Nearly half of world’s migrants are Christian, Pew Research shows

Nearly half of world's migrants are Christian, Pew Research shows
While Christians make up about 30% of the world’s population, the world’s migrants are 47% Christian, according to the latest data collected in 2020. The study found that Muslims make up 29% of the migrant population but 25% of the world’s population. Jews, only 0.2% of the world’s population but 1% of migrants, are by far the most likely religious group to have migrated, with 20% of Jews worldwide living outside their country of birth compared to just 6% of Christians and 4% of Muslims. Four percent of migrants are Buddhist, matching the general population, and 5% are Hindu, compared to 15% of the world population.

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Positive Peace: Religions and Peace

Positive Peace:  Religions and PeaceMeet Positive Peace, the post-COVID recovery framework. Created by the non-partisan and internationally renowned think-tank the Institute for Economics & Peace, this free short course introduces the transformational framework — Positive Peace. Rethink peace with the Institute’s data driven approach and discover how Positive Peace is associated with better performance on ecological sustainability, improved wellbeing, stronger GDP growth rates and better business outcomes.
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Family violence conference

Ten Commitments to Prevent Violence - Australian Anglican Program Ten Commitments to Prevent Violence – Australian Anglican Program hill hold a conference on September 2-3, for everyone who wants to learn more about what churches can do to prevent violence against women, what initiatives are working for churches and how we can best care for those impacted by domestic violence.
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Kamala, a common name in India, is associated with several deities and is a symbol of wisdom


Relief of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi from a temple in India.
Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images


Ever since Vice President Kamala Harris became a presence on the national scene, her name – a common one for women in India – has attracted a lot of attention, most specifically for its pronunciation. Kamala as a word in Hinduism has significant associations with divinity, response to divinity and worship. One form of surrender to divinity is charana kamala.

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An anthem for peace and justice from Israeli and Palestinian youth

A Different Way - Jerusalem Youth Chorus

 

A Different Way – The Jerusalem Youth Chorus: Palestinian and Israeli young singers from the Jerusalem Youth Chorus teamed up with GRAMMY- and Emmy-winning artists to write a powerful anthem of non-violence in times of war, and a call to action to choose a shared future over destruction.
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A Call for cross-generational action on the Mental Health of Youth

World Council of Churches LogoThe World Council of Churches is observing an Ecumenical International Youth Day on 12 August under the theme “Journey of Justice, Peace, and Unity: A Call to End Violence.” This event extensively addresses the issue of mental health in the world’s youth. “The issues regarding mental health in youth are expressed in various forms of behaviour such as panic attacks, addictions, eating disorders, disruption to education and learning, and the lack of coping skills,”. This observance also addresses the consequences of failing to address mental health in youth. “Even in regions free of open conflicts and wars, children and youth who face a micro-climate of normalized violence and experience physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are also highly vulnerable”.
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In Wisdom and in Passion
Comparing and Contrasting Buddha and Christ

In Wisdom and in Passion
Comparing and Contrasting Buddha and ChristTwo faiths of great influence, making great claims of their founders. How do such faiths enter into dialogue, so necessary in our fractured world? What do Buddha in deep meditation and Christ, with a deep yearning for the justice of the reign of God, say to each other, and to us? What commonalities and differences do they share as those in whose name new faiths were founded? These questions and others are examined in a new book, In Wisdom and in Passion, Comparing and Contrasting Buddha and Christ

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At her first tour since the pandemic, Amma embraces New York City

Amma giving darshanHundreds of people from all walks of life filed in to see Amma at New York’s Javits Center on Wednesday morning. Though Amma has held virtual calls for her followers since 2020, her main appeal — giving hugs and blessings — could not be replicated through a screen. Some admirers shook and cried in her presence.
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What’s the best way to care for patients of Muslim faith?

Dr Abu Bakr

Dr Abu Bakr is a member of the Sufi Muslim community in Broken Hill.(ABC Broken Hill: Grace Atta)

Dr Abu Bakr isn’t a medical doctor, but several times a year, he runs a workshop for Australia’s next generation of health professionals.

In his sessions, he discusses how to provide culturally appropriate health care to Muslim patients, and talks about the role of spirituality in the sector more broadly.

It’s part of a higher education program that’s been operating since 2018, where an outback university has collaborated with its local Muslim community

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Help for those accompanying Catholics facing end-of-life decisions

To Witness and to Accompany with Christian HopeAustralia’s Catholic bishops have released a new document to guide priests, chaplains and pastoral workers who are asked to provide pastoral support to Catholics who are considering accessing voluntary assisted dying schemes.
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National Missing Persons Week 2024

National Missing Persons Week 2024

National Missing Persons Week happens during the first week of August each year. This is an annual week of action that takes place in Australia during the first week of August to raise awareness of the significant issues surrounding missing persons. The week is also used to profile long-term missing persons, and to educate the Australian community. This year’s National Missing Persons Week campaign will focus on 8 missing Australian women.


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A consequential president who never gave up on his faith, family or country

President Joe Biden exits Sunday Mass

As the second Catholic to become president of the United States, Biden faced far more challenges about his Catholicism than President John F. Kennedy. All JFK had to do was convince Southern Baptists that he was not going to take orders from the pope.

Biden had to withstand withering criticism from some of the Catholic faithful who were convinced that they had God’s ear and Joe did not. In Christlike fashion, he never returned their volleys, kept his head down and continued to nourish his Catholic faith at Sunday Mass.

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Women for peace

Joint Israeli - Palestine Women's activity
Before it became so hard to hope for peace: people attend a joint event organised by the Israeli movement Women Wage Peace and the Palestinian organisation Women of the Sun (image: Menahem Kahana/AFP)


Israeli and Palestinian women have joined forces and are calling for a negotiated solution to the Middle East conflict. They say it is the only alternative to the murderous war.

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Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand

Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New ZealandAustralia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel.

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In secular France, chaplains prepare to provide Olympians with spiritual support during the Games

Summer Olympic Games Logo - Paris 2024PARIS (AP) — As athletes rev up their training and organizers finalize everything from ceremonies to podiums before the Paris Olympics, more than 120 faith leaders are preparing for a different challenge — spiritually supporting some 10,000 Olympic athletes from around the world, especially those whose medal dreams will inevitably get crushed.
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In the midst of Olympic craze in Paris, Notre Dame guide’s advice is: Watch the beauty of the cathedral

Notre Dame Cathedral, ParisEven if the spotlight is now on sports stadiums ahead of the July 26 opening of the Summer Olympic Games, a Notre Dame Cathedral guide with four decades of experience recommended it’s the majesty of the cathedral one should turn to in the midst of the Games’ craze in Paris.
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Be Slavery Free

Be Slavery Free Logo

ACCC Submission

Closing Date: Friday 26 July 2024

Be Slavery Free invite you to join them in making a significant impact on sustainability and human rights by co-signing their submission to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the Draft Guide to Sustainability Collaborations and Australian Competition Law.

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