My heartfelt thanks to Senator Guy Barnett for his leadership in the lifting of the ban on Holy Books being made available at citizenship ceremonies.
Background, No Holy Books 4 new Aussies and today’s press, Unholy row ends as bibles stay.
Reply
The warnings of the Barnabas Fund and many others about the negative consequences of the burning of the Koran went unheeded by a small extreme Christian group with disastrous results in Afghanistan on April 1. I reported last year on the negative consequences of this action in India.
At the time of the original threat of burning the Koran there were deaths in Afghanistan and protests in Iran despite the Pastor’s retraction of his earlier claim, Koran burn? ‘Not ever’.
Tragically, Pastor Jones later stood in silent witness as another Pastor did burn a Koran; hence the current loss of life in Afghanistan.
Has this caused a re-think on the part of Terry Jones? Sad to say, Terry Jones defiant despite murders in Afghanistan over Qur’an burning.
See nearly 800 comments on the Guardian poll; Is the Florida pastor who burnt the Qur’an morally responsible for the deaths of UN staff in protests in Afghanistan?
Violence begets violence. Extremists don’t care. For the Christ follower, we seek the peace of the city (Jeremiah 29:7). In Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount, The Beatitudes: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God’. (Matthew 5:9) We remember that justice will be done at the future Day of the Lord’s return, by the Lord. Not us! God holds us accountable for our lives. And so we pray: ‘Lord. have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. ‘
Article, UN staff killed in Afghanistan amid protests over Qur’an burning and Kandahar protests of April 2 and Protests continue April 3.
Also, President Obama calls for tolerance after Koran burning prompts deaths in Afghanistan.
Please pray for peace and for extremists of all varieties to be touched by the Spirit of Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Dr Evonne Paddison, CEO of ACCESS Ministries, speaks of the importance of religious instruction in schools.
Opposition to Christian programs in government schools is misguided.
AS CHIEF of ACCESS Ministries, Victoria’s largest provider of religion classes in government schools, I have been grilled about the special religious instruction program (SRI). At issue is the question of religious instruction in secular schools. As Australia, like the rest of the world, largely comprises ”believers” – the vast majority belongs to a religious group – I strongly assert its importance.
The recent opposition to Christian programs does not come from non-Christian faiths; there is great respect and co-operation between the religious instruction providers of all faiths. We occasionally meet, share ideas and support each other in training volunteer instructors.
Much of the opposition is being voiced by humanists.It has been said that SRI has no value in a secular education system. I argue that all faiths play a valuable part in shaping and forming our understanding of who we are as individuals and as members of the global village.
There is no denying the Judaeo-Christian influence on Australian society. For many students, the school religious instruction program is their only introduction to the faith and the values of Christianity.
Full article, Religious instruction teaches much more than faith. Also, Bishop teaches Islam?
In this article “7 Ways to Advance Religious Harmony in China and Around the World” Tony Blair gives us seven points that fail to take us beyond a moralism. It is true that we need to seek and work hard at the common good. It is foundational that we acknowledge differences and that at times those differences may take us to different policies and practices.
As globalization pushes the world closer together, the issue in respect of religious faith is very simple and clear: does it become a civilizing force that shapes globalization to advance human good; or does it become a countervailing force, dividing and alienating societies from each other?
Compare Blair’s article to Mark Durie’s blog “A Dozen Bad Ideas for the 21st Century”
Here is a list of false beliefs and modes of thought which make it hard for people in the West to come to terms with the challenge of Islam today. If you are deeply attached to any of these ideas or ways of thinking, you will have difficulty accepting the truth about Islam’s teachings and their impact.
A stimulating article via Jonathan Adam gives historical overview and although not everything will gain a positive, ‘yes!’
In Australia today, a marriage being “official” is of far lesser importance. The sweeping legal reforms of 2008 granted same-sex couples the same rights and obligations as heterosexual couples throughout Commonwealth law. Same-sex relationships are recognised at the state level too. There are relationship registries in NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT. There are processes, albeit imperfect ones, for documenting same-sex relationships in the other states.
The only thing missing is that one magic word. Marriage.
“Why are we denying our family and friends the chance to express their love in the most final way to their partners?” asked “not able to understand”, a typical commenter on Wong’s statements at Perth Now.
What, exactly, is being denied?
If two men or two women – or three or more people in whatever combination – want to declare their eternal love and commitment, then declare it. If it’s important to make this declaration in a ceremony with all of your friends as witnesses, or in the sight of God, or in the presence of six sheep and a randy goat, then do so. Dress up. Exchange rings. If there needs to be a raucous party afterwards, then hold that party.
If there are lingering concerns that despite the 2008 reforms there may still be legal problems over property or inheritance, then draw up a contract. Or create a trust fund.
