To Belly.

I've heard stories of Scientology, and how it is harmful to those who are in it. I would stand against this religion because of what it does, and I would hope that everyone can recognize the differences between religions so that the harms in one religion aren't the reason to oppose another. As far as I'm aware (correct me if I'm wrong) neither Hinduism nor Buddhism commit the level of fraud and blackmail that are common stories anomg ex-scientoligists. Should those religions be punished for something they are innocent from?

religion should be allowed to be taught in public.
Not_Now.Soon,
Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree !

Not-now-soon that subject is one to be very very careful with
For no other reason than that cult/faith, is very rich very powerful and in my personal view not a true faith
It sues
The thread is meant to be about the upcoming legislation, its need, [we do need rules]
But too the pitfalls along the way, this is an emotional subject, but we must not let the very real dangers be ignored
Back to matters of being taken to court for your views
This Increasingly mad world sees that tool to silence truthful debate,will impact us all in the next few years
I differ with you on religion, it should be free to practice but no faith ever, should be involved in any government

Are nonbelievers' rights more important then everyone else's?
Not_Now.Soon,
I wouldn't call myself a non-believer, more of a not fully convinced ! Religion is not one of God's ways to make us believe in him/her/it. Religion is a man-made control mechanism in my view, nothing to do with God ! I'd imagine if there is indeed this almighty being/force then it'll be the religious who'll be left behind.
Doesn't believing in God mean to also treat our fellow human beings with respect ? Where is such respect when one watches the romp & pomp of religious ceremonies whilst the poor are looking on ? To me, religion & its followers are the height of hypocrisy !

I hope it is realised that the Religious Discrimination Bill, if Morrison is stupid enough to go ahead with it, will apply to all religions, not just Christianity. The people belly aching about what Folau said will hear some really nice things said by Muslims about homosexuality and all the other 'sins'. What else will Muslims be able to say, and do, in the name of religious freedom and Allah?

Hi TTbn,

I hope that Muslims will be given the complete freedom to espouse all of their doctrines, in the full view of all Australians: their views on women in particular, under-age marriage, polygamy, stoning, beheadings, FGM, the inferior rights of women to property and inheritance, etc. Hopefully the 'Left' will get over their Gee-wow worship of everything different, and realise (faint hope) that much of Islam is backward, reactionary (in a Marxist sense) and frankly vile.

But i do like the verse in the Koran (is it 5: 32 ?) which says that if an innocent person is killed, it is as if the whole of humanity has been killed. Did this verse apply in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, I wonder ? But then the book craps itself with the next verse, that anybody who insults the prophet, let his right hand and left foot by cut off. Real civilised.

Yes, let 100 flowers bloom, every beautiful and every rotten one of them: everybody, show us what you're on about.

But right to implement those beliefs ? That's a very different kettle of fish.

Joe