Oxford professors ask for help in decoding ‘Lost Gospels’

Biblical researchers based at Oxford University have become very excited about translating millions of fragments of ancient texts in their possession. While these texts were discovered over a century ago, it is only recently that translating them has been taken seriously, and researchers are becoming increasingly excited by what they are uncovering.

The documents, entitled The Oxyrhynchus Papyri, after the Egyptian city in which they were discovered, are being touted as a possible “lost gospel,” with academics saying they could provide valuable insight into the “mark of the beast” referred to in Revelation.

The painfully slow process of translating them has resulted in researchers calling on “armchair archaeologists” to help out by logging into the Ancient Lives website, where parts of the text have been published.

The texts, dated between 500 BC to 1,000 AD, were written when Egypt was controlled by Greek and Romans.

“It’s with the digital advancements of our own age, that we're able to open up this window into the past, and see a common human experience in that intimate, traditional medium, handwriting,” lead developer and designer, William MacFarlane of Oxford University’s Department of Physics stated on the university’s website.

Parts of the documents have not been read in over a thousand years, and might provide valuable insight into the life and ministry of Jesus, and even details about what people of the time believed about the Judgement Day.

One discovery has already thrown into question the number of the beast referred to in Revelation 13:18 as ‘666,’ with researchers now believing it might actually be “616” or “665.”

Fragments also include lost stories of Jesus, including an account of Jesus throwing out demons.

“Until now only experts could explore this incredible collection,” said project leader Dr Chris Lintott of Oxford University’s Department of Physics. “With so much of the collection unstudied there’s plenty for everyone. We’re excited to see what visitors to ancientlives.org can unearth.”

(Image from ox.ac.uk).

Judgement Day preacher apologises for mistake

The founder of Family Radio Stations Inc., Harold Camping, has publicly apologised for incorrectly predicting the end of the world on two separate occasions.

The preacher first predicted the world would end on May 21 causing thousands of his followers to resign from their jobs and cash in their savings. When this date failed Camping then changed his prediction to October 21.

In a recent address on his radio station, Camping admitted he had read the Scriptures incorrectly and regrets the harm this has caused others.

This is quite an about turn for Camping who has insisted since 1992 that he had discovered a special numerical system in the Bible that allowed him to calculate the exact dates of certain events, such as the Great Flood, the Crucifixion and Judgement Day.

A transcript of Camping’s audio message is below:

"We're living in a day when one problem follows another. And when it comes to trying to recognize the truth of prophecy, we're finding that it is very very difficult.

Why didn't Christ return on Oct. 21? It seems embarrassing for Family Radio. But God was in charge of everything. We came to that conclusion after quite careful study of the Bible. He allowed everything to happen the way it did without correction. He could have stopped everything if He had wanted to.

I am very encouraged by letters that I have received and [am] receiving at this time concerning this matter. Amongst other things I have been checking my notes more carefully than ever. And I do find that there is other language in the Bible that we still have to look at very carefully and will impinge upon this question very definitely. And we should be very patient about this matter. At least in a minimal way we are learning to walk more and more humble before God.

We're ready to cry out and weep before God: 'Oh Lord, you have the truth, we don't have it. You have the truth.' And this is another place where we have to cry out for... There's one thing that we must remember – God is in charge of this whole business, and we are not. What God wants to tell us is His business. When He wants to tell us is His business. In the meanwhile, God is allowing us to continue to cry to Him for mercy – oh my, how we need His mercy – and continue to wait on Him. God has not left us. God is still God. But we have to be very careful that we don't dictate to God what He should do.

In our search in the Bible, we must continue to look to the Bible, look to the Bible. Because there is where truth comes from. And God in His own timetable and in His own purposes will reveal truth to us when it's His time to do it. In any case, we do not have to have a feeling of calamity or a feeling that God has abandoned us. We are simply learning. And sometimes it's painful to learn. We are learning how God brings His messages to mankind, and my my, we have claimed to be a child of God, and therefore as we search the Bible, we're bound to feel the darts of the Lord. Sometimes He gives us the truth and sometimes He gives us something that causes us to wait further upon Him.

Whatever we do, we must not feel for a moment that we have been abandoned by God – that He is no longer helping us or interested in us. Oh my, what an encouragement it is to go to the Lord again and again – "Oh Lord, I don't know anything. You teach me." And that's the attitude that has to be apart of each one of us. And God will not abandon us, He will provide, but we have to be just very careful that we don't dictate to him when that has to happen.

Incidentally, I have been told that I said back in May that people who did not believe that May 21 should not be the rapture date, probably had not been saved. I should not have said that, and I apologize for that. One thing we know for certain, is that God is merciful, merciful beyond anything that we would ever expect. And so, we can pray constantly, and should be praying constantly: "Oh Lord, we look to Thee for Thine mercy, and we're so thankful that we know that Thou art so merciful."

How wonderful to know that God is still on the throne, that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and that He hears every one of our prayers. And let's not hesitate, let's be, if anything, let's pray more than ever for God's mercy, and keep praying and God will provide. But God is in charge, and we must always keep that in mind."

Vatican urges radical global economic reform

The state of the global economy has been in the news a lot lately with the anti-establishment ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protest movement gaining momentum throughout the word. The Catholic Church has boldly entered that debate with the Vatican this week urging a radical reform of the world's financial systems.

A proposal put forward by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace outlines a new world economic order based on ethics and the "achievement of a universal common good." It also calls for the installation of a global political authority to manage the economy. This comes after Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 economic encyclical that denounced a profit-at-all-cost mentality as responsible for the global financial meltdown.

The proposal admits that a "long road still needs to be traveled before arriving at the creation of a public authority with universal jurisdiction" and suggests beginning the reform process with an overhaul of the United Nations.

