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The Forum > Article Comments > Principles for an Australian policy on religion and state > Comments

Principles for an Australian policy on religion and state : Comments

By James Page, published 17/11/2011

Australians ought to have the right to bring their religion with them into public debate.

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@Jon S.

James Madison wrote:

“It is the duty of every man to render to the Creator such homage, and such only, as he believes to be acceptable to Him. This duty is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society.”

The last line bears repeating: This duty is precedent, both in order of time and in degree of obligation, to the claims of Civil Society. That is the truth that the modern Constitutions and their Religion Clauses are intended to protect from the overweening ambitions of the modern state.

Now against historic Christianity and the Western tradition and the Framers of all the modern constitutions we have, if I can quote Jon S' words back to him with some modification:

"(Jon S'. metaphysical commitments) [are] a historical and social phenomenon [of historically minor and philosophically very contentious character claiming extremely limited allegiance over time] and as such can be taught in the context of history and social science [there have been some worthy atheists]. There is no more need to elevate it to the status of a special subject [that ought to trump the tradition of our entire civilisation] than there is to elevate dowsing or homeopathy to the same position."

Can we lift the level of discourse a bit Jon S.? Homeopathy? It belies a brittle nervousness you feel about your own beliefs.
Posted by Martin Ibn Warriq, Sunday, 27 November 2011 10:46:04 AM
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