In Defence of God - A speech by an Australian Parliamentarian
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In Defence of God - A speech by an Australian Parliamentarian
http://joehockey.com/mediahub/speechDetail.aspx?prID=841
This speech was given recently by an Australian Parliamentarian. Interesting read.
Critiques welcome.
If anyone has a punchy sentence in retort I can post this as a "comment" in f'book against the speech.
This speech was given recently by an Australian Parliamentarian. Interesting read.
Critiques welcome.
If anyone has a punchy sentence in retort I can post this as a "comment" in f'book against the speech.
snafu- Posts : 67
Join date : 2009-09-06
Location : Queensland Australia
Re: In Defence of God - A speech by an Australian Parliamentarian
Quoting the speech: "I want to conclude tonight by talking a little about another phenomenon that I contend is a corollary of the decline of faith in our society. Religion has, throughout human history, provided us with a stable reference point for our own lives. The human side of religion is exemplified by those who dedicate their lives to helping others. They often provide us with life inspiration."
And I want to conclude your speech by talking a little, about a set of phenomena that I contend is a corollary of the decline of faith in our society: greater freedoms and individual liberties, lesser religious in-group/out-group discrimination, further advances in ALL the sciences, appreciation for the truths of the sciences, removing our illusion (or perhaps, a delusion even?) of our grand image as some major importance in this vastly indifferent universe, greater love for not just humanity alone but our cousins in the animal kingdom, a sense of cherish for the fragile mote of dust that we live on, enveloped in the vast cosmic dark (I love Sagan ).
I contend that everything religion can do, we can do without it (with one possible exception: a creation story with absolutely no proof whatsoever. That I will concede is unique to religions, and no amount of secular attitudes can convince so many people without some form of scientific proof. Big Bang? Where's the evidence? 6-Day creation? Yeah, sure, that God is certainly powerful...). Throughout human history, other events have happened alongside religion, and not all of them positive: slavery, suppression of women, genocide, corruption, massacres, colonialism, etc. Religion is not to blame for these events exclusively, but it does seem strange that a great many leaders who spilt blood do so in the name of God. If religion did not commit the crime of action, it certainly did nothing to stop it.
NOTE: I'm usually not this aggressive against religion. But I'm assuming you weren't looking for me to play nice, so...
And I want to conclude your speech by talking a little, about a set of phenomena that I contend is a corollary of the decline of faith in our society: greater freedoms and individual liberties, lesser religious in-group/out-group discrimination, further advances in ALL the sciences, appreciation for the truths of the sciences, removing our illusion (or perhaps, a delusion even?) of our grand image as some major importance in this vastly indifferent universe, greater love for not just humanity alone but our cousins in the animal kingdom, a sense of cherish for the fragile mote of dust that we live on, enveloped in the vast cosmic dark (I love Sagan ).
I contend that everything religion can do, we can do without it (with one possible exception: a creation story with absolutely no proof whatsoever. That I will concede is unique to religions, and no amount of secular attitudes can convince so many people without some form of scientific proof. Big Bang? Where's the evidence? 6-Day creation? Yeah, sure, that God is certainly powerful...). Throughout human history, other events have happened alongside religion, and not all of them positive: slavery, suppression of women, genocide, corruption, massacres, colonialism, etc. Religion is not to blame for these events exclusively, but it does seem strange that a great many leaders who spilt blood do so in the name of God. If religion did not commit the crime of action, it certainly did nothing to stop it.
NOTE: I'm usually not this aggressive against religion. But I'm assuming you weren't looking for me to play nice, so...
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