iDigress

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 7 February 2010

9.00 am – Support grows for euthanasia

I was interested to learn the other day that Sir Terry Pratchett, author of the bestselling Discworld fantasy novels, has made a strong plea for governments to legalise medically assisted death.

He called for tribunals to be set up which would give those suffering from incurable diseases the right to medical assistance to help end their lives.  Two years ago Pratchett was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.  “It is not nice,” he said, “and I do not wish to be there for the endgame.”

His concerns are understandable.  Recent polls indicate significant popular support for euthanasia.

But intentional killing is hardly a compassionate response to suffering.  What we need is the courage to face up to all of life’s challenges, and the best possible palliative care and medical services, and a strong commitment by the state to protect the weak and vulnerable among us from those who would abuse them.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

12.00 pm – Could you last a month with no alcohol?

Would you like to lose weight, save money, and gain more energy?  Then you should consider FebFast, a local initiative encouraging us to take a break from the booze in February, and raise funds for alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs for young people.  It’s not too late to sign up – just go to febfast.com.au.

We live in an alcohol-saturated society, and the liquor industry is very good at promoting its product and expanding its market.

So it’s great to see a growing awareness of the problems associated with alcohol consumption: health and safety issues, binge drinking, alcohol-related violence, and the direct and indirect cost of feeding what can become an out-of-control addiction.

Those who called for temperance and total abstinence used to be dismissed as wowsers.  The shift in public sentiment is welcome, but we still have a long way to go in addressing the dangers of excessive drug use.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

5.00 pm – Barnaby Joyce on foreign aid

Opposition finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce this week said Australia should cut its foreign aid budget to pay off debt and fund election promises.

One thing I’ll say about Senator Joyce is: he’s never boring.  And his argument appears logical: the Government is borrowing money from overseas to finance the deficit, so it makes little sense to send it back overseas as aid.

But as World Vision CEO Tim Costello pointed out, “The people who are the most vulnerable and the poorest should not be a political football between the parties.” 

And there are good reasons for providing foreign aid.  Australia is a responsible member of an international community; we target aid toward particular humanitarian and development needs; ordinary Australians believe that providing foreign aid is the decent thing to do, and many – including the churches – think it should increase. 

Shame on you, Barnaby.  It’s time for more compassionate politics.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 31 January 2010

9.00 am – Tony Abbott’s rules for sex

The first issue for the year of a prominent women’s magazine came out on Wednesday, with a feature story on federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

If you haven’t seen it, you can’t have escaped the media attention given to his controversial comments about pre-marital sex and contraception.  Mr Abbott advised young women to regard their virginity as a “gift” that should not be given lightly.  He warned women to save their virginity for marriage and, when they feel they can’t, they should use contraception.

For Mr Abbott, it’s not about imposing Catholic morality on Australia, or fostering a nanny-state.  It’s about self-respect, and respect for others.  It’s about adhering to guidelines that have served communities well for thousands of years.  It’s about responsible sexuality.

Tony Abbott’s comments are counter-cultural and courageous.  In an individualist and permissive society, they deserve a hearing.  But why the deafening silence on young men’s virginity?  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

12.00 pm – Heavy metal music as religion

I’m not a fan of heavy metal music.  I usually switch off or run the other way when I hear its distinctive sounds.  But for many devotees, it’s a way of life, defining who they are and what they value.

Now heavy metal fans in Britain are being urged to “keep the faith” by lobbying for their love of music to be recognised as a religion.

This follows campaigns in England and Australia for people filling in census forms to list their religion as Jedi (the fictional creed in the Star Wars movies).  And the next census will no doubt uncover followers of the Na’vi faith, from the blockbuster movie Avatar.

In 1983 the Australian High Court ruled that religion involves belief in a supernatural Being, Thing or Principle; with rules of behaviour in line with that belief. 

That’s a very broad definition.  But I’m fairly sure heavy metal music doesn’t fit the bill.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

5.00 pm – Patrick McGorry on asylum seekers

I was so impressed with the decision to name mental health advocate Professor Patrick McGorry as the 2010 Australian of the Year, along with restaurateur Maggie Beer as Senior Australian of the Year, and Trooper Mark Donaldson VC as Young Australian of the Year.

Professor McGorry received the most attention, not only for his stellar service to psychiatry, but for his comments on the treatment of asylum seekers in Australian detention centres.

He warned of the negative consequences of immigration detention, describing the centres as “factories for producing mental illness.”

Sadly, asylum seekers will continue to arrive as long as there is poverty, political unrest and persecution in the countries of origin.  An open door policy would spell political and social disaster for Australia. 

But we can surely do more to fast-track the processing of asylum-seeker applications, ease the psychological burdens on those in detention, and deter people from stepping into leaky boats.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 24 January 2010

9.00 am – Celebrating Australia Day 2010

With Australia Day fast approaching, I wonder what your plans are as you celebrate what’s great about being Australian.

