Matthew Parris, convinced atheist and columnist for The Times of London, recently visited his boyhood home of Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) and found himself confronted by a conviction that he’s been trying to avoid for most of his life: It would be good for Africa if more Africans believed in God. Africa needs God, [...]

Christians and followers of other religions in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan (see map below) could be forced to close places of worship under new laws that severely restrict religious activities. The laws have not yet been given final approval, but this seems likely in both countries.
Religious leaders and human rights groups are criticising Kazakhstan’s restrictive [...]

This stupidity was reported from Australia less than a month ago and it’s already spread to (formerly Great) Britain.
Hundreds of schools have barred teachers from marking in red in case it upsets the children.
They are scrapping the traditional method of correcting work because they consider it ‘confrontational’ and ‘threatening’.
Pupils increasingly find that the ticks and [...]

This year saw three convictions for human trafficking in Canada—the first since a human-trafficking statute was added to the Criminal Code in 2005.  Contrary to expectations, the perpetrators and victims were all Canadian citizens.
A different picture emerged of a flesh trade often thought of as foreign nationals tricked across borders. It became apparent that Canadian [...]

I’ve been tagged by Alice the Camel and Jay Currie for the jobs meme.
“It’s simple. Just list all the jobs you’ve had in your life, in order. Don’t bust your brain: no durations or details are necessary, and feel free to omit anything that you feel might tend to incriminate you. I’m just curious. And [...]

China launched a widespread crackdown on Christians during the Christmas season.  Public Security Bureau (PSB) agents raided a house church on Christmas Eve and took nine women into custody.
They, “were reenacting the nativity [scene] on the street, and police charged the women with “organizing illegal religious activities. ” The women, including Yue Zengyun who led [...]

The collect for today, the Feast of St Stephen, from the 1962 Canadian Book of Common Prayer:
Grant, O Lord, that, in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the [...]