Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani was the spiritual leader of a 400-member Christian congregation, and a network of Christian house churches in the city of Rasht in northwestern Iran. But in October 2009, Pastor Nadarkhani was arrested for changing his religion, evangelising Muslims, and a number of moral offences that have since been dismissed. His punishment …
Time to force action on gambling
In recent years we have seen: an expansion of gambling facilities in all Australian states the entrance of significant commercial players to the industry increasing reliance on gambling revenue for state budgets diversion of resources from families to the gambling industry increased access to gambling for people at risk of addiction In 2010, the Productivity …
Gambling reform in NSW
Gambling reform has been headline news again this week with independent MP Andrew Wilkie and the Greens claiming they won’t support the Gillard Government’s reform bills, putting at risk the proposed trial of pre-commitment technology in the ACT. But to be successful, gambling reform must engage the states. NSW has around 50 per cent of …
Politicians and the uses of faith
Freedom of religion and the separation of church and state are two fundamental pillars of Australian culture and society. But as soon as Mr Abbott, or Mr Rudd, or the Rev Fred Nile, make any link between politics and faith, angry mobs write venomous articles and letters to the editor, denouncing them. And it only …
Choosing the butter
A sermon on 2 Kings 2:1-18 One of my favourite French atheist philosophers is a man of about my own age called Michel Onfray. When he was 28, Onfray nearly died of a heart attack brought on, in part, by his love for classic French cuisine. As he recovered, his doctor spoke those words we …
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