This remarkable book has many strengths and just one or two weaknesses. It is a well written and sympathetic account of five of the worlds great religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, by someone who consciously identifies himself as a Christian. John Dickson succeeds in his intention not to let his Christian faith stop him from dealing with each religion on its own terms and presenting us with an attractive and sympathetic portrayal of what it is clear he does not agree with. This is quite an achievement.

A Sydney Anglican think-tank is claiming tightening abortion laws will do little to save the lives of unborn babies.

The way Christians see the world is now a matter for study at the Blue Mountains Bible College. 25 students are spending evenings at a former factory turned classroom for a period of nine weeks discovering what goes into a Christian world view. The ground-breaking course is being hosted by Springwood/Winmalee Anglican Church, in its newly refurbished ministry centre.

Carers responsible for aged and disabled family members are calling on the federal government to rethink a funding strategy that threatens to close nursing homes. The federal governments plan to link funding to new building requirements by 2008 has raised fears of a bed shortage with already stressed families.

A Rooty Hill woman is letting decades of experience teaching children the Gospel overflow on to the web and into Sydneys Sunday schools. Sandy Galea, a trained primary school teacher, is the driving force behind Kidswise, a web-based service offering 20 weeks of teaching programs and talks to time-strapped Bible teachers.

Two Sydney CMS workers are making significant inroads with Slovenias student population. ZVESh is the Slovenian national Christian student movement affiliated with IFES, and is working amongst Slovenias 43,000 university students. CMS missionaries Leon and Lee (surname deleted for security) are working alongside ZVESh, which is growing in maturity and self-sufficiency.

Animated films have taken out the top two prizes in the Ignite Film Festival, Sydneys premier Christian film competition. More than a thousand people packed Sydneys Town Hall to see the finalists in eight categories, including drama, science fiction, musical and documentary. Entrants were challenged to take one of Jesus parables and translate it to the big screen.

When a recent meeting took place between Indian Hindus in Fiji and eight Christians from Richmond, it was the start of an unlikely friendship built on a mutual love for Christ. In September a group from St Peters, Richmond embarked on a mission trip to Fiji to work with missionary couple Frank and Robyn Hawkes at an Indian Baptist church near the capital, Suva. The team shared the Matthias Media gospel presentation Two Ways to Live with the local Indian minority.