runner - the issue with the exclusive brethren was more complicated than that.

Of course they can support who they like - but one requirement of electoral advertising, is that a name and address is attributed.
An important part of our democratic process is knowing who is saying what - if a smear is launched, we need to know who is behind it, or the political negative campaigns would get utterly out of hand and there would be no accountability for what is said about any candidate.

The exclusive brethren did their best to hide the fact they were supporting candidates. Part of this is probably due to the fact that as EB, they don't vote, as they believe it is interfering in god's choice of leadership. Many people find it strange that they're happy to interfere in other ways however, which is part of what has driven the investigation.

It wasn't that the EB supported a party, it was that they tried to hide it because they didn't want to be seen for the hypocrites they are. If they'd been honest in their dealings, they wouldn't have gotten in trouble... which actually relates back to hte title of this thread, funnily enough.

Oh, and I'd hate nothing more than to see Abbott as prime minister, though it doesn't surprise me in the least that you like him.
Fortunately, he's got no hope.
Oh, and the ABC's the best TV news we have.

Care to illuminate a better Australian news television show? What's that? You can't? Golly. How surprising.

Oh, and porn is barely a blip on the political radar.
Darn I'm glad the christians haven't yet managed to seize control.

TRL

Regulations stipulate that donations under a certain amount need not be officially declared by a political party.

Donating money to the party of your choice, in "dribs and drabs," allows for a substantial amount of donations to be coveted without disclosure. I've forgotten the threshold figure for the moment though.

It will be interesting to discover how the EB, small business owner will attempt to justify the substantial deposit in his bank account - particularly to the Taxation Department though will we ever know?

I view the tax-free church of EB as hypocrites. If you want to covertly donate money to a political party, who is sympathetic to your ideologies, then it should be compulsory for sect members to vote.

The trinity - Jesus says,

Matthew 27:46 (Psalm 22:1) "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?"

John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

John 3:16, For God so love the world that he SENT his only begotten SON.....

PLUS the Trinity isn't mentioned in the Bible...Itis a convenience but Jesus never mentioned it... If God knows all things past, present and future don't you think he would have known this debate would consume & divide Christians?

Most of you Christians are Paulians.... Your eat, sleep, and drink his words and call them devine! You use a man's words - Paul's to argue ... poor old Jesus is left sitting on the sidelines and yet he is allegedly your saviour.

So whose is the real Church... well I would have to say none of them... You guys have followed man's interpretations, man's teachings and forsaken the teachings of the one you proclaim as your saviour Jesus Christ.

So I guess it proves that the worst people to ask about Christianity is a Christian... for "Forgive them Father they know not what they do".

Your cherry picking of passages has created you great harm ...

So how can you remove "the speck from your brothers eye when you have a whole forest in your own"

Now back to the topic at hand... Is honesty a Christian value? Well maybe it is Are you modern day pharisees? Then at least you are honest about something!

If Jesus is the "Son of God" then he might as well not have come... for all the good it did... Christians can justify anything, from any source and ignore Jesus' words at any time.

If Christians can't agree on the simple things in your own religion - Christianity... what hope is there for you guys wanting to partake in political issues

David are the Exclusive Brethren doing a Christian deed and following Jesus teachings? Is what they have been doing morally correct?

OOps John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he GAVE his ONLY begotten SON... so that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish but have everlasting life!

If Jesus is God .... He would have said

For I so loved the world that I came to Earth to be amongst you so that whosoever believeth in ME shall not perish but have everlasting life!

God surely isn't about creating confusion over his words is he? So humans must be about creating confusion over his words!

Why would anyone calling themselves Christian undermine Christ their saviour by selectively quoting the Bible to divide the Lord Jesus Christ's Ministry?

Why would anyone invent a Trinity when their is absolutely no true evidence of it in the resource used by all Christians the Bible?

Why would any Christian put themselves in a position that undermines the Lord Jesus Christ?

Read Matthew 5 & 6 and know what Christ said to do.... Be that and stop arguing for Gods sake!...lol

Now is being involved in an illegal war causing the deaths of many innocent people breaking a commandment ?... Thou shalt not kill!

Is lying to the Australian People through parliament about WMD's bearing false witness? Thou shalt not bear false witness!

Is lying to the UN bearing false witness?... Yep

Is praying to Mary a sin?... Dunno I respect my earthly mum so I gather Jesus would probably respect his.

Is the world in a better state because of these lies? Nope!

Is honesty a Christian value?... Looks like the answer is Nope!

Wow... what a happy little bunch of vegemites ... Christians have become...lmao

The Sermon on the mount is wonderful ... go immerse yourself in it PLEASE! May God forgive you all!...lol It seems "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven".... The Athiests get heaven lmao

You Christians my need to knock to get in...lmao

Webby,
I must say I agree with much of what you have said! [I am definitely not Roman Catholic] Mary was dedicated by her parents at the age of three to the education, service and life of the temple. When it was determined that because of her pubity she fulfil the role of Isaiah 9 to have a child. She refused sexual advances toward her by a known servant at the temple as violation of her lifelong vow. She only had one child nominated to be "King in Israel" who would save Israel. Jesus on his service to the Temple at about 12 states he must accomplish his fathers work. His genetic father was one Mary knew from the Temple who artificialy impregnated her to fulfil the Isaiah precedent.

The brothers and sisters of Jesus were children of Joseph and his wife who were in the household. Mary pregnant with Jesus [her firstborn] was given to Joseph who already had family as protection of Jesus because of his purpose to be Leader of Israel. Herod seeking the firstborn sons threatening his position had Zecherias [priest at the temple] murdered at altar of the Temple as Luke and Josephus records, because Zecherias fails to disclose the whereabouts of John his son and Jesus [whose mothers Elizabeth and Mary both lived with him in the early months of their pregnancies]. On Zecherias death John and Elizabeth flee to the caves of the Essenes where he was raised and schooled. The Essenes were close friends of Zecherias. Mary with Jesus flee to Egypt till the death of Herod. Joseph was a stone mason and it was probably his work took him to Egypt inspired by a dream. Mary according to her religious vow remained a virgin all her life and she was devoted to her son and his role in Israel's history. Jesus as an adult diverts from being a nationalist saviour to being a saviour for individuals who desire God.

A lie is a deliberate attempt to deceive or mislead.

John Howard made a decision based on the facts he honestly believed at the time. He has not deliberately tried to hide known facts.

Airial photographs held by International observers of WOMD [which I've seen] demonstrate the dismantling of acres of factories where known chemicals were stored just prior to the entry of the allied forces into Iraq. The lies were the work of Saddam intended to deceive. Some prefer to believe Saddam's word while his second in command of his airforce now a friend of the USA uphold the fact Saddam was developing WOMD.

Believe the deceivers or believe those who actually believe what they observe and conclude as facts.