There are more stupid commentators in Australia than there are "Bible Bashers".

ttbn,
so true !

Religion is a crutch for those poor individuals who find life lacking.

It can be difficult for Christians to contribute to the church at the moment, in a meaningful sense. Like, medical people and educational people can do good, but i feel blue collar types would also like to more closely align their work and beliefs.
I dont know but you raise some good points in the article, thats for sure.

"Religion is a crutch for those poor individuals who find life lacking".

That's pretty insulting, particularly coming from a person who values animals higher than human beings.

I am not what anyone would call religious. I don't go to church; I don't read the Bible, except for reference purposes, and I am not convinced that God exists. I merely believe that Christianity, combined with Western culture, is better than anything else

Mark,

<<This country is constitutionally secular. Not atheist, but secular>>.

To support this assertion, you call on S116 of the Constitution.

It's negligent of you to omit the beginning of the Constitution: "WHEREAS the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established", http://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/senate/powers_practice_n_procedures/~/link.aspx?_id=956BE242B820434A995B1C05A812D5E1&_z=z#covering_clauses-act_to_extend_to_the_queens_successors

Secular but 'humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God'. What a paradox.

S116 was designed to prevent legislating for the establishment of religion. It was NOT designed to exclude God from the Australian Commonwealth, http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s116.html

<<Why are people voting them into power, and why are there so many members of Parliament who profess such strong religious convictions>>

The reasons are simple. These politicians of faith are those of strong character and people in the electorates like the job they do.

You are happy to quote Matthew 16:26 but you missed a verse that applies to all Christians in parliament: 'So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God' (1 Corinthians 10:31). I'm blessed to have a strong Christian Senator in Qld.