"It is an exercise of responsibility not only toward the current but above all toward future generations, so that hope for a better future and confidence in human dignity and capacity for good may never be extinguished," the document read.

The proposal emphasises that reforms should ensure that financial and monetary policies do not damage smaller economies while also fairly distributing the world’s wealth.

The document fiercely condemned "utilitarian thinking," saying what is useful to the individual does not always favor the common good.

Shane Claiborne: What would Jesus say to Wall Street?

In an article he recently wrote for the Huffington Post, activist and author Shane Claiborne brought a Christian perspective to the growing Wall Street protests. Claiborne mentioned how a reporter asked him, "As a Christian leader, does your faith have anything to say about Wall Street?" Claiborne’s response was: "How much time do you have?"

Claiborne insists faith has plenty to say to the economic realm, citing theologian Karl Bath’s famous saying that "We have to read the Bible in one hand, and the newspaper in the other." Claiborne insists that Christians should never use their faith as a ticket out of this world but rather as fuel to engage it.

Claiborne adds that the Gospels confront the very “patterns of the world we live in.” He talks about how the pregnant Mary sings about how God will cast the mighty from their thrones and raise the lowly. There are about 2000 similar verses in Scripture, where God confronts the powerful and promises care for the poor and vulnerable. Claiborne then writes:

“What would Jesus say about Wall Street?

It doesn't get much better than Luke chapter 12. Jesus begins by saying, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." And then, as per usual, he tells a story. The story is about a "rich man" whose business makes it big. He has so much stuff he doesn't know where to put it all. So he decides, "This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones... and I'll say to myself, 'You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'" But Jesus says God looks down and is not happy. God says to the rich man, "You fool! This very night you will die -- and what will happen to all your stuff?" And Jesus ends the teaching by saying this is how things will be for folks who store up stuff for themselves.

It does make you wonder what to do about 401k's and pensions. But it seems pretty clear that Jesus isn't a big fan of stockpiling stuff in barns and banks, especially when folks are dying of starvation and preventable diseases.

One of the constant threads of Scripture is "Give us this day our daily bread." Nothing more, nothing less. Underneath this admonition is the assumption that the more we store up for tomorrow the less people will have for today. And in a world where 1% of the world owns half the world's stuff, we are beginning to realize that there is enough for everyone's need, but there is not enough for everyone's greed. Lots of folks are beginning to say, "Maybe God has a different dream for the world than the Wall Street dream."

Maybe God's dream is for us to live simply so that others may simply live. Maybe God's dream is for the bankers to empty their banks and barns so folks have enough food for today.”

To read the full article, go to www.huffingtonpost.com/religion.

Facebook book comment earns demotion

A Christian working as a manager at a housing association in Manchester, United Kingdom received a demotion and massive pay cut due to comments he made regarding homosexual civil partnerships on Facebook.

Adrian Smith shared a news headline link to his Facebook page concerning gay church marriages being given the go head, to which he added a personal comment: “An equality too far.”

His comment was read by two colleagues who asked him to explain. Mr Smith replied that the state “should not impose its rules on places of faith and conscience”.

The colleagues then complained to their employers at Trafford Housing Trust, who launched an investigation and disciplinary proceedings against Mr Smith. The decision was taken to cut his salary by 40 per cent and demote him from his managerial position.

Despite the comments being made on Mr Smith’s personal page and outside of work hours, the organisation said his remarks damaged their reputation and amounted to gross misconduct.

Mr Smith was informed he escaped dismissal only because of his loyal service over 18 years.

Mr Smith appealed the decision, but it was upheld by senior managers. He has now decided to take the Trust to court, citing unlawful interference with his rights to free speech and religious liberty.

Mr Smith is being supported by the Christian Institute and solicitor Tom Ellis, of the Manchester-based law firm Aughton Ainsworth in his challenge, reports ChristianityToday.com.

Mr Ellis argued that his client had left bereft of all other choices than to seek justice in the court system.

“As a Christian, Adrian believes in the values of fairness, courtesy and respect for the opinions of others," said Mr Ellis.

"These are the values of a mature and healthy society. Surely that leaves room for colleagues to discuss and even disagree about the topics of the day. Conversations like that happen in offices and factories up and down the country every day.

“Nothing he said was offensive or abusive. His comments were calm, measured and reasonable. Adrian has been treated disproportionately and even those who disagree with his opinions will surely agree that he has been treated unfairly.”

Mike Judge, of The Christian Institute, added Mr Smith’s comments regarding civil partnerships were “tame and inoffensive” and that he had been the victim of a “witch hunt”.

“The comments certainly don’t amount to gross misconduct, which is usually reserved for things like theft or fraud,” he insisted.
“His bosses should get some sense of perspective.

“Employers have a responsibility to protect the rights of their staff – and that includes their Christian staff.

“One set of rights should not trump another. It looks to me like there has been some sort of witch hunt against Mr Smith because of his Christian views.”

Steve Jobs’ biography reveals faith struggles

Steve Job’s Biographer Walter Isaacson told CBS' "60 Minutes" in an interview on Sunday that the Apple CEO struggled with his beliefs about God in the time leading up to his death.

Isaacson related how Jobs, a self-proclaimed Buddhist, began to question God, the afterlife, and his personal purpose and meaning in the months before his death.

"I remember sitting in his backyard in his garden one day and he started talking about God," reminsced Isaacson. "He said, 'Sometimes I believe in God, sometimes I don't. I think it's 50-50 maybe. But ever since I've had cancer, I've been thinking about it more. And I find myself believing a bit more. I kind of – maybe it's cause I want to believe in an afterlife. That when you die, it doesn't just all disappear. The wisdom you've accumulated. Somehow it lives on.'"

Isaacson added: "Then he paused for a second and he said, 'Yeah, but sometimes I think it's just like an on-off switch. Click and you're gone.' He paused again, and he said, 'And that's why I don't like putting on-off switches on Apple devices.'"

