Religion leads the way on Facebook

A recently released list of Facebook’s most engaging pages has religion dominating the top ten. The page Jesus Daily has now been in the No 1 spot for a remarkable 18 weeks, with 8,284,774 fans and 3,419,397 interactions.

Two spots behind is The Bible, which has 8,090,313 fans and 1,044,350 posts. Moving up the ranks is Dios Es Bueno (God is Good) with 748,217 talkative followers making it the page to watch. The page Jesus Christ is at No 10 with 513,040 interactions, while Joyce Meyer Ministries is in 15th.

Sport struggles to keep up with religion in terms of popularity with super club FC Barcelona back in 5th position, Real Madrid in 6th and Manchester United in 7th. Interestingly enough, the second ranked most engaging page is Indonesian motivational speak Mario Teguh while pop singer Justin Bieber has fallen back to 8th, Lil Wayne is 12th and Lady Gaga is 18th.

The top television spot is earned by India’s MTV Roadies, which moved up into 11th position with 469,213 people joining the conversation this last week, while two Zynga games round off the top 20 in Texas Hold’em Poker and Empires & Allies.

Hurricane Irene: Christian relief groups swing into action

Hurricane Irene has left havoc to the U.S. East Coast and Canada in its wake , and as a result Christian disaster relief organizations have swung into action.

Hurricane Irene has left 21 people dead, while disrupting power to 6 million homes and businesses, and causing billions-of-dollars-worth in damages.

Salvation Army officials say damage assessment teams are receiving significant requests for relief on a large scale. The Salvation Army at this stage is focused on feeding evacuees as well as fire, rescue, police and other emergency response personnel.

"The initial damage reports are leaving us cautiously optimistic that there has not been widespread structural damage or injuries," said Major George Hood, national community relations secretary in the U.S.

"But flooding remains a problem, particularly in New England, and there is a significant response ongoing. It is critical that we provide the base of support for damage assessment teams, rescue personnel and survivors to ensure everyone weathers the fallout from this storm safely."

Another relief organization, the Christian Reformed WorldRelief Committee (CRWRC) are focussing on assisting with cleanup efforts.

“The flooding is still happening, particularly as you go up New Yrok State and into New England. Our role right now is to identify areas where we can be sending cleanup teams to start to help,” said Bill Adams, the director of CRWRC Disaster Response Services.

“We started in North Carolina where we have communities there that we’ve worked with in the past years.”

Despite the poor reputation of the government relief agency FEMA, Adams insisted they that are actually doing a great job.

“Generally, FEMA does a much better job than the media gives them credit. We work with them every day. These are top rate people. Generally speaking they get a lot done,” Adams said.

“As somebody who works with them on the ground, we have the highest respect for them.”

(Image courtesty of NOAA).

Fear runs high in Syria

A London-based priest who is presently working in Syria has told the BBC that that "fear is very high" in the nation.

The Rev Nadim Nassar, who is based in his home city Latakia, said in an interview with the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it feels at times "like the whole city has closed down because people are scared to leave their homes".

“On Sunday, you could hear a lot of shooting and bombing from different parts of the city,” he added.

“The whole city is now shut. The fear is very high, and people don’t know what’s going on and what is next.”

The crackdown by the Syrian government began last weekend after anti-government protests in the city. A day later, tanks surrounded the city while Syrian warships fired shells into populated areas, according to activists. Around 30 people have been killed in the city and government forces stand accused of shooting at women and children trying to escape.

The Syrian government denies that civilians are targets and claim that they are confronting armed terrorist gangs.

The Rev Nadim Nassar is the director of the Awareness Foundation, a charity that aids Christians to “make sense of their faith and culture in the 21st century, and to increase their awareness of their neighbours’ faiths and cultures”.

Canon Jim Rosenthal, communications director of the Awareness Foundation, said: “He has spoken of feeling almost imprisoned in his house. There is also a considerable lack of electricity.

"Naturally, we are deeply concerned for his family and are all praying he and his sister Huda will return safe and well."

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.