Why the Post-Christian West is eagerly pursuing ‘Skynet’-Level AI
Posted on December 4, 2023
Filed under Opinion, Theology Comments Off on Why the Post-Christian West is eagerly pursuing ‘Skynet’-Level AI
“OpenAI (chatGPT’s parent company) exists to develop ‘Skynet’-level Artificial Intelligence. Or more specifically, a safe version of AI as intelligent as Skynet. In their founding charter, they write:
OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—by which we mean highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work—benefits all of humanity. We will attempt to directly build safe and beneficial AGI.
And if the recent ousting then return of OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman is any indication, they’re making progress. The ABC reported on Sunday:
Ahead of Altman’s ousting, several staff researchers wrote to the board of directors warning of a powerful discovery that they said could threaten humanity, according to Reuters. …”
– Akos Balogh writes at The Gospel Coalition Australia.
Voluntary assisted dying laws partly invalid
Posted on December 4, 2023
Filed under Australia, Culture wars, Opinion Comments Off on Voluntary assisted dying laws partly invalid
“An important decision handed down recently in the Federal Court of Australia rules that part of Victoria’s euthanasia law (the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2017 (Vic)(‘VADA 2017’)) is invalid, as it authorises assistance with suicide, which is prohibited by Federal law.
The decision, of Abrahams J as a single judge in the Federal Court, is Carr v Attorney-General (Cth) [2023] FCA 1500 (30 November 2023). The implication is that similar provisions of other State and Territory laws are also invalid. The relevant federal law, sections 474.29A and 474.29B of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), in broad terms, makes it an offence to assist or encourage someone to commit suicide through use of a ‘carriage service’, most commonly by use of a telephone (either a voice call or a text message), email, or some internet service. …”
– At Law and Religion Australia, Neil Foster looks at the implications of a recent decision.
Image from a Diocese of Sydney training day.
Kel Richards calls on Australians to ‘refuse to walk backwards’ in the fight against the evils of anti-Semitism
Posted on December 3, 2023
Filed under Opinion, World news Comments Off on Kel Richards calls on Australians to ‘refuse to walk backwards’ in the fight against the evils of anti-Semitism
“A new expression was coined at the recent Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (or ARC for short) conference in London: ‘civilisational moment’.
The 1,500 delegates were warned that Australia, Britain the United States and all of the western world is facing a ‘civilisational moment’ – a tipping point in which we could lose the civilised values that have guided us for well over than a thousand years, and which have given us the freedoms we enjoy. …
The warning sign of our ‘civilisational moment’ is the epidemic of anti-Semitism sweeping the western world – what we thought was the civilised world. …”
– Kel Richards writes this opinion-piece at Sky News Australia.
Related:
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel’s statement on antisemitism — 13 October 2023.
Image: ABC.
Wanted: Catholic Pastors
Posted on December 3, 2023
Filed under Encouragement Comments Off on Wanted: Catholic Pastors
“I was in a meeting not too long ago in which a pastor said that he was going to lead his church to be the first church in history that fulfilled the Great Commission.
That’s a breathtaking claim.
And it reminded me of many other such vision-casting mission statements. One of the most famous slogans has to be the watchword of the Student Volunteer Movement, from over a century ago — ‘The evangelization of the world in this generation!’ That stirring call was used by God to send thousands of evangelical Christians from the English-speaking world around the globe to share the gospel in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
But I have to be honest—I’ve always thought that famous slogan was a mixed bag. …”
— At 9Marks, Mark Dever sees the need for pastors to be more catholic.
Ian Paul – Church of England is “trying to square a circle”
Posted on December 3, 2023
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“Rev Dr Ian Paul offers crucial insights following November’s Synod, reaffirming the Church of England’s doctrine that marriage remains defined as a union between one man and one woman. For a nuanced understanding of what took place, the half-hour interview is accessible on our YouTube channel here.
Ian asks, ‘Do we have confidence in the teaching of Jesus?’ and firmly states the impossibility of detaching doctrinal adherence from pastoral care. He critiques efforts to align the Church’s timeless doctrine with contemporary views as ‘trying to square a circle’. …”
– From The Coalition for Marriage in the UK. Watch here.
