“a careful study” when ever you read or hear a religious person say that you can be sure that what follows is complete and utter revisionism at best.
Peter makes the same tired silly mistakes that religious people do, you see they just can’t cope with the idea that their religious beliefs might not be shared by others. You can tell this is the case because when he say religion he really mean Christianity. A devout Hindu read his piece could well agree that religion should be a focus of our society. But it is clear that a society with Hinduism as it’s focus would be a very different one to one that is focussed around Islam or the Nordic Gods for that matter.
The rest of his piece descends into a thinly veiled hatred of the Australia we live in. His description of which is shallow strawman of the Real Australia. The funnies line would have to be “the race to extend our life spans” I mean what is the prise that Christianity dangles in front of it’s followers, ever lasting life! Add to the fact that this God business is a load of crap it makes the whole thing a joke.

Whew, thank Darwin that Australia got the convicts, whilst
most of the religious fanatics went to the US. Its got
to be hereditary!

Runnner, as you sure that you don't want to live in
America ? :)

The blood of the martyrs is indeed the seed of the church. Which is why over time those with the courage, leadership and intellect to to do so rose above this kind of barbaric, brainwashed fanaticism and eventually succeeded in loosening the grip that the church once had on the minds and lives of our society.

You live in the best country on Earth, Peter, and you are right, it got this way due to a secular way of thinking. Hence, by now it should be becoming clear to you that secularism and a separation of religion and state equals relative peace and harmony whereas religiosity, fanaticism and a constant pining for the afterlife equals oppression, hatred, exclusion and bloodshed.

You say, “But sin abounds. Murders and rapes are committed.”. I think you would need a scroll the length of the entire country to note down the rapes and other atrocities that have come to light from the church in recent years.

“This saw the state take over all of the areas of life for which the church had previously been responsible.”. This is because the church had actually been irresponsible and we are still paying for the remnants of this irresponsibility today.

The most troubled places on Earth still suffer with by the full force of this irresponsibility and it is only through education without religious interference, and collaboration through a breakdown of precisely the kind of egotistical fear mongering that you preach that we can come any closer to solving them.

A man who invests as heavily as you in educating one's self should have something good if not, at least, mildly helpful to offer . If this is all that your years of academia have produced, then I'm afraid you have failed.

This article is so depressing I think I want to kill myself. Are this guy's articles always like this? He needs serious help. Talk about morbid. I'd be seriously concerned for any kids he teaches. This isn't a balanced mind we're talking about.

RELIGION from the latin word religare TO BIND UP, TO PUT IN BONDANGE. Jesus of Nazareth was a devout adherent to the Law of Moses. His Father is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He came to destroy the works of the evil one and set the captives free so people who so desire can have free access to the God of Israel through Him, the Way the Truth and the Life. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Only those who are led by the Spirit of Truth will understand. Where I live in NSW there are satan worshippers, witches and warlocks, deeply spiritual people who know that they are at war with the Spirit of God.The 10 commandments given to the Israelities are for the protection of the people, given by a loving Father for his children to live in harmony and blessing through their obedience. Without rules for guidance any child could perish just crossing the road.
Australia may be the best country in the world to date because it was initially called The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit. I found the truth of the spirit dimension of good and evil, through being a spiritist medium (following a devout roman catholic upbringing). I experienced the dark side, and was rescued by the Light. Those who have eyes to see, will see. Those who have ears, will hear.
Totally agree with you Gibbo. The nanochip that will make each human being a trading commodity in the not too distant future will see an upsurge in martyrs, and not all of them will be so-called Christians. The anarchists and even humanists (perhaps?) may refuse to be chipped. No one will be able to buy or sell without that mark e.g.Centrelink recipients will be chipped or cut off benefits.
Interesting times ahead,for those who belong nominally or otherwise to the Australian Christian denominations (?the Australian Church Peter speaks of)

Sells said:

The church lives by those who are convicted of the truth of the gospel. There can be no Constantinian establishment of Christianity, the church must make its own way in the world.

and

It is no wonder that the church is failing in Australia and was perhaps set to fail right from the beginning.

Sells also makes liberal use of the word 'we' suggesting that his readereship focus is primarily Christian.

A few points:

1/ The 'Church' needs to be viewed 'globally' not nationally.
2/ Growth and conversions in many countries is 'mind boggling'
3/ Due to the nature of the Body of Christ and the Gospel which comes to us in a 'whosoever will' package.. there are many,under the influence of secularism and ease of materialism 'wont'.

SOME Denominations might be in decline, but 'The Church' is not one particular denomination.

The 'depressing and almost defeatist' tone of the article is quite foreign to the exhuberant and victorious tone of the Book of Acts, and the New Testament, and also quite foreign to the growth and life of the Church in many other countries.
I will never forget the image of being on East Coast Parkway beach in Singapore on a public holiday, and not being able to turn in ANY direction (360) withOUT seeing some group of Christians.. singing, praying, fellowshipping...they were EVerywhere.. 65% of the medical fraternity in Singapore at that time was Christian.

As for me, I'm totally optimistic and full of joy at the prospect of encountering the world in the name of Christ. Thrilled to the eyeballs at the opportunities now with us.

Life is a total joy when walking with the Lord Jesus.
He is not a 'dead Jesus' but a Risen Christ .... yes.. really.