In 1989 a then 21-year-old Scott Morrison wrote a detailed thesis for his Bachelor of Science honours degree. His topic, Crikey can reveal, was the local history of a relatively obscure evangelical church known as the Christian Brethren.
The full title of Morrison’s 154-page thesis is “Religion and Society, a Micro Approach: an Examination of the Christian Brethren Assemblies in the Sydney Metropolitan Area, 1964-1989”.
Morrison’s thesis is not easy to find. Crikey has been trying for weeks. Written for his course at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) school of geography, Morrison’s thesis is now kept 17,000 kilometres away in a specialist archive at the University of Manchester — the world’s leading collection of Christian Brethren books, periodicals and magazines. A niche topic to be sure.
Commonly known as the Plymouth Brethren (named after the English town where the group began), the Christian Brethren spread its conservative brand of Christianity around the world from the early 1800s. The brethren divided into two groups: the highly secretive, strictly patriarchal Exclusive Brethren and the non-hierarchical Open Brethren which is more integrated in the general community. Morrison was briefly part of this church as a teenager before shifting to the jazzier — yet still conservative — Baptist church down the road.
As a rising politician, Scott Morrison never hid the role of faith in his life. In his first address to Parliament in 2008, he shared the Christian lessons he’d learnt from his family; he also paid tribute to the Uniting Church Reverend Ray Green and Hillsong pastors Brian Houston and Leigh Coleman.
We contacted the prime minister’s office to confirm that the Scott John Morrison listed as the author of the Christian Brethren thesis for the UNSW school of geography in 1989 was the same Scott John Morrison who attended UNSW and graduated from the school of geography in 1989. We have received no response.
Sounds like an impressive study of seriously deluded nutters by a seriously deluded nutter.
I wonder how the topic aligns with the current LNP policy of no funding for research that does not have likely commercial value?
Surprised that UNSW allowed such a useless subject for a thesis…
A fair mind you are not. In case you are interested it was the Brethren of rural WA and NSW who jumped to the aid of drought stricken farmers across Australia 2017-2018 long before one single cent was offered from the govt and other city dwellers.
“The hay was donated by the Rapid Relief Team (RRT), an initiative of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, which is staffed by Church volunteers who lend a helping hand to those in need.
As part of the larger RRT NSW drought relief campaign effort, with donations now in excess of $3 million, this half a million dollars’ worth of hay for the greater New England and Northwest areas was delivered via 18 road trains from Western Australia and a further 12 from Tasmania.”
Judge not.
Don’t forget the efforts of the Sikhs.
Or the Muslims,
And when the brethren pay tax on their industries, I’ll listen to them. They sent building suppliers and turf farms broke in Canberra in the elary 2000s. How do I know? My cousin was a quantity surveyor in the Howard induced recession in Canberra.
“They sent building suppliers and turf farms broke in Canberra in the “elary” 2000s”
Sources please. I cannot find one single piece of information to support your claim.
Your demand for sources would make some sense if the comment you are addressing did not cite its source.
Is someone’s cousin from somewhere a reliable source? So, please present your source. Even your cousins name, position and community standing is a good place to start. Otherwise it’s bollocks.
Iqtino
Sorry, I doubt that most people would want the name and address of someone’s cousin as their source.
I do remember when the turf farms went broke just outside of Canberra.
I don’t believe you. If you cannot come with a bon afide source then it’s all made up bollocks and an unjustified attempt to smear the reputation of the Brethren.
Says a man who believes in a man in the sky controls everything. This is so priceless!!!!! SHOW ME THE PROOF cries believer in sky fairies.
See below. You confuse me with someone else.
You seem to think some man up in the sky is a credible source, but please, do go on…
I have never made any reference to some man in the sky. You confuse me with Agni, Robert Merkel, klewso, Dogs Breakfast, etc etc etc. too many to name.
Defending the indefensible- an extreme conservative ‘religious’ cult.
Mmmmm….