For some, it’s just another public holiday – a chance to kick back, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the best of what this country has to offer.  For others, it’s an opportunity to reflect on our place in the world, and how we can all work together to make things better.

For Indigenous Australians, or at least some of them, it’s a reminder of the coming of Europeans to this ancient continent, and the disruption and devastation their arrival brought to traditional culture, language and social order.  Europeans also introduced many good things, including new technologies, new ideas, and the story of Jesus.

On Australia Day we celebrate what makes us great, where we’ve come from, who we are now, and what future we want for those who follow in our wake.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

12.00 pm – U.S. troops use guns bearing Bible verses

Like many, I was dismayed to learn this week that combat rifle sights used by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan are inscribed with Bible verses highlighting the superiority of Christianity.

Some might think this a positive step, but there are a number of problems.

First, the United States is a secular country.  Why promote religious belief, or just one faith?  Should some guns be inscribed with texts from the Qur’an?

Second, it gives the impression that Americans are modern-day Christian crusaders fighting a religious war rather than defending the West from terrorism.

Third, it links the way of Jesus with the practice of violence, war and militarism.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Jesus taught us to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and seek to live at peace with everyone (e.g. Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:18).

But those words of Jesus won’t be inscribed on the barrels of American guns any time soon.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com
5.00 pm – Racism must go, says Peter Cosgrove

In his excellent Australia Day address, delivered this week, former Defence Force chief Peter Cosgrove reflected on what makes us great, and what occasionally diminishes us as a nation.

In particular, he praised “our sense of compassion, generosity, selflessness and equity when we encounter the suffering and need of our [regional] neighbours”; he spoke of our central role in helping East Timor achieve independence; and the way Australians brought assistance to Solomon Islands in 2003.

But he drew attention to “pockets of racism here in Australia,” noting the Cronulla riots and, more recently, attacks on Indian students, describing the violence as “a litany of criminality.”

Hateful attitudes and actions only diminish us as a just society, and must be addressed with wisdom and justice.

General Cosgrove remains confident that we are “a highly moral, inclusive and stable society,” and that “our challenges are not beyond us.”  I hope and pray that he is right.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, Sunday 17 January 2010

9.00 am – Devastating earthquake hits Haiti

Like you, I was shocked by the devastating earthquake which hit Haiti on Wednesday.  It may have killed 100,000 people, and directly affected a third of Haiti’s population of nine million.

At a magnitude 7.0, and with a shallow epicentre, it is the most powerful quake to hit the Caribbean since 1770.  Most of the capital’s infrastructure – schools, hospitals, Parliament – lie in ruins.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the survivors, rescue workers, those providing humanitarian assistance, and those who have lost loved ones.

President Obama described the disaster as “cruel and incomprehensible.”  Indeed it is.  Like the Asian tsunami, we ask why such catastrophes occur.  Bad things do happen to good people, devastate poor nations, and kill the innocent.

But let’s not blame God.  God doesn’t do things that don’t make sense.  God offers hope in the midst of death and destruction.  He walks with us through the darkness.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

12.00 pm – Australia’s debt binge

Well, do you feel like you were on a debt binge in 2009?  How’s the credit card after the Christmas spree?  The personal loans?  The mortgage?

According to figures released by the Reserve Bank, which keeps tabs on such things, for the first time Australians owe more in household debt than the national economy generates in a year.

Add it all up, and our collective debt comes to $1.2 trillion, or about $56,000 for every Australian citizen.

As anyone who’s been there knows, once you fall into the debt trap it’s very hard to escape.  Do we really need such large houses, all those beautiful furnishings, all that new technology, all those services, all those cards?

The answer is often no.  If we’re honest, it’s often greed, which the Bible describes as a kind of idolatry. 

It’s time to invest in something that adds real value to our lives, something that gives back to the community.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com

5.00 pm – Halving homelessness in Australia

Whenever I head into Sydney’s central business district, I can’t help but notice the beggars on street corners, and homeless people on benches and in parks. 

It’s a familiar sight.  It’s the same in most cities.  Of course, a few choose the lifestyle, but for many it’s the result of family trauma, or bad luck, or perhaps poor choices made long ago.

The Prime Minister wants to halve homelessness by 2020.  Simon Smith, head of Homelessness Australia, thinks this can be achieved if we all pull our weight. 

First, the government needs to build more housing, funded under the social housing stimulus package.

Second, we need to try new ideas, especially support options for those facing mental health and drug and alcohol issues.

And the broader community needs to engage with the issue.  That’s you and me.  After all, homelessness can hit close to home, and halving the pain and shame of homelessness is something we should all support.  I’m Rod Benson for nswchurches.com