Dear Belly,

«BUT ignore at your peril some have hijacked God,claiming he/she is a supporter of one side of politics»

Those who hijack God for the sake of politics are not religious, thus their actions are outside the scope of this discussion.

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Dear Not_Now.Soon,

«1) fairness to all religions. (Treating them all the same).»

Nice talk, but how, when the number of religions equals the number of people?!

What's the point in treating the same just a few large and loud organisations who claim to have a monopoly on religion, while ignoring everyone else's private religions?

«Let everyone be able to explore and express any religion (and lack of religion), but at the same time, when a person or an organization breaks the law or causes harm, then don't sit idly by out of support for freedom.»

Breaking the law is one thing, causing harm is another - so please do not bunch them together.
When there is an actual threat of harm, people normally and without dispute defend themselves (other than the very best who instead turn their other cheek, their own cheek of course, not others').

«If the laws stand firm for everyone, then all religions are equal in the face of the law.»

Now if you are going about making laws in general and "equal laws" in particular, then you cannot be fair:

The law for example says, "No sharp metal objects on flights": Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, atheists and most others are not affected, but Sikhs are devastated.

Or the law says, "Everyone must attend court on the day they are called to witness": Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, atheists and most others are not religiously affected, but Jews are devastated if that day is the Sabbath or a Jewish holiday when they are not allowed to travel.

Etc, Etc, Etc.

yuyutsu mate you continue to find things in my words I never wanted
The thread is about warning not to take some protections away while increasing others
Tried avoiding my view no God ever existed
Just want to amplify growing concerns the bill is about Christianity, maybe at the expense of other faiths

Dear Belly,

You would be privileged indeed if you had even a clue what Morrison plans for his "religious-freedom" bill. I could not find any information about content, they only talk about the politics around it.

To further obfuscate their intent, politicians mention all sorts of irrelevant issues such as "freedom of speech" or prohibiting discrimination on grounds of religion, both unnecessary and have very little to do with freedom of religion. It looks like this loud cry is going to end with a whimper, just like the minuscule reduction in the deeming rate for pensioners by only 0.25%.

yuyutsu yes I too share the view we may well be confronted by what Scomo puts in front of us
No doubt in my mind some want to protect one faith and too that some are determined to see that done
My thought that the thing needs care and balance remains
Too my view Christianity is in decline
Just maybe true reform can save it, separating it in America at least, from politics
And too in that country from massive cash grab maybe tax on it?
Still freedom to worship should remain a right always

Freedom to worship should remain a right as should freedom not to worship and no religion should be given special status.

How worship is carried out must always be subject to legal restraints by the State.

To Yuyutsu.

Religions are not all the same. They are not all true either. Without religious freedom people can't search for the truth on their own. But once they find a kernel of truth, they can't follow it unless they step away from all the wrong paths. This is the dynamic I was trying to point out earlier.

In order for there to be freedom of religion then all religions need to be treated fairly and equally. This is good for people to explore their views and to be able to challenge what they thought. However, the downside is that by saying all of it is equal, it takes the responsibility out of the religions for what they do right, or what they do wrong. (Because they are all the same). It can also be an obstacle for someone who searches for the truth to take a stand, because they are standing against religious freedom when they say the issues facing any religion specifically. Even to say other religions are wrong. (Atheism for instance says this of all religions that believe in God in one way or another).

On the other hand. When a person finds the truth, (or at least thinks they have), then they would pursue it over the other religions, or philosophies. This is good also because it means a person can go forward on a right path instead of stuck in the mud saying "all ideas are equal" and not actually investigate it further to see if it's right or how it can help them. The downside is that in order to be discriminating one idea or one religion as better then the others, means a weakened stance of freedom of religion as a whole.

(Continued)