Morality
Discrimination, Bigotry, Alienation, Hatred: What would Jesus do?
Perhaps what is required from Christians these days is a little humility. An acknowledgement that they haven’t got everything right, indeed there are things they have got horrifically wrong, and that there is a collective as well as an individual responsibility for this that must be addressed before they can legitimately turn their rigorous attention to the maintenance of a broader human morality, writes Jennifer Wilson.
Judging from the flurry of articles that have appeared recently written by Christians against same sex marriage (as well as same sex adoption, in which many similar religious justifications are invoked) one can be forgiven for thinking that many Christians believe their god invented the institution.
This could not be further from the truth. Marriage has existed a whole lot longer than Christianity. The Chinese philosopher Confucius, born in 551BC, offered this delightful definition: “Marriage is the union of two different surnames, in friendship and in love.”
Indeed, there is considerable historical evidence that in Greece, Rome, China and Europe same-sex marriages were celebrated along with the heterosexual unions deemed necessary either for economic purposes, or for men to ensure (they hoped) the parentage of children.
For a period in our history marriage had little to do with romance and love, and much to do with economic and physical survival. The spiritual and emotional dimensions of marriage that many Westerners feel are at its core are relatively recent developments.
Christians imposed their beliefs on an institution that was already long in place, and called this fallacy god’s will. Instead of acknowledging that Christian marriage is but one example of that institution, they appear to deny validity to any other and thus attempt to reify their singular take on the concept.
So successful has this reification been that there are people who want to marry in churches, even though they never set foot in them before or after the ceremony. Many people feel an understandable desire for their marriage to be “blessed”, and there’s no doubt the Christian ritual can be quite beautiful.
I’ve no wish to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
But people marry for all kinds of reasons. For example, it’s estimated that some 200,000 marriages per year take place in the United States expressly for the purpose of obtaining a Green Card for the spouse who is not a US citizen. There are marriages made in Australia for the same pragmatic reason. These unions apparently disrespect the Christian god’s purpose for marriage, and ought to cause offence to believers. However, they don’t appear to be anywhere near as offensive to Christians as are same sex marriages, chosen on the basis of love, and the desire for commitment and family.
On the other hand, marriage between blacks and whites in the US southern states (miscegenation) was illegal until 1967. Not only did the Christian god demand that marriage only take place between a man and a woman at that time, apparently he needed them to be the same skin colour as well.
Tim Minchin’s Pope song: NB- ‘F’ word isn’t “Family Values”
Tim Minchin’s tribute to the infallible one, who still claims atheism is the world’s most malignant force. Thanks to Tim for saying what so many think.
For Pope Benedict XVI in time for his state visit to the UK.
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHRDfut2Vx0
-
Dr. God: ‘Thou shalt suffer for my pleasure’
Catherine Deveny’s one woman show God Is Bullshit has been extended due to popular demand. For more details go to www.catherinedeveny.com Her column appears in The Age’s MelbourneLife on Wednesday.
Checking out with dignity, by Catherine Deveny
One of my favourite people is an old boyfriend’s mum, Marijke, a stuttering Dutch psychologist, heart of gold, body of a Veronica and a penchant for buying old furniture, painting it beige and re-upholstering it in calico.
Meeting her in my teens was a revelation. The women I knew mostly fell into the category of teacher, housewife, mother, nurse or tuckshop lady rather than fiercely independent, free-thinking European woman who cooked lentils, travelled the world and danced to her own tune. Clothes optional.
I caught up with Marijke a while ago to meet her new man, Rene, a Dutch cardiologist. The little boys and I rolled up to a breakfast by the sea. Whole-wheat pancakes, bowls of stewed fruit the colour of jewels, fluffy clouds of yoghurt, steaming cups of coffee and light streaming in. At the moment I was reflecting on what a healthy sight it was, Rene pushed his chair back and lit a cigar. At the table.
I love Europeans.
He turned to me and said: ”Cathy, did Marijke tell you how we met?”
”No, she didn’t.”
He took a drag of his cigar and said: ”I killed her father.”
Rene had legally euthanised Marijke’s father in the Netherlands, where euthanasia is legal. A death with a happy ending.
I thought of Marijke and Rene when I addressed the Dying With Dignity Rally on the steps of Parliament House last week.
Passionate supporters huddled together on the steps like many Melburnians past. I hoped this was the last rally for euthanasia ever, but infuriatingly I knew it wouldn’t be. Despite the need for our laws to catch up to reflect social progress and our community values, 85 per cent of people support voluntary euthanasia.
