Genesis 1:26–28 provides material towards a biblical answer to the question of what it means to be human and how to rightly treat human beings. This chapter shows us that human beings are a special order of the animal kingdom that is bestowed with special dignity, made for relationship with the Creator, with consequent obligations and duties. It is a crucial building block for a well-developed Christian anthropology and its attendant ethic.
National Palliative Care Week runs from 23-29 May 2021. This year’s theme is “Palliative Care—it’s more than you think” which seeks to raise awareness about the many benefits of quality palliative care. Palliative care is defined as an approach that improves the quality of life of people with a life-limiting illness and helps them live as well as possible for as long as possible. It also provides support for their families and carers. It does this by providing more than pain relief: the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient are all considered important concerns in palliative care. Modern,...
Thankfully the vaccination roll-out has now begun, but some Christians are still concerned about the advisability of receiving the vaccine—either because of the speed of its approval, or because of questions about the AstraZeneca vaccine’s use of cell line [HEK293] developed from the tissue of an aborted foetus. In Western Australia, there is even an anti-vaccination party running in the State election. How might we think about these matters as followers of Jesus in the light of his Word? Too Fast for Safety? The speed of the development and approval of these vaccines is something to be thankful for In...
1995: an Ebola virus epidemic in Zaire had a death rate of 81 percent, the internet was privatised for the first time, and Braveheart won Best picture and Best director at the Academy Awards. In Beijing, starting on the 15th September, the Fourth World Conference on Women set an agenda for women’s rights which was unanimously adopted by representatives from 189 nations: the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This document promoted equality, freedom and opportunities for women and girls everywhere. It continues to be a global framework for feminist activism 25 years later. Sadly, gender inequality remains a problem...
The COVID-19 (novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 – SARS -CoV2) pandemic has had a brutal impact on human life and health across the world, with the only current hope of reprieve lying in the development of an effective vaccine. As a result, there is widespread urgent research underway to identify a suitable candidate. If many members of the public have concerns about the ethics of vaccination, it could be a serious public health problem. There is no doubt that vaccination can be an effective public health strategy to curb the spread of infection. We each have a God-given...
