Leading the way

REVIEW BY MARGARET REESON

BOOK | OUR PRINCIPLE OF SEX EQUALITY: THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN IN THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA 1927-1977 | JULIA PITMAN

FORTY years after the inauguration of Uniting Church in Australia, it feels natural in 2017 that women are moderators in four UCA synods and a woman is president-elect. But those of us who have ...

Talking about sex

REVIEW BY IAN TOZER

BOOK | TWO VIEWS ON HOMOSEXUALITY, THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH | EDITED BY PRESTON SPRINKLE

Homosexuality commonly draws out strident views. Oppositional positions seem to be the norm; dialogue is often elusive. The editor notes this is not a ‘Christian’ versus ‘non-Christian’ debate: it is a discussion within the church.

Seeking to encourage deep engagement, ...

For the slave is his money

REVIEW BY MARK ZIRNSAK

BOOK | HUMAN TRAFFICKING, THE BIBLE AND THE CHURCH  | MARION L S CARSON

THIS book has two sections. The first explores what the Bible says about slavery and how that can inform a Christian response to modern-day trafficking of people. The second focuses on trafficking of people, mainly women and children, for the purposes ...

Tails of hope and despair

FILM | A STREET CAT NAMED BOB | PG

Review by BARBARA ALLEN

Loosely based on James Bowen’s 2012 autobiography, A Street Cat Named Bob, this movie is about the relationship between a homeless man and a cat.

Bowen (brilliantly played by Luke Treadaway) is a recovering heroin addict who moves into assisted accommodation, where he is befriended by ...

The Book of Mormon review – knocking religion with gusto

Garth Jones reviews The Book of Mormon.

Religious satire has existed for millennia, pre-dating Christianity itself.

From the work of Greek playwright Aristophanes – circa 400BC – through to last year’s ribald Seth Rogen animated comedy Sausage Party, the tradition of art questioning belief is fundamental to humanity’s ongoing spiritual evolution.

In his 2003 book A Serrated ...

Faith in work

REVIEW BY STEVEN CRUMP

BOOK SET | THE LABOUR OF LOVE: LENTEN STUDIES ON FOLLOWING CHRIST AT WORK | JOHN BOTTOMLEY

This series of Lenten Studies provides an opportunity to reflect on God’s presence in our daily work – paid or otherwise. Using scripture readings, prayer, quiet reflection and group discussions, it allows the participant to delve deeply into ...

An object of worship

REVIEW BY NICK MATTISKE

BOOK | THE MARKET AS GOD | HARVEY COX | HARVARD

It’s not much of a revelation to suggest that capitalism has religious overtones, or that the market has godlike qualities. Adam Smith’s famous depiction of ‘the invisible hand’ of the ...

Can’t have a Bob each way

 

REVIEW BY DAVID SOUTHWELL

FILM | HOWARD ON MENZIES: BUILDING MODERN AUSTRALIA | ABC DVD

The so-called History Wars were a feature of John Howard’s prime ministership. This ABC documentary shows political retirement has not dimmed the former prime minister’s appetite for some retrospective rumble.

Howard on Menzies sees Howard defend his role model and hero, Robert Menzies, ...

Down-to-earth advice

REVIEW BY CATH JAMES

BOOK | COMING BACK TO EARTH | JONATHAN CORNFORD

It is rare to find a book that challenges the reader to confront ethical decisions about how to live and engage in social change while recognising there is no ‘right’ or ‘pure’ way to do this.

In this collection of essays on the church, climate change, ...

Creation stories

REVIEW BY GARTH JONES

MUSEUM | ON THE ORIGIN OF ART, MUSEUM OF OLD AND NEW ART, HOBART TASMANIA

To paraphrase Monty Python’s Life of Brian, MONA Museum figurehead David Walsh is not the art world’s Messiah, he’s just a very naughty boy.
The quirky Tasmanian gambler, art collector and businessman – obsessed with sex, death and viscera – ...

Counting blessings

REVIEW BY HARRIET ZIEGLER

BOOK SET | SPINIFEX BLESSING | JULIE PERRIN

The title of this delightful set of three booklets by Julie Perrin is both tantalising and telling.

Tantalising because we might wonder, why spinifex? An Australian plant so common we often fail to see it. Yet once our eyes are opened to it, it is beautiful in ...

Oddly Familiar

REVIEW BY PENNY MULVEY

PLAY | THE ODD COUPLE

It must be equal parts delight and terror as an actor to step into a role so familiar to the audience. Shaun Micallef and Francis Greenslade have done just that for the Melbourne Theatre Company’s latest production, The Odd Couple.

Micallef plays the uptight neat ...