usatoday.com— CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — New Prime Minister Julia Gillard assured Australia's Christian majority on Thursday that her atheism would not affect government funding to church-run schools if she is re-elected. Gillard, who was sworn in last month and promptly called elections, was the first prime minister in the federation's 109-year history to... — Submitted Jul 29, 2010
Australia's Christian majority?
About 12 % of Australians attend church on a Sunday -about the same as in New Zealand. While the Majority may be "christian" by birth, thats really a cultural description not a spiritual one.
"Opposition leader Tony Abbott, a Catholic and a former seminarian, said Gillard's spiritual beliefs should be irrelevant.
"Every candidate in this election should be judged on the basis of competence and policies, not personal beliefs or religious convictions," Abbott told reporters."
I' d say that was the prevailing view in this part of the world
Our politics is nothing like it is in the USA
And Christians tend to be LEFT wing
There are states that literally have provisions written into their constitution that atheists are barred from office... Which is unconstitutional under the US constitution.
The Prop 8 case should strike these down. The actual question in debate is going to be "Can a state amend its constitution to target a group for discrimination, superseding the US Constitution".
I believe North Carolina has a law like this. It's unenforceable because if it was ever invoked than it'd be challenged and overturned by the SCOTUS...but it's on the books.
lol, I know its unconstitutional, i was more looking for a citation of a city invoking this law or even having it on the books in the first place. What states do this??
I know there's a good number of Christians in the USA who side with more liberal policies, but I sure wish they would speak up and point that out more. It'd go a long way to healing some of our political problems. Around where I live, it seems most people think GOP principles are pulled directly from the teachings of Christ, which is completely absurd. That kind of divine justification is what pushes so many to the extreme positions we see.
Small correction. Christians here (Australia) are still majority right wing given Family First Christian Party and its intrusive agenda. Those guys would love to stick locks on every Virgina and Camera's in every bedroom while the Internet is "sanitized", policed and patrolled 24/7 at great expense. They have very little policy addressing the poor or climate solutions let alone sustainable social, business and environmental frameworks. The majority of their policy is right wing corporate crazy with social controls to manage the masses which reflects strongly the general American politics you see today.
I disagree. Sure there are right wing Christians like FFCP ( and they get lots of publicity) But Nationwide, the party last election only received 1.62 percent of the primary vote in the Senate, and 1.99 percent in the House of Representatives, yet Christians represent about 12% of the popnThe majority of Christians are deeply concerned by issues concerning poverty, peace, the environment and human rights. What about Concern Australia (welfare) Pax Christi Peace Movement, The Christian Ecology League. What about Frank Brennan?
The Uniting Churches concern with workers rights? In NZ there's Christians for Civil Unions The Anglican Church supported the "anti smacking legislation" Do you know any Christians who dont support National Health Services? The Right may be noisiest but the Christian Left is thequiet effective majority!
Are there any legally defined guidelines concerning the separation of church and state in Australia? The one reason I would never move out of the US is, for all the stupidity and problems we have, we do have legally guaranteed protections from things like this, so that if culturally we ever change, the basis for our legislation won't.
The Head of State of Australia is Queen Elizabeth 11 who is also Head of the Church of England.
However Section 116 of the Australian Constitution specifies that:
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.
Basically, it is a non issue in this part of the world. It never really comes up.
Wait wait wait... the one reason you would never move away from the US is the guarantee of freedom of religion. In America? The place where you have to pretend to be christian in order to even be considered running for office. Where about half of the people would not ever consider voting for an atheist, no matter how qualified they are? Where there's always a very real threat that schools will start teaching creationism. If that's what you think freedom of and from religion is, please stay there. We don't need religious bigots and their enablers in mostly secular countries.
They barely differ on any issues (certainly not of personal liberties - see: internet filter). Abbott will pander for the family and the Christian vote (honestly, who goes on record as saying that all children should read the bible in schools?) whereas Gillard will focus primarily on education - largely due to her former role.
Personal attacks have no place here. It's funny; you immediately go to a base emotional level, similar to what religion is, instead of maintaining a polite debate void of anything but logic and reason, what non-religious debate is.
