Tim Wilson is now the Liberal member for Goldstein, but when he was appointed human rights commissioner in 2014 he launched a program that now seems out of control. There was considerable doubt about why Wilson pushed so hard for his religious freedom roundtable — primarily for church leaders. It was founded on dubious evidence, and his motivation remains unclear.
Since then, “freedom of religion” has morphed into a mantra across all media — and, more recently, has become weaponised by militant Christians. One clear example is the Israel Folau imbroglio that now seems destined for the High Court. Some even suggest there’s an interesting confluence of events.
At face value, “religious freedom” is a mere motherhood statement — an innocuous cliché that no one cares to malign. But the temperature has risen markedly since same-sex marriage was legalised. That led to Philip Ruddock’s religious freedom review which incited more frequent rants by angry Christians who demanded even greater sacred privileges — and was further inflamed by Folau’s sacking.
With the Coalition’s re-election — and bolstered by Scott Morrison’s much vaunted Pentecostal credentials — the religious right are in full cry. Of course, it remains to be seen what Morrison’s signature legislation — a religious discrimination act — will actually deliver. But the PM has made it clear he is on a crusade for more protection of Christians, to codify exemptions, and push the LNP agenda of more religion in schools.
What’s missing here
Alarmingly, an opposing voice is the crucial element that’s missing from this one-sided campaign for religious freedom. Media outlets are mute and seem oblivious to the 78% of citizens who have stated — in a 2016 Ipsos poll — that they want “religion to be removed from the business of government”. Where — during the five years of ramping up this religious freedom mantra — have we heard clear and articulate atheist voices calling into question the excesses of Christian doctrine?
Mainstream print and digital media are indeed culpable. They seem to be phased into acquiescence when Christians claim “persecution” by imaginary detractors from the left. The age-old taboo of not questioning religion has been reasserted. There seems to be a predominant view that “being more tolerant of religion” means avoiding even the most basic questions of current Christian motives.
Who can name one media outlet where an identifiable atheist or secular voice has been consistently heard — whether through radio, TV or print? The media know who all the pro-secular groups are, but never call. Media releases are ignored, and worryingly, journalists unsubscribe from circulation lists.
Why is that? Do we now have a media problem — similar to that of religiously influenced parliamentarians? Do newspaper editors — or radio and TV producers and presenters — feel it is much safer simply to avoid a possible backlash from Christian militants in their audience?
Why it matters
No one is trying to take away the personal and private faith of those who remain religious — but there is a serious problem here. With arcane dogma, religion holds political sway to block a raft of social issues including abortion and assisted dying, and religious groups push for legalised discrimination and tax breaks that are beyond all reason.
Religious schools can freely discriminate against teachers and staff who are divorced, de facto or gay. Alone, Catholic education run 1750 schools with more than 96,000 teachers and staff — all of whom must subscribe to the school’s faith and ethos. Since when are there such disciplines as Catholic maths, science or technology? Why are secular teachers denied employment, on the basis of religious ethos?
Why are we still teaching kids they’re “sinners”, only redeemed by Jesus Christ? Growing up to believe all life’s answers are in one book is divisive. It breeds intractable views that place faith over facts, denies science, and inhibits social progress.
Religion has been given far too much latitude by politicians and media executives too — many of whom are devoutly religious, or influenced by their religious education. It is this grounding in faith that perpetuates the centuries-old taboo not to question religion — to maintain a tradition that seeks to malign and condemn those who challenge these fabricated “biblical truths”.
In this era of fake news and political spin it is increasingly relevant to examine all religious doctrines that mislead and harm so many, and which continue to divide societies. Where, one may ask, are the clear secular voices to temper these religious excesses? We need rationalists to convey evidence from academics, scientists and historians and atheists to publicly debate and question the foundational myths of Christianity.
This is an urgent call — in a supposedly enlightened era — for equal media access to articulate the case of freedom from religion.
