2010 November Journal

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Summary of the articles and information in the Journal.

Summary - Salt Shakers Journal November 2010 

Editorial (full version below)
As Victoria faces an election this month, and NSW has an election early next year, citizens of both States could well ask, "Where is the choice?"

Christianity, Liberty and Western Constitutionalism
Dr Augusto Zimmermann defines the terms 'liberty' and 'constitutionalism' and discusses the background of the Australian legal system.

News and Action
Same-sex 'marriage'; March for the Babies; Canberra Declaration; New anti-euthanasia group; Sexuality Discrimination Consultation

Church Camp loses discrimination case
Jenny Stokes informs us about the travesty of justice acted out at the hearing by Judge Felicity Hampel, regarding the case against the Christian Brethren and the Phillip Island Adventure Camp.

RU 486 - use, failure, adverse reactions
Jenny Stokes discusses the use of the abortion drug since its legalisation in Australia and the high proportion of usage for late-term abortions.

Abortion on trial in Queensland
Jenny Stokes informs us about the pressure on the Queensland government to legalise abortions, especially after the trial of two young people. She also introduces us to 'Cherish Life' .

Euthanasia Update
Pro-euthanasia alliance formed; WA: Euthanasia defeated; Tasmania: Euthanasia Bill; Federal: Bob Brown and NT Law; Another perspective: Youth in Asia

Sin
Dr Arthur Hartwig discusses the definition of sin and the Great Commandment "to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind; and thy neighbour as thyself".

Victorian election - 27 November
Vital information on how current MP's voted on issues such as abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, cloning and IVF for lesbians.

Book Review: Liberty to the Captives
Jenny Stokes reviews Mark Durie's companion volume to 'The Third Choice' titled 'Liberty to the Captives', written for a general readership. The book contains a summary of islam and dhimmitude. His book highlights the key issue of character of Jesus and the contrast with Mohammed.

Sydney conference: 'Menace of the Thought Police'
Information about this important conference which includes the Rev Dr Mark Durie as Keynote Speaker.

'Climate Change' Update
Jenny Stokes discusses the issue of a 'price on carbon' and the commitment by Julie Gillard to impose a tax and to establish a 'Climate Commission'.

World News
France: burqa ban; Europe: Conscience for doctors; Is an unborn baby human? Atheism and disaster; Canada: Prostitiution; UK: Labour Leader.

Editorial 

As Victoria faces an election this month, and NSW has an election early next year, citizens of both States could well ask, "Where is the choice"?

Some have even suggested the choice is between dumb, dumber, and stupid, with little hope of change. In reality that choice is between, more of the same, a very weak small 'l' Liberal opposition and the Greens holding the balance of power - you can decide which Party fits each description!

There is little doubt that politics in Australia is sliding down a dangerous slope to the left and this slide can only end up in disaster.

Sadly, it is just as hard to even see any real light in a veritable smorgasbord of minor parties and Independents.

It is not hard to see people's disinterest in another election, after the drawn-out Federal election fiasco of not knowing who had won for such a long time and of seeing Independents, supposedly with politically 'right' leanings, supporting a left/extreme left coalition of Labor and the Greens.

But disengagement is not the answer. In fact, it is the disengagement of the church from politics over so many years that has partly contributed to the mess we are in.

Disengagement has allowed the effects of the so-called 'enlightenment', the rise of Marxism/Communism, the sexual revolution, and humanistic liberal views to take over Western society, leaving us morally bankrupt.

Somehow we must re-group and move forward. To do that, it is necessary for us to look back and to ask what created the socially and politically healthy society that produced nations like Britain, the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Many people call us 'right wing', because we stand for marriage only between a man and a woman, for life issues rather than death, for sexual morality rather than immorality and for personal responsibility rather than a 'my rights' culture, but it is those very values that made Western culture truly 'progressive' in the right sense of the word.

Some people also make a judgement that, because we stand for 'those' things, we are opposed to 'helping the poor and the marginalised', and they are very quick to point out that God is all about love and helping those in need and that 'God is neither left nor right'.

Of course, the last statement is correct, but He is certainly morally 'right' or correct. We can say with great confidence that God stands for heterosexual-only marriage, life rather than death, sexual morality rather than immorality and personal responsibility rather than a 'my rights' culture.

We do NOT need to make an apology for upholding God's values, because it is those very values that make us compassionate and caring to the marginalised.

As Michael Nazir-Ali wrote in a very interesting article about the state of Britain called Breaking Faith With Britain, "I find that the systems of governance, of the rule of law, of the assumption of trust in common life all find their inspiration in Scripture".

If Australia is to ascend out of the abyss we are in, we need to regain our Christian heritage and values. As Christians, we need to 'press on for the mark', not give in.

God's justice and His values are still the best for all people - we need to be 'on the field' if our team is to win.

Yours in Christ Jesus

Peter and Jenny Stokes