Religious Issues /
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Ballarat's first mosque helps build community By Patrick Byrne June 15, 2014, 4:43 p.m.
Is Australia a Religious Country?
This article is from the September 19, 2015 issue of The Courier Digital Edition.
WHAT MAKES A PUBLIC RELIGION?
Reverend Professor Haire argues the public nature of Islam has stirred a deep down unresolved anger in Christianity in Australia. The former National Council of Churches president has said the widespread arrival of Islam, expressed publicly in a way of dress and lifestyle, had aroused frustration among some Christians used to their faith being marginalised to a private experience. "There is this deep down unresolved anger within Christianity, which says if we can't be public you can't be either – these are the seeds of violence," he said. "The arrival of other public religions [can] encourage Christianity to keep up.” Try being Jewish in Australia today, then tell me Christianity cannot be public. Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas - government holidays. The Lord's Prayer opening each session of Parliament, both Houses. Government-imposed restrictions on shopping and activities on Sundays. Special Christian-style postage stamps for Christmas cards, at a reduced rate. Big showy churches, some attended by Parliamentarians at auspicious times for their political positioning. Christian organisations - including the Salvation Army - awarded Government contracts. Christian political parties recognised by the AEC. Numerous Parliamentarians advocating publicly we accept only Christian refugees from Syria. A conference organising committee asked to be sensitive to Passover dates and, if necessary, to provide appropriate food alternatives. The response, "Get with it; Australia is a Christian country!" I'm not saying these are bad things, nor am I suggesting we do away with them. I, Jewish, welcome the multicultural-ness . I ask only that Christians who believe their religion is not public look again, through the eyes of other religious minorities, and reconsider complaining of their lot in Australia.
Judy Bamberger - O'Connor .
Copyright © 2015 The Courier
This article is from the September 19, 2015 issue of The Courier Digital Edition.
WHAT MAKES A PUBLIC RELIGION?
Reverend Professor Haire argues the public nature of Islam has stirred a deep down unresolved anger in Christianity in Australia. The former National Council of Churches president has said the widespread arrival of Islam, expressed publicly in a way of dress and lifestyle, had aroused frustration among some Christians used to their faith being marginalised to a private experience. "There is this deep down unresolved anger within Christianity, which says if we can't be public you can't be either – these are the seeds of violence," he said. "The arrival of other public religions [can] encourage Christianity to keep up.” Try being Jewish in Australia today, then tell me Christianity cannot be public. Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas - government holidays. The Lord's Prayer opening each session of Parliament, both Houses. Government-imposed restrictions on shopping and activities on Sundays. Special Christian-style postage stamps for Christmas cards, at a reduced rate. Big showy churches, some attended by Parliamentarians at auspicious times for their political positioning. Christian organisations - including the Salvation Army - awarded Government contracts. Christian political parties recognised by the AEC. Numerous Parliamentarians advocating publicly we accept only Christian refugees from Syria. A conference organising committee asked to be sensitive to Passover dates and, if necessary, to provide appropriate food alternatives. The response, "Get with it; Australia is a Christian country!" I'm not saying these are bad things, nor am I suggesting we do away with them. I, Jewish, welcome the multicultural-ness . I ask only that Christians who believe their religion is not public look again, through the eyes of other religious minorities, and reconsider complaining of their lot in Australia.
Judy Bamberger - O'Connor .
Copyright © 2015 The Courier