Dear Fester,

Which God?

"I'll repeat what I posted earlier in answer to the question
being asked in this discussion"
- Yeah we got that the first time.

"People could make an oath or affirmation
of some kind for being given their privileged position."

Yeah who to?
Immigrants, sexual minorities, big business or foreign nations and bureaucrats? You pick one.
- Many of us here know they certainly wouldn't be making an oath of allegiance to the best interests of the Australian people.

Armchair Critic,

Take an intelligent guess as to who to give an Oath
or Affirmation either at a Council meeting or Parliament.
Who do you think they should swear an
oath or affirmation to?

You can do it - just try.

Ignorance is the major cause of unpleasant disconnects
between people. In extreme cases terrorism aimed at
killing fellow human beings exists and has to be explained.

The lack of exposure to other cultures and beliefs
leads to narrow
mindedness and worse , to an "us and them" divide.

Education is the answer, By definition education is secular.
Without knowledge of what leading thinkers are doing and saying
supernatural beliefs will remain unchallenged and an us-them
religious divide will destroy any vestiges of common ground.

A poor understanding of one's own religion let alone that of
other religions and beliefs can lead to disputes that
are avoidable.

Most people of all religious beliefs have only a very general
understanding of their religion as they are likely to relate
to those aspects which best suit their particular personal
philosophies.

That's why it is important to keep things neutral when
people are representatives of a wider group than just those
of their own beliefs. A more neutral Oath or affirmation is
more appropriate than a select Christian prayer.

Dear ttbn,

It is not degrading humans to recognize we are animals. It is simply recognizing elementary biology. Life can be divided into plants, animals, fungi and microbes. We humans are not plants, fungi or microbes. We are animals. It's not a kink. It is elemental biology.

David f,Your body has all the functions of an advanced animal, but you can make advanced choices, and have abstract calculated thoughts. You are more than any animal. You have lawful responsibilities to the community, and those that rely on you, you can create ideas and do things no animal has the power to envisage. If you are only an animal then you do not have moral values, and no ultimate accountability to anyone other than yourself.

Dear Josephus,

I am an animal with moral values. I assume you are also an animal with moral values.

Many non-human animals that have young feel a need to provide for their young. Is providing for your young a moral value? When meerkats are in a group, some will keep a watch for predators while others are feeding. Is being concerned for the safety of the group a moral value?

We humans are classified as follows:

Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Primates
Suborder: Haplorhini
Infraorder: Simiiformes
Family: Hominidae
Subfamily: Homininae
Tribe: Hominini
Genus: Homo
Species: Sapiens

Some other animals are more advanced than humans in some ways. An eagle has better vision. A dog can run faster. A gorilla is stronger. Nevertheless, you and I share a common humanity, and we can care for each other.