As the Presbyterian member of the NSW Government’s Faith Affairs Council (FAC), I had the privilege of participating in some of our communal responses to that tragedy.

Technology is changing how we think about our world and our selves. Christians need to think through how to respond in a way which is faithful to God’s revelation in the Bible. 

Are we witnessing the beginning of a new-Christian era, or could we find a society even more individualistic, even more hardened against the unique claims of Jesus Christ?

So people are coming back to church, looking for the benefits that religion offers, such as meaning, community, stability, even hope. But does coming back to church mean they are coming back to Jesus? It may not be that simple.

There’s been a lot of discussion this year about a vibe shift away from secularity and a quiet revival of interest in religion. Sociological information shows that cultural expectations have indeed changed. The so-called ‘buffered self’ is cracking.