prayer."

The project coordinator Daniel Eagle said he was eager to creatively use the power of social networking to mobilise prayer.

"As the world becomes more and more interconnected as a global village it is imperative that we use all the tools at our disposal to promote the cause for which GDOP London exists.

"The Convener Jonathan Oloyede mentioned a few years back that he saw in a sense a canopy of prayer and praise enveloping London and all the British Isles as different pockets of fire came together to pray.

"Social media is the next wave for global communication and interaction. GDOP London is using social media to generate prayer at the centre of this evolving communication trend. We are setting an example rather than letting those with destructive agendas set the tone for the UK community through social media."

Eagle mentioned he was hugely encouraged by the response the campaign has so far received.

"The Twitter following is very diversified and still increasing. We have quite a few individuals who have commended our efforts and we also have two individuals who have taken offense at our prayer tweeting. We try to wake London up with a prayer and good word. We also share encouraging prayer tweets when the people go to sleep at night."

Oloyede backed this up by saying he was also a firm proponent of the effectiveness of using social media.

"It works, as we know from the Obama campaign, using social media with lots of people at grassroots level mobilized. It is a very easy, cost effective way of connecting communication.

"Send a YouTube, Twitter or Facebook link to all your friends and this is one of the easier ways of getting people aware of what's going on. If you are able to text everyone on your contact list or send all your friends on your Facebook page, what is happening, we will have hundreds of thousands of people aware of this campaign. You are a vital link, please do not be the weakest link."

Oloyede added that he hoped the campaign, which concludes on Pentecost Sunday June 12, will provide impetus for the GDOP prayer event taking place at Wembley stadium later this year.

"This is building towards a cascading of prayer rising up from the whole of the British Isles, when we gather at Wembley stadium on Saturday September 17.

"It's building towards the kingdom of God breaking out in every one of our villages, towns and cities in this nation.

"Many people don't know about Jesus or how to pray and are lost and we need to reach them if we believe in the message of the Gospel."

Study finds that over 1,100 rapes occur daily in DRC

According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health on Tuesday, over 1,100 women are raped every day in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), making sexual violence against women 26 times more common than previously estimated.

Over 400,000 women and girls between the ages of 15 to 49 were raped in the vast, war-ravaged country in central Africa during a 12-month period in 2006 and 2007.

"Our results confirm that previous estimates of rape and sexual violence are severe underestimates of the true prevalence of sexual violence occurring in the DRC," stated Amber Peterman, lead author of the study.

"Even these new, much higher figures still represent a conservative estimate of the true prevalence of sexual violence because of chronic underreporting due to stigma, shame, perceived impunity, and exclusion of younger and older age groups as well as men," she added.

The study, which worked from data gathered in 2007, did not record sexual violence among girls younger than 15 or women older than 49 years, and also did not include at all sexual violence among boys and men.

"Although the burden of sexual violence among these groups is uncertain, a review of the records of 4,133 women attending Panzi Hospital in Sud Kivu showed that six percent were younger than 16 years and 10 percent were older than 65 years," confirmed the study.

"In addition, Human Rights Watch reported that sexual violence in 2009 doubled in comparison with 2008. If this assessment is accurate, then the current prevalence of sexual violence is likely to be even higher than our estimates suggest."

In response to the horrific findings of this study, Michael VanRooyen, the director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative said that "rape in the DRC has metastasized amid a climate of impunity, and has emerged as one of the great human crises of our time."

Further clashes in Egypt between Muslims and Christians

Tensions that have been simmering between Christians and Muslims for weeks in Egypt, came to a boiling point over the weekend in a series of deadly clashes.

Well over 180 people were left injured, 2 church buildings were set alight and 12 people were killed after violence broke out over rumours that a church was holding a Christian woman against her will because she wanted to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man.

The woman in question has since appeared on TV to dismiss the rumours as unfounded.

However, this did not stop Christians and Muslims hurling firebombs and stones at one another in the streets after hundreds of Salafist Muslims set fire to the Coptic Saint Mena Church while people were still inside.

The nearby Virgin Mary Church was also set on fire before riot police brought the situation under control. Church leaders declared three days of mourning for their dead.

There were further clashes later on Sunday after Christians protested outside of the state television building in central Cairo, urging the resignation of Egypt’s top military leader, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, and accusing the army of failing to protect them.

The police arrested 190 people during the course of the violence to stand trial in the Supreme Military Court as a “deterrent to all those who think of toying with the potential of this nation.”

