Faith conversations in a changing world STEVE WRIGHT, SENIOR SCHOOL CHAPLAIN
“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) If you look at Australian census data, the statistics highlight a steady decline in those affiliated with religion and faith. Sadly, too, media portrayal of religion in our society is often focused on sensationalised stories; the negative narratives rather than the daily experiences of spirituality that continue to influence billions of people worldwide. What the census data will not show you, however, is how many people are genuinely exploring spirituality and the many who have encountered the love of God in a very real way. Lack of weekly attendance at a church service does not disqualify a person from having faith and spirituality as a part of their lives.
52 Ad Astra Issue No 145
My reflections in this article are centred around the Christian faith, as that is my experience. I am actively involved in my local church and connected with ministers of varied denominations and have, myself, previously served as a minister. In my current role as a school Chaplain, I have the privilege of discussing spirituality with students, staff, and families from a wide variety of faith backgrounds. In all facets of my life, I enjoy being able to have conversations with people who have real questions about God, faith and purpose. One of the things I know for certain is that although recent years have had their challenges, and many churches have had to adapt to new ways of doing
