iDigress

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