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What you can do in-between the fires – Sibusiso Mlotshwa
1 Now on that very occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate? 3 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do…
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The Oppression Obsession by Johan Erasmus
I can vaguely remember the beginning of talent shows like Idols and X Factor in the early 2000’s. If you wanted to win one of these reality TV competitions you had to either sing very well, or be very attractive. Those two factors worked on a scale. If you weren’t that sexy then your voice…
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SOUTH AFRICA: A SECULAR THEOCRACY – Johan Erasmus
I am a religious person. You might even call me a professional Christian, working as a pastor in a small church. Subsequently you could say I know how to play the religious game, however lately I find myself totally outplayed by people who call themselves ‘secular’. My sceptic friends like to remind me that…
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BABELAS GEBEDE: GEDAGTES OOR DIE DROOGTE – Herman Carstens
Alhoewel Gautengers deesdae met ‘n tikkie leedvermaak die Kapenaars en hul stortgewoontes spot, word ons harte ook deur die nood geroer. ‘n Christen bid as hy of sy met sulke lyding gekonfronteer word. En ek glo dat God ons gebede hoor. Tog voel ek dat ons hierdie leersame oomblik moet gebruik om ons aandag op…
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BETOGINGSWENKE – Johan Erasmus
As jy beplan om Saterdag 25 November Unie-geboue toe te gaan dan is hier ʼn paar wenke: Die plaasmoorde is verskriklik en moet bekamp word. Soek oplossings om dit te verseker. Moenie net politici beskuldig nie, kom met ʼn paar voorstelle na die tafel toe. As jy ʼn klompie ver regses sien wat ʼn ou…
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STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT REAL TALK – André van Zyl
I had the opportunity to be a part of the panel at the “Blacks only” evening organized by the Real Talk group. The premise was that we should get people across the traditional “racial” lines to talk to each other honestly with the intention of stimulating real dialogue. To be honest I never had the…
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REAL TALK – Johan Erasmus
Listen Here! To Real-ly Talk is not fun… Perhaps that is the point. The sentimental rainbow-kumbaja talk is in the past and the Castle Larger advertisement with the best of inter-racial friends braaing together is just not the South African reality. So instead of hearing that everything is okay and instead of reading on Facebook…
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DIALOOG SHMIALOOG – Udo Karsten
Dis volkswysheid dat daar liefs nie oor politiek of godsdiens rondom die braaivleisvuur gesels word nie. Waarom nie? Want verskillende menings mag die humeure saam met die braaivleisvuur laat opvlam en dan is dit net twee biere verder voordat familie onterf en vriendskappe geruïneer word. Neem godsdiens as voorbeeld. Waarom vind mense dit dikwels so…
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HOEKOM DIALOOG – Johan Erasmus
Die bekende Britse akteur en skrywer Stephen Fry het onlangs in ‘n onderhoud homself uitgelaat oor wat sy reaksie sal wees, sou hy moes uitvind God bestaan. Fry het nie terug gehou nie en se o.m. die volgende: “How dare you? How dare you create a world to which there is such misery that is…
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‘N BRIEF AAN MY SKEPTIESE VRIENDE – Roedolf Botha
As Christen het ek nog altyd gedink dat tradisionele ateïsme, agnostisisme en ander vorme van skeptisisme ernstige en noemenswaardige denkstrome was, gevoed uit ‘n poel van diep intellektuele refleksiemet ‘n gesonde plek in die samelewing. Die ortodokse Christelike geloof was nog altyd gepasuitgedaag deur waardige en diepdenkende intellektuele teenstanders. As gelowige het ek en baie…