If we do not remember our past, particularly what led to our failures, we cannot hope to do better the next time something similar occurs. If we fail to remember the cost of war, particularly in human lives and the subsequent cost on those that survive, we will never see war as something to be avoided until there is no option left. There is, however, another dimension to remembering that goes beyond being simply an inoculation against future wars.

This increasing porosity between the public and the private spheres has very often led to an invasion of the latter by the former. What is important to note is that this was something that was taking place long before the arrival of social media.

The Vegan lifestyle is a decision that needs to be thought through. Also like many significant choices, once we commit, we see the other side and this opens up more ethical questions and more decisions regarding our stance.

It contains odd provisions like, “All fish-weirs [fish traps] shall henceforth be entirely removed from the Thames and the Medway and throughout all England except along the sea-coasts.” It wasn’t formulated by a meeting of political leaders intending to establish constitutional government but was drafted in the wake of battle. Nevertheless, Magna Carta, whose eight-hundredth anniversary we observe this year, has come to be considered a seminal document in the constitutional history of the English-speaking peoples.

We all want to see domestic abuse of women eradicated as soon as possible, but it may be that the way forward here is some kind of awkward partnership of Christians who disagree on the way to get there, but are allies in seeking the safety of women within our churches.

The devastating wars of the last century have taken their toll, and arguably the all too often self-righteous pseudo-Christian language used in war-dead remembrances have served to undermine the original biblical meaning of the terminology employed. In such a context, these two works merit serious reflection by all who are concerned about the public standing of Christianity in contemporary Australia.

How ready are Christians to take a sufficiently critical look at the 'ANZAC myth'?

"I have been in the Army twice, though I have not been to war. I deeply appreciate the courage, mateship and resilience revealed in the ‘diggers’ of that era and which is still reflected in the professionalism and values of our military forces today. In many ways I identify with the spirit of Anzac and do not wish to diminish it. However, as a Christian, it is important not only to endorse those aspects of the legend that are good but also to understand its limitations."

The rediscovery of this inspiring story has the potential of providing an alternative, philanthropic dimension to Australian identity. Our federation’s formative years were shaped not just by the Anzac military catastrophe, but also by an unprecedented humanitarian effort that united Australians of diverse backgrounds. Can Australia find its identity in the humanitarian narrative, alongside the military one?

I remember learning about ‘global warming’ in geography class back in the late 1980’s. Even then things seemed so bad to me that I felt quite convinced that I would never choose to have children of my own. The future seemed bleak, and humanity seemed to be failing miserably in its responsibility to care for the planet...