Dear McReal,
Unless you live christianity (personal) it is only religious obligation(tradition of men) which is powerless to change and transform lives . Christians are not perfect just forgiven and reconected to the Kingdom of God and all the blessings. Prosperity in mind, body, and spirit and you have to experience it to understand.

@ Richie10 - I appreciate the benefits of religion such as Christianity to many who apply it purposefully, yet - sorry, don't follow your first sentence.

Dear CJ

woooo.. waxing violent ? :)

"Don't presume to do it again. If you did so to my face I'd probably drop you."

Why would I try to speak 'for' you if you are there in front of me? tat would be dumb.

Ok.. looking out from under my ecclesiastical rock where I cringe in fear of your impending physical assault... let me timidly rephrase my statement..

"I see it in you every day.. so I speak ABOUT you"... happy now ?

CJ.. I'd say everything I've said here to your face.. it surprises me that you take such issue with such a thing.. I was not aware that you are sinless? Thanx for the update though...

...and unless ur prepared to step into a 4 cornered ring with me for a friendly spar.. it's better to avoid threats of violence.

Golly.. can you even imagine that ?:) CJ and AL...going at it.. interspersed with "you loathsome cretin, swing swing...you you..." from CJ and me smiling like a Cheshire cat... too much CJ.. too much.

I dance like a butterfly.. but only sting like a blunt mozzie :)

Richie 10
You do not own your children, you borrow them from their future and you have an obligation to open their minds to clear thinking. If you allow them to be indoctrinated you are abusing their potential.
Runner,
Today I listened again to Singer on Q&A. Some time ago he did a book review and some questions on bestiality were dealt with. On Q&A he condemned the cruelty often inflicted on animals in bestiality but gave an example where a human was the passive participant. In that situation he could see no reason to seek to punish the human participant or any benefit from trying to make the human participant feel guilt.
That does not give you the evidence or the right to claim that Singer supports bestiality.

Gordo Pollo <" Suzieonline. Please explain the connection between molesting priests and how that precludes religion informing ethical debate? Or do you simply mean to say that some contributors to the discussion might be rank hypocrites?"

I was merely attempting to answer Runner's post Gordo. I would suggest that the Priests and Nuns who were involved in the education of many Australian children in Catholic schools in the past (me included)are very much a part of this debate.
Why not?

Are you suggesting we should preclude these religious people from having ever taught their brand of ethics at schools?

I am merely suggesting we should leave religious 'teachings' out of as many schools as possible.
It has caused more trouble than help in the past.

Dear McReal,
Christianity is God initiated. It is caught not taught. You can go to church but that does not make you a christian. Living in a chook house does not make you a chook. You must be recreated or born from above. You Get your name from your father. Without the rebirth the old nature still rules. The Revealed name God gave in the New Testament is Jesus the Christ and the bible is very clear that if the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead doesn't live in you, you are not a christian at all. Then it becomes a life long relationship with your heavenly father. So religious beliefs do not change the nature of man. Only the rebirth initiated from God changes the heart of of man. Impossible for man, possible with God. Then the education begins.