Democracy

No True Christian gets involved in the culture wars

Five Public Opinions - May 16, 2008 - 3:16pm

The Guardian reports on the recent publication of The Evangelical Manifesto, a document which seeks to redefine Evangelical Protestantism against both fundamentalism and mainline liberalism. In the words of the document itself:

Evangelicalism must be defined theologically and not politically; confessionally and not culturally. Above all else, it is a commitment and devotion to the person and work of Jesus Christ, his teaching and way of life, and an enduring dedication to his lordship above all other earthly powers, allegiances and loyalties. As such, it should not be limited to tribal or national boundaries, or be confused with, or reduced to political categories such as “conservative” and “liberal,” or to psychological categories such as “reactionary” or “progressive.”

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This cloud may have a silver lining

Five Public Opinions - April 30, 2008 - 8:26am

This is far from being an ideal outcome, but at least it’s a start:

The Federal Government says it will begin introducing legislation next month to remove same-sex discrimination from 100 Commonwealth laws.

The Government says the amendments to end discrimination against same-sex couples will make practical differences, but will not sanction changes to marriage laws. Read more »

This cloud may have a silver lining (updated twice)

Five Public Opinions - April 30, 2008 - 8:26am

This is far from being an ideal outcome, but at least it’s a start:

The Federal Government says it will begin introducing legislation next month to remove same-sex discrimination from 100 Commonwealth laws.

The Government says the amendments to end discrimination against same-sex couples will make practical differences, but will not sanction changes to marriage laws. Read more »

Irrational and proud of it

Five Public Opinions - May 10, 2008 - 2:31pm

Ben Stein on science:

Anyway, I couldn’t give a [profanity] whether a person calls himself a scientist. It doesn’t earn any extra respect from me, because it’s not as if science has covered itself with glory, morally, in my time. Scientists were the people in Germany telling Hitler that it was a good idea to kill all the Jews. Scientists were telling Stalin it was a good idea to wipe out the middle-class peasants. Scientists were telling Mao Tse-Tung it was fine to kill 50 million people in order to further the revolution. [Via Memeplex] Read more »

Dominionist crankery: Objective Ministries, Hovind, In God We Trust, Chuck Norris

The Thinker's Podium - May 7, 2008 - 10:36pm

I’m still in semi-hiatus mode at the moment. I move a heap of my furniture next Monday and my ADSL should be connected later in the same week (although it may be delayed to the following week). Still have a bunch a paperwork to go though (AEC, automatic rent payment etc). I’d rather be blogging.

In the interim, I’ll give you some rolled gold from dominionist theology of a few years past.

Objective Ministries! The people who brought you sociological thought along the lines of… Read more »

National Day of Reason: Is Australia a secular liberal democracy?

Five Public Opinions - May 1, 2008 - 4:30pm

And if it isn’t, should it be?

I’ve been engaged in discussion with Ninglun over these very questions, and it seems to me that the answer lies in how Section 116 of the Australian Constitution is interpreted. The section reads:

Australian Constitution - Section 116 - Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion Read more »

This cloud may have a silver lining (updated)

Five Public Opinions - April 30, 2008 - 8:26am

This is far from being an ideal outcome, but at least it’s a start:

The Federal Government says it will begin introducing legislation next month to remove same-sex discrimination from 100 Commonwealth laws.

The Government says the amendments to end discrimination against same-sex couples will make practical differences, but will not sanction changes to marriage laws. Read more »