If “the gay and lesbian community” wants to expend energy on real human rights issues, perhaps some attention could be given to those countries where homosexual activity is still punished by long jail terms or even death. Or, closer to home, by supporting the mental health of gay and lesbian youth, where harassment is still rife and suicide not uncommon.
Stilgherrian is an opinionated and irreverent writer, broadcaster and consultant based in Sydney, Australia.
Article, Gay marriage an irrelevant sideshow, Marriage: why not a threesome? and ‘Saving’ Marriage
Sad news regarding the death clinic in Adelaide.
Read: Euthanasia advocate Philip Nitschke eyes death clinic for Adelaide
Congratulations to Kentish tourist attraction: Tasmazia for making the Top 10 World’s Best Family Tourist Attractions list! It has made the list along with Disneyland Paris, Madame Tussauds London, Noah’s Ark Water Park Wisconsin and Australia Zoo Beerwah QLD.
This honour was mentioned in The Advocate newspaper on Wednesday 23 March, which gave the website that named Tasmazia as one of the best tourist attractions: www.gotravel24.com
Here is what Lara Moses had to say about it on gotravel24.com:
The world of Tasmazia is a crazy complex located in the wonderfully named town of Promised Land in the heart of Tasmania’s beautiful Cradle Mountain and Lakes District. Known for being home to the world’s largest maze called The Great Maze, it also has seven other smaller mazes, a whimsical model village built to 1/5th scale ,The Village of Lower Crackpot, , The Honey Boutique, The Pancake Parlour, a Gift Shop and a Lavender Farm.
Read the rest of the article: Top Ten Family Attractions and go have a fun time with the whole family! 🙂
We certainly did on our recent visit. See, Village of Lower Crackpot.
I have just read the article A Good Death by William Silvester and it is quite excellent re the importance of Advance Care Planning/ Directives which enables people to limit medical intervention and die naturally without going the euthanasia -medical killing route.
Intensive care specialist William Silvester knows better than most that dying with dignity is as important as living with it.
Some people might wonder if this isn’t euthanasia by stealth. It’s not. Euthanasia is the deliberate taking of someone’s life, using an active means, where that person would not otherwise have died. Advance care planning is giving people the opportunity to guide doctors ahead of time about whether they would want treatment if they are diagnosed with a severe or progressive life-threatening illness. In that circumstance, if the person dies it is due to their illness.
We all have a right to determine what happens to our body – whether you have cancer and turn down chemo or surgery, kidney failure and reject dialysis, or emphysema and choose not to go on to a breathing machine next time a severe breathing attack occurs. In the same way we have a right to choose now, we also have a right to guide doctors in the future.
The icing on the cake is how advance care planning for end of life also improves the care of patients’ families. We did a study at the Austin Hospital, published in the British Medical Journal in March last year, which showed that RPC (Respecting Patient Choices) significantly reduced the incidence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in the surviving relatives of patients who died.
See also, Advance care planning and ‘End of life’ & level of medical intervention.
I recently viewed some Monty Python and was reminded of their genius at uncorking the bottle on many issues both great and small in creative and disturbing ways.
The Monty Python crew’s unleashing of the perils of organ transplants is one of their bloodier efforts but as an organ donor I am not hazed. What I am hazed at is the merciless pursuit of organs through force and guile. This theme is mercilessly pursued by the Python crew.
Their take on the meaning of life from the imponderable of the beauty and expanse of space to the mercenary harvesting of organs is at best thought provoking at worst disturbing – there is an over abundance of blood and the total indifference of the white coated harvesters is chilling.
Oh! Is this another pressure on people to be medically killed/ euthanised? – Your organs will benefit society!
How much pressure to convince people to die by euthanasia will be on people. First there is pressure based on the cost of medical care. Then there is pressure from family members who are tired of caring for the person. Then there is pressure on a person because society has made them feel like a burden. Now there is pressure because good will come from euthanasia if they donate their healthy organs.
This from, Euthanasia and organ donation in Belgium. See also, Australian Christian doctors oppose euthanasia.
Warning: watch this grotesque and very bloody link at your peril. PG is recommended, Monty Python: Live organ transplants.
I have great caution when it comes to discussing national flags. See, On Flag Poles and Being Up the Wrong Pole.
The attachment to symbols is very real. But the true test of a symbol is the test of the values and character symbolized. Can the defacing of a flag, the trampling of a cross, so provoke us that we fail to live by the values and character of those symbols? Is the substance symbolized, in fact, real? Can those values be held without the symbols? Can the values stand on their own merit?
The danger of flag flying is the transfer of loyalty to the symbol while the community and its values lie neglected and dying. A failure to nurture the values of a community results in their slow death. Zealous flag waving mocks the exertion needed to grow a community and nurture the values for which previous generations have sacrificed.
Also see, Leading Australians start push to sack Union Jack from national flag