Two years ago I posted on the results of an investigation into a complaint of vilification against Muslims in Australia: Vilification Sentencing in Melbourne Reveals Need for Humility. Two years later the parties to the case, the Islamic Council of Victoria Inc., Catch The Fire Ministries Inc., Daniel Nalliah and Daniel Scot, have released a joint statement…
Although some of the terms of that agreement are confidential, the parties have agreed to make this joint public statement.
Notwithstanding their differing views about the merits of the complaint made by the ICV, each of the ICV, Catch The Fire Ministries, Pastor Scot and Pastor Nalliah affirm and recognise the following:
1) the dignity and worth of every human being, irrespective of their religious faith, or the absence of religious faith;
2) the rights of each other, their communities, and all persons, to adhere to and express their own religious beliefs and to conduct their lives consistently with those beliefs;
3) the rights of each other, their communities and all persons, within the limits provided for by law, to robustly debate religion, including the right to criticise the religious belief of another, in a free, open and democratic society;
4) the value of friendship, respect and co-operation between Christians, Muslims and all people of other faiths; and
5) the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act forms part of the law of Victoria to which the rights referred to in paragraph 3 above are subject.
Brian Tamaki, bishop of the Destiny Church network in New Zealand, has been agitating to have New Zealand recognised as a Christian country. He’s been responding to the Statement on Religious Diversity, an initiative to provide a framework for the recognition of New Zealand’s diverse faith communities and their harmonious interactions with each other, with government and with other groups in society, including those who have no faith.
Brian organised a peaceful protest at Waitangi, calling Helen Clark to recognise the Christian faith as the official religion of New Zealand. Destiny Churches have started a web site, www.christiannation.org.nz, initially in support of the protest march. Tamaki claimed that the Labour Government was pushing a secular humanist approach to religion, denying years of Christian heritage, and endangering the positive values that kept families together. Tamaki is concerned that if prayers in Parliament are not prayed in the name of Jesus Christ, the country’s values will be diluted.
‘It’s often said that religion has no business meddling in politics. Now we’ve got the State meddling in religion. Make no mistake - the proposed National Statement on Religious Diversity is a politically motivated document that would be incredibly dangerous in the hands of an anti-Christian Labour Government. I equate it to religious treason. So I will be at Waitangi to send a clear message to Government to honour our Christian heritage,’ Tamaki said in one of his press releases.
Here’s the heart of the Statement on Religious Diversity…
THE STATE AND RELIGION. The State seeks to treat all faith communities and those who profess no religion equally before the law. New Zealand has no official or established religion.
THE RIGHT TO RELIGION. New Zealand upholds the right to freedom of religion and belief and the right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of religious or other belief.
THE RIGHT TO SAFETY. Faith communities and their members have a right to safety and security.
THE RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. The right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media are vital for democracy but should be exercised with responsibility.
RECOGNITION AND ACCOMMODATION. Reasonable steps should be taken in educational and work environments and in the delivery of public services to recognise and accommodate diverse religious beliefs and practices.
EDUCATION. Schools should teach an understanding of different religious and spiritual traditions in a manner that reflects the diversity of their national and local community.
RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES. Debate and disagreement about religious beliefs will occur but must be exercised within the rule of law and without resort to violence.
COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING. Government and faith communities have a responsibility to build and maintain positive relationships with each other, and to promote mutual respect and understanding.
The statement was prepared by the Victoria University Religious Studies Programme and authored by Programme Director Professor Paul Morris. The statement was the subject of a national process of public consultation coordinated by the Human Rights Commission, and was endorsed by the National Interfaith Forum in Hamilton in February 2007 as a basis for ongoing public discussion. The whole Religious Diversity in New Zealand booklet can be downloaded as a pdf document from the Human Rights Commission web site.
So what do New Zealanders think about all this? A poll run by Research New Zealand, canvassing 501 people across New Zealand, found that 58 percent of people disagreed with making Christianity the official state religion. Those aged between 15 and 29 were most vehemently opposed, with more than seven out of ten people against the idea. 63 percent of men opposed the idea, compared with 54% of women. Two thirds of people support teaching schoolchildren about all the world’s religions.
501 people isn’t a lot of people on which to build a confident sense of national identity. However the result is no surprise, given New Zealand’s long history of secular education and resistance to naming an established church. The eight principles named above, however, have been developed in the wake of anti-Semitism, and more recently prejudice shown towards people of Muslim faith.
It seems to me that Christians need to learn how to relate to one another, those of other religions, and those with no religion, without any sense of privilege. That’s what being a secular nation is about. The same applies in predominantly Muslim nations such as Indonesia and Egypt. Allowing inclusive prayers in Parliament need not denigrate or downplay the Christian beliefs of churches.
Coexistence was one of the highlights of the U2 Vertigo concert I attended in Brisbane. Bono wore a headband with the word “Coexist”, and the word “Coexist” appeared in the light show, during songs such as “Sunday Bloody Sunday”.
The “Coexist” symbol incorporates the crescent of Islam as the C, the cross of Christianity as the T, and the Jewish Star of David as the X in the middle. Bono referred to this symbol as he sang, “Jesus, Jew, Muhammad, it’s true…All sons of Abraham. Father Abraham, speak to your sons. Tell them, No more!”
Bono first saw the “Coexist” symbol painted as grafitti on a wall in Chicago. The origins of the icon come from Poland in 2001 where graphic designer Piotr Mlodozeniec entered it in an international art competion run by the Museum on the Seam, Jerusalem. The symbol was registered as a trademark by an Indiana-based t-shirt company in 2005, unaware of its origins. See the lifestyle brand at coexistonline.com
Apparently U2 still have the challenge of working out an agreement that will acknowledge Mlodozeniec as the artist and Museum on the Seam as the copyright holder. I wonder if Coexist still believe they have a strong foothold on the financial gains associated with the symbol.
[eminimall products="coexist"]
The Project Abraham forum on peacemaking on the Gold Coast back on the 12th of November. It became a powerful carrier of meaning for the Jews, Muslims and Christians searching together for a way to live out a life of positive engagement in life, together.
Brian Tamaki, bishop of the 