Brian Morris is director of secular organisation Plain Reason. He is also a former journalist and media relations professional, and author of Sacred to Secular. This piece is partially in response to an article we published last week from Greg Bondar, NSW state director of FamilyVoice Australia.
Tim Wilson is now the Liberal member for Goldstein, but when he was appointed human rights commissioner…
Stop perpetuating the myth that he headed the HRC. He was appointed as ONE of SEVEN Human Rights Commissioners.
His ’roundtables’ achieved nothing and went nowhere.
He was a fraud and a failure at the HRC and he continues to be a fraud and a failure as a member of parliament.
A bit harsh; I didn’t read it as ‘…THE human rights commissioner’, nor have I heard of the ‘myth’ of which you speak. But ‘a fraud and a failure’, yes indeed.
Maybe failure not so much. His bum continues to warm a nice taxpayer funded seat. A credit to the IPA incubator.
The problem with 78% of citizens wanting religion to be removed from the business of government is that those 78% are not getting themselves involved in the business of government.
Christian churches, and particularly those of the more evangelical types such as that attended by our current PM, have done an incredible job of infiltrating and seizing control of the major political parties, particularly on the right. WA is a striking example, with the Liberals’ connections with Margaret Court’s Victory Life Centre, including her husband having been President of the WA Liberals from 2008-11.
Evangelical Christian control of the political debate has two impacts – the “us” side of the debate, normalising Christian beliefs and practices amongst white-folk, including agnostics; and the “them” side of the debate, demonising atheists and adherents of non-white-folk faiths, so as to entrench the”us” further in power.
Want proof? Just look at the fact that only 1 of our 30 Prime Ministers has taken an affirmation of office, rather than an oath, in 119 years of federation. And she didn’t last long.
This would make Israel Falou’s beliefs and practices a non-white-folk faith, disrupting the simplistic narrative Crikey has seized on somewhat.
Not sure how that follows. I would class Pentacostalism as a “white-folk faith”, at least in its origin and governance, as opposed to those faiths that the government keeps telling us to be scared of.
I always thought there was something queer about Brandis’ appointment of Wilson without a proper selection process
I always thought there was something queer about Brandis’ appointment of Wilson without a proper selection process.
Whatever happened to the Separation of Powers in the Constitution? Are we not a ‘secular’ nation?
As a long term atheist, I am offended by all this religiosity…particularly the brainwashing of children in our public schools. If parents want this, then let them pay for it in the private sector…WITHOUT the involvement of taxpayer subsides.
And what of these so called Christians like our useless PM? What is ‘Christian’ about demonising homosexuals/refugees, telling lies repeatedly and making life difficult for those most in need? Seems to be the new doctrine according to JC himself…without ANY connection to what that man actually said/did.
But no…’modern’ Christianity is all about money, power and greed. To be fought against by all possible means. Freedom FROM religion…bring it on!!
Yes, we are suppose to be a secular nation! But everything is getting twisted, hijacked and misused to gain more and more power. “Freedom of Religion” – “Freedom of Speech” – “Fairness” “Privacy laws” and the list can go and on. They all fall into the same category. Manipulation which lead eventually to a totalitarian state. Australia is well and truly on its way. When was the the last time that someone read page for page the Australian Constitution? And as this article points out, our so called free press have become either toothless tigers or outputs of propaganda. The few unbiased articles are not read by mainstream Australians.
Morrison is dangerous and his ‘miracle’ is my nightmare. The drift towards conservative American styled ‘christianity’ is concerning.
The separation between church and government is dwindling. Morrison’s ‘miracle’ (that was actually a 60 million dollar rorting of the election system) has delivered us into shark infested waters.
I am happy to go to hell if I am wrong, but I dont believe in the Christian, Muslim or Jewish god/s. If they (or he) exists, then we are prisoners living under the rule of a violent and hateful entity.
I prefer atheism. Hoping that we will evolve into more humane people by abandoning these gods that drag us into wars.