The recent niqab controversy has given rise to more, mostly media orchestrated, controversy over the role of Islam in western society. At least one newspaper has had the civility to canvas a range of Islamic leadership voices on current issues often commented on “in the third person” : Australia’s Imams on Osama, toleranceContinue reading “Australia’s Imams on Osama, tolerance and Sharia law | Herald Sun”
Category Archives: local politics
Church State solution still simmers on the side-lines
This came across my screen a few days ago and I think it’s one of the more cogent opinion pieces I’ve seen in the media as the High Court hearing on government funding for National School Chaplaincy Program approaches. Hurdle in church-state juggle – Opinion – Editorial – General – The Canberra Times. Next month,Continue reading “Church State solution still simmers on the side-lines”
The Golden Rule – how ubiquitous!
“Treat others as you want them to treat you!” That’s the burden of this morning’s Christian Religious Education lesson emerging from the controversial (in Victoria) Access curriculum. Although a pithy sound bite from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, similar wisdom is found in sacred texts preceding Matthew 7:12 in Judaism, Buddhism and Confucianism as wellContinue reading “The Golden Rule – how ubiquitous!”
Religion & the Secular State
In the light of the current discussions on the nature of the “secular” in relation to religion in the public arena, particularly where government funding of religious programs in state schools is concerned, or even access of religious groups within the education system, it’s sometimes helpful to hear a voice from outside. See Thio Li-ann: ReligionContinue reading “Religion & the Secular State”
Teach, don’t preach: how to do religion in schools – ABC Religion & Ethics – Opinion
I’ve made my own arguments along similar lines. Ronald Noone, chaplain at Melbourne Grammar, adds some interesting points that, in my view, have potential to de-polarise the debate and de-wedge the issue. Teach, don’t preach: how to do religion in schools – ABC Religion & Ethics – Opinion.
School chaplaincy – sacred or secular?
The wedge drives even deeper as the school chaplaincy debate continues. This morning’s Eureka Street article and the array of comments is illustrative. There was a time when “religious” and “secular” were complimentary terms, rather than opposed. Some of the rub off of this was seen in a letter in this morning’s West where anContinue reading “School chaplaincy – sacred or secular?”
No government funds, please: we’re Christians! – ABC Religion & Ethics – Blog
Storm in a teacup or point of no return? As an advocate for chaplaincy and stakeholder with my state provider (which, by the way, was formative in crafting the guidelines that made the whole thing workable before and after the complication of government funding), I find sense in the view expressed here: No government funds,Continue reading “No government funds, please: we’re Christians! – ABC Religion & Ethics – Blog”
Sunday session drinking is sinking…
Alcohol related violence in Perth has escalated to the point where a weekend scarcely passes without death or serious injury. The latest incident, described in the article, Ocean Beach Hotel Death | Sunday session drinking, caps the concern. Ironically, a lot of binge-drinking seems to be stimulated by either having too much money or not enough! ManyContinue reading “Sunday session drinking is sinking…”
Celebrating the carbon tax – Eureka Street
Fasten your seat belts, folks – we’re in for a bumpy ride. Tony Kevin does a good job of identifying political, scientific and economic juggling pins that must be kept in the air over years to come in Celebrating the carbon tax – Eureka Street. “What’s to celebrate?” is a question I hear, however, from bothContinue reading “Celebrating the carbon tax – Eureka Street”
Funding school chaplaincy
Australia’s National School Chaplaincy Program is under review and the public is invited to respond to a discussion paper through submissions that are due no later than March 18th. As I predicted when government subsidies for chaplains in schools was announced by the Howard government in 2006, religious organisations would need to prepare for a roughContinue reading “Funding school chaplaincy”
Wondering Pilgrim 