Give up the extreme politics, Andy. Move on and get a haircut and a proper job.
You must be really strong. Strong enough to carry that massive chip on ya shoulders. Your credentials are 1. h-trid of conservatives. 2. h-trid of church people. 3. h-trid of anybody who disagrees with you. 4. h-trid of anybody, like me who speaks truthfully. 5. h-trid of God….but above all and it’s no: 6 h-trid of the man who sired you. I won’t tell you to get some help. You are way past it.
There’s a large Christian Brethren community in a NSW regional city I know well. They occupy a large amount of industrial land, domestic housing real estate and run a number of niche businesses. Because they are a church they don’t pay council rates or taxes. These businesses appear to be doing very well. Morrison would approve of this business model.
Your stretching almost seems believable. If only it was.
You have no cousin in Canberra. More of your porkies.
If these pseudo religious organisations paid tax on their stolen wealth, the country would be able to afford more help for people.
Are you Penny Wong?
There are FAR more esoteric topics than this that get up as theses… That said, the Morrison focus in this case is indeed curious, and instructive.
Yes Penny.
Good question about the cognitive dissonance of undercutting universities that one was the beneficiary of … but research is as much about developing research skills as the subject. And it’s good that this knowledge is captured somewhere, sometime. We can always learn from history. (Or at least I need to believe that we can).
Yes well one this is only interesting if it is actually the actual PM in his youth. And I would be interested. But irregardless I would not be surprised. I am more concerned about the affiliation with the HS mob. Friends of Trump, neoliberal “theft” of public owned assets all due they say cause trickle down economics is Gods way??? Really Jesus life is the opposite.Whether you believe in God or not his teaching are the opposite of this winner takes profit at the expense of the poor, and at the expense of the good of the community. Actually I wish he’s clarify how to justify the privatisation of our assets, deals with human rights abusers to justify economic benefits for a handful, the destruction of food bowl in NSW to benefit 4 multnational corps….etc etc.
“he shared the Christian lessons he’d learnt from his family”
Such as?
I’m yet to see Morrison do anything that could be attributed to the so-called ‘Christian values’ like compassion, humility, selflessness, love for your fellow (wo)man…
Instead, what I’ve seen so far is a dishonest, arrogant and self-righteous twat, full of hubris, incapable of self-reflection and empathy.
The Robodebt scandal and the recent revelations about his ‘government’s’ plans for the disability insurance scheme demonstrate very clearly those ‘Christian values’ Morrison (and his ministers) live by. Clearly the poor, sick and old are seen as inferior and their lives as nothing but an undue burden on the federal budget, one that the ‘government’s needs to rid itself of as soon as possible. Those in need are not worthy of the taxpayer’s precious coin. Unlike our ‘leaders’ and ‘lifters’.
I can’t eat as much as I want to throw up.
“he shared the Christian lessons he’d learnt from his family”
An empty sentence, devoid of meaning, much like the man himself.
I know a number of overseas students, refugees and recent migrants who work in Brethren owned factories. Union members are not hired. The wages are paid artificially low and regularly under the wrong Award. Its hard for these non unionised employees to press their industrial rights. Interestingly, the Brethren employers do not like government scrutiny, so if Fair Work Ombudsman or union start querying why factory floor hands are being paid under a lower hourly rate as office juniors, they quickly repay what was owed. The refugees involved in one such case gradually get their hours cut, till working there is unviable. I can confirm the Brethren refuse to eat or drink with non Brethren – employees in these factories are regarded as contaminated. These Brethren are hostile to university education, which is regarded as worldly and contaminating. Education is not a priority for girls as their “job” is to marry young and breed. They must have long hair and dress in a style akin to Little House on The Prarie. No TV no movies, no modern music etc. No socialising outside the Brethren. Lots of ex communication activities that separate families if someone steps outside their rules.
Name these factories.
We are waiting for you to name the factories. Chris.