How 'There Be Dragons' reconnected one actor to his faith

Actor Wes Bentley is best known for a minor role in “American Beauty” where as a would-be director he spent time filming a bag blowing in the wind. Now it seems he has finally landed a role that will surely bring further fame as he plays one of the leads in the newly released “There Be Dragons,” which is based on the life of Spanish St. Josemaria Escriva, who founded the controversial Catholic order Opus Dei during the Spanish Civil War.

While Bentley will have been hoping the role would bring him further recognition as an actor, little did he realise that it would also reconnect him to his childhood faith and help him in facing his personal “dragons."

Bentley was raised as a pastor’s child, but said this brought him more questions than answers.

“Yes, both my parents were preachers (Methodist), including my brother. I think when you are raised in a church and literally raised in a church building you are surrounded by spirituality and also religion, leaving a kid with a lot of challenges and questions,” he said in an interview with The Christian Post.

The actor said that the danger of growing up in an intensely spiritual environment led him to incorrectly assume he had his own faith, when he actually had not worked deeply enough through some of life’s tougher issues.

“I always assumed I had a relationship with God, I always assumed I had that wrapped up so I didn’t have to consider that that might not be the case and might also be what made my life more difficult.”

Bentley believes these assumptions left him unable to cope with the struggles of Hollywood and his rise to fame.

“In the assumption I just pushed it away and I had to really consider where I was spiritually. I feel like I inherited the faith. And I think a lot of PKs go through that.”

This resulted in long years of drug and alcohol addiction that took a huge toll on him personally, but in his role as Manolo in “There Be Dragons” the actor found his life turned around once more.

“I was getting dressed up and getting make-up for older Manolo. When I was preparing for the scene where I am telling my son all the terrible things I had done and asking him to pray for me and forgive me and I looked at the mirror and I had a really powerful moment and realized, I don’t want to be in my deathbed doing this and I needed to make amends to people in my life that loved me and loved them,” he admitted.

“I had things to tell them, things that were embarrassing that made me feel like not like a human being, and in that moment I realized, I want to do this, I want to do this now while I’m young. “

After going through this process, Bentley found that he had somehow reconnected with God, “I was so excited to realize what was wrong, to admit to that because it just solved all these problems for me immediately.”

Bentley also hopes that in sharing his own dark truths, he might remind other strugglers that there is a way of out from “living in such a dark place.”

“I don’t feel ashamed to tell others. I thought that by talking about it, it would help others who might’ve been where I was a little while before me. It also helped remind [me] of that and also keep away from it.”

“There Be Dragons,” tells the true story of two friends - Manolo and Josemaría (Charlie Cox) - whose relationship was deeply affected by the Spanish Civil War. While Manolo became a fascist spy, Josemaría chose a different path and decided to become a priest. The war brought out the worst in people (and the friends) and bred anger, death, betrayal and jealousy, yet even in the midst of this darkness it also developed faith, love, compassion and forgiveness.

Bishop urges West to protect Christian minorities more

In an article he wrote for Standpoint magazine, Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali said that while the United Nations had taken the necessary steps to protect people in Libya from attacks by their own government, he wondered why the United Nations or the West was “unable to tackle the widespread and growing persecution of Christians?”

The Bishop was particularly worried about countries like Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, where Christian communities are regularly harassed by religious extremists.

“In the case of Iraq, why is there so much resistance to a declaration that Christians, Mandaeans, Yazidis and other minorities need to be protected and that, where necessary, their safety in certain zones will be guaranteed by the international community?” he asked.

Bishop Nazir-Ali was ordained in Pakistan but is now based in England, and he insisted in his article that international involvement would give Christians in countries like Iraq a sense of greater security concerning their future and would prevent them from fleeing.

“If the continued presence of these ancient communities is to be safeguarded, the international community needs to act now.”

The Bishop also said Pakistan present a peculiar problem in this regard because with their controversial blasphemy law they have legally enshrined discrimination. Nazir-Ali believes this law is an example of the “blatant intolerance” of religious minorities, and as a result the West should really rethink their relationship with Pakistan to properly address extremism.

“Pakistan is the recipient of massive aid from Western countries. This is to assist with basic services and to prevent the spread of extremism. But why should it not be targeted, first and foremost, at those areas which are most susceptible to extremist influence?”

The Bishop made suggestions such as removing hate speech in textbooks, reforming the education system, strengthening civil society and the role of women and non-Muslims, and fostering interfaith dialogue.