Why Ayaan Hirsi Ali became a Christian
Posted on December 2, 2023
Filed under Culture wars, Opinion, People Comments Off on Why Ayaan Hirsi Ali became a Christian
“Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a former Muslim and now a former atheist, recently declared that she has converted to Christianity. This is a cause for great rejoicing.
It is also a fascinating sign of the times. Her published account of why she is a Christian is somewhat odd, given that it mentions Jesus only once. It is, however, unreasonable to expect a new convert to offer an elaborate account of the hypostatic union in the first days of faith. This is why churches catechize disciples: Conversion does not involve an infusion of comprehensive doctrinal knowledge. And whatever the lacunae in her statement, the genuineness of her profession is a matter for the pastor of whatever congregation of Christ’s church to which she attaches herself.
Here is what makes her public testimony a sign of the times …”
– Carl Trueman writes at First Things.
Related:
Why I am now a Christian – Ayyan Hirsi Ali at Unherd.
Image: Crossway. Link via Anglican.ink.
The Christmas Countdown: from Speak Life
Posted on December 2, 2023
Filed under Good News, Resources Comments Off on The Christmas Countdown: from Speak Life
Speak Life in the UK has released this year’s Christmas video – The Christmas Countdown.
It’s something you could share with a friend, and then encourage them to consider the 321 course –
“321 comprises of 8 interactive video sessions designed to be completed at your leisure. Each session is around 20 min long and can be played, paused and accelerated to suit.
Presenter Glen Scrivener leads each session and offers the opportunity to think, question and test different worldviews.”
See also the Speak Life Christmas Video Rewind where Glen Scrivener and Nate Morgan Locke take a look at Speak Life’s previous Christmas videos.
This remote town feels like heaven to some, but it has a great gospel need
Posted on December 2, 2023
Filed under Australian dioceses Comments Off on This remote town feels like heaven to some, but it has a great gospel need
“Photographs of Exmouth show endless clear blue-water beaches, with expansive horizons.
The nearby Ningaloo Coast is world heritage listed. It is known for its reef, for whale sharks, sea turtles, rays, humpback whales, and a network of underground caves.
The town is gateway to the reef, where people dive and swim.
It’s in a 6504 square kilometre municipality, but most people live in Exmouth itself, a town of 2800.
Its population swells in winter, as people visit during the cooler months. Many people in town spend their spare time fishing, or just enjoying the environment.
Exmouth residents, the Venerable Simon Roberts and Alison Roberts, can see much lostness, just as anywhere. Some people are escaping difficulties, others just living for the enjoyment of life, a hedonistic lifestyle in a beautiful location.
Mr and Mrs Roberts are there for neither. Instead, they hope to bring people something that will satisfy more deeply than either escape or enjoyment: a relationship with God.
They moved to Exmouth around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, Mr Roberts is rector of Exmouth and Onslow Anglican Church and archdeacon of the Pilbara. …”
– The Melbourne Anglican has this story on Simon and Alison Roberts and the churches in Exmouth and Onslow. Food for prayer.
Map: Diocese of North West Australia. Exmouth and Onslow circled.
Truth Be Told — Lionel Windsor on God’s Story Podcast
Posted on December 1, 2023
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With current world events, there’s a great need for truth, and plenty of propaganda to mislead.
Moore College lecturer (and ACL Council member) Lionel Windsor speaks with the God’s Story Podcast about his forthcoming book Truth Be Told: Living Truthfully in a Post-Truth World.
“How do we live truthfully in a post truth world? Why are we in a post truth world and what is a post truth world anyway?”
Among other things, Lionel explains why the printing of his book has been delayed. It illustrates the theme of the book!
– Listen here. 30 minutes.
A personal ‘Barmen Declaration’ in the light the Church of England’s current direction
Posted on November 30, 2023
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“The following is a personal statement by the Revd Tom Parsons who is a member of the Rochester Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. I am posting it on this site because I think it is an important theological response to the vote by General Synod a fortnight ago to give a green light to the blessing of same-sex couples in Church of England churches.
