"Imprisonment is the worst possible ‘solution’ to all criminal activity; it usually makes the perpetrator worse, and has proven to encourage recidivism. Alternative methods that attempt rehabilitation are much more successful."

But they have not succeeded, and the price is always paid by the victims. Locking violent criminals away for a very long time may do nothing to assuage perp angst but it gets the mongrels out of the homes and off the streets making both private and public space assault-free for the deserving. Any sign of recidivism on final release, back to gaol for double the time.

The ONLY acceptable excuse for assault is to respond to physical assault.

The gender ratio of violent criminals is irrelevant.

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Dear Peter,

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You wrote :

«… if God is dead then our death will quickly follow. »
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Life and death describe a process observed in nature.

The concept of “God” is not part of nature and, therefore, not part of that process. “God” is conceived as something above and beyond nature, a “supernatural” entity. As such, “God” is not subject to the laws of nature.

“God” neither lives nor dies.
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You also wrote :

« In Victoria religious education has been displaced by relationships training in order to "stamp out" domestic violence … I suspect those in high places in Victoria, believe that the cause of such violence can be put down to community attitudes …

What is left out of this simplistic aim, and what will defeat it in the end, is a lack of understanding of human nature … Theologically educated readers will recognize the heresy of Pelagianism … We, as a society have lost the deep understanding of the human bequeathed to us from our founding religious tradition. »
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The doctrine of “original sin” (rejected by Pelagianism) is specific to Christianity as practised in Western civilisations under the influence of Augustine of Hippo (Saint Augustine) in the 4th century AD. It does not exist in Judaism, Islam or even Christianity as practised in Eastern civilisations - which all consider that babies are born pure and innocent.

According to the doctrine of “original sin”, guilt is handed down, generation after generation, from Adam and Eve, the original sinners. As a result, all subsequent babies are born sinners. The only way “original sin” can be washed away is by being baptised into the (Western) Christian Church.

You appear to indicate this as the basic “religious education” that "has been displaced by relationship training in order to stamp out domestic violence” – thus demonstrating “a lack of understanding of human nature”.

You insist: “we, as a society have lost the deep understanding of the human bequeathed to us from our founding religious tradition”.

Are you suggesting that domestic violence stems from “original sin” ?

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