Christopher Hitchens writes ‘last’ book

Prolific writer, political journalist and renowned atheist Christopher Hitchens has released a book entitled, “Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens,” that he claims may be his last.

Hitchens was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2010, and admitted earlier this year that medical efforts to beat the cancer had been to no avail.

“Arguably” is his first book of essays since 2004, and includes titles such as: “God of Our Fathers: The United States of Enlightenment”; “America the Banana Republic”; “Why Women Aren’t Funny”; “First, Silence the Whistle-Blower”; “Iran’s Waiting Game”; “Easter Charade”; “Words Matter”; and “Wine Drinkers of the World, Unite.”

Typically, the book also contains Hitchen’s particular brand of ‘anti-religion’ speech. The author of “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything,” is a determined champion of ‘New Atheism,’ the belief that religion should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument.

According to CNN, Hitchens describes himself as an antitheist rather than an atheist.

“You could be an atheist and wish that the belief was true. You could; I know some people who do,” he told them. “An antitheist, a term I’m trying to get into circulation, is someone who’s very relieved that there’s no evidence for this proposition.”

Although Hitchens' religious viewpoints have been debated by several leading Christian figures, his brilliance as a thinker, writer and speaker has never been in doubt. Hitchens wrote in the introduction to ‘Arguably’ why it might be his last work:

“...About a year ago, I was informed by a doctor that I might have as little as another year to live. In consequence, some of these articles were written with the full consciousness that they might be my very last.

“Sobering in one way and exhilarating in another, this practice can obviously never become perfected. But it has given me a more vivid idea of what makes life worth living, and defending, and I hope very much that some of this may infect those of you who have been generous enough to read me this far.”

British Parliamentary inquiry into freedoms for Christians

British Christians say they are unclear as to what the law regards as appropriate expressions of faith.

Many Christians have complained that they are being increasingly marginalised in public arenas, such as the workplace. Recent high profile court cases having included Christian employees being disciplined for wearing Christian jewellery, and Christian foster parents being struck off the adoption roll because of their beliefs.

The parliamentary inquiry has been launched by Christians in Parliament, the all-party parliamentary group, to seek clarity on whether the freedoms of Christians really are being eroded and what the law has to say about public expressions of faith.

Gary Streeter MP, who is chairing the inquiry, stated: “There has never been a more significant time for Christians to make a positive contribution to our society, but if we are to do that it is important to clear the ground of the confusion that sometimes appears to hinder our capacity to live and speak freely.

“This cross-party inquiry from both the Commons and the Lords attempts to do just that.”

Evidence will be presented by Christian public policy groups on a range of issues, including education, business and employment, and human rights.

WCC urges 'immediate' action in Horn of Africa

The head of the World Council of Churches has urged governments in the Horn of Africa to do everything possible to ensure aid reaches those in need.

The region is facing its worst famine 60 years, with approximately two million Somalis facing starvation.

WCC General Secretary Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit lamented the fact that more people were dying because food and medical aid was being blocked by Al Shabaab rebels.

"This interference with humanitarian aid is inhumane and must be strongly condemned," said Dr Tveit.

"People of all ages are dying, hour by hour.

"Governments must find workable solutions to the political circumstances that hinder the delivery of water, food and other supplies.

"The famine is a human tragedy that should be addressed immediately, regardless of political struggles in a given nation."

Dr Tveit challenged the international community, including African churches and church aid agencies to "move swiftly" to make aid available, while also calling on all Christians to keep praying for the people affected by the famine.

"Innocent lives are at stake," he said.

Christian leaders focus on Libya

Pope Benedict XVI has urged the public to remember the suffering of ordinary Libyans in the civil conflict currently raging across the country, while calling upon political leaders to use diplomacy and dialogue to bring an end to the fighting in Libya.

The Pope said: “In the current conflict in Libya, may diplomacy and dialogue replace arms, and may those who suffer as a result of the conflict be given access to humanitarian aid.”

The latest news on Libya has battles being fought all over Tripoli with jubilant rebels already anticipating the end of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s regime.

Thousands of people squeezed into Green Square in the heart of the city on Sunday night to celebrate the advancement of the rebels.

David Innes, of Arab World Ministries told Christian Today that the events in Libya and across the Arab world reflected the desire of the young people to have more say in the governing of their country.

