It seems religion needs to be involved in politics as no one else but the religious seem to be talking about the poor working conditions across Asia that westerners profit so much from.

The religious right, given their druthers, would take us to where Turkey is now, presided over by religious fanatics!

To the point where they sent war planes out to bomb the Shiite out of Kurdish civilians, as part of the peace process; and to encourage the Kurdish party to seek outcomes through the purely peaceful process and parliamentary representation.

Just as the sun shines equally on saints and sinners, so do bombs! Genocide of the first order! But then history abounds with examples of warrior Popes, who were no better? I mean who burnt Joan of Arc at the stake, her enemies?

Fanatical fundamentalism, when the case mounted for using warplanes is like so much of the froth and bubble that comes out of the mouths of the religious right,blatant(don't take any notice of what I do, but rather, just what I say,) BS writ large!If the liberal don't want to take a hiding to nothing at the next election they need to return to (return bill) Turnbull?

There's a very fundamental reason for the division of a secular parliament and religion; arguably to guarantee religious freedom, while putting a needed hand brake of some of its excesses?

Just who was it who decided we of all western nations. couldn't shouldn't have a bill of irrevocable rights?

Notice just how overrepresented the religious right/control freaks are as the principle naysayers?
Rhrosty.

I am for separation of religion and state. To me that means that the state should not serve the purposes of religion and that religion is none of the business of the state. Religion is only one of the many influences on us. If we are in political office we are not required to list all or any of the influences on us with the exception of items where we have a monetary interest. let us judge our politicians solely by their acts and public pronouncements. In short the religious views of any politician is her or his own business, and we should treat those opinions as a private matter.

'The religious right, given their druthers, would take us to where Turkey is now, presided over by religious fanatics!'

actually the non religous left are taking us to Sodom and Gomorrah which no longer exists.

The distinction is straightforward, according to it's proponentssame sex marriage is based on "Love" whereas opposite sex marriage is all about passing on your genes, people who marry but choose not to have children are in the same category as Gays. Clearly what we need are two separate acts, one to recognise "love" marriages or de-facto relationships, the other to recognise "biological" marriages, religion needn't even be considered in the process.

It is very simplistic to suggest that there are only two arguments in the debate about same-sex marriage – the so called ‘progressive’ and the religious.

I have seen many excellent arguments on this forum against same-sex marriage that have nothing to do with religion. The problem is that such opinions do not get a voice in any mainstream media because those who edit such media are too afraid to antagonise the same-sex marriage lobby.

Those who run the media not only censor such arguments but highlight the positions of religious extremists as a way of holding them up to ridicule and implying that this is the other side of the debate. The gutlessness of the media is shameful.

One of their mantras is that bad things happen when good people do nothing and that applies equally to media.

The author of this article is guilty of the same behaviour. If arguments based on religion are worthless then ignore them – there is no need to highlight them unless you have an agenda to ridicule religious people.

Religious people have a right to their opinions as much as anyone else and they have a right to become politicians like anyone else. When you want to know someone’s religion before you vote for them then you are on draconian ground. There are lots of bastards in politics who are not religious.