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Section: Religion

  • RELIGION

    Hindu's message for religious unity

    • Constant Mews
    • 05 February 2009

    Obama's inaugural address evoked another great speech. In Chicago in 1893 Swami Vivekananda called for an end to 'sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism'. Vivekananda's vision was never realised.

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  • RELIGION

    My friend Justice Kirby

    • Frank Brennan
    • 03 February 2009
    9 Comments

    Prior to convening his own farewell ceremony yesterday, Kirby published his last dissenting judgment, stating Aborigines should have their day in court over the Intervention. Though respecting tradition, Kirby has long thrived on conflict and change.

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  • RELIGION

    Stolen Generations apology 'about right'

    • Frank Brennan
    • 06 January 2009
    5 Comments

    Most indigenous Australians appreciated Labor's wide consultation. Some were angered by elements of Brendan Nelson's speech. But he did well do bring the Liberal and National Parties with him, ensuring they did not rain on the national parade as they had in 1988 and 1997. (February 2008)

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  • RELIGION

    Zen Christmas

    • Sarah Kanowski
    • 22 December 2008
    3 Comments

    Silent breakfast in a still-dark zendo, mist rising on the mountains, has been replaced by a scramble against the clock, one eye on the newspaper, one hand reaching for the Weet Bix, our toddler clambering, garbage trucks screeching outside. How to find silence here?

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  • RELIGION

    How to talk to students

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 11 December 2008
    9 Comments

    Church political pressure works against engaging young people in meaningful conversation. The value of conversation is often seen to lie less in the search for truth than in articulating positions.

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  • RELIGION

    Maintaining the UN's moral gold standard

    • Frank Brennan
    • 10 December 2008
    5 Comments

    Sixty years on, it is fashionable to describe the Declaration of Human Rights as a peculiarly western, individualistic conception. It was not. Now is the time for Australia to discuss how best to make the State attentive to the still, small voice of conscience.

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  • RELIGION

    Poor man's pioneer

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 28 November 2008
    21 Comments

    For many young Catholics in the 1960s the defining issue was poverty. An idealistic social activism was part the contemporary culture. Brian Stoney, who died last week, was a significant figure in shaping ways of accompanying the poor.

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  • RELIGION

    Vatican over-indulgence with incentive pay

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 21 November 2008
    3 Comments

    'About half' was Pope John XXIII's reply to a visitor who asked how many people worked in the Vatican. The Vatican is reportedly updating its employment practices by offering incentive payments based on performance. But these devalue work and represent it purely as a financial transaction.

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  • RELIGION

    Obama's Dream at the Lincoln Memorial

    • Frank Brennan
    • 11 November 2008
    10 Comments

    The great orator Obama is yet to put real shape on his message of change and hope. Should he harness the good will he has evoked across traditional boundaries and be granted a second term, he will be able to mount those steps at the Lincoln Memorial on the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and proclaim to the world, 'Yes we can, because we have a dream'.

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  • RELIGION

    The human cost of ideology

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 07 November 2008
    10 Comments

    All ideologies, including religions, can rot. They can neglect the view of the human world on which they are based and focus simply on implementing the consequences of their ideas. When this happens the costs in human misery are great.

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  • RELIGION

    Neither Scott nor Amrozi deserves death

    • Frank Brennan
    • 17 October 2008
    31 Comments

    We should feel deep regret when the bullets pierce the hearts of the Bali Bombers. Neither just nor useful, the death penalty is immoral. Prime Minister Rudd is well positioned to contribute to its abolition.

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  • RELIGION

    Killing people for killing people

    • Frank Brennan
    • 17 October 2008
    9 Comments

    'For me, talk of the death penalty evoked the young, frightened faces of Scott and Emmanuel, as well as the laughing, haughty faces of Amrozi, Mukhlas and Imam Samudra.' Full text from Frank Brennan's session on 'Killing People for Killing People', Ubud Writers Festival, 17 October 2008.

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