Immigration Forum / Canada / August 2006

Is This the Death of Christianity in Australia?
http://jimball.com.au/Features/Bill-Muehlenberg.htm
Bill Muehlenberg

I just returned from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in
Melbourne, where the two Christian pastors have been found of guilty of
vilifying Muslims. The decision handed down this morning marks the beginning
of the end of freedom of speech in Australia, and the official restriction
of proclaiming the Christian gospel.

While the full report of 100 pages will not appear until next week, a short
summary by Judge Higgins said that the two Danny's (Daniel Scot and Daniel
Nalliah) breached section 8 of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001
which says a person cannot engage in conduct that "incites hatred against,
serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of, that other person
or class of persons".

While exemptions are in place for "any genuine academic, artistic, religious
or scientific purposes; or any purpose that is in the public interest", the
Judge found that these exceptions did not here apply, because the person's
conduct could "not be regarded as reasonable and in good faith".

Interestingly, section 9 of the Act says a "person's motive in engaging in
any conduct is irrelevant". If so, how can one be accused of acting in bad
faith? Who decides what is reasonable here or unreasonable?

The Judge said that Pastor Scot "failed to differentiate between Muslims
throughout the world, that he preached a literal translation of the Quran
and of Muslims' religious practices which were not mainstream".

Most Muslims would of course object to this, arguing that they do adhere to
a literal understanding and translation of the Quran. And how does a secular
judge with no expertise in religion make such decisions, when Islamic
scholars themselves are divided on such crucial questions of theology,
interpretation and exegesis?

Much of what the Judge considered offensive was simply quotations from the
Quran itself. To argue that quoting a religious book makes one guilty of
vilification would put 98% of religious discussions out of bounds.

The whole tenure of the ruling is that one religious group cannot frankly
and openly speak of another religion, for fear of vilification. Or in this
case, it amounts to shutting up Christians who dare try to criticize Muslims
or any other religion.

[ed. But you can have Islamic bookshops that slander all and sundry calling
them "apes, pigs, infidels, sewer water" without fear of sanction...]

The exclusive claims of the Christian gospel, in other words, are directly
at threat here. We mounted a determined fight about this law when it was
first introduced in 2000. We said it would put at risk freedom of speech in
general and would act as an anti-Christian law in particular.

This is exactly what we are now seeing. Christians should be greatly
concerned about this decision, as should all who value freedom of speech.

The truth is, probably the majority of what any Christian has said or
written about other faiths will be found to be vilifying, based on the
decisions of the Judge. Many of us are now liable for jail terms or hefty
fines.

This could well be the beginning of a government-sanctioned crackdown on
Christianity in Victoria. And if some Federal Labor MPs have their way,
national laws would be introduced as well, threatening believers right
across the country.

What is to be done?

The sentences have not yet been handed down, and appeals will undoubtedly be
forthcoming, even though great expense has already been incurred by the two
Pastors.

In the meantime, several things can be done. We should all make a public
protest about this decision. Write letters to newspapers, get on talk-back
radio, contact your Victorian MPs.

Also, the Victorian legislation needs to be turned back. Write to your local
State MP, asking that this destructive law be removed.

Also, we need, like in the US, to set up Christian legal aid groups to
battle these sorts of laws and decisions.

Finally, we all need to pray, and pray hard.

This is a very serious decision indeed. Much more detailed analysis needs to
go into the decision, including a close look at the full 100 page finding.
But the initial prospects do not look good at all.

This decision must serve as a wake up call to all believers. We are in very
real danger of losing our religious freedoms in Australia. Do we care enough
about our faith to finally wake up from our slumber and start to act and
pray? Or will it be business as usual?

All Christians should be concerned by this decision. Unfortunately not all
are. The Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania put out a media release
immediately after the decision, welcoming it! They said they were concerned
about "small Christian extremist groups in Victoria that are damaging the
reputation and good name of the broader Christian community"!

Of course if your gospel is one that makes no distinctions and offers no
exclusive truth claims, then sure, we can all share one big religious
bandwagon. But if you believe that the claims of Christ are distinctive and
exclusive, that truth is important, then this decision is alarming.

The question is, are you ready for prison ministry? That is where many of us
may soon be heading if this decision stands. Now is the time for people of
faith to stand up and be counted. If we do not, we may well see the death of
Christianity in Australia.

--
Antimulticulture
"Bring Back Democracy!..."

Newsboard:
http://www.gossiping.net/phpBB2/?mforum=newsboard

http://www.geocities.com/anti_multiculture/index.html
Unite Against Multicult'ism!

"Abolish Multi-Culty and String Up the Traitors!"

http://www.alphalink.com.au/~eureka/mccorm.htm
Asianisation of Australia: The Grand Plan