“Is there any reason why such aid cannot be linked with Pakistan’s performance, not only in how it deals with its minorities, but how it proposes to review and revise discriminatory legislation itself?” he wrote.

Archbishop of Canterbury left feeling ‘uncomfortable’ over Bin Laden killing

The Archbishop of Canterbuy, Dr. Rowan Williams, has admitted that several aspects of the killing of Osama bin Laden have left him feeling “very uncomfortable.”

The spiritual head of the Anglican Communion said the contradictory reports that have recently emerged leave him questioning whether justice has truly been done. Initial reports stated that Bin Laden had been killed after an extended fire fight with U.S. Navy Seals but now it seems he was unarmed when shot dead in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on Sunday.

“I think the killing of an unarmed man is always going to leave a very uncomfortable feeling because it doesn’t look as if justice is seen to be done,” said Williams in a recent press conference.

“In those circumstances I think it’s also true that the different versions of events that have emerged in recent days have not done a great deal to help.”

The contradictory reports from the White House and Defense Department officials have led many to express reservations about the incident.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has called into question the legality of the killing and called for a “full disclosure of the accurate facts.”

The U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has responded by defending the military operation.

"The operation against Bin Laden was justified as an act of national self-defense," he insisted.

Katy Perry discusses why she rejected her Christian faith

It is fairly well known that Katy Perry was raised in a strict, Christian home and actually started out life as a Christian music artist under her real name Kate Hudson. Perry is now famous for her hedonistic lifestyle, skimpy outfits and sexually provocative dance routines, and in a recent interview with Vanity Fair she explains why she has not adopted the faith her parents brought her up in.

According to Perry, she found her childhood way too strict and constraining. She says the only book her mother ever read to her was the Bible and that listening to non-Christian music was not allowed.

“I didn’t have a childhood,” lamented Perry, who also explained she was very relaxed and tolerant about faith matters these days, including the fact her husband Russell Brand is into Hinduism.

“In my faith, you’re just supposed to have faith. At this point, I’m just kind of a drifter. I’m open to possibility,” she said.

“I come from a very non-accepting family, but I’m very accepting,” the pop singer added.

“Russell is into Hinduism, and I’m not really involved in it. He meditates in the morning and the evening and I’m starting to do it more because it really centers me. But I just let him be him, and he lets me be me.

“My sponge is so big and wide and I’m soaking everything up and my mind has been radically expanded.”

Perry admitted her parents are disappointed with some of her lifestyle choices, but says they don’t try to interfere too much.

“We coexist,” said Perry. “I don’t try to change them anymore, and I don’t think they try to change me. We agree to disagree.”

Martin Sheen stars in new movie about Christian pilgrimage

Martin Sheen is a confessed “radical Catholic,” and so it should come as no surprise that his next movie, "The Way," focuses on a father who embarks on a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago – or "Way of St. James" – following the death of his son, played by his real-life son, Emilio Estevez.

The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage that has been tackled by over a 100,000 Christians and the movie was penned by Estevez after Sheen travelled it in 2003. The film looks at the different types of grief people experience in life, and how an intentional inner journey can become a part of their healing.

“The Camino was filled with broken people who were suffering great loss and were in need of healing, which is very typical, because again, the Camino is metaphor for life,” Sheen recently told Christianity Magazine in an interview.

“Everyone is looking for an effort to unite the will of the spirit to the work of the flesh. That’s what all of our lives are about, whether we’re conscious of it or not," he added.

“All of us seek transcendence, and that’s why people walk the Camino. Pilgrimages are an effort to touch the sacred in our lives.”

Although the film deals with spiritual themes, Sheen believes that it encompasses even non-believers since it deals with our deep inner hunger to realise a “moment of clarity” when we know we are loved.

“You see it (knowledge of being loved) in them, or you see the absence of love in them. You see it in people who don’t believe they are loved, or don’t know they are loved, or have not embraced their brokenness, their darkness – they’re still living in the shadow self,” Sheen added.

“When you see the light, and it’s so clear, so obvious, you see someone who knows they are loved and they reflect love in return. Those that are broken, heal, and heal others. That’s the journey of love. That’s the journey of the Camino.”

When Sheen was asked how he specifically knows he is loved, he replied that in his opinion it lies in the “genius of God” who chose to be human, small and broken.

“That makes me realize I am healed, here in this reality, and I can heal others.”

Pakistani Christians concerned over possible repercussions after Bin Laden’s death

Pakistani Christians have expressed real fears that the the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of American soldiers could result in revenge attacks by Muslim extremists.