In a recording aired on the show, Jobs also questioned the meaning of his own existence.

"I saw my life as an arc," Jobs said. "And that it would end and compared to that nothing mattered. You're born alone, you're gonna die alone. And does anything else really matter? I mean what is it exactly, is it that you have to lose Steve? You know? There's nothing."

Jobs revolutionised the digital world with his Apple products before he passed away on Oct. 5 after a long illness. Jobs was aged only 56 when he died.

Call to pray for earthquake-struck Turkey

The international Christian aid agency, World Vision, has urged people to pray for Turkey after a devastating earthquake struck the country. World Vision added that it will be closely monitoring the situation there as it looks to send aid.

The latest news from the country is that the death toll is climbing rapidly towards 300 after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked eastern Turkey, collapsing buildings and destroying infrastructure.

Monday saw hundreds of rescuers using the bare hands to pull survivors out of the debris in freezing cold conditions.

Authorities fear the death toll could increase further as the search for survivors continues, reports The Associated Press.

Thousands of people were injured while thousands more were forced to spend the night on streets or in tents in the extremely cold conditions.

The US President Barack Obama has announced that America would assist in Turkey’s recovery, saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the brave men and women who are working to bring assistance to this stricken region,” he said in a statement.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Turkish ally in this difficult time, and are ready to assist the Turkish authorities.”

Pop star Rihanna has also sent a good will message out to Turkey via her twitter account, writing: “Turkey, we're praying for all of you #Pray4Turkey”.

Camping’s second Judgement Day prediction also incorrect

After being denounced as a fraud after his first Judgement Day prediction failed five months ago, Harold Camping predicted a second date for the event for Oct. 21. However, with that date now coming and going, Camping and his ministry Family Radio finds themselves under heavy criticism for preying on those who took his predictions seriously.

Camping had claimed he had discovered the key to a numerical dating code contained in the Bible, which enabled him to work out the date for the end of the world. Thousands of people believed him and many gave up work and cashed in their savings in preparation. Camping has generally been denounced as a false prophet by other Christian leaders, with many calling for him to be “muzzled” before he does further damage.

Camping has refused to speak to the press after the latest failed prediction, while Family Radio also would not respond to questions.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but we at Family Radio have been directed to not talk to the media or the press," Camping's daughter said in response to an email inquiry sent by The Christian Science Monitor.

Israeli scholars build Bible decoding alogrithm

A group of Israeli scholars have designed a computer algorithm to decode the Bible.

The Bar-Ilan University team have already used the program to examine what style parts of the Pentateuch, were written in.

The program picks up different styles of writing in minutes - work that can take scholars painstaking hours of effort.

The algorithm compares sets of synonyms (called synsets) in blocks of text, along with "function" words (such as prepositions). It then assesses the distribution of the most common words in the Bible, and links different blocks together according to the style they are written in.

To test their algorithm, the scholars cut up Jeremiah and Ezekiel and then mixed them together. The algorithm managed to separate the two books with 99% accuracy.

The hope is that the algorithm method will great speed up scholarly research and increase understanding.

University of Pennsylvania professor of linguistics Dr Mark Liberman, was not involved in the research but was impressed with the methods and results.

"The key to making such methods work is to hit on features (words or constructions or word-senses or whatever) that genuinely differentiate the authors," he said. "In their experiment on un-munging Jeremiah and Ezekiel, they found that word distributions did not work well; but synonym choice (as estimated in a clever way) did work."

Religion needs to challenge science, says Professor

One of Europe’s leading neonatologists, Professor John Wyatt, has urged Christians to vigilantly challenge science on important ethical issues.

The Professor of Ethics & Perinatology at UCL insists that Christians should assist in ensuring that science and technology are used in ways that truly benefit people, and don’t just offer quick fixes.

In a speech sponsored by CARE this week, Professor Wyatt said science is on the verge of doing previously unthinkable things, such as providing ‘cures’ for ageing, drugs to suppress unpleasant memories, and all sorts of ‘human enhancements’ that need more careful thought before implementation.

The Professor insisted that if ethical lines are blurred then the “potential for evil is obvious.” He cited trends such as the selective killing of female foetuses and infants in parts of the world, and ‘reproductive tourism’, by which wealthy women use the poor as surrogate mothers, a practice he described as “rent a womb”.

“Whenever you hear people talking about the control of nature just beware of it turning out to be the strong abusing the weak,” said Wyatt.

The Professor cited the change in the debate around euthanasia and assisted suicide as a case in point, arguing that the human body is being increasingly seen as nothing more than a machine, and so euthanasia is adopted as the answer to a “body that is a failed machine”.

“When this was being debated 15 years ago, the arguments were about pain and diseases like cancer. Now the arguments are not about pain but about control and autonomy,” he said.

“[It is] machine thinking coupled with the centrality of autonomy.”

“We need to look for creation order and we especially need to look for the moral order because God has not just created atoms - a physical reality - but God has created a moral order that penetrates through every aspect of reality,” added the Professor.

Professor Wyatt also said that Christians need to challenge “materialistic, impoverished and reductionist conceptions” of humanity and reveal their “hidden link” to contemporary social problems.

“The threat to human identity from biomedical technology is less obvious and more subtle than that which comes from obvious threats like terrorism or totalitarianism or global warming but I believe it is more dangerous because it strikes at the heart of what it means to be human.

“With the façade of doing good, it is much more dangerous.”

Protests fail to get Facebook to close 'Rape’ pages

Protesters have failed so far in their approached to Facebook to shut down several Facebook pages allegedly supporting rape.

“You know she’s playing hard to get when your chasing her down an alleyway” and “Raping your mates girlfriend to see if she can put up a fight” are examples of some of the explicit pages that have caused outrage. The concern is that violence against women will be encouraged by these sites.

