Tristan Ewins: "Why the hatred by some of Christianity and Christians when the liberal rights, and rights to self-determination - of more conservative religious communities - goes without question?"

Because Christianity is part of *our* history.
White, European, Western Civilisation.

The Christophobes want to demonise and demolish our existing society and replace it with their own utopian vision.

The only reason they expouse "liberal" values is because it will enable their demolition project to succeed.

Squeers: "War is the official suspension of civilities, the free reign of the id"

If your id had free reign you wouldn't last long.

War requires strategy and tactics, something that requires clear thinking and planning.

Were Napolean, Hannibal and Alexander the Great just crazy, out-of-control maniacs?

Squeers,
What would you do if six fully armed Japanese soldiers surrounded your house in 1940's? Would you and your family defend your right to live or surrender to torture and death? Obviously wear a white feather!

Makes you wonder why a "loving God" would design an "intelligent" species so fond of squabbling over territory and resources - and one who consistently inflicts such cold calculated acts of savagery upon its own kind.

"There can be no compromise to one's religious beliefs,"

The church's "ability to discriminate … is central to the democratic freedoms of our country".

Did Jim Wallace write this? or one of his close cronies?

It is a pity some of the more higher profile Christians do not reflect some of the values of tolerance, compassion and friendship extolled in the teachings.

Nobody is flawless, but blatant attacks on Muslims, homosexuals and atheists/secularists in the name of Christian good will is beyond the pale.

Australian values come from what is inherently 'human' altruism whether reflected in Christianity through the estalishment of their beliefs, or Bhuddists, Muslims, pagans, spiritualists - you name it. Most spiritual or charity based groups arise from an intent to do good, even if at time the power relationships lead to corruption and evil doings. (Discounting of course the cult groups established to extract money and foster abuse)

The most dangerous aspect of any religion is arrogance and individualism that leads one to discount and persecute those with a differing world view.

Poirot; I think a lot of honest Christians struggle with the injustices and brutality of this world and how a loving God could allow it all. For me I see a need for human hope, and wisdom in conceding we don't know everything, and as such need to (at least partly) trust in something greater than ourselves.

That said, when I read of the testing of Job I still cannot reconcile this in my conscience as just. And of the Suffering Servant from Isaiah: Accepting this scripture refers perhaps both to example(s) before/including/after Christ - It begs the question - was it necessary?; was it just?; if it was not necessary or just why would God allow it?; Why would God allow an innocent to be 'cut off from the land of the living'?

But in any case - even our hopes were false, we should have the right to entertain them; Marx's 'opium of the masses' did refer to faith as consolation; Consolation eases suffering; To those who suffer that matters.

Again, though - for genuine liberals - we should have the right to our free choices in determining our faith, in our search for meaning. But Leftists should always scrutinise the misappropriation of religion for cynically worldly ends; to rationalise war and demonise those that stand in our way; and as I said earlier - to legitimise the social order behind which lies hypocrisy,