He appealed to Christians to pray for a swift and peaceful conclusion to the conflict in Libya and for believers to be strong during the period of uncertainty.

Regardless of what transpires from the revolution, Mr Innes said the coming months would be challenging for Libya and require substantial rebuilding as a result of the devastation left by the fighting.

Starbucks boss pulls out of Christian leadership summit

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has decided to cancel a speaking engagement at a US megachurch after bowing to pressure from a homosexual rights group.

Schultz was scheduled to speak at Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois during their Global Leadership Summit, but pulled out after an online petition accused the church of being ‘anti-gay’.

The online petitioners threatened to boycott Schultz’s chain of coffee shops if he appeared at the Summit, and his board decided that the speaking engagement was not worth the potential loss of revenue.

Bill Hybels, senior pastor of the 20,000 member Willow Creek Church, informed USA Today that the church does follow biblical ethics in reserving sex for marriage between a man and a woman, but welcomes worshippers of all backgrounds.

Hybels added he was sad and disappointed about the cancellation but insisted the church wasn’t anti-gay.

“To suggest that we check sexual orientation or any other kind of issue at our doors is simply not true,” Hybels said. “Just ask the hundreds of people with same-sex attraction who attend our church every week.”

World Bank says Somalia famine is 'manmade'

In an interview with Reuters, Kenya Wolfgang Fengler, a lead economist for the World Bank, has labelled the famine currently devastating Somalia as a “manmade” crisis.

Thousands of men, women and children are dying daily in the famine, and Fengler lays the blame firmly at the door of policy makers.

“Droughts have occurred over and again, but you need bad policy making for that to lead to a famine,” she insisted.

Fengler was reacting after a World Bank report argued that the famine is not a result of weather variables as much as it is the fault of over exaggerated food prices and civil conflict.

The report shows the prices of local food staples in Somalia like maze, wheat, and sugar have soared up 240 percent since 2008. These prices were due to poor harvest, the shrinking of global food stocks, and America’s over production of corn ethanol, all of which contributed to the rising food prices across the Horn of Africa.

On Monday, the World Bank President Robert Zoellick stated: “Nowhere are high food prices, poverty and instability combining to produce tragic suffering more than in the Horn of Africa.”

Zoellick added that Somalia and its Horn of Africa neighbors will stay in the “danger zone” as long as food prices remain high and food stocks remain low.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in agreement with the World Bank’s position on the famine, saying, “Every few decades the cycle repeats. And it would be easy to throw up our hands and blame it all on forces beyond our control. But this cycle is not inevitable.”

Clinton insisted that the world has the resources and tools to make hunger a “memory” and argued it could be done if the political will was present among global leaders.

Madrid hosts World Youth Day

An estimated million young Catholics from all around the globe have streamed into Madrid for five days of prayers, processions and learning.

The World Youth Day was opened on Tuesday night with a Mass celebrated in several languages in Madrid’s Plaza de Cibeles.

Welcoming the youth to Spain was the Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, who told them they were part of the generation of Pope Benedict XVI.

“It’s not the same as the generation of John Paul II,” he said.

“Your place in life has its own characteristics. Your problems and circumstances have changed.”

He challenged them to respond once again to the call of Jesus.

“Don’t be afraid of being a saint,” he said.

“Let Christ live in your heart. Respond to Him with a ‘yes’ that’s full of excitement and generosity of life."

The President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, also spoke and he chose to remind the youth of the importance of faith.

“Faith is a decisive factor in each person’s life,” he said. “Everything changes according to whether God exists or not.

“You have come to say aloud to the whole world, and in particular to Europe which is showing signs of being very lost, your unwavering ‘yes’. Yes, faith is possible," he said.

One of the young people attending the event, Tom Rees, a pilgrim from the UK, said he was excited about taking part.

“World Youth Day is a beacon for the Church’s care and devotion to the welfare and spiritual wellbeing of is young adults, with the perfect blend of celebration and reflection, its unquestionable that this event revitalises faith in our young people,” he said.

“What greater way to celebrate this than with thousands of young people all from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences.”

Pope Benedict is due to arrive in Madrid on Thursday and will share in a vigil with the youths on Saturday.

(Image from madrid11.com).