Campaigners have cited Facebook’s own Terms of Service, which prohibits content that is “hateful, threatening” or contains “graphic or gratuitous violence.”

“Facebook could and should do more to stop [the pages] from popping up in the first place and to swiftly remove those that do exist,” reads a petition listed on change.org. “Facebook needs to clarify that pages that encourage or condone rape ... are in violation of their existing standards.”

Despite this pressure and the fact advertisers have pulled out of their site, the social networking agency has refused to censor these pages.

According to the BBC, a Facebook spokesman said, “Groups or pages that express an opinion on a state, institution, or set of beliefs – even if that opinion is outrageous or offensive to some – do not by themselves violate our policies.”

“These online discussions are a reflection of those happening offline, where conversations happen freely in people’s homes, in cafes and on the telephone.”

The page administrators of “You know she’s playing hard to get when your chasing her down an alleyway” argue the site is nothing more than “a joke between...friends” and is not in anyway condoning rape.

One of the administrators wrote: “You people think that this is about rape do not get this joke because they are small minded people. one again for those feminists...this group is not about rape! no were in this have I ever said one thing about rape. so please those feminist who have nothing better to do with there lives but to post anti rape photos on this groups wall...[expletive]!”

John Raines’ petition “Demand Facebook Remove Pages That Promote Sexual Violence” has received 180,875 signatures so far.

Angi Becker Stevens wrote a letter entitled “Dear Facebook: Rape Is No Joke,” on Ms Magazine Blog, saying, “It would be absurd, of course, to suggest that anyone goes out and commits assault as a direct reaction to a Facebok page. But in reducing sexual violence to nothing more than a joke, they reflect and perpetuate the idea that women are objects to be used for the sexual satisfaction of men. Countless seemingly small things work together to uphold that kind of pervasive misogyny.”

“It would be naïve to imagine that the removal of these pages will in and of itself end rape culture. But that doesn’t mean the appropriate response is to simply accept them,” she added.

“Facebook is certainly not responsible for the prevalence of sexual assault in our society,” Stevens said. “But those in a position of power at Facebook are responsible for the choice they make to either condone or condemn the use of sexual assault as humor. Silence, as the saying goes, is acceptance. And Facebook’s refusal to take sexual violence seriously is exactly the kind of complicit silence that rape culture thrives on.”

USA Today names Bible app as No. 1 'Coolest Book App'

The media-rich interactive digital Bible, Glo Bible App, has been named by USA Today as the No. 1 Coolest Book App.

Glo Bible App was described by the publication as “one of the most impressive book apps available.” The app brings Scripture alive through HD video, high-res images, zoomable maps, 360-degree virtual tours, customizable Bible reading plans, and a natural user interface for fast, easy, visual navigation on the Mac, PC, iPad and iPhone.

The latest addition to the app was the Glo Atlas lens, which links geographic locations directly to Bible verses, articles and Glo media over a zoomable atlas, giving context to Bible stories or time periods. The app is a result of a partnership between Zondervan and Immersion Digital.

“Our team is honored to receive this endorsement by USA Today and is thrilled to have been selected as the top pick on the list,” said Nelson Saba, CEO of Immersion Digital.

“It reaffirms our belief that rich media integrated with text enhances the understanding and engagement of the reader by combining the more analytical reading process with related immersive media experiences.

“Two entire generations have been born in a digital world and favor digital media over any other,” Saba stated, according to their website. “We really felt that the time was right to create a digital Bible such as Glo, designed for them, that would connect with this generation as an alternative to paper, because they don’t use it.

“We’re not really just digitizing the Bible. We are creating a product with layers and functionality that will help make the Bible relevant and engaging to this generation.

“Zondervan has been a great partner of ours and we believe the fact that Glo features the bestselling NIV translation, which is the dominant preferred translation choice of consumers, has contributes to its success,” Saba added.

Chip Brown, senior vice president of Zondervan, was also pleased with the award stating: “Consumer reaction to both the packaged product and the App has been phenomenal and helps Zondervan advance our mission to increase Bible engagement.”

You can sample the app for free at www.globible.com.

Occupy Wall Street movement welcomed by St Paul’s

Anti-capitalist demonstrations that started off with the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement a month ago have spilled over into England with a ‘Occupy the London Stock Exchange’ demonstration.

Rather than objecting to protesters setting up a makeshift camp in the square in front of the church, clergy actually invited protesters to join in the Sunday morning service, while police were asked not to take up positions on the front steps of St. Paul’s.

Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Rev Dr Giles Fraser, said while he appreciated the police were trying to protect the building, he felt it “didn’t feel it needed that sort of protection”.

“[The protesters] didn’t do any damage and church went off as normal this morning,” he informed The Telegraph.

“It has all been very peaceful. I am very much in favour of people’s right to protest peacefully. We have only seen good-natured protesters and police doing their job.”

Protesters were forced to move to St Paul’s after a High Court injunction prevented them from gathering as planned in front of the nearby London Stock Exchange.

One protester even turned up dressed like Jesus and holding a placard that read: “I threw out the moneylenders for a reason.”

One protester, Ian Chamberlin said the camp was well organized and peaceful.

"We have shared rules about things like not drinking, not taking drugs. We want to make sure the camp is a safe place to be," he said. "There's something symbolic about staying here, near the stock exchange, to pass on our message that the banking system isn't serving the needs of ordinary people, it is not a democratic force."

Protesters are vowing to continue the protest until Christmas. Police say they cannot evict the Protesters as they have the permission of the landlord to be there.

Protests in Britain were peaceful unlike other places in Rome, Italy where police had to use water cannons to restore control after protesters started rioting and burning vehicles.

World coffee supply under threat by climate change

Starbucks sustainability chief Jim Hanna has expressed his concerns that the world coffee supply is under serious threat due to climate change.

