Good People,

Here is a Media Release very pertinent to this topic sent off today:

Repression of expression

The story in The Guardian (UK) about the London bus slogan campaign gathered widespread attention in Australian media. Also in that report and unfortunately left out by our newspapers is that all metropolitan bus companies have rejected a similar program by Atheists in Australia.

President, David Nicholls said, "Are we so provincial and narrow in outlook that apart from banning such adverts, the local media refuses even to mention it?

As the originator of the London bus slogans, Ariane Sherine stated, "This is a great day for freedom of speech in Britain"."

The same cannot be said for Australia.

David Nicholls
President
Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc

Dear CJ.. and Romany.. about time we heard from you 2 again... I was beginning to think you were retired :)....

CJ.. if I do end up getting the time to do that EOC complaint re hate speech...the only reason I would be doing it is to DESTROY that very legislation which enables me to do it.

While it is a genuine issue of social concern to me.. the existence of the RRT itself is a bigger problem.

EXAMMY... my goodness you need some serious coaching here.... maybe ur referring to others about this 'rabble rousing'.... but in my case.. I get that a lot from Pericles but my response is the same to him as it is for you.

STUDY the texts and background! Now..you say that you reject the very idea of an absolutist approach to faith etc.. but where you are in error is that it isn't just about YOU (*pinch*)

1/ "You" are not representative of Islamic thought.
2/ "You" are not even aware that you are a target of the thinking I rant about.

If I can show the following:

a) Surah 9:29 (fight them who do not believe) and 9:30 "May Allah destroy the Christians and Jews" is understood by a significant number of contemporary Muslims just as it was written by Mohammad...

b) that his own companions understood those verses as I say..

c) That sincere Muslims in Melbourne (Saudi, Afghan, OMani) all agree that I'm correct in what I say....

Then I'd say the case is made. At least for 'those in the Muslim community sharing those views'.

It would be historically ignorant and bigoted to deny the direct connection of all those ideological milestones to the origin of the faith.

Your problem it seems, is that you look at the religion from a non religious viewpoint..and possibly a postmodern.

What you should do is base your view on fact rather than self indulgent emotion and shallow sentimentality.

Govts all around the planet fear the WEB since they have no control of it.Heaven forbid we could push for true democracy and have referenda electronically on important decisions.
This is the thin edge of wedge.We must fight it with all our might.

"Criticism of religion, whether accurate or not, will be criminalised." (KMB)

This sounds like hysterical overstatement to me. The ability to reasonably and rationally critique a religion is not in question. The ugly trend of vilifying and alienating a person or group because of their religious belief, however, is very likely to come under the spotlight and, like Romany, I welcome it.

Inspite of KMB's fear-mongering, there is nothing at all that I can see to fear from this HREOC discussion paper. Have a look for yourself. I doubt you'll find anything too sinster.

Some of the questions to be considered under the section on the Constitution, for example, are I think well overdue for national discussion, particularly that regarding the separation of church and state.

"The Constitution - Questions to consider include:

1. Is this section of the Constitution an adequate protection of freedom of religion and belief?

2. How should the Australian Government protect freedom of religion and belief?

3. When considering the separation of religion and state, are there any issues that presently concern you?

4. Do religious or faith-based groups have undue influence over government and/or does the government have undue influence over religious or faith based groups?

5. Would a legislated national Charter of Rights add to these freedoms of religion and belief?"

http://www.hreoc.gov.au/frb/frb_2008.html

Religion is encroaching more and more on all our lives. It's increasingly causing division within the community, and some religions in particular have far too much power and influence in the shaping and governing of our society. The time for a wide ranging and formalised discussion on these issues is I think well overdue.

Thank you Bronwyn for making my point. You accuse me of fear-mongering. Gary Bouma considers “inciting Australians to be fearful of other Australians” sufficient justification to criminalise them. Is my fear-mongering “tearing the social fabric and reducing social cohesion”? Which bureaucrat will decide? We have existing laws to protect people from defamation. We should be fearful of another layer of hazily defined “laws” protecting indefinable concepts which are not subject to strict evidentiary rules and which are enforced by unqualified bureaucrats. I recognise that the "Freedom of Religion and Belief in the 21st century" report is broader than the issue I specifically address, however in light of the quoted statements by Roxon, Calma and Bouda I feel that it has a hidden agenda which deserves to be brought out into the open.

The loss of freedom of speech cannot be stopped...so stop worrying about it.

Its going to happen and its the Holy Bible that tells me this.

For several decades One World Government has been looking for one man, just one single man to save the earth economy from the chaos.

One of my church elders calls him the REGULATOR.

His real name is the BEAST and soon One World Government will find him.

We read about this man in Revelation 13:16-18 where he "forces all of the people, rich and poor, slave and free to have a mark on their right hand or forehead. No one can buy or sell without this mark"/which could be a microchip because tech is heading that way...and in 14:9-11.

His other name is the ANTICHRIST.

Far worse than any Adolf Hitler, this one man will reign for a period of seven years before God disposes of him.
When he appears the last seven years of earth have begun.

In the end if you want to have a say you will probably have to print and deliver by hand.