Ethical Living, Justice and Faith

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  How Canadians became so addicted to plastic
  
  First introduced as Bakelite in 1907, fully synthetic plastics weren’t mass produced until the mid-century.
  
  Burmese dissident speaks frankly about his country’s persecution of the Rohingya
  
  On a recent Canadian tour, Maung Zarni talked about the need for truth.
  
  How families cope when a loved one goes missing
  
  A Quebec man went for a walk in the early morning of March 16, 2016, and hasn’t been seen since. His family, like many love ...
  
  4 science-trained faith leaders share what still gives them goosebumps
  
  "This greater knowledge amplified my belief in a mysterious God who still offers so much more for us to discover."
  
  Martin Luther King Jr: Remembering an icon
  
  On the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, we republish highlights of his 1962 interview with The Observer.
Opinions
- - Editorials
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  Observations: Our magazine's plastic problem
  
  "While I can easily defend the use of a polybag on financial grounds, it would be unconscionable to deliver a cover story abo ...
  
  Teaching sex-ed in schools is no sin
  
  "Unfortunately, much of the resistance to teaching schoolchildren about sex and sexuality comes from Christians, and the gene ...
  
  Float tank benefits: Does this therapy actually help?
  
  Flotation tanks cut off the outside world and offer an inner immersion.
  
  Why inaction is the devil we should actually fear
  
  "We miss the fact that the real devil in our society is how so many allow evil to happen. The devil is not in our action but ...
  
  Yes, a swan parade actually exists
  
  For 28 years in Stratford, Ont., swans have paraded through the streets on the first weekend of April, waddling from their wi ...
Gallery
- ObserverDocs: Playing by Heart
  
  United Church music director Kara Shaw was born prematurely, became almost totally blind and was later diagnosed with autism ...
  
  ObserverDocs: 100 Years of Women's Marches
  
  For more than a century, women have marched for their voting, employment, civil, reproductive and sexual rights
  
  ObserverDocs: My Year of Living Spiritually
  
  Anne Bokma left the Dutch Reformed Church as a young adult and eventually became a member of the United Church and then the U ...
  
  ObserverDocs: A Tale of Two Cancers
  
  Catherine Gordon's October 2017 feature for The Observer, 'A tale of two cancers,' recently caught the eye of U.S. Senator Be ...
  
  ObserverDocs: Stolen Mother
  
  The daughter and adoptive mother of one of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women share their story
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Features

April 2018

What that recycling logo actually means

by Susan Nerberg

Contrary to popular belief, its presence doesn’t guarantee the product is reusable or recyclable.

Columns

April 2018

Why Canada needs a free-range parenting law

by Pieta Woolley

Justice

January 2018

Jehovah's Witnesses cover-up

by Kristy Woudstra

Canadian survivors of childhood sexual abuse are coming forward to reveal how their church failed them — and protected their predators

Profiles

October 2017

Fall from grace

by Justin Dallaire

Don Hume was a United Church minister nearing retirement. Then he tried crack cocaine.

Features

April 2018

10 easy ways to kick our nasty plastic habit

by Susan Nerberg

It's not as hard as you think.

Features

April 2018

What that recycling logo actually means

by Susan Nerberg

Contrary to popular belief, its presence doesn’t guarantee the product is reusable or recyclable.

Contact us

About the Observer

Founded in 1829, The United Church Observer is the oldest continuously published magazine in North America and the second oldest in the English speaking world. It has won international acclaim for journalistic excellence and garnered more awards for writing than any other Canadian religious publication. Read more...

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Copyright Information

The Observer regrets that it cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. All contents © 2016 Observer Publications Inc.; may not be reprinted or republished without written permission. The Observer is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. To link to us from your website, contact The Observer's webmaster. Click here.

First introduced as Bakelite in 1907, fully synthetic plastics weren’t mass produced until the mid-century.

On a recent Canadian tour, Maung Zarni talked about the need for truth.

A Quebec man went for a walk in the early morning of March 16, 2016, and hasn’t been seen since. His family, like many love ...

"This greater knowledge amplified my belief in a mysterious God who still offers so much more for us to discover."

On the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, we republish highlights of his 1962 interview with The Observer.

"While I can easily defend the use of a polybag on financial grounds, it would be unconscionable to deliver a cover story abo ...

"Unfortunately, much of the resistance to teaching schoolchildren about sex and sexuality comes from Christians, and the gene ...

Flotation tanks cut off the outside world and offer an inner immersion.

"We miss the fact that the real devil in our society is how so many allow evil to happen. The devil is not in our action but ...

For 28 years in Stratford, Ont., swans have paraded through the streets on the first weekend of April, waddling from their wi ...

United Church music director Kara Shaw was born prematurely, became almost totally blind and was later diagnosed with autism ...

For more than a century, women have marched for their voting, employment, civil, reproductive and sexual rights

Anne Bokma left the Dutch Reformed Church as a young adult and eventually became a member of the United Church and then the U ...

Catherine Gordon's October 2017 feature for The Observer, 'A tale of two cancers,' recently caught the eye of U.S. Senator Be ...

The daughter and adoptive mother of one of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women share their story

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Features

by Darrell Noakes

The event, called “Take Me to Church,” after a popular song, was a fundraiser for LGBTQ youth in Saskatchewan.

Observations

by Jocelyn Bell

"While I can easily defend the use of a polybag on financial grounds, it would be unconscionable to deliver a cover story about plastics . . . in plastic."

Video

by Observer Staff

United Church music director Kara Shaw was born prematurely, became almost totally blind and was later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Today, the 28-year-old showcases her unique musical ability, performing piano on local and national stages.

Features

April 2018

by Susan Nerberg

Contrary to popular belief, its presence doesn’t guarantee the product is reusable or recyclable.

Columns

April 2018

by Pieta Woolley

Justice

January 2018

by Kristy Woudstra

Canadian survivors of childhood sexual abuse are coming forward to reveal how their church failed them — and protected their predators

Profiles

October 2017

by Justin Dallaire

Don Hume was a United Church minister nearing retirement. Then he tried crack cocaine.

Features

April 2018

by Susan Nerberg

It's not as hard as you think.

Features

April 2018

by Susan Nerberg

Contrary to popular belief, its presence doesn’t guarantee the product is reusable or recyclable.

Contact us

About the Observer

Masthead

Copyright Information