I think that most atheists regard religion as a more primitive state, but something that should still be respected if: A) the religion is peaceful and relatively sticks to itself, and B) does not discriminate against other views. Would they prefer everyone to be atheist? Sure, but don't all Christians want everyone else to be Christian.
I'm not sure those stats demonstrate that atheists are the most hated minority, but simply a lot of people strongly disagree with atheism, or what they imagine atheists to believe. I don't see anything there that says people hate atheists and want to actively persecute them.
seala Jul 29, 2010
Australia's Christian majority?
About 12 % of Australians attend church on a Sunday -about the same as in New Zealand. While the Majority may be "christian" by birth, thats really a cultural description not a spiritual one.
"Opposition leader Tony Abbott, a Catholic and a former seminarian, said Gillard's spiritual beliefs should be irrelevant.
"Every candidate in this election should be judged on the basis of competence and policies, not personal beliefs or religious convictions," Abbott told reporters."
I' d say that was the prevailing view in this part of the world
Our politics is nothing like it is in the USA
And Christians tend to be LEFT wing
ftc08 Jul 30, 2010
I'm jealous.
There are states that literally have provisions written into their constitution that atheists are barred from office... Which is unconstitutional under the US constitution.
The Prop 8 case should strike these down. The actual question in debate is going to be "Can a state amend its constitution to target a group for discrimination, superseding the US Constitution".
sulthernao Jul 30, 2010
I believe North Carolina has a law like this. It's unenforceable because if it was ever invoked than it'd be challenged and overturned by the SCOTUS...but it's on the books.
ftc08 Jul 30, 2010
Romer V. Evans. States may not make laws aimed at taking away the rights of Homosexuals.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/94-1039.Z...
quaxon Jul 30, 2010
lol, I know its unconstitutional, i was more looking for a citation of a city invoking this law or even having it on the books in the first place. What states do this??
hortnon Jul 30, 2010
http://www.religioustolerance.org/texas3.htm
slayermet420 Jul 30, 2010
Read this: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/11/laws...
therednewt Jul 30, 2010
I know there's a good number of Christians in the USA who side with more liberal policies, but I sure wish they would speak up and point that out more. It'd go a long way to healing some of our political problems. Around where I live, it seems most people think GOP principles are pulled directly from the teachings of Christ, which is completely absurd. That kind of divine justification is what pushes so many to the extreme positions we see.
inactiveuser Jul 30, 2010
Small correction. Christians here (Australia) are still majority right wing given Family First Christian Party and its intrusive agenda. Those guys would love to stick locks on every Virgina and Camera's in every bedroom while the Internet is "sanitized", policed and patrolled 24/7 at great expense. They have very little policy addressing the poor or climate solutions let alone sustainable social, business and environmental frameworks. The majority of their policy is right wing corporate crazy with social controls to manage the masses which reflects strongly the general American politics you see today.
seala Jul 30, 2010
I disagree. Sure there are right wing Christians like FFCP ( and they get lots of publicity) But Nationwide, the party last election only received 1.62 percent of the primary vote in the Senate, and 1.99 percent in the House of Representatives, yet Christians represent about 12% of the popnThe majority of Christians are deeply concerned by issues concerning poverty, peace, the environment and human rights. What about Concern Australia (welfare) Pax Christi Peace Movement, The Christian Ecology League. What about Frank Brennan?
The Uniting Churches concern with workers rights? In NZ there's Christians for Civil Unions The Anglican Church supported the "anti smacking legislation" Do you know any Christians who dont support National Health Services? The Right may be noisiest but the Christian Left is thequiet effective majority!
funnythat Jul 30, 2010
This account has been closed by the user
darwininmotion 18 days ago
Glad to see that your prediction on Family First losing their seat was correct :)
joopje Jul 30, 2010
"Our politics is nothing like it is in the USA
And Christians tend to be LEFT wing"
Wow it almost seems like everything is upside down in Australia!
nainsell Jul 29, 2010
Are there any legally defined guidelines concerning the separation of church and state in Australia? The one reason I would never move out of the US is, for all the stupidity and problems we have, we do have legally guaranteed protections from things like this, so that if culturally we ever change, the basis for our legislation won't.
seala Jul 29, 2010
The Head of State of Australia is Queen Elizabeth 11 who is also Head of the Church of England.