“I can confirm the Brethren refuse to eat or drink with non Brethren”
Total propaganda rubbish. Whats more they are completely apolitical and certainly do not proscribe to Trump. It’s astounding the tripe that’s passes for genuine comment on this forum. Anyone who does is promoted and anyone who speaks the truth gets banned ( censored ) It’s an inverted universe. Staggering.
It’s not propaganda or rubbish. Brethren kids at my kids’ primary school go home for meals.
lya lya your pants are burning
In the politest manner possible, can you please stop right there?
“Completely apolitical”?
You’re sure about that, are you? So when John Howard spent all that time from the early 2000s courting them for donations, & then again in 2016 when the Liberals were strapped for campaign cash, it was a different Exclusive Brethren? These things are easy to google, & it’s also easy to sort propaganda from actual facts if you put the effort in. Start by searching “Revealed: how Exclusive Brethren members secretly donate to the Liberal Party”. There is a considerable amount of material available from a range of sources on their political activities, & other less pleasant deeds, going back at least 30 years.
The Australian demographic is replete with organizations that are commercial, cultural, religious that donate across the board to different political parties. So why single them out and ignore everything else? I know different church groups that might donate one year to Labor. The next year they might donate to the Libs or even an independent and so on and so on. To single out the Brethren over such a splinter in the eye is to ignore the log in your own eye.
You seem to suggest that no one should ever do investigative journalism as that would mean singling some one or some organisation out.
Yes, but they use the system and do not pay tax on these businesses. There was a scandal about it in Howard’s term.
Point me to any religion that pays tax. Again, the splinter and log scenario. Does the Catholic church own businesses? Do they pay tax? Why single out the Brethren
ALL religions should pay tax. ALL OF THEM.
Doesn’t know the meaning of “proscribe” and uses as a defence a point nobody made (Trump).
Someone here yesterday speculated the ill-mannered lqtino is Craig Nesbitt returned from his alleged banning. I think not; Craig might be misguided but is way smarter.
That someone was you…well, not necessarily you as in Audioio, but you as in one of your many different multiple faces from your many accounts. But alas, Craig Nesbitt is still in the sin-bin even after several appeals to Amy at support@crikey.com.au she’s refusing to speak to Craig, a fully paid up subscriber. So it’s gonna get interesting. Of course you would n’t anything about that, would you?
Hello Craig. It must be you. Who else would know about Crikey refusing to talk to Craig except Craig himself…..
He emailed me. I never said I did n’t know him.
As well as the censorship, he tells me Amy has also given him the dreaded CAPTCHA (sp) every time he logs on. I mean how many bicycles and boats can one fit into those squares? Being unwanted has a whole new meaning. I keep waiting for the kitchen sink.
Got to be vigilant when QAON is around. They have been declared a domestic terrorist threat in their home of the USA, but here, where they are ensconced with the PM, crickets…..
I am thankful that Crikey has silenced QANON on their pages.
You are up to your neck in this. I can’t wait. Think of me when it happens.
The group of excl brethren in my home town certainly refuse to ‘break bread’ (eat or drink) with anyone but their brethren. Also very political as far as local politics go at least. Saw plenty as a youngster, my family were Baptist. From those I’m still in touch with they are ever more conservative if that’s possible!
I don’t believe a word you say. You and your mate Penny make up all sorts of stories. Your attack against these people is deranged and unhinged. I would n’t break bread with you lot either. Who in their right mind would? Do something constructive with your life instead of wasting it on extreme marxism. Your marxist heroes are under going a laser treatment that cannot be reversed. And it seems you are going the same way.
Still ranting, eh?
That is true. Members of The Brethren are prohibited from any social interaction with non-Brethren.
Morrison has the right to belong to whatever religion he wants, but don’t bring it to work and I don’t want to know about it.
And definitely don’t make laws for me based on your beliefs.
Morrison missed his callIng he would have made a good religious minister, because he can talk babble under water.
As for being a good Prime Minister he gets a big fail from me.