Dear Josephus,

Life doesn't need meaning to be a joy. I hope you enjoy your life. One doesn't need religious or other fantasies to enjoy life. Eternal sleep does not mean life after death. It is just a poetic metaphor for non-existence.

I have no objection for you to have what superstitions you have. Many people share that type of thing. I object to missionaries who use the power of government to force their nonsense on other people.

It is not sad for me to be free of nonsense and to face life without delusions. I used to believe in God and have other religious fantasies. I have given all that up. I believe one should be kind and ask questions - not that you are going to punished if you aren't. One can feel better about oneself if one is kind. Asking questions to seek answers leads to learning. I find joy in that.

I don't feel sad that you are what you are. May you live a life of joy. Some people are sad that other people don't believe what they believe. As long as they leave other people alone, let them be free to enjoy their sadness.

Yes, feel free to kick Jesus as much as you please, but let's not question the new religion, where faith and blasphemy are now referred to as solidarity and racism. But I commend you for your tolerance. After all, who are we to make judgements about the beliefs of others? If a soldier finds solace from the terrors of war in his faith, then I don't see that as a provocation to kick Jesus.

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Dear Fester,

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You wrote :

« … how horrid that each session of parliament should start with the Lord's prayer. Yuck! »
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As I mentioned in my previous post, in the UK, the British Crown is both Head of State and Head of the Church of England and has been since the 16th century.

But, unlike the UK, in Australia, we do not have an official state religion. For that reason, Australia is generally considered to be a secular country. But I should put a caveat on that.

Religion is allowed in the public sphere in Australia. It permeates our parliamentary and local government procedures at all levels. We permit chaplains to operate throughout the country in our schools. The federal government funds schools run by religious organisations and recognises marriages conducted by religious celebrants.

That said, people are free to choose between belief and unbelief. And though religious leaders may lobby for their points of view, so too may leaders of atheist, humanist and rationalist organisations.

What we have is probably best described as a hybrid system, a mixture of secularity (more than 50%) and theocracy (less than 50%).

According to the 2021 census, roughly 40% of Australians declared having no religious affiliation, compared to 30% in the 2016 census.

The tendency for a further decrease in religious affiliation is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.

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David f, your life is recorded in light, and one hundred light years from now the universe will look back on your life. Your living cannot be erased from history, it is observable from somewhere in the universe.

Seems, NATIONAL PARTY MP James Hayward was a very religious man when he wasn't molesting an 8 year old girl. Hayward must have recited the 'Lord Prayer' many a time, probably knew the words off by heart. How about Gold Coast LIBERAL NATIONAL PARTY Councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden now charged with murder, he too would have recited the 'Lords Prayer' with gusto, I'm sure. They just keepa commn'.

Dear Fester,

If a man questions he may avoid being a soldier and engaging in the terrors of war. Religion usually does not encourage questioning. The vice of faith is usually their stock in trade. Often, religious leaders may support a war as Kirill, the Orthodox Patriarch supports Putin's war. The crusades and other wars have been supported by religious leaders. The Quakers are a religion that opposes war. Unfortunately, more religions support than oppose war. Possibly, the world might become more peaceful if religions would encourage people to learn to live with others who have different beliefs rather than trying to persuade other people to adopt theirs. Too often, the gunboats follow the missionaries.