The Religious Discrimination Bill, in draft form has been presented to open the way for consideration in the Parliament and Senate to ensure that those who choose to hate can do so legally.
At least that is what is looks like to this citizen. Religious schools can discriminate when employing staff, ensuring that all teachers comply with a morality standard and that will inevitably affect the way education is delivered, especially when dealing with ethics and morality.
How easy would it be to make the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which Australia was involved in setting up and is a signatory to, actually make that law. There are thirty articles in the Declaration and Article 2 is an overarching statement:
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
Wow, that covers a whole lot of things to not hate in other people, to respect other people despite those differences. And when we read through the other twenty-nine articles, these areas of difference are clearly expanded on to ensure the dignity and rights of everyone we may meet on life’s journey.
So where is the problem, why must we need to consider Religious Discrimination when clearly the faith(s) we hold or do not hold are to be respected by everyone we meet as we respect the faith(s) others hold or choose not to hold? It seems the problem may well lie in the Holy Books or how these are interpreted, and interpretations enforced.
Throughout history, going back to ancient days, leaders have validated their power as being given by a higher power, a god or at times a legion of gods and have used that validation to honour some and subjugate others, to even have the power of life or death over their subjects and any who would challenge their authority. Leadership has two primary functions; that of Protector and of Provider. when we read the Holy Books, The Bible, The Koran, The Talmud, there are teachings which discriminate against those who do not fall into some pretty strict categories, dress codes are prescribed, sexual intercourse restrictions, sacrifices ordered, slaughter of other peoples prescribed to protect the legitimacy of the originator of power, the God who demands obedience. Even the killing of children, as in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 11, 5-6), in the war against the Midianites (Numbers 31, 17-18) or in the destruction of Babylon (Psalm 137, 8-9).
As Protector, today we see this played out in the political debates where people who dare to arrive here seeking asylum through the back door, so to speak, are seen as threats and quickly removed to some remote island, being punished for daring to think we may treat them with a bit more humanity than those who they have fled from, or to build alliances with other countries, the ANZAC treaty or AUKUS, or trade relationships such as with our SE Asian neighbours.
As provider, the various cost of living issues we face, employment and renumeration in employment, the social safety net provided through pensions and other benefits for those in need.
Not much has changed through the long line of history, leadership protected and provided and when that failed, leaders were overthrown either through invading forces or internal uprisings. It is only with the rise of democracy that we see power appears to have shifted to the people who ostensibly choose their leadership. But where that leadership was validated by some god or other, or the power questioned on the basis of interpretation of the scriptures used to validate the leadership, things could get a bit nasty. Martin Luther challenging the interpretation of Catholic teaching followed by Jean Calvin’s re-interpretations and then the Anabaptists and a number of other break away teachings led to the Thirty Year War (1618-1638) where millions died as a result of different beliefs within Christianity.
The two-thousand-year discrimination of Jews because they based their faith on Old Testament teachings as Europe became Christian, homosexuals discriminated against because of their sexuality, a capital crime. Men were hanged for being gay. Enslavement of African people going back in time, seemingly forever, or the enslavement of those swept up for being on the wrong side of a war.
Dare I mention the colonial period where European technological advancement saw the taking of new territories, ‘discovering’ whole continents to provide the ever-increasing demands of a burgeoning middle class. And ‘Christianising’ the Aboriginal peoples of the newly conquered lands presenting them with the forgiving grace of a gracious God as their lands were plundered, their women raped, and men murdered.
Discrimination has been an issue as long as there are differences between people, the differences clearly stated in Article 2 of the Declaration of Human Rights. But people want to discriminate, they are fearful of difference, especially those who have positions of power and influence are fearful that their power and influence may be eroded.
A Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was established in January 2013 and the findings were horrific. The very institutions which were found to be complicit in the sexual abuse of children, Christian institutions from across the spectrum of Christianity are calling for protection to discriminate. And for that we need legislation called a Religious Discrimination Bill?
I think a far better response to discrimination is to make the UN Declaration of Human Rights law in Australia.
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