Philo...yes, yes, yes... an admirable side issue to be engaged in and I am in agreement there to some extent.

And what better than to impose these Western values of ours on their entire nation, with guns and flying robots?

Yes, indeed, a worthy exercise.

I can see it's catching on too, with the citizens throwing themselves onto the Western Christian troops and avoiding all the Islamic ones there... what's that, there are only Christian troops there?

My, my, that's a bit of a mistake, isn't it?

Where are our great allies, the Saudi Army?

"which includes establishing unisex schools" now, is that culturally 'in' with the citizens I wonder, or just with 'us'?

Blimey, even Sydney north shore would rail at having to send their precious daughters into a school with oiky boys, to say nothing of the Rugbugian fathers who would not tolerate girl-germs in a Rugger! school.

Why is it OK to force a system that even our community does not agree on, onto 'them'?

"and conditions where women are now educated and can mix in public places without fear of violating extremist laws"... I like the sentiment, but if they are 'laws' then they are 'laws', otherwise we'd be invading the USA and China (and a thousand other nation-states)to rid both of their extremist 'laws' on capital punishment, but we tend to reserve our wagging fingers only when people are geting stoned to death, eh?

It is the globally agreed right of a sovereign nation to conduct its internal affairs as it sees fit, remember, otherwise we'd be invaded next week too.

Far more civilised to shoot 'em, hang 'em, fry 'em or inject 'em, than stone 'em to death... how backward can yer be?.

Philo, life is so complex, isn't it?

I suspect we all suffer a "world view [that] is coloured by hearsay propagander [sic] in the Media and not facts" to some extent, but which 'media' do you get dis-informed by?

Question for you The Blue Cross:

When are you going to ever cease generalising about Christians, the Catholic Church congregations, and other Christian Churches made up of everyday Australian people from all walks of life.

Your thread issue is interesting to read and raised some additional things from OLO contributors; yet you continually annoy me with your disrespect, generalisations and cynicism of christian and catholic people across Australia; many of whom are undoubtedly your work colleagues associates or friends; if you work.

The tone within your postings suggests you have a definite problem with Christians and Church people from a past experience[s]. Otherwise, why the constant tones within your postings of cynicism, sarcasm, disrespect and generalisation of people?

How many people of Christian faith display your characteristics when talking of people who proclaim they are Atheists? Do Christian people term Atheists 'Dummies'?

Undoubtedly there are traits and ways of life that you follow and are not termed a 'Dummy'. However, you are quite careful I have noticed, not to discuss your personal life [ie be open] as many others on OLO have generously and confidently done.

Your condescending remarks to people who make it quite clear they are of christian backgrounds is disrespectful and hurtful; however states more about the hurt you are hiding within that clearly requires healing.

I hope you heal using other processes.

We are unique, whilst I agree that a lot of christains are fairly normal and decent people there are extremists and some fairly nasty people.
"Do Christian people term Atheists 'Dummies'?" - have you ready many of runners posts?

Non-believers are regularly accussed of not being able to have values/ethics/morals because we have not picked a god concept then called that a basis for absolutes.

Rarely do those who loudly proclaim their christianity rebutt the excesses or other christains. Pynchme being an exception and I recall one instance when Philo corrected Gibbo over a point of theology.

So yes some christains on OLO (and other places) do call non-believers idiot's. They stand in mute silence while their brothers behave in the vilest manner.

R0bert

we are unique... the 'dummies' reference you do not like is a book, called 'Catholicism for Dummies'.

It is part of a series of 'x for Dummies', fill in the gap yourself.

I did not choose the title, but I do understand that the 'Dummies' series of books is very popular.

Here, take a look:
http://www.shearersbookshop.com.au/DummiesBooks.asp?gclid=CNGAvs-WiqMCFQcbewodyS1zeQ

Here is their list of 'religion for Dummies':
http://www.shearersbookshop.com.au/DummiesBooks.asp?cat=REL000000

I have not been able to find an 'Atheism for Dummies' but that might be because it's not a 'faith' business, being an atheist.

As for my 'bad expereince' with religion...really, it is all around us.

Mad evangelisers pushing their way into people's lives, pretending to 'love' them, ripping off the tax take, creating division in global society, riding roughshod over children, poor people, anyone who looks like a 'mark'.

Heavens above WAU.... as to whether every last Christian, or other follower of a religion, is all of these things all at once, then no, of course not.

But the stain of religion is upon us all, and it is a dirty stain.

That some within religions are also decent people is all that saves us from the extremes of all religions.

You know, we really do not need 'religion' to fund soup kitchens or hospitals, and we should never allow them to run schools or universities.

I am, indeed, disgusted by 'religion' and 'religious' people.

we are unique.... here, read this rubbish below.

This is from the Australian Prayer Network, a secretive bunch of no-hopers who lurk around the nations parliaments, like the ACL, lobbying our pollies with prayers and seeking out tax free lurks and power from the weakest marks in our pay, vote seeking politicians.

This is but one prayer, there is a whole week's worth.

It is sickening to read,and is simply a plea to have people vote for Abbott, disguised as a worthwhile and 'caring' prayer. The stuff from Catch The Fire is even more directly anti-government and pro-God.

This is, no doubt, all part of the world you love and protect.

I find it repulsive, dangerous, and anti-democratic.

PRAYING FOR A NATION THAT REFLECTS GOD'S JUSTICE

Sunday 1st August

Justice in the Church - Let us pray for justice to be manifested in the Church. Let us repent of our prayerlessness for those in government, and for the times we have judged and criticized them, instead of praying. Pray that the Church will be faithful in praying for all members of Parliament, and their advisors, taking the time to find out the policies and intentions of those in their own constituencies standing for parliament, and ask the Lord to grant His grace and favour to those who would stand up for justice and truth to be elected.

Bible Readings: Matthew 5: 13-16 Col 4: 2

That women in the Christian Churches in Australia have a problem with men in the Church; as male leadership makes them feel second class - is a non-issue.

That the Atheist Feminists have a problem with the men of the Church appears to be the real motive of this thread. They wish to impose their value system on the Church is the issue.

For Blue Cross sake the Church has workable principles in marriage and human relationships and social structures that are healthy and accepted by the whole Christian society. That atheist feminists object to the senior role of men in the church is not the Churches problem it is their ego problem. They have no respect for the role of family of mother, father and children; thay assume because father is the head of the family that he treats his wife as second class. Absolute nonsense!

The agenda of feminists is to have lesbians head up the Catholic and Anglican Church heirarchy and they are smarting because they cannot seize that power. To the committed members of the Christian faith power and control of people is outside the principles of Faith; as Jesus taught, "the greatest in the kingdom of God is the humblest servant". Ask Mother Teresa if her role was second class. Learn from the servants of society not the power hungry.