A court ruling in the UK prohibits councils from starting their meeting with a prayer. Perhaps it is ti9me we introduced this idea here. Not only do we have the spectacle of the politicians starting the parliamentary year by attending church together but every question time starts with the Lord's Prayer.
Do we really believe that all of our politicians are committed Christians? Would it not be more honest if we abolished this rather hypocritical display of religious belief?
Perhaps the public performance of ritual could be replaced with a minutes silence where politicians either pray to their invisible friend if that is their fantasy of choice or merely meditate in silence on the responsibility they have for good governance.

Probably very outdated and a ritual that could be dispensed with. Parliamentary time should be organized better.
The coalition is a big offender, asking questions that are out of the hands of parliamentarians. This sort of questions should be asked outside parliament. Time is to limited to be taken up with matters that do not effect the nation.
There is a country to run, and not one question was asked in 3 days as to the welfare of the country. A waste of time in its entirety.
All the opposition is interested in is scouring the floorboards, desperately trying to find some dirt to talk about.
The 3 stoogers of the opposition, are not in the least bit interested in the economics of this nation. Not one question to the treasurer.

the lords prayer has become a rite
thus has lost its intended reminder

heck half the time i hear the oath
'to the allmighty black rod''

nope..no right to rite
but dare to outlaw prayer
by what right?

a prayer done properly brings the highest spiritual guidence
[ie love fruits...if its all good...its from god]

but one perversion...of the rite
attracts demons..who blame/shame..yell etc

its not hard to see..what spirit
the black rod rite..has conjured up

better we go origonal
for the unborn...and the old elders..
here in spirit..of love grace and mercy..service and charity

serving the good's of gods good creation
as he serves us all our life

or something like that
the love light..illumes away the darkest blackhearted faceless/knight

if its not for love
then its for hate
no middle path

I totally agree with you Baygon.

It must be embarrassing for those non-Christian or non-believers who must mouth these words in order to join the others droning on in the chambers!

Religion and politics should not be mixed in a secular country like Australia, no matter how much some would pray that religion would rule our world.

Yep. Was listening to parliament just the other day & thought the same thing.

And another divisive thing they should do away with is the little speech that follows that pray, that says (to paraphrase), we hold up for special honor the X people who were the traditional custodians of this land.

Convincing the Abbotts and Bishops could be a problem. Even when they mean yes they say no.