ABC Finds Religious Discriminated Against

The ABC this month posted the results of a survey on Australian society and it had some interesting results on faith and public life.

Notably, it found some 70 percent of those surveyed believe that people of faith are subjected to discrimination. It is a strong indicator that there is a need for religious discrimination laws.

The survey also found just over half of people wanted others to keep their religious views to themselves. I would like to see some more explanation of this because it seems rather strange that people would be concerned about discrimination – but not what the discriminated against believe. I think it is a hangover of the old chestnut – never talk about religion or politics.

Given the number of people who are shouting their politics from the rooftops – why shouldn’t people of faith speak about what motivates them.

This is what Jesus urged his disciples to do – and if that faith is worth following, it is worth speaking about.

I’m Russell Powell for the NSW Council of Churches.