Publications List
Saints and Stirrers Book Review
30 Jan 2018 | Author: Doug Hynd | Theme: Civil society and politics; Public theology and ethics
In Saints and Stirrers: Christianity, conflict and peacemaking in New Zealand, 1814-1945 Geoffrey Troughton has assembled a collection of essays by New Zealand scholars that chart an engaging historical arc of Christian peacemaking and resistance to war from the early days of European conflict in New Zealand through to the close of World War Two. An anthology that covers the period from World War Two up to the present is due for publication in 2018. The editor Geoffrey Troughton devotes the introductory chapter to surveying the historical relationship between Christianity and New Zealand peace traditions, locating each of the essays against that historical background. The central theme of this anthology is the commitment to peace as a non-negotiable element of Christian witness. The contributing authors, mostly historians, are generally surefooted in engaging with the theological and ecclesiological issues that emerge in the course of their examination of the historical evidence.
Download
Facebook is ripping society apart, and other reasons to abandon social media
15 Dec 2017 | Author: Toni Hassan | Theme: Civil society and politics; Leadership and institutions
When Chamath Palihapitiya joined Facebook in 2007, it had 50 million users. By the time he left after four years, it had 800 million. He was its vice-president for user growth.
These days, he feels tremendously guilty.
"I think we all knew in the back of our minds, even though we feigned this whole line that there probably aren't any bad consequences, I think in the deep recesses of our minds we kind of knew something bad could happen," he told the Stanford Business School last month and reported for the first time this week.
Download
New Zealand Great War peacemaking history has Trans-Tasman relevance
08 Dec 2017 | Author: Dr Douglas Hynd | Theme: Civil society and politics; Public theology and ethics
Douglas Hynd reviews Saints and Stirrers: Christianity, Conflict and Peacemaking in New Zealand, 1814-1945, edited by Geoffrey Troughton. Contemporary critiques of Christianity, whether as institution or ideology, commonly involve pointing to it as an unquestionable source of violence. Such critiques usually fail to note the recurring traditions of Christian dissent that have claimed peacemaking and abstention from violence as being at its heart. A minority report certainly, but one with a long history.
Download
Schoolies, booze and the industry's battle to get teens addicted to drink
22 Nov 2017 | Author: Toni Hassan | Theme: Civil society and politics; Leadership and institutions
It's schoolies week season. Not taking any risks, an acquaintance with a 17-year old daughter booked a trip for her and her friend to a tropical island, each with their father. Anything to avoid an underage booze-up.
It's that time of year when there's a rash of parties that provide alcohol to children. The school formals are (meant to be) alcohol-free but the pre and post-formal parties are not.
Download
The Manus Island horror story stains us
03 Nov 2017 | Author: Toni Hassan | Theme: Civil society and politics; Public theology and ethics
The closure of Australia's detention camp on the poor Papua New Guinea province of Manus Island happened on Halloween, of all days. The symbolism wasn't lost on those of us appalled by what's been an Australian-government-orchestrated horror story.
This fluid crisis could have been avoided well before the PNG Supreme Court ruled the camp was illegal. Hundreds of men, many found to be genuine refugees, are now truly forsaken. Only about 60 have agreed, under some pressure, to move to three incomplete so-called transit centres that will lead to destinations unknown. Many more, about 600, would rather stay in the shell of the detention centre with no electricity, water or food than to "transfer" or walk into the Manus Island community and face violence at the hands of locals or police.
Download