If there really was a god, surely he, she or it would not inflict a wet, mouthy sonk like Rudd on us.

Chasing after the Christian vote is a massive mistake. Christianity like Islam is based on exclusionism, prejudice, dishonesty, superstition and a strong ‘power over others’ ‘imperative. Invasion of private lives such as who can or can not get married or what constitutes a real family, or banning stem cell research are motivated out of blind hatred and prejudice.

It appears Kevin Rudd recognises the extreme and dire peril that John Howard’s pandering to religious groups has put Australia in. Rudd appears to seek to de-radicalise Christianity which is increasingly becoming a cult which has put itself on the same trajectory as Islamic fundamentalists. It simply won’t work.

The religious mind is intensely internalised and self traumatising in a paranoid focus on salvation, the death event. The superstition of God means there are no such things as accidents, only punishments. To worship God is to be Gods chosen; Gods chosen are god’s agents. God does not act or speak or think for himself, it is his agents that are delegated that power. God guides them through signs from anything from a simple feeling to not being on the other side of the world during an earthquake, or a dead bird on the lawn.

The Liberal party are aware of this and have worked on becoming Gods chosen. This made obvious by the trawling of sectarian cults by both Howard and Costello and Abbott’s blundering attempt to set up a theocracy by stealth.

Rudd won’t be able to convince Christians to come on side. God hates Labour. Many Church goers see Howard as a quasi Messiah and won’t hear criticism of their new king.

Fortunately for Australia Christianity is still in decline and god being a figment of the imagination is fickle. Fundamentalism responds well to medication.

Rudd should focus on the growing sectors of Australians – the working poor. Rudd should also become stronger on climate change which now our farmers are the first victims of. Well Being of Australians is Howard’s glaring weak point. Australians have not had someone to bat for them for such a long time.

Onya leigh :)

TOPIC
“Christianity, must always take the side of the marginalised, the vulnerable and the oppressed”

YES with the notable exception of....

-Marginalized due to immoral or sinful life choices.
-Vulnerable because of the above
-Oppressed because they wish to violently overthrow the state.

Todays 'marginalized' can often be tomorrows tyrants.

But the GENuinely marginalized such as

-disposessed Aboriginals
-Economically exploited poor
-Legal migrants who are used infairly.
-Cronulla residents who are told 'its our beach' by Middle Eastern so called Australians.

Aah.. yes.. compassion with huge muscles for them.

Todays "all encompassing" bleeding heart is tomorows dispossessed, downtrodden dhimmi.

Human Compassion SHOULD be selective. It is not compassion to help those who would (and seek to )disposses, oppress, or culturally alienate you in your own home, it is stupidity.

Those who are of this ilk can be recognized by their actions.

"Christian"....compassion ? Red Cross ... treating the unrepentant wounded Nazi the same as the oppressed Jew ? Do we fix a bloke up so he can continue to commit mass murder ? Maybe we need to re-think that one. I sure struggle with it.

The rise of Family first is largely because LAbour and Liberal are both weak on moral issues. The one thing I agree with West on is that chasing after the Christian vote is a mistake. To stand up as a Christian and identify with Christ is a different matter. This is extremely difficult when belonging to parties whose policies undermine your basic beliefs. The Christians I know are becoming more aware of what is happening in politics. To say you are for human rights and then condone abortion is straight out hyprocrisy. Standing up as a Christian is more likely to lose you votes than gain them. Just look at Fred Nile who has had urine thrown at him, been spat upon and constantly mocked by the strong vocal homosexual lobby.

Whenever I have heard Mr Rudd speak about his faith it is always in the context of our social responsibiltiy as if somehow those who are of the right have no compassion, do no good works and are all full of greed. The truth is that being opposed to abortion and wanting to promote healthy families does not exclude you from giving to the poor and serving others. Mother Theresa was a strong opponent to abortion and yet only the blind would deny the good works she did.

Mr Rudd will need to do a lot more than try and persuade me that his view of Christianity leads to a more just society. I am amazed that when being interviewed that most journalist are not prepared to dig deep enough with those claiming to be Christians as to what makes them Christian.

I believe many people are not overly impressed by the Liberal party either. They do however have men like John Anderson is is unashamed to identify with Christ and the bible as God's Word. Some others in the Liberal party are quite evasive about their beliefs. After 10 years of Liberal Government TV is no more family friendly, abortion rates are still astronomical and divorce rates have not improved. May God have mercy on our nation.

Ya know,

West i think you may have it all wrong. The anti-christ critique you gave is majorly esoteric, and would be better suited to the bayous of Americas old and deep south. Just where in Australia could you apply practical anti-christianism?

You cant. And that dont indicate or validate your remarks, i reckon. It simply indicates that God and Australia are comfortable with each-other. To suggest otherwise is leaning toward un-aussiism of the individual. And you would never be able to apply that anywhere accept in the CBD's and their environs.

But i agree that Howard might have let down Mr & Mrs average, but that was done in order to pay off Labors political debt to the world. So, you are correct, God hates Labor (ha).

Now Ruddd on the other hand is different. He is caught between his religious beleif and the good life, and the anti-christs of the Autocratic Council of Totalitarian Underdogs. The poor things are so enraged, its all they can do is christian bash and pick on other minoritys and loose individuals.

Just hope that when Labor lands the job of commander in cheif, Rudd will speak for the little people.

runner

John Anderson is a National Party member, not a Liberal Party member. You could call him a conservative but not a liberal.

Anyone who can get to where Kevin Rudd is now must have some brains. Son of a farmer (and Member of the Country Party) his dad died when he was 11. He went to Nambour High School (hardly a hotbed of socialism).

He is a skilled politican and will lead the Labor Party one day remember he is only 48 years old and has decades to press his claims. At least he isn't a recycled union hack.