However Section 116 of the Australian Constitution specifies that:
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.
Basically, it is a non issue in this part of the world. It never really comes up.
salinungatha Jul 30, 2010
Queen Elizabeth 11? There were 9 I don't know about?
seala Jul 30, 2010
@ salinungatha. Roman Numerals -two not eleven. Like King George V1 (6th) They are still used when refering to Royalty
phidelt930 Jul 30, 2010
those are not the characters you're looking for... || II or even ll would have been better choices
thehearsedriver Jul 30, 2010
@seala. In the U.S. we would write Queen Elizabeth II. The 11 is too easily confused with eleven.... but maybe we're weird (we are).
confoundedjoe Jul 30, 2010
Technically you should have written Elizabeth II. Roman numerals are based on the alphabet not on arabic numerals.
seala Jul 30, 2010
Point taken. Queen Elizabeth II
lopla Jul 30, 2010
Are you txting from compton while you smoke a big block of crack rock? You have protections??? Can you buy beer on Sunday? Nuff said.
thehearsedriver Jul 30, 2010
@Iopla, I have no problem buying beer on Sunday, if I want. What are you talking about?
doomestic Jul 30, 2010
And yet an openly atheist presidential candidate would never stand a chance to win in the US...
gorftron Jul 30, 2010
Because every REAL American knows that morality comes from the Bible.
/S
halfbeak Jul 30, 2010
Wait wait wait... the one reason you would never move away from the US is the guarantee of freedom of religion. In America? The place where you have to pretend to be christian in order to even be considered running for office. Where about half of the people would not ever consider voting for an atheist, no matter how qualified they are? Where there's always a very real threat that schools will start teaching creationism. If that's what you think freedom of and from religion is, please stay there. We don't need religious bigots and their enablers in mostly secular countries.
tyho Jul 30, 2010
Yeah as you can see, "free exercise" of religion isn't exactly some vocal Diggers favorite part of the constitution.
Some people consider themselves more enlightened than religious folks, but would never make a generalization based on someones race alone.
lobrien006 Jul 29, 2010
Good on you Australia for voting in a politician who won't use religion as a tool for policy or as an excuse.
ausjp Jul 30, 2010
Well, we elected the party, at least.
blindmelon1 Jul 30, 2010
Hopefully she doesn't get voted in. The Labor party is a joke.
ausjp Jul 30, 2010
Neither party is really making a stand for anything this year.. It's a massive non-event.
ausjp Jul 30, 2010
They barely differ on any issues (certainly not of personal liberties - see: internet filter). Abbott will pander for the family and the Christian vote (honestly, who goes on record as saying that all children should read the bible in schools?) whereas Gillard will focus primarily on education - largely due to her former role.
It's a giant non-event.
tommedwards Jul 30, 2010
Lol uh, yeah... we didn't vote her in.
idonteven Jul 30, 2010
Idiot. Do you even remotely pay attention to world news?
novenator Jul 29, 2010
Maybe someday atheists can take high public offices in the US too. For now, we're still the most hated and discriminated against minority however: http://newsjunkiepost.com/2009/09/19/research-f...
premiumballin Jul 30, 2010
Personal attacks have no place here. It's funny; you immediately go to a base emotional level, similar to what religion is, instead of maintaining a polite debate void of anything but logic and reason, what non-religious debate is.
I think that most atheists regard religion as a more primitive state, but something that should still be respected if: A) the religion is peaceful and relatively sticks to itself, and B) does not discriminate against other views. Would they prefer everyone to be atheist? Sure, but don't all Christians want everyone else to be Christian.
wolfgang5feet Jul 30, 2010
That's one of many issues. "I think that most atheists..."
pinkfish411 Jul 30, 2010
I'm not sure those stats demonstrate that atheists are the most hated minority, but simply a lot of people strongly disagree with atheism, or what they imagine atheists to believe. I don't see anything there that says people hate atheists and want to actively persecute them.
tek69 Jul 30, 2010
While i do agree athiests get a bad rap in america, I think muslims get the crown for most hated right now. sorry man.