Dr Nazir Bhatti, the President of the Pakistan Christian Congress, urged the Pakistani government to ensure Christians are properly protected in the aftermath of the al-Qaeda leader’s death, according to the Pakistan Christian Post.

“The Pakistan administration must beef up security of churches, Christian institutions, Christian colonies and life of common Christian after death of Osama bin Laden.”

Christians only make up around 3% of Pakistan’s total population, and have often been targeted by extremists in the past. In March of this year, the only Christian government minister in Pakistan, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated for his outspoken views on the controversial ‘Blasphemy’ law.

Christians were also targeted for reprisals after an American pastor infamously burned a Koran as part of a staged ‘trial’ at his church. A Gujranwala church and missionary school were attacked last week in revenge resulting in hundreds of Christians fleeing from the area in fear for their lives.

Police have advised local churches to install security cameras and hire only security personnel who are Christian.

Happy 400th Birthday to the KJV!

The King James Version of the Bible officially turned 400 years old on Monday.

The official birthday culminates months of worldwide celebration, with public figures as diverse as Prince Charles to atheist Christopher Hitchens agreeing to participate.

Hitchens wrote in the Vanity Fair that: "Though I am sometimes reluctant to admit it, there really is something 'timeless' in the Tyndale/King James synthesis.

"For generations, it provided a common stock of references and allusions, rivaled only by Shakespeare in this respect.

"It resounded in the minds and memories of literate people, as well as of those who acquired it only by listening."

The KJV was originally called the Authorised Version but came to be named after the king who commissioned it. King James 1 was struggling to lead his country through a time of severe religious division between Anglicans and Puritans. At the centre of their disagreements were various Bible translations that neither side could agree on.

The King managed to forge an uneasy alliance between Anglican and Puritan scholars to begin work on a new translation together, and it was his hope that this partnership would create further unity. It took a team of 47 scholars seven years to complete the project, and although the date is not definite, it is believed the KJV was first published around May 2, 1611.

One particular act of commemoration arranged for May 2 was by YouVersion, a Bible app group from Lifechurch.tv, who organised a mob reading of the translation where people all over the world read from the Bible for 400 seconds in unison.

“To my understanding it’s the first time that something like this has ever happened in history and so people don’t just want to celebrate the history but be part of the making of history,” stated Bobby Grunewald, innovation leader at Lifechurch.tv, which created YouVersion.

Other celebrations being organised includes The Bible Nation Society hosting an expo housing ancient Bibles, including a first edition 1611 authorised King James Bible, in front of the US Capitol building.

"To ignore it (KJV), is to ignore the very sun. It has enlightened our souls about Jesus Christ, and enriched our lives by paving a way of thinking," said Doug Levesque of the Bible Nation Society.

"In its pages are the answers to our current dilemmas including, the economy, the middle east, and even political gridlock."

Christians don’t ‘rejoice over death,’ says Vatican in response to Bin Laden death

A spokesperson for the Vatican said that Christians should never “rejoice over a death” in response to Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s death and subsequent scenes in America and other places of people wildly celebrating.

Father Federico Lombardi also said, however, that Bin Laden, who was killed by American soliders in a raid on Sunday, would have to answer to God for having killed many people and exploiting religion to spread hate.

Lombardi added that Bin Laden’s death should serve as a sombre note of reflection that stands as a reminder of "each person's responsibility before God and men."

"Osama bin Laden, as everyone knows, had the grave responsibility of having spread division and hate among people, causing the deaths of an innumerable number of people and exploiting religion for these purposes," he added.

Pope John Paul II’s Beatification Draws Over 1 Million Catholics to Rome

Over a million Catholics crowded St Peter’s Square and the streets surrounding Vatican City on Sunday morning to attend a service of beatification for Pope John Paul II.

The service was led by Pope Benedict XVI on behalf of his predecessor who passed away in 2005 after spending 25 years as pope.

The beatification is the second last step in the process towards full canonization and is the fastest in modern times after John Paul II was put on a “fast-track” to sainthood.

The service was preceded by an all-night prayer vigil in Rome’s Circus Maximus and included a testimony from the French nun at the center of the miracle needed for John Paul’s beatification.

Sister Marie Simon-Pierre told the crowd how she was inexplicably cured from Parkinson’s disease after a night of prayer to the pontiff not long after his death.

A second miracle is required for full canonization, which should not be problematic as hundreds of Catholics have already reportedly come forward with such claims.