Society

Cafechurch is a church that meets in a bar in Fitzroy, in inner city Melbourne. But why? Is it just that we like drinking beer and talking about God? The first in a series, this presentation attempts to describe the spiritual situation in Australia, and more broadly in the context of modernism, secularism, and the post-Christendom situation. These processes are not entirely distinct, but broadly, modernity has led to the loss of the taken-for-grantedness of Christianity, which has in turn led to the church(es), once central to society and culture, becoming increasingly marginalised.

I came across an interesting article this week, written by the redoubtable Barney Zwartz in The Age. I was struck by this quote:

"The really liberating thing is that I didn't have to believe anything in advance. It's just a practice, and if it leads to a deeper life, then it will be obvious in the doing of it.''

Bachelard rediscovered that glimpse, and it deepened. In 2006 she was ordained an Anglican priest, and two years ago launched the Benedictus community in Canberra, an ecumenical group for whom meditation is at the heart of worship.