Hi Josephus,

"We need parliaments with civil ideas not social ideologies.".

Human beings have been trying to impose their social ideologies on others ever since mankind has gathered together in numbers. Religion has been a leading mechanism in imposing social ideologies. Combine religion with the state and then you have the most powerful way to control society. Simply given the authority of god, and god cannot be wrong, then you indeed control society completely, and can do as you will.
Those screaming from the pulpit are not claiming to be speaking for themselves, but rather to be speaking with the authority of the infallible god they say they represent. Take that authority into the political arena, which religions have done for centuries and its complete authority.

It is quite clear that the people bleating about 'haters' mean anyone who doesn't agree with their own peculiar take on life.

There's no denying, exploitation is a human trait that has been perfected over time.
Greed, borne of stupidity, is the impetus !

Paul1405, I suggest you post the Governments controlled by religious preachers you dislike, also include Governments you believe are not controlled by ideologies. That way we might get an understanding of your ideal Government.

Funny how you never hear the keep-the-church-and-state-separate brigade saying anything about preachers in the likes of the the Lefty Uniting and Anglican churches deliberately introducing Left wing politics- refugees/climate change/homosexuality etc. to the pulpit.

But, of course, we all know that there is nothing more hypocritical and amoral than a Lefty.

"we all know that there is nothing more hypocritical and amoral than a Lefty."

ttbn I didn't know George Pell was a Lefty, I'm inclined to believe the paedophile Pell would be seated at the same conservative table as you. The religious you refer to as lefties are people with a social conscience, something a selfish individual like many on the forum lack.

Josephus, our forebears experienced the joys of a religious dominated state, with burning at the stake, torture, slavery, all kinds of despicable punishments. Given half a chance the religious fruitcakes of today would reimpose the same. Take a look at countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran where religion dominates. Fanatical Christians have mostly lost their clout to brutalise society as they did in the past. Although conservative Christian Churches still exert a great deal of influence over the state in countries like the USA.