The Alchemist et al.,

"Thats what a majority of Australians want to change, ...removing any form of religious control and public expression, would solve the problems...keeping their worship and practices private."

Do you have any stats on this “majority” or this is yet another of your wishful prophetic moments?

Do you truly understand the implications of such philosophical shift?

In view of the eminent islamic take-over of Australia, I don't think (they) will want to keep their religious expressions "private". What will be your solution to this real threat Al?

Have you heard about dhimmitude?

I'd say better the devil you know...don't you think?

reason democracy developed in christian nations is because Christianity has no set of religious law, humans had to come up with their own. And what laws did they choose, ones that represented Christian values of equality, justice (leaders are limited by the law), freedom of (christian) religion etc.

This is simple to see even with the lack of history in Australian classrooms. Islamic countries cannot accept that humans can make a law because they have a religious law. Christianity espouses morality (the spirit of God moves our hearts to the moral course of action), not religious slavery to a thousand year old law.

It shows an amazing level of ignorance not to recognise Christianity's effect on democracy. It is the only monotheistic religion that expects humans to have the moral integrity (guided by the spirit) to form thier own law systems including the need to establish laws dictating the approptiate starting point (a constitution). I am truly shocked everytime democracy is spoken of as though it owes nothing to Christianity. I agree there have been many other influences, such as the German tradition (and thus that of the angles and saxons) of having the king be held accountable to the representatives of the various areas of control (states). But the beginning point cannot be seen as anything other than Christianity's expectance that humans have the worth to create thier own laws. As well as Christianity's teachings of love of mankind which seeks to see each grow to thier own potential (human rights).

To not understand this is to lose sight of why the world is at a turning point, one could easily assume that a muslim country could be a democracy. They won't be democracies until they renounce their acceptance of slavery (Islam means submission), and accepts that humans have the moral worth to create their own systems of governance. For example, if you have an elected parliament that has no legislative responsibilities (ie, you have Shariah law, dictated supposedly by god, cannot be challenged), what does that parliament do? Have a look at Iran, nothing but a puppet parliament.

fidae mae

Of course you are mostly correct...but you've overlooked our heritage from the Greeks. How do you explain their democracy? For the Greeks had no Christianity. They however had higher spiritualities. Their Gods in likeness to the Christian belief did not dictate but allowed thought and choice.

I have a question.

For many years in the West, and for many people, the idea of human worth has been entrenched in the idea that we are created in the image of God.

Once we have removed that supposition, from where do we derive any particular worth that separates us from animals, plants, atmospheric gases, etc.?

Some philosophers have said it has to do with the ability to make choices and have mental cognition. In that case a healthy non-human mammal might be considered more of a "person" than a mentally challenged human infant.

Perhaps this seems irrelevant? But I think its very important in regards to making laws with bioethical considerations. Is there a secular mode of thought that can give man the same level of dignity or worth as a Christian foundation of thought can, in regards to these issues?

Because to officially celebrate Hannukah or Eid or Thanksgiving for that matter as public holidays here in Australia would be weird. Christmas and Good Friday/Easter Monday are typical Australian holidays, so what the is problem?

It would be weird because we're in Australia. Like Chinese New Year right now, they're not part of our culture, they're interesting foreign festivals remembered by some people here.

My dad's a migrant, I don't want Australia to hold his festivals here, that would be too weird. If I wanted to celebrate them officially, I'd go there. This is not a difficult concept.

Kay.

I meant to say the largest demographic group of people in Australia live alone.

Only 5,061,000 (latest ABS figures) people live as a couple with dependent children. About 25% of the population.

There are 4,277,000 people living as single parent and dependant children.
Staying with rough percentages another 25%

About 22% of the population live as couples with no children.

Percentage of lone person households is 28% this is the largest of any “Family” grouping. Only about 25% of the Australian population lives in the typical Lyons Forum family. Their views do not represent the vast majority of Australians.

YngNLuvnIt

The very use of the term bioethics makes me cringe. Why do we need this weasel word when all it means is traditional Catholic views. Laws with bioethical views, abortion, euthanasia, RU486, IVF etc.

The entire point is that these “issues” are non issues for the majority of Australians. They only become issues when a private members bill is introduced and defeated or a Health ministers lets his religious views override his duty to his county.