A workshop has been used in Cuba and other countries to get children involved in active peacemaking, reports Sarah Kim. Working in tandem with the United Nations, the Global Network of Religions for Children uses a curriculum that focuses on four ethical values: respect, empathy, reconciliation and responsibility.

Explaining to children the irrationality of adult behaviour is always challenging, says Sande Ramage. But in the case of the killing of Osama Bun Laden it is almost an impossibility.

A biblically-inspired fast is taking place in the USA, as Christians and Jews protest the way budget debate is sidelining the poor. Martin E. Marty reflects on a movement for justice with ancient roots and modern resonances.

Questioning the coherence of the newly-initiated World Interfaith Harmony Week, Michael Marten says that if neither 'faith' nor 'religion' really serve as useful comparative or relational concepts, it is perhaps intellectually more honest, and practically more fruitful, to abandon the pretence of ‘interfaith’ dialogue in favour of simple ‘interhuman’ dialogue.

In the matter of clerical abuse, justice must be done, says Martin Marty. But how and by whom the story gets told also matters. So why have Protestants and other Christians been so relatively quiet on the Catholic crisis?

As well as preparing worship resources for World Aids Day the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance. has this year put together an excellent Advent calendar of daily readings, pictures and meditations. Many of the meditations are written by people living with Aids.