On Wednesday 15th November this year, the Church of England’s General Synod voted to give the House of Bishops a green light to develop liturgy of blessing for sexually active same-sex couples. …”
– Martin Davie has posted this personal statement from the Rev Tom Parsons, Vicar of Christ Church, Sidcup, in Kent. In it, he outlines a Biblical and theological response to the General Synod’s vote.
New Gafcon General Secretary asks for your prayers
Posted on November 29, 2023
Filed under GAFCON, People Comments Off on New Gafcon General Secretary asks for your prayers
Dean Paul Donison has released this video as he assumes office as Gafcon General Secretary.
Source: Gafcon.
Archbishop of Perth set to push on with controversial Ordination
Posted on November 29, 2023
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From David Ould:
“The Archbishop of Perth, Kay Goldsworthy, will proceed with the ordination to the priesthood of a man who is openly living in a relationship with another man on Thursday evening despite a large growing protest in the Diocese.
I understand that more than 700 signatories have been received on a letter of protest. These 700 signatories represent close to 15% of regular church attendance in the Diocese and do not include members from one large church, St Matthew’s Shenton Park, which is organising its own response and will effectively double the number protesting. This leaves easily one quarter of regular church goers in the Diocese now protesting against an ordination. …”
– Read here.
Photo: Diocese of Perth.
The Bible’s answer to poverty – with David WIlliams
Posted on November 29, 2023
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A thought-provoking episode of The Pastor’s Heart:
“Poverty is fundamentally relational says David WIlliams.
What might a theology of caring for the poor look like?
The Bible’s terms for the poor (widow, orphan and alien) are all relational terms which describe someone who has lost relationships and as a result have lost connection with the land.
David and his wife Rachel started serving as missionaries in Nairobi, Kenya in 1999. David now serves as Principal of the Australian Church Missionary Society Training College St Andrew’s Hall, where Australian missionaries are trained for six months, before heading out to the field.
David has just given a provocative paper at the Anglican Aid conference at Sydney’s Moore Theological College and has agreed to come in and discuss it.
The issue for David is not just academic, with his first significant engagement with poverty, starting when working in the slums of Nairobi 20-plus years ago.”
Related:
Bathurst Diocese Advent Newsletter 2023
Posted on November 28, 2023
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The Bathurst Diocese Newsletter for Advent 2023 is now available here as a PDF file.
Great to use to pray for the churches of the diocese and the people they seek to serve with the gospel.
Bishop Mark Calder writes:
Dear friends,
My guess is that most of us are well and truly getting into Christmas planning and shopping.
Some of you may have purchased an Advent calendar which are increasingly popular. However, the secular version seems to be all about helping kids countdown to Christmas. That is not actually what Advent is about!
Advent is about preparing for Christ’s second coming! In Advent we look forward to Christ’s second coming and then celebrate his first coming at Christmas because it marks the beginning of God’s plans to save the world through his Son Jesus.
My Advent sermon series this year is called “On that Day” and arises from a song by CityAlight.
We will be reminded that when Jesus returns, we will rise; we will see him; we will know him, and we will keep on singing!
The season of Advent is meant to lift our eyes from all the disaster which surrounds us – to see the glorious nature of the future which awaits. To see that there will one day, be an end to the mess. To understand that that Jesus has conquered all evil and even death! We’re reminded that Christians are people of hope and expectation. We are people who know that on that day – when Jesus returns – we will rise as Jesus rose!
May Advent be a time of recapturing our Christian Hope and rejoicing in all that is yet to come!
Mark.
What’s your Hope? — Revelation 21 and 22
Posted on November 28, 2023
Filed under Encouragement, Moore College, Theology Comments Off on What’s your Hope? — Revelation 21 and 22
As the Moore College academic year (its 167th) draws to a close, Principal Dr. Mark Thompson preached on Revelation chapters 21 and 22 at the last College Chapel Service.
He lifts our eyes to God’s ultimate purposes. Most encouraging.
Related:
The Summer 2023 edition of Moore Matters is now up on the College website.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…