Hanna said the coffee giant has been pushing the U.S. government to act on the matter with little effect. Hanna added that farmers were already seeing the effects of a changing climate, with severe hurricanes and more resistant bugs reducing crop yields.

"What we are really seeing as a company as we look 10, 20, 30 years down the road – if conditions continue as they are – is a potentially significant risk to our supply chain, which is the Arabica coffee bean," Hanna told The Guardian in a telephone interview.

Hanna said the company's suppliers, who are mainly in Central America, were already experiencing changing rainfall patterns and more severe pest infestations with even well-established farms seeing a drop in crop yield.

"Even in very well established coffee plantations and farms, we are hearing more and more stories of impacts."

This warning follows on from another earlier this month when new research from the the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture warned it would be too hot to grow chocolate in much of the Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world’s main producers, by 2050.

Hanna will brief members of Congress on climate change and coffee at an event sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists this week. Starbucks are part of a business coalition that is trying to push Congress and the Obama administration to act on climate change, without much success.

Farming techniques questioned in rush to feed Africa

While the global drive to banish hunger from Africa is welcomed, a new report has warned that the farming techniques being advocated by many aid agencies and governments will actually harm the land in the long run.

In the report, Christian Aid, a development agency, cited the example of a similar drive in Asia in the the '60s, '70s and '80s that allowed large areas to drastically increase farming yields and reduce hunger. However, in the ‘90s the damage caused by some of the farming practices became apparent resulting in widespread soil degradation, a loss of biodiversity, and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from industrial agriculture.

Christian Aid’s “Healthy Harvests” report urges that African governments and other important decision makers should first study and understand the problems in Asia and not rely upon the same farming techniques as “quick-fix solution.”

“Governments and donors need to significantly re-balance their current focus on quick-fix, external-input-intensive ‘solutions’ towards a much greater support for sustainable agro-ecological approaches,” the report says.

The report argues the use of successful techniques in sustainable agriculture including diversification, nutrient recycling – where waste from one sub-system is used as an input in another - the adoption of natural solutions to pests, and the greatest possible use of renewable and locally available resources like seeds and manure.

The reports adds that measures minimising the use of chemical inputs, and incorporating resource-conserving technologies are already being successfully practised by farming communities in Asia and Africa and are helping to produce larger crop yields.

“In recognition of the challenges facing agriculture, donors and governments have in recent years made welcome new political and financial commitments to smallholder farming, especially in Africa," the report said.

“However, as this report outlines, the solutions for Africa advocated by donors, governments and the initiatives of private foundations have tended to centre around the promotion of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, which are costly for farmers and very often resource depleting.

“This drive for a new ‘Green Revolution’ for Africa has tended to sideline more sustainable, farmer-led approaches.

"For example, recent input-subsidy programmes in Africa have brought significant short-term benefits in certain cases, but they are looking increasingly unsustainable and risk sidelining investment in greener alternatives.

“The experience of Asia’s Green Revolution holds some very important lessons for policy-makers globally.”

'58: The Film' challenges viewers to end global poverty

Approximately 925 million people do not have enough to eat in 2011, according to The World Hunger Education Service. A new movie made by a father and son team seeks to highlight the endemic problem of global poverty while painting the possibility of ending it via a united, global effort.

The film is called “58: The Film” and it urges Christians to fight against global poverty and injustice. Based on God's call in Isaiah 58 to “loose the chains of injustice” it focuses on the problem of global poverty and oppression, and then challenges Christians to act on their faith.

Filmed over the course of two years in 15 different countries, ’58’ features powerful stories of the impoverished and of those working alongside them. The film takes its audience from the drought-ridden Ethiopian plains to the slums of Kenya. It includes stories of people struggling to survive amidst gang violence, chemical addictions, the sex trafficking trade and more.

Stories of those seeking to serve alongside the poor include an American business owner selling Fair Trade coffee, a Brazilian man who assists those struggling with addiction, and a group of youth people in New York who fast and pray for those living in poverty.

"The purpose of the film is really to stimulate and to motivate and really to challenge Christians to respond to the biblical mandate for social concern and action,” said co-director Tony Neeves.

Neeves, who made the documentary with his son, is a former vice president of Compassion International, a Christian organization that assists children around the globe who live in poverty.

"The Bible is really clear that God loves the poor and the oppressed, and has a very special concern for them, and really calls his children, his followers, to have that same heart,” added Neeves.

Wess Stafford, Compassion’s president and CEO, makes several appearances in the film, challenging viewers to believe that eradicating global poverty is possible. In approximately 20 years, according to Stafford, global poverty has been cut in half. Stafford believes God has given Western Christians the financial capital to end the dire living situations that many face all over the globe.

Hitchens receives ‘Free Thinker’ award

After an enforced absence for the last few months, a gaunt and tired looking Christopher Hitchens made his first public appearance last weekend.

The renowned author and philosopher who is suffering from esophageal cancer accepted the “Richard Dawkins Freethinker of the Year” award at the annual convention of the Atheist Alliance of America and Texas Freethought.

Hitchens, who is along with Dawkins known as one of the “Four Horsemen of the Counter-Apocalypse,” because he uses his undoubted intelligence and erudition to passionately denounce all matters of faith. Over the last few years, Hitchens has engaged a number of leading Christian thinkers in debate.

In giving the award, Dawkins praised Hitchens for his continuance of atheism even in the face of death, proving that there were indeed, “atheists in foxholes.”

The author of ‘God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything’ and ‘Is Christianity Good for the World?’ coughed his way through his speech and admitted his weakened state by quoting the words of a Roman poet, “I’m not as I was.”

“And though as I know as well as you do, there’s no point in arguing about the actual date, or time of departure, because I would like to think there would be no good time.”

