As an Atheist I take extreme umbrage at every level of government in this country performing a religious ceremony before commencing each session. It is always – exclusively – a Christian ceremony. Am I the only one who objects to this? If we are supposed to have a multicultural society why is Christianity presumed to be the religion of government? And whatever happened to the principle of separation of church and state? Am I to believe that all our politicians are devout Christians or must I presume they are being hypocritical by bowing their heads to something in which they have no belief? Isn’t it time we made a stand against this antiquated and outdated rite?

I think you have a lot less to fear from a few formal prayers that have been aroung for a long time than you do from multi culturalism which has proved in the eyes of many to be a miserable failure.

I noticed after Sep 11 that even many of the Democrats in America were seen joining in on prayers and songs.

I think your energies or taking a stand would be a lot better spent venting your spleen on those who want to undermine the great freedoms that we have in this once predominatly Christian nation.

"If we are supposed to have a multicultural society why is Christianity presumed to be the religion of government?"

Rhys... maybe it is because this country was FOUNDED on the basis of the following pre-amble to our constitution:

"Humbly relying on the guidance/blessing of Almighty God"

There is no question that this is referring to the Judao/Christian God. Most of our values emerged with this background and in those days pretty much most of those running the show would have had some kind of Christian orientation either Catholic or Protestant.

The simple historical fact is, that we as a nation were born with this as our umbillical cord or our birth sack...

What you should take closer note of, is how the various formalities are used. Do they force you to believe ? nope...
Do they prevent you from 'not' believing? nope...

Are Atheists a majority in Australia ? NO WAY ....

Multi culturalism is a generous concession to foreign cultures to lessen the impact of life in a culture foreign to them. Who would have the insulting audacity among them to seek to then use that freedom to establish their own particular culture over the prevailing once which granted them the freedom to practice their own here ?

The same goes for 'atheists'...suddenly you decide you "don't believe"..... ok.. fine. But please don't then say "And now..I want EVERY VESTIGE OF BELIEF for all other Australians removed from Government"... that is probably one of the most disrespectful, arrogant, selfish and even dare I say 'subversive' acts one could take.

Your welcome to enjoy your disbelief...but by golly, don't come along and then try to re-shape all our inherited institutions with their historical formalities which are part of our cultural heritage in terms of YOUR disbelief.

The sad thing about our democracy and freedom, is not that this actual possibility and freedom to do just that exists, but that people like yourself would be so uncaring for that which is precious to so many, and USE that freedom to try to redefine the country to suit your unbelief.

Ah David – how sad. You have my deepest sympathy. You suffer from a hereditary mental disease known as ‘religion’. Your response is a typical Christian response full of intolerance, one-eyed opinions, racialism, bigotry – all symptoms of a deeply entrenched disease. It is your children, if you have any, for I have the most concern. However you can be cured. Read some books on modern science. Put the bible up out of hands way for a few years. I can recommend some good authors if you are interested. As for our Constitutional Fathers who wrote the Constitution, most of them suffered from the same disease as it was endemic at that time. Some of them probably believed the world was flat and the sun and planets circled the earth as did the people who wrote the bible.

Dear Rhysy
do you realize that about 99% of your post was a personal attack against me ? There is an 'issue' here u know.

-Please point out 'racism' in my last post.
-Please point out any personal attack against 'you' in my post.

Bigotry is when you have no factual basis for your position, u just dig your heals in and stomp on contrary views... I do have a factual basis :) well researched and valid.

Add to that a personal experience of instant healing in Christ and you have what I am. Its possible to argue about 'who wrote the Bible' but its most difficult for me to experience the same content, such as the blind man referring to Jesus when questioned by the Pharisees "As for who he is, I don't know, but one thing I do know, once I was blind, but now I can see". That reality is quite a challenge to debunk (I was not healed from blindness it was a fractured bone)

So, I'll pass on therapy, science and the other stuff, and even avoid ripping into 'you'. I'm sure ur a nice person, but that niceness would be better served by addressing issues rather than calling people names.
cheers

Rhys, your second post was the typical 'new intolerance' approach to the argument presented by David. Perhaps aware that you had been boxed into a corner, you came out bleating with the racist and bigot cards. How about some cogent argument?