"Whatever it takes" Said Graham Richardson.

After not raising this issue for 4 years, my thoughts are that Labor is now pushing this to get an improved 'ethnic vote' for labor at the coming NSW state election.

I am a cynic, but do not be surprized if little is heard again after the election. Politicians have no principles.

Pericles you state

'runner is clearly one of those people who needs the reassurance that comes from opposition. Having someone react to your posts is after all a form of recognition, and if you espouse the sort of absolutist view that he does, then he obviously derives a very specific pleasure from his views being vilified. In his eyes, it is a form of reinforcement when those he regards as sinners react to his words in such a predictable manner.

Your statement might hold some merit until your last sentence. All are born into sin and all exhibit it in difference ways. The fact that some are vitriolic, mocking and hate God more than others is a immaterial. It is amazing how much hate is vented against the One who the mockers claim don't exist. There is nothing new under the sun.

Joe you could be right but.
In truth I do not want to remove religions freedoms, but I want it to stop intruding on my life.
I have seen great changes and freedoms come as we grow away from,what I see,as control by religions, Sunday shopping even Saturday.
We however know the bigotry of every religion if you look for it.
As the west moves slowly but surely away from religion Islamic belief grows.
Post above claims Labor is farming for that vote,what? 2% in total while driving 20 times that much of their own vote away? reality Labor has all ready been smashed in the up coming election.
Now we do teach evolution, I truly think it is the truth.
BUT a few,not just Muslim,creeds teach nothing like it,some thoughts I need not quote here,tell us we are second class not quite people,is there ANY ROOM to ask why?
If I an entrenched not believer, can walk past a church without condemning those inside,why can some call me Infidel in my country?
For every Labor MP who calls on me to be nice another knows and understands this issue see,s lost votes for Labor in far bigger numbers than we win.
Get out in the streets Julia, ask the real people who support the party you think you own, let them speak.
Better still if you want to be a green join them.

Athiests don't hate "god".

Religious "scripture" simply highlights why we should, and you should, were such a thing to be real.

What does concern us is that a substantial though minor fraction of our population act and vote as if the religious delusion were real.

Sooner or later, such must either be demoted to roles of no responsibility, and their views discounted, or held to account for those views.

For instance, the hiring and counselling practises of major religions do not prevent but protect (as a tax-exempt expense) from due process child molesters. The presumption that churches should not be subject to intrusive scutiny is bogus, protecting policies and dogma that is ludicrous by any normal standard.

Rusty

Rusty,

Yes, how on earth can you hate what doesn't exist ?

Joe

I would suggest this concept of Atheists 'hating' God comes from some confusion about the word 'depict'; or confusing depiction with reality.
Many from the atheist camp have pointed out that the God of the Old Testament is a bit of a bastard; that is, he is 'depicted' by the authors of the OT as a bit of a bastard: Flooding the world and only sparing one family, destroying cities, sending bears to tear up children... No wonder Christians had to come up with a triune God.
Do I -as a de facto atheist- hate God? Of course not. Like Pericles, I have never 'hated' anyone, to the best of my recollection. I do however hate the way the concept of god has been used by the faithful to justify any number of violent and 'evil' acts.
I would be happy if all immigrants to our shores would swear to uphold just one law, above all else, including and especially any others laws imposed upon them by their cult, religion or creed.
"Do Unto Others..."