“I feel very envious of someone who’s young and actually starting out in this argument,” he smiled. “Just think of the extraordinary things that are happening to us, go for example to the Smithsonian Museum... to the new hall of human origins, magnificently curated.”

“What a wonderful thing to be starting out in this tremendous new field of endeavor.”

“We have the same job we always had,” Hitchens added, “to say that there are no final solutions; there is no absolute truth; there is no supreme leader; there is no totalitarian solution that says if you would just give up your freedom of inquiry, if you would just give up, if you would simply abandon your critical faculties, the world of idiotic bliss can be yours.”

Hitchens said “grand rabbis... infallible popes, mutant quasi political religion and worship,” should be shunned, saying,“We have no need of any of this and looking at them and their record and the pathos of their supporters, I realize it is they who are the grand imposters...”

(Image from file).

Archbishop asks Mugabe to intervene in Zimbabwean church crisis

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has officially requested President Robert Mugabe to intervene over the harassment of Anglican churches in Zimbabwe.

Williams is visiting Zimbabwe and recently met with President Mugabe. Williams confirmed that after the meeting a joint dossier had been presented to Mr Mugabe giving a “full account of the abuses to which our people and our church has been subject” over the last four years.

The dossier outlines how Anglican congregations have suffered “systematic harassment and persecution at the hands of the police, often in direct contravention of court rulings”.

The abuses cited include false imprisonment, violence, denial of access to churches, schools, clinics and mission stations, and the misappropriation of church property.

The dossier points out Dr Nolbert Kunonga as the main instigator of the abuse. Dr. Kunonga was excommunicated in 2007 and has since attempted to establish his own Anglican Church in Zimbabwe.

“Every week tens of thousands of Anglicans are denied their basic right to worship because of the lies and falsifications being propagated by Dr Kunonga.”

“We are dismayed that our continued calls for justice go unheard. Meanwhile threats made to our personal freedoms and security have continued to multiply over the last few months.

“We respectfully ask you, as head of state and of the executive in Zimbabwe, put an end to this illegal harassment by some members of the police, whose mandate is to protect civilians, and allow us once again to use the properties which are rightfully ours so that we may worship God in peace and serve our communities and our country.”

“We are proud of our church and our people who have suffered so much, but who continue to serve with love and with hope,” added the dossier.

“For our part we pray, and invite you to join us in praying, that the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe be allowed to carry out its mission in peace, and serve its communities with love.”

(Image from file).

Christian protest in Egypt leads to further clashes

Deadly clashes left at least 23 people dead and over 200 injured following protests by Coptic Christians in Cairo against growing religious persecution.

While initial news reports are unclear, it seems the Copts were protesting the growing number of attacks on churches and then were attacked by suspected Islamist forces.

Groups of men chanting, “Islamic, Islamic!” were seen in the area, while another group chanting, “Allahu Akbar,” were seen standing next to a group of Central Security Forces. Christians have previously accused security forces of siding with Islamist groups in these attacks.

The protest began over a September 30 attack on the Marinab church in Aswan, which was pulled down by a mob because it was claimed the church did not have the license for the construction of a dome.

Troops later fired on the protesters as they reached the state television building, known as Maspiro. Troops also allegedly assaulted journalists in the area, one of whom was a pregnant woman. Journalists were not allow to film the violence.

The recently formed left-liberal Egyptian Social Democratic Party claimed that Egypt’s military council was seeking to abort the country’s democratic transition by “engineering” violence. However, Information Minister Osama Heikal denied any official involvement and accused “external forces” as being responsible for the clashes.

Christians make up only 10 percent of Egypt’s total population of 80 million. They are anxious about their future since extremist Muslim groups have become increasingly influential after the ousting of president Hosni Mubarak.

Tutu pleased that Sirleaf won Nobel Peace Prize

Speaking at his 80th birthday celebrations over the weekend, Archbishop Desmond Tutu has praised the decision to grant the Nobel Peace Prize to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Sirleaf was elected as Africa’s first woman president in 2005 and has transformed Liberia since then. Before Sirleaf’s election into power, Liberia had suffered through 14 years of bloody civil war.

Sirleaf shares the prize jointly with Liberian “peace warrior” Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karman, an activist in Yemen.

“The president of Liberia? She deserves it many times over," Tutu said of the woman known by her supporters as the “Iron Lady”.

"She’s brought stability to a place that was going to hell.”

U2 frontman Bono agreed with Tutu’s assessment saying Sirleaf was an “extraordinary” woman that he felt lucky to have worked with on the cancellation of Liberia’s debt.

Happy Birthday Arch!

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is one of the greatest figures of South African history. The Arch, as he likes to be called, was a key figure and spiritual leader during the battle against apartheid, and then again during the first years of democracy in South Africa as he led the Peace and Reconciliation Commission. Tutu is recognised the world over for his commitment to peace and justice and for his warm wisdom and gracious faith. He stands alongside Nelson Mandela as one of the greatest moral figures produced by South Africa.

We would like to join in the well wishes and prayers issued by other South Africans as we say Happy Birthday to the Arch! South Africa has been blessed to have such a man working so hard in our midst, to make this country a better place for all.

To commemorate the Archbishop’s 80th birthday, we decided to carry portions of an interview with another great spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama was at the centre of the controversy over the last week as South Africa failed to grant him an entry visa into the country so he could attend Tutu’s birthday celebrations, leading the Archbishop to angrily accuse the ANC government of bowing to the wishes of the China. The following is sourced from iol.co.za and is an extract from the new book, Tutu: An Authorised Portrait:

“Emotionally and mentally, Bishop Tutu and I are very close. I call him my spiritual older brother. We are both fully committed to the value of spirituality. We both belong to the camp of people who believe in spirituality. He not only believes, he practises and has gained some experience. In age, I’m younger. So, naturally, he’s my elder brother!