I was disappointed by the turnout – about 150 people. Some 10,000 rocked up to the Save Live Australian Music Rally when they closed The Tote. But the collective age at the Dying With Dignity Rally was probably twice that of the Slam Rally. Perhaps it’s a good sign – maybe people were thinking: ”I don’t have to turn up to a rally for voluntary euthanasia. Clearly it’s going to happen; they legalised abortion.”
-
No ethics in school say Christians – What would Jesus do?
“Ethics should not be offered as an alternative to the Bible” - Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen – Circa 2010
If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children
and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
- Jesus (Luke 14:26) – Circa 1-3 BCE
I have wiped out many nations, devastating their fortress walls and towers. Their cities are now deserted; their streets are in silent ruin. There are no survivors to even tell what happened. I thought, ‘Surely they will have reverence for me now! Surely they will listen to my warnings, so I won’t need to strike again.’ But no; however much I punish them, they continue their evil practices from dawn till dusk and dusk till dawn.” So now the LORD says: “Be patient; the time is coming soon when I will stand up and accuse these evil nations. For it is my decision to gather together the kingdoms of the earth and pour out my fiercest anger and fury on them. All the earth will be devoured by the fire of my jealousy. ”On that day I will purify the lips of all people, so that everyone will be able to worship the LORD together. My scattered people who live beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come to present their offerings.
- Gawd (Zephaniah 3:6-10 NLT)
In what appears to be a concerted effort to keep its hallowed patch in the NSW education curriculum, the forces of the Anglican and Catholic Churches and the NSW Christian Democratic Party are using their influence to scuttle a planned trail of ethics teaching in NSW schools.
The initial plan is to implement ethics teaching classes as an alternative to scripture lessons. The trial is marked for years five and six students in just ten state primary schools for a two-term period only. Even so, this ‘toe in the water’ approach would be the first time in more than 100 years that the NSW state government had approved the teaching of ethics in schools as an alternative to religious education. The program has been developed by the St James Ethics Centre and supported by the Federation of Parents & Citizens Associations.
–
The plan was initially approved by previous State Premier Nathan Rees shortly before his ousting in favour of current Premier Kristina Keneally. Keneally is a self-declared ‘Catholic feminist’ and was the president of students at American Catholic Universities.
She has reportedly been the subject of particularly strong lobbying from Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen, who suggested, according to the Herald, that “the permanent introduction of secular ethics classes in public schools … would jeopardise the future of religious education”.
-
Meanwhile, the Rev Fred Nile, leader of the Christian Democratic Party, said (again, according to the Herald) that “the trial should be postponed pending further consultations with all church leaders. He said the trial was being advertised for all children in the trial schools in direct competition with the legal approved scripture classes, contradicting earlier assurances the classes were only for children opting out of scripture classes.”
This campaign has been in the wake of some extremely vitriolic Easter sermons by Jensen and Catholic Cardinal Pell against the rise of atheism.
“You Ethiopians will also be slaughtered by my sword,” says the LORD. And the LORD will strike the lands of the north with his fist. He will destroy Assyria and make its great capital, Nineveh, a desolate wasteland, parched like a desert. The city that once was so proud will become a pasture for sheep and cattle. All sorts of wild animals will settle there. Owls of many kinds will live among the ruins of its palaces, hooting from the gaping windows. Rubble will block all the doorways, and the cedar paneling will lie open to the wind and weather. This is the fate of that boisterous city, once so secure. ”In all the world there is no city as great as I,” it boasted. But now, look how it has become an utter ruin, a place where animals live! Everyone passing that way will laugh in derision or shake a defiant fist.
Gawd – (Zephaniah 2:12-15 NLT)
“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.“
- Jesus (John 15:6 KJV) Circa 1-3 BCE
So it shall be at the end of the world; the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be a wailing and gnashing of teeth.
- Jesus (Matthew 13:49-50) Circa 1-3 BCE
-
Search
Atheist Age: Live Stream 11pm Tuesdays
Check Your Timezone. Select "Australia - Victoria - Melbourne" in the first field. Select your location in the second. Don't forget to select 23/11pm in the hour field. Amaze and astound your friends in a timely fashion.
Atheist Age on FacebookHelp promote equal rights, science literacy and human tolerance
Tags
Blogroll
- Atheist Foundation of Australia
- Australian Skeptics
- Bad Astronomy
- Center For Inquiry
- Evolution
- Fifteen Answers to Creationist Nonsense
- Freethought Multimedia
- Humanist and Ethical Union
- Humanist Society of Victoria
- Infidel Guy
- Melbourne Atheists
- Pharyngula
- Point of Inquiry
- Rationalist Society of Australia
- Religion News in Brief
- Skepticality
- Understanding Evolution
- University of Melbourne Secular Society