Good post.

So, forgiveness, turn the other cheek, blessed are the meek, thou shalt not kill ... which branch of Catholicism ignores all those, eh?

Or is it just a meaningless label you apply to yourself out of habit?

Just because I am a Catholic does not mean I have to believe every single aspect of the religion. If that offends you then quite frankly I don't care. Let's be honest you don't care what religion I am or how I decide to live my life. I went to church every Sunday and went to a Catholic school but due to personal circumstances (like my father dying) I lost faith for a long time and as a 10 year old you would.

I just don't understand how you all could simple forgive a person for beheading someone in broad daylight in front of women and children? If you forgive that then you are just insane.



JerryChicken, No it wouldn't matter. If a muslim goes to a mosque then their religion should be preached inside the mosque, same with Christianity but it should not be preached outside your place of worship. It doesn't matter what religion you are, if you force your religious beliefs on others it will cause tension. I am an 18 year old and already in my lifetime I have seen many occasions where racism and violence has happened directly from somebody preaching a religion. I know the different between racism and being discriminative because of someones religion but unfortunately the vast majority don't. Oh and where have I said that Christianity is okay and other religions are not? Don't put words into my mouth. I am happy for other people to have different religions but the moment they preach those religious views to others is when trouble starts.

And cod'ead I see you have highlighted the fact that I said I am not racist then highlight but.........now I would like you to point out exactly where I have been racist? You will find that I have NOT discriminated anybody because of their race. I have mearly suggested that immigration should be stricter like Australia. I don't however see you saying that Australia is a racist country??

You seem a little sensitive to questioning, wasn't "putting words in your mouth" at all, simply asking a question.

You are a little naive though if you believe that any religion can be banned from broadcasting its beliefs to non-followers, if only for the fact that the government of this country (who would have to introduce such legislation) are themselves led by religious believers and regularly bow their heads to religion.

Further, its implicit in all religions to sell themselves, non more so than the religion that you follow yourself, part of the reason (some would suggest ALL of the reason) for the vehement opposition to birth control is down to it being the most efficient way of adding followers without having to do the hard sell to non-believers - ALL religions want to be in a position of control of the whole population of any given country and have done so for at least a thousand (or more) years, its how they work.

I apologize if I sounded sensitive then but in this day and age people are quick to brand others as racists without actually reading what the person has put.

I may be naive but on that point I agree with you the leaders of the country are probably religious but I doubt they are as religious as you are making them out to be. They are powered by greed and fear, the fear of not wanting to be branded as racists. Unfortunately most people are like that these days because they fear backlash if they say something that people deem racist (even though the point may not be racist at all).

Again I agree with your second point too. That is how religion has survived over the years but unfortunately it's coming to a point now where it's causing trouble (I know trouble has been cause in the past over it) but we live in a more civilized and free country now. People should have the right not to have religion thrown at them from others. I know that if a Catholic started throwing religion down my neck I would get pretty annoyed (even though I am Catholic). There are even parts of Catholicism that I do not agree with and also parts of Islam that I don't agree with. I am a westernized human with the ability to dictate what I do, I am not brainwashed by religion as a lot of people are (especially these Islamic Terrorists).

No offence but you don't care about my own personal views as you don't know me and tbh I respect your views but I won't lose sleep if they are different to mine. Sorry if that sounded like me being arrogant, I was not trying to be. I was trying to be as blunt as possible as I am in a rush to get to my rugby match. If it offended you please drop me a PM and I will answer as soon as I get home. Thanks for listening and sorry again about the long post

Actually that's more or less the definition of a Catholic.

You need to do some research on Australia, mate. They have all sorts of race related and immigration related problems.

I'm not remotely 'offended'. I'm more curious as to which parts of your religion - and remember, you're the one who made a point of declaring that you have one - you do believe. All the virgin birth and resurrection stuff? Transubstatiation, perhaps? God as three in one? The saints?

What I touched on was largely supposedly Christ's teaching. Y'know - the Jesus geezer whose actual name is a big part of the name of your religion - [iChrist[/iian?



I don't think that anyone here has suggested as much. Feel free to find where they have and please do quote it for us.

But this raises the point of why you follow a religion whose leader was, by your own logic, "just insane". What does that say about you?

Like the initial immigrants to that country and their subsequent descendants being a bunch of racist bar stewards.

How odd, you should ask that when Jesus said it's not easy but you should forgive your enemies.
Or, like many so-called Christians, do you prefer the pick-and-mix-approach which so often ignores what the guy said?

Not being a Christian myself, I judge according to my conscience, tempered by what reality and pragmatism I feel is appropriate.
What I find is that many of the least forgiving, least understanding and least helpful in our society are amongst those who profess to be Christians ... I often wonder, given that they are happier selectively believing bits of the old testament and virtually ignoring the message and philosophy of the new testament, why they don't go the whole hog and convert to Judaism.


Hog and Judaism in the same sentence there, let's just treat it as a pun, no offence meant.

I agree.

I also want to see a complete separation of state from religion - ANY RELIGION

Any school that does not offer a completely secular education, should not receive a single penny of state funding and that includes tax avoidance through charitable status. If someone wants to run a faith school then it should be totally funded by those parents who wish their children to be educated within their chosen faith.

As for projecting religious views on others I am also in agreement with you. I'd outlaw all public preaching and other demonstrations of faith, including public-facing employees wearing religious symbols in open view.



Experience has taught me over the years that anyone using the quoted terms swiftly follows them with a comment that could only be described as racist.

I'd also suggest that you do a little research on Australia and its policies on handling peoples of non-anglo ethnicities. From the day Capt. Cook discovered Botany Bay, the Aboriginals were discriminated against and persecuted. It's not too many years ago they finally abandoned the White Australia Policy. They operated Guantanamo-style internment camps to corral Vietnamese boat people elsewhere than the Australian mainland.

Australia is the very last place we should look for ideas on immigration policy.

Kirkstaller is still banned I take it?.

Imagine the way this would have dissolved otherwise.