Tony asks:

[how he can be not a socialist and a Christian socialist at the same time.]

I'll try to answer

SECULAR SOCIALISM
"Socialism" as a political idea, as far as I can see, seems to have its idealogical roots in Marxism. Socialism is the 'tame', less hostile (to Religion) version.
But still, it remains a force based on secular humanist/marxist/materialistic determinism ideas.
I don't know many 'Socialists' who say much about God being their motivational force.(If those who rant and rave to themselves at various 'Socialist Alliance' demonstration fizzers that I have witnessed are anything to go by) Rather.. they are 'vigorously and passionately' agin the Church, and see little value in a Christ based society.

"CHRISTIAN" SOCIALISM
...began with Jesus, in that they shared what they had, and even had the material support of various women who accompanied their small evangelistic band.
The first expression of the early Christians living in a socialistic manner is found in Acts 2:42

[They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.]

It should be noted though, that this outpouring of mutual social equalization, was preceeded by not less than the day of Pentecost which must have been one of the most dramatic events of the century there. There was a call to repentance, to embrace Christ as Saviour, and to experience the renewal of life in Him.

JESUS' EXAMPLE. Lets also not forget that in 'Christian' socialism the leaders wash the peoples feet, serve rather than 'be_served', and they realize that the least_is_greatest in Gods sight.

CONCLUSION. I therefore feel Mr Rudd is distancing himself from the secular version, and highlighting the Christian version.

Tony... Kevin_Rudd will be assessed not by picking at his 'socialism' but by his heart. Labor will stand or fall on its policies.

If Tony Abbot can use this forum, then it would be only fair that Rudd be given the same right of reply. At least, you would think, unlike Parliament when the Speaker of the House shows such unfair bias to the Government in hogging the floor for commentary, other forums like these could show some balance.

On just about every media we have, we have a bias to the Howard Government. The Liberals either have corporate interests, or the Government has the ABC under its thumb.

This does not reflect the voice of the Australian people at all. A growing majority of Australians trust the ALP and Rudd over the Libs and Howard and Abbot, and no amount of bias towards the Liberal Party in OLO can change that.

Aint democracy a bummer!

As for dragging the Bible into this circus, I think this is worse than having a market place in a Church. Jesus didn't like that. He had a fizzy fit like Carson out of Queer Eye for a Straight guy let loose on a Footballer's house in Flushing. He was not happy at all, Jan! Tables, chairs and pews went flying all over the place.

Leave it alone or Jesus will hate you.

Do your dirty deeds in Parliament, but don't do it in the sacred name of religion, and don't hide behind it either for your convenience.

He sees you when you are sleeping, he sees you when you are bad or good, so be good for goodness sake--so--stop shagging the art students. How many "love children" did you have as the "galloping adulterer"?

BTW, that pic is very old. You are much older and tired looking these days. Your hair is not receding, its running for its life!

Leave the church out of parliament, stop shouting accusations at Rudd when your own party does the same thing, and stop patronising Australians like they are idiots.

We've worked it out Tony. The polls are not good for you.

As for Jesus, well, only Jesus knows what he'll have to say to you after this circus.

This article exposes Tony Abbot as an ignorant hypocrite.
I voted Conservative at the last Federal Election and I have a simple message for Mr Howard.
Get rid of this man or lose my vote.

The stoooopid Wabbott is not a guy, nor a bloke, nor a mate ... he is a joker, a screwed simpleton full of hypocritical behaviour.

When he says "As Smith should know, Rudd's problem is not his Christianity but his credibility" just remember it was this very Tony Wabbott that set up a $100,000 anti-One Nation fund in 1998 called Australians for Honest Politics but then promptly lied about it to everyone.

It just seems so absurd to have let the world fall sucker to these religious deadheads with their weird psycho brain problems, ........ that get themselves into politics. Now that the Wudd has come out and nominated himself as an official goofball too, it's not surprising to see more pathetic teddy (god) wars and religious playpen ratbaggery in politics.

Oh dear.

Another desperate attempt by a would-be leader (Costello and Nelson have been up to the same thing recently, only Turnbull has had the good sense to keep his counsel) to tear strips off Rudd by a person who has reached the apogee of his political career but doesn't realise it.

The Drover's Dog could win the next election. John Howard has sacrificed his credibility on every significant federal policy issue and the polls merely reflect what was inevitable once the ALP had provided a credible, ENERGETIC leader. Howard and the Government sound increasingly irrelevant and desperate and they will lose the next election. Abbott will not figure in any leadership team under Costello (who will have the first go at being Opposition leader after the ALP wins the election) or Turnbull (who will have the second go at that job).

It really sickens me the prevalence of smear campaigns and muck raking in Australian politics and especially by the Howard bunch for whom it is a primary tool in their bag of dirty tricks.

"On the political implications of his faith, as on his now notorious series of meetings with Burke, the best way to stop the questions is to answer them."
Rudd does not need to explain his religious views, nor does he need to justify who he has lunch with. He only has to put forward alternative policy for voters to consider.
So how about you start doing your job and ask important questions about policies and things that actually matter to the running of the nation of Australia instead of questioning a man's character.
Take a leaf out of your own holy book and remove the log from your own eye before looking for the speck in anothers.