It seems passing strange, for a few reasons, that Joe Hockey feels a need to "defend god" at all.

Why would an omnipotent omniscient being need a puny mortal primate - Joe or anyone else for that matter - to take a public stand in its name?

If religionists are the nominal majority in this country - as religious officials, lobbyists, and culture warriors are quick to boast - why do their private beliefs need "defence"?

Where Joe and other MPs clearly lack courage is to:

- Leave the realm of fantasy to the players of religion.
- Preach & practice a fair go for ALL, not theistic nepotism.
- Defend an individual right to freedom from religion.

These things should be an article of faith for any liberal lefty, as Joe claims to be.

AUSTRALIANS FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54429760859

Would have liked to watch this thread.
It was intended to be a good one.
But I am away till Sunday, however it seems some do not even understand the threads intended direction.
Yes Joe wants to the top job, no not Abbot please.
And yes the Christian very right have to much say.
With Turnbull reduced to a smiling fool by his own party some one must lead.
Who else?
Cornflower has gone to great extremes to fail to understand C J Morgans posts.
Am I wrong or are we talking about Hockeys run for leadership and his views on the church?

Suzieonline you have no idea how happy I am to read what you wrote- it's nice to know I'm not the only one who isn't reading so far into someone's publicity stunt and seeing it for what it is.

Which is kind of strange as every person and their dog managed to point it out in John Howard back when he was charming voters with his supposed stances and policies (even the people who agreed)- yet come Turnbull, Hockey etc and it looks like people are sincerely falling for it.

Go figure...

TRUTHNOW78, thanks for that link. I had got the impression from other media Hockey spoke in support of interpreting the bible literally. Turns his was advocating the reverse.

So he isn't a right wing fundamentalist nutcase after all. I can breath a sight of relief.

I can see this would be real disappointment to you. But you should be realistic. If the Liberal Party expelled every sitting member who wasn't a right wing fundamentalist nutcase there wouldn't be many left. I'd hope the would fall well below 6 members, and if I recall correctly you need at least 6 to be considered a party for funding purposes.

Left, Right, Centre Left, Centre Right, Mainstream, Green. Religious, Non-Religious, Forward, Backward for crying out loud kick the bloody lot out.
Give the Koories a go they can't do any worse than the lot that we have today and of the past.
At least they may be able to preserve the land that has been so ravaged by all the rest

Thanks from
Dave

Who would be an appropriate opponent for a Today show star? A show biz showman, full of smoke and mirrors?
Let me show my extreme age. Set a thief to catch a thief.