In front of an audience, he praises me. He says long praises in many sentences. Then he states, “Unfortunately he is not Christian!” The audience always laughs at this. They understand that he’s saying that he respects different religious traditions. So here, also, we are similar. We each have faith in one form of religion, but respect all religions.

On one occasion in South Africa, I had some lengthy discussions about methods to promote harmony among the religions. It has been my practice, since 1975, to meet with scholars of different religious traditions and discuss the similarities and differences between our practices.

When we find differences, we ask, “What’s the purpose?” since religions have the same intent: the promotion of basic human values. We have different views, different philosophies, but the same purpose. When I have met with religious practitioners we find more or less the same qualities in them. They are using different methods or practices, they are of different religious traditions, but they exhibit more or less the same qualities. People like Mother Teresa and Bishop Tutu himself and many others, through their own Christian faith, really transformed their lives. Their lives were more meaningful. They were more compassionate, more sensible and more responsible. So meeting and speaking with religious practitioners, that’s a second method to promote closer understanding. Then the third way is pilgrimage. People of different races and different religious traditions can make pilgrimages to each other’s holy sites. People of different faiths can meet together. They can share a message of peace and spirituality.

Archbishop Tutu added another idea. When disasters happen, people from different organisations can come together and help. Since then, on many occasions when I speak of ways to enhance harmony, I add his suggestion. And actually, we experienced that in 1959 when large numbers of people from the Tibetan community arrived in India. Many Catholic organisations and Protestant organisations offered us lots of help. That also created positive feelings toward each other.

He is always playful, always jovial, always teasing. He is such a nice person. On one occasion, I think in America, a few Nobel laureates were moving from one place to another. In the hall we walked in a procession. I always push him ahead because he is the older spiritual leader. So I was behind him. I pretended to choke him. He turned back. “Dalai Lama, I will inform the police that I need protection!” We are always teasing each other. In any meeting of the Nobel laureates, he always brings a very jovial atmosphere. Of course he can be very serious. But generally, whenever he joins, the atmosphere completely changes. He is an easy-going, open, wonderful person.

He is a freedom fighter but the fight is carried on with compassion, forgiveness and a full commitment to non-violence. He is a wonderful person. His commitment to reconciliation in South Africa is wonderful. He did not just say nice words, but he actually carried out committed action. I really admire him, and, of course, Mr Mandela also, for that.

Besides his spiritual practice, his commitment has been a lesson to me. In South Africa he committed the practice and provided the teaching. He made an example to others of forgiveness. He showed the basis for the work of reconciliation and forgiveness. When I have spoken to audiences, I have sometimes said: “After democracy was achieved, Bishop Tutu and the black people became the leaders in reconciliation. They carried out this work very sincerely. For black South Africans, once they got the power it would have been easy to forget about reconciliation. But they did not. This was really wonderful.”

So I learnt. In the same sort of spirit that Bishop Tutu implemented reconciliation, we can learn from his experience. In the future we may have that kind of work when the time comes (for Tibet).

He is the elder spiritual brother. That means mentally he is the elder, the senior, the more experienced. I’m his junior, so logically the junior can learn more from the senior. The senior may learn from the junior. I never expect he should learn something from me.
He is my friend. Once a person is a very close friend and develops respect, then the other’s problem you feel as your own problem; the other’s happiness you feel is your own. That’s quite natural. In our case, it is not just a friendship but it is a friendship with deep admiration, deep respect and, I think, no barrier; we can be quite frank with each other. That’s very nice.
Politically, in the initial period he did not touch on the Tibetan problem. But then later, actually at one meeting in New York, he mentioned the Tibetan problem. He used his moral authority to bring attention to the issue. Then also in Delhi, when he was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize, he said that the government of India looks after the Dalai Lama and this makes him very happy. He added that the government of India should also support Tibetan freedom.

We appreciate his support. Last year, before the World Cup, the South African embassy in New Delhi declined a visa for me. Bishop Tutu publicly expressed his unhappiness and displeasure about this. He really showed solidarity. I’m very impressed.
Jointly Bishop Tutu and President Havel wrote an article about Liu Xiaobo. I think it appeared in the Guardian. It was a very strong statement. I heard about it through the BBC, although I didn’t see the article itself. It is very helpful to have someone like him, someone with moral authority, to make clear what is wrong and what is right. That’s very important.

I think spiritual leaders should do more. They should speak out. The politicians and leaders of government have to take into consideration various other factors: the economy and many, many things. But spiritual leaders are supposed to stand firm on moral principle. Even if there are some immediate consequences, it doesn’t matter. On this planet everybody says, “Peace, peace, peace.”

Even North Korea says, “Peace, peace, peace.” But reality is just the opposite. The United Nations is supposed to be the highest world body, but sometimes it looks like a trade centre: “If you do this, I will do that.” Someone must make clear that right is right and wrong is wrong fearlessly, truthfully, honestly. Although Bishop Tutu is retired, whenever there is an issue of humanity, I think he must speak. His voice is important. He should stand firm as he has done.

He must continue, please, ’till his last breath. He should stand firm. It’s very important. And also (the fact that he is) a black person from the African continent is very helpful.

Maybe it’s a little selfish of me. If some Europeans make a statement then the Chinese communists say, “Oh, it’s Western imperialist anti-Chinese forces speaking!” They can easily dismiss it.

South Africans suffered a lot under white colonials, under apartheid. When he speaks strongly, it is difficult to say that he’s the instrument of Western anti-Chinese forces. I guess the Chinese may try to say that Archbishop Tutu is the instrument of Western anti-Chinese forces. After all, they described me as an instrument of Western anti-Chinese forces.”

* Tutu: An Authorised Portrait by Allister Sparks and Mpho A Tutu can be found in all good bookstores.

Steve Jobs: Wise thoughts on death

The passing away of Steve Jobs has generated a huge deal of attention, both by industrial media and social networks. Jobs has rightly been acclaimed for his genius and inventions, but certain sections of the media have also highlighted his earthy wisdom. Jobs was first diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2004, and it seems that facing up to death had a profound impact on the man.

Jobs’ wisdom is seen clearly in the following words, which he made in 2005 at the Stanford commencement address:

“Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

“About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

“I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

“This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.”

Jobs’ thoughts are words that are worth reflecting upon as the world says goodbye to a man who made a massive impact. RIP Steve Jobs!

Harold Camping revises Rapture date

Family Radio’s Harold Camping, the pastor who infamously predicted the Rapture would occur on May 21 of this year, has revised his prediction date to October 21.

Camping, who said he was "flabbergasted" when the end of the world did not occur on May 21, has just been released from nursing care after suffering a stroke. Soon after his release, Camping said via an audio message on Family Radio’s website that:

"We would have not been able to be used [by God] to bring about the tremendous event that occurred on May 21 of this year, which probably [will] be finished out on Oct. 21 that's coming very shortly. That looks like it will be ... the final end of everything."

Camping admitted he has "restudied" his predictions, and then added that the rapture will be quick and quiet.

"Probably there will be no pain suffered by anyone because of their rebellion against God," Camping said.

"This is very comforting to all of us because we all have children, we all have loved ones that are dear to us that we know are not saved and yet we know that they'll quietly die."

Camping said in turn true believers "will quietly receive the new heaven and the new earth."

"I really am beginning to think as I restudied these matters that there's going to be no big display of any kind. The end is going to come very, very quietly probably within the next month. It will happen that is by Oct. 21," he said.

This latest announcement has predictably set off a frenzy of activity on social networks, with the majority of people calling the minister a fake and false prophet.

Further calls for Iran to free pastor under death sentence

Foreign Secretary William Hague has added his voice to those condemning Iran’s refusal to rescind the death sentence of a church pastor.

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani been held in Rasht prison in northern Iran since last year after trying to officially register his church. The pastor was charged with apostasy and sentenced to death. He has refused to recant his faith in appeals hearings – a condition for his acquittal.

Mr Hague said, “I deplore reports that Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Church leader, could be executed imminently after refusing an order by the Supreme Court of Iran to recant his faith.

“This demonstrates the Iranian regime’s continued unwillingness to abide by its constitutional and international obligations to respect religious freedom.

“I pay tribute to the courage shown by Pastor Nadarkhani who has no case to answer and call on the Iranian authorities to overturn his sentence.”

The international group, Human Rights Watch also urged Iranian authorities to free and drop all charges against the pastor.

“Iran is one of the very few countries in the 21st century where authorities would drag an individual before a court of law and force him to choose between his faith and his life,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.

“Nadarkhani should not have to spend one more day in jail, let alone face execution.”

“Both international and Iranian law require Iranian officials to safeguard the equality and human rights of all Christians, regardless of whether they are historic communities such as the Armenians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, or Christian converts,” added Stork.

South Africa urged to allow Dalai Lama to attend Tutu’s birthday

The international group, Human Rights Watch, has urged the South African government to allow the Dalai Lama into the country for Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s 80th birthday celebrations.

South Africa has not yet issued a visa to the spiritual leader of the Tibetans, who also plans to deliver a lecture at the University of the Western Cape.

The Dalai Lama’s visa application has faced continual delays by South African officials with the Human Rights Watch claiming there was no objective basis for refusing to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama and that it “appears to be based on no more than fear of Chinese government displeasure”.

“If South Africa refuses a visa to a Nobel Prize recipient and human rights campaigner, with no objective grounds for refusal, then there can only be less-than-noble motivations for its action,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director of Human Rights Watch.

“For the government to block a leader who supported South Africa’s struggles is not only to deny its own history, but it raises questions about whether the government looks to Pretoria, or to Beijing, for some of its domestic policy decisions.”

World’s earliest Christian Inscription found in Rome

A carved stone that formed part of the collection of the Capitoline Museums in Rome, Italy, has been identified by scholars as the world’s earliest surviving Christian inscription.

The stone is officially called “NCE 156,” and the inscription concerns an ancient sect that followed the teachings of a second-century Gnostic theologian, Valentinus.

“If it is in fact a second-century inscription, as I think it probably is, it is about the earliest Christian material object that we possess,” researcher Gregory Snyder informed LiveScience.

The inscription is in Greek and alludes to Christian beliefs. Snyder believes it could be a funeral epigram, incorporating both Christian and pagan elements.

Snyder studies over 50 years of research done by multiple scholars, before translating the inscription as, “To my bath, the brothers of the bridal chamber carry the torches, [here] in our halls, they hunger for the [true] banquets, even while praising the Father and glorifying the Son. There [with the Father and the Son] is the only spring and source of truth.”

NCE 156 was found in the suburbs of Rome near the medieval tower of Tor Fiscale, suggesting that a community of Valentinus’ followers may have lived there during the second century, Snyder added.

“We know that Valentinus was a famous Gnostic teacher in the second century [who] lived in Rome for something like 20 years, and was a very sophisticated ... poetic, talented, thinker, speaker, writer,” he said.

Snyder, who found some similarities between the inscription and ancient funeral epigrams composed for non-Christians, said the Christian identity at the time was perhaps flexible.

According to Tertullian, the first author of Latin Christian literature, Valentinus was a candidate for bishop but after he was not chosen he started his own group. Some of his teachings are believed to be found in the Gospel of Philip, a collection of Gnostic beliefs.

Valentinus was eventually declared a heretic. He taught his followers that there were three kinds of people. Those of a spiritual nature had the “gnosis” or knowledge to attain salvation whereas those of a psychic nature – ordinary Christians – could attain only a lesser form of salvation. And those of a material nature – pagans and Jews – were doomed to perish, he believed.