Would God answer Morrison's prayers for rain?

Editor's note

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked Australians to pray for rain, but can God answer prayers? And if He can, should He? Philip Almond, Emeritus Professor in the History of Religious Thought at The University of Queensland, explains petitionary prayer, the likelihood of miracles and whether we should rely on prayer alone to help drought-stricken farmers.

Lucy Beaumont

Deputy Section Editor: Arts + Culture

Top stories

Can prayers bring rain to drought-stricken parts of the country? Our Prime MInister hopes so. Sam Mooy/AAP

Thoughts and prayers: miracles, Christianity and praying for rain

Philip C. Almond, The University of Queensland

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked Australians to pray for rain, but can God answer prayers? And if He can, should He?

Cheryl Praeger was awarded the 2019 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. She has spent more than four decades inspiring a love for maths in others, and has created a vast body of academic work in the process. SUPPLIED

Prime Minister’s science prizes awarded for algebra expertise, anti-cancer research and excellence in science teaching

Michael Hopkin, The Conversation; Noor Gillani, The Conversation

The prizes are among the country's most prestigious accolades for science-related achievements. This year marks their 20th anniversary.

Does music usually put you in a better mood? That might help you try a little bit harder and stick with challenging tasks. Shutterstock

Curious Kids: is it OK to listen to music while studying?

Timothy Byron, University of Wollongong

Research suggest it's probably fine to listen to music while you're studying – with some caveats.

Thousands of students staged protests across the country against proposed changes to the criminal code and a new law that weakened the country’s anti-corruption commission. EPA/Dedi Sinuhaji

A requiem for Reformasi as Joko Widodo unravels Indonesia’s democratic legacy

Tim Lindsey, University of Melbourne

Indonesia passes a regressive anti-democratic law – with more to come – just as B.J. Habibie dies, the president who championed the dramatic reform process that transformed Indonesia after 1998.

Politics + Society
Myanmar might finally be held accountable for genocide, but the court case must recognise sexual violence Susan Hutchinson, Australian National University The sheer volume of pregnant women in the refugee camps was an early indicator of the extent sexual violence was used against Rohingya women and girls.

Business + Economy
Does choice overload you? It depends on your personality – take the test Frank Mathmann, Queensland University of Technology; Gary Mortimer, Queensland University of Technology There's a lot of research in consumer behaviour that disputes the notion “more is better”. But it really depends on what type of personality you have.

Cities
In your backyard: why people need a say on planning that affects their local community Philippa England, Griffith University We need to change council planning rules that prevent community members from having a say on proposed development in their local area.

Health + Medicine

For people with a mental illness, loved ones who care are as important as formal supports

Emily Hielscher, The University of Queensland; James Graham Scott, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute; Sandra Diminic, The University of Queensland

People with mental illness are at their most vulnerable when they're discharged from hospital. Without the support of family or friends at this time, they're less likely to recover.

Arts + Culture
By rejecting stereotypes, Slam and Ramy show us authentic Arab Muslim men on screen Sherene Idriss, Deakin University Two new screen productions show us the nuances of growing up in Arab and Muslim migrant communities. They're a refreshing look at stories too seldom told.

Environment + Energy
Climate explained: the environmental footprint of electric versus fossil cars Md Arif Hasan, Victoria University of Wellington; Ralph Brougham Chapman, Victoria University of Wellington In New Zealand, where more than 80% of electricity is renewable, the carbon footprint of electric cars is 62% lower than that of fossil cars. But their lithium battery has other environmental impacts.