‘The price of sparrows’: experiencing God today

Abstract

Religion is in decline in Ireland. Many questions spring to mind. Why are fewer people experiencing active and involved membership of the Church as fulfilling? Why does the prevailing attitude of the media to the Church fluctuate between hostility and indifference? Why are fundamentalist movements within and without the Church increasing in popularity? Why are some people no longer searching for God, while others seem to believe quite readily in apparitions, healings and other apparent manifestations of the supernatural? Why is there an alarming decline in the number of candidates for ordained ministry?