But it's different in Sweden... (was Re: [LINK] So what have we done about Melbourne IT's dirty deed)

[Gordon Keith]

On Thu, 23 Mar 2006 11:45, Deus Ex Machina wrote:
> Robert Hart [hartr at interweft.com.au] wrote:
> > Deus Ex Machina wrote:
> > >muslim society must seperate church from state. there is no alternative.
> >
> > Please now turn round and apply this rule to the current government. It
> > very clearly is not separating its religion(s) from the activities of
> > the state, as witness the funding of 'church' groups to provide
> > pre-abortion counselling (as just a single example).
>
> and it doesnt stop there, my kid comes home from kindergarten and tells me
> "jesus loves you". wtf????

It's true, may be hard to believe, but true.

> it seems nsw state schools teach scripture. its a fundamental pillar of
> modern democracy that church and state are clearly separated. this small
> detail seems to have escaped the nsw government.

Separation of church and state does not mean that atheism or secular humanism 
are the mandated religion. It does not mean that the state can not work with 
or through religious organisations, so long as the selection of organisations 
to work through does not depend on the on their religious beliefs.

In the Australian Constitution:
116. The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or 
for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise 
of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification 
for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth. 

Teachers do not have to subscribe to atheistic philosophies to be employable.

The best summary I have heard for adequate separation of church and state is 
that if there is a conflict of interest in a church being able to criticise 
the actions of the government then there is insufficient